{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 11/10/2025 }

 

 

Good morning, welcome.  

 

Come on in out of the cold, it is freezing out there.  We are under a freeze watch and currently experiencing 27 degree weather.  Like I said last week, from summer straight to winter, oh Texas!

 

I hope you've all had a wonderful weekend and I wish you all a great Veteran's Day on Tuesday.

 

I have to do a shopping run to Winco this morning for some items and will probably go ahead and grab most of my Thanksgiving ingredients too.  By the way if you have a Winco nearby, from the 19th of November to the 26th, with every $125 you spend, you get a free Turkey.  Not a bad deal at all!

 

Right, now let's get going with our day. 

 

Have a blessed week my friends ♥

 

 

 

*** The Weather *** 

Super cold today but we will be back in the high 80s this week.   

 

Monday - Sunny, 57 

Tuesday - Sunny, 76 

Wednesday - Sunny, 76 

Thursday - Mostly Sunny, 82

Friday - Sunny, 85

Saturday - Sunny, 84  

Sunday - Rain, 71

 

 

 *** Right now I am ***

In bed, tucked in nice and warm with my Elliott.  It's so cold, I wish I could stay right here all day long, but that would not be a good thing.  I have some random YouTube video on and am sipping on a lukewarm second cup of coffee.            

 

 

*** Thinking and pondering *** 

Thanksgiving.  I plan on doing some posts with recipes I'll be using, what I'll be making, and all the planning etc.  I'll be taking you along with each day as we countdown to the big yummy get together.  

 

 

*** How I am feeling *** 

I'm doing well, cold but good.    

 

 

*** On the breakfast plate *** 

I had a cinnamon raisin bagel with whipped cream cheese and so far, two cups of coffee.     

 

 

*** On the lunch plate *** 

Not sure.  I don't have leftovers or salad makings, I may pick up something at Winco.     

 

 

*** On the dinner plate *** 

Pork Roast, Garlic Spaghetti, Steamed Broccoli and Cauliflower. 

 

 

*** On the menu *** 

 

Monday

Pork Roast, Garlic Spaghetti, Steamed Broccoli and Cauliflower

Tuesday 

Brazilian Hotdogs

Wednesday 

Grilled Steak (have butcher steaks in the freezer that need to be used up), Rice, salad

Thursday

Italian Baked Chicken, Roast Potatoes, Bean Salad.

Friday

Chicken Pot Pie, Roasted Vegetables

Saturday

Sandwiches and leftovers

Sunday

Beef Ravioli with meat sauce, garlic bread, salad 

 

 

*** What I am wearing *** 

Winter pajamas, will change into some comfy jeans and a hoodie before heading out.  

 

 

*** On my reading pile *** 

Bible Recap.

A Falcon for a Queen by Catherine Gaskin.      

 

 

*** On my TV this week *** 

YouTube cozy vlogs

 

Turkish Series:

Vatanim Sensin

Guller ve Gunahlar

Kurulus Orhan

Halef Koklerin Cagrisi

Esref Ruya 

 

New Robin Hood Series 

 

 

*** Looking around the house *** 

It is clean and tidy, I really don't have much to do other than the usual Monday morning pickup, any thing out of place such as blankets, couch pillows, empty soda cans or water bottles left around.  

 

 

*** To do list for the week*** 

Bible and Devotional time 

Daily homemaking chores 

Water inside plants

Finish Part 4 of the Solstice Blanket, I am on the last row, and start Part 5

Daily 10k steps

Workout every day, minimum of a 15 minute which seems to work really well for me, paired with the gym on Saturday and Sunday 

*** What I am creating ***

Solstice Star Blanket CAL by Helen at Crystals and Crochet.  

 

 

 

   

*** From the camera ***  

Really enjoying Catherine Gaskin's writing. 

 

   

*** Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses *** 

Continuing prayers for the shutdown and all affected.

 

Prayers for all who are sick at the moment, there seems to be a lot of cold/flu going around which is normal for this time of year.  

 

Praying for Nigeria. 

 

{ Cozy Comforting Shows }

 

Sometimes the world around us is so loud and chaotic, that we pull back and try to find ways to bring in the cozy safe feeling that makes everything feel better.....or at the least, makes you forget the stresses and worries of life.

 

For me, it has always been either a good book or a good TV show or movie, but when I say that, I don't mean just anything on the telly, I mean a show or movie that makes me feel relaxed and happy and warm all over.  Period dramas definitely fall into that category for me, but so do some reality shows (and no I am not referring to ridiculous bachelors or housewives of this and that).

 

I thought I would compile a list here of the ones that I always go back to, or think that are a good fit for that day that you just want something good and family oriented and homey to watch.  Some I have watched a few times, some just once and I think there may be a few that I haven't yet gotten around to, but I will very soon.

 

Hope you find something to enjoy, and if you have any favorites or suggestions, be sure to share them in the comment box for others to see.

 

Enjoy!

 

Back in Time for Dinner - watch on YouTube

 

 

 

Supersizers Go - watch on YouTube

The Wartime Farm - watch on YouTube

 

 

 

BBC Farm Series, including the one above, but also The Edwardian Farm and The Victorian Farm, plus a bunch of other amazing documentaries you will no doubt enjoy watching - watch on YouTube 

 

 

The 1940s House - watch on YouTube 

 

Turn Back Time: The Family - watch on YouTube

 

Lark Rise to Candleford - watch on Tubi

 

 

On Netflix:

The Great British Baking Show 

Poldark

Call the Midwife

Little Women

The Great British Castles

 

On PBS: 

All Creatures Great and Small  

Home Fires

Wolf Hall

 

 

 

 

{ Cooking Thursday -

This is such a quick dish to throw together, it's great as a snack or as a light meal, served with salad, homemade fries or rice.

Hope you enjoy it too!

Ham, Cheese and Sausage Rolls - Rolinhos de Fiambre Recheados

8 hotdogs (if your ham slices are small, then cut them in half, like I did)
8 slices of ham
8 slices of cheese (I used both American and Pepper Jack)
Mustard
2 eggs, beaten
flour
breadcrumbs
salt, pepper, nutmeg, garlic powder

In a bowl, beat the eggs and add the spices, mix well. In another bowl add flour and in another one, the breadcrumbs. We're going to use these to dip the ham rolls in.

Lay a slice of ham flat on a cutting board. Top with a slice of cheese. Squeeze some mustard onto the two, you don't need a lot but enough to hold everything together. Our mustard is going to act as the glue.

On one edge of the cheese slice, lay the hotdog and then roll up gently. Set aside and proceed with the rest of the ingredients.

What I love about this is that you can make as many or as little as you want. If you have more people just double the recipe, but you can also make just 2 or 3 of these if it's just for you.

Once all the rolls are done. Start by rolling in the flour, then dip in the egg mixture, then roll in the breadcrumbs. Now you'll notice that the sides will be open, I just dip those in the egg too and make sure to cover with breadcrumbs.

Fry in hot oil until golden brown. That's it.

You can also make these ahead of time and freeze them until you're ready to fry them up.

 

{ Wordless Wednesday }

{ A second fruit cake and some french bread }

It is Tuesday morning, the 4th of November.  The morning is cold and dreary and I want nothing more than to sit in my warm bed, and do absolutely nothing.  It's a nice dream, but not reality, right?

 

I thought I would take you with me on a typical day around here, with some non typical things thrown in too, like the baking of a second fruit cake and some french bread for the week.  Though I do tend to have some sort of baking and cooking going on each day, these two are not a common occurrence. 

My mornings seem to run the same, after getting mine and Curt's coffee, packing his lunch and sending him off to work, I bring my coffee back to the room, get back in my bed, and then work at least one row on my growing crochet blanket.  It is getting huge, and it's becoming heavy.  

 

I just love when it gets to this stage, you start seeing the overall pattern, the rows take longer to make, the stitch counting becomes more intense (I say this as I just had to frog two entire rows because of two misplaced stitches hahaha).

 

I will show you a picture tomorrow of what it looks like at this point. 

 

I've also started my new book.  A Falcon for a Queen from Catherine Gaskin.  It is my first book by this author and I am but a few pages in and already loving it.  It is set in Scotland which is a huge plus for me, just the description of the land as they ride in the coach, takes my breath away.

 

I think I am going to really enjoy this one, and am already looking for more from Catherine Gaskin to add to my cart at Thriftbooks.  My cart just sits there, full of books I want, and I just click the save for later, and as budget permits, a few times a year, I buy one or two.  I love that they are inexpensive and I can find some of the titles I've been searching for.  I don't know about you, but covers like this one are my favorites, the older looking book covers always pull me in.

 

Have you read any Catherine Gaskin books? 

 

On my hook as well, is a new scarf.  I have quite a lot of mismatched yarn skeins laying around, in tubs and bags.  I am trying to work through the stash and decided to make another easy scarf.  I wanted something that I didn't need to count stitches, something easy, something that worked up quick and something I could grab and quickly work a couple rows while waiting for dinner to cook, or just sitting in the living room with the family.

 

I made one of these many years ago, when we lived in Idaho right after Curt retired in 2012.  If you've followed me for a while, you may remember this scarf.  I made it slightly different where I did double the cast on stitches to make it wider, so instead of the 19 stitches it calls for, I doubled it. 

 

Loved how it turned out.  However, a few years ago Curt's aunt asked me to borrow it so she could make one for herself, and then I never got it back and completely forgot about it too.  I figured it would be easier to just make another instead of trying to track that one down.

 

The pattern is the Pavement Crochet Infinity Scarf, though I am not making an infinity one, meaning I won't be sewing the edges together to make a tube, so to speak.  I will just leave mine open ended. 

 

Do you remember this one?

 

 

 

 

 

Loved that pink yarn and wish I still had some, but I don't.  The one I am using now is this beautiful white stonewashed super soft yarn too, but again, I only have one skein, so will make the scarf as long as the yarn lasts.

 

I also made my second fruit cake.  I do love a good fruit cake and these are so good, I gave you the recipe the other day, so go back and check out the posts if you want to try it yourself.

 

After feeding the new one and wrapping it for storage, I brought out the first one from last week and also gave it another feeding with my Port 

wine.

 

While the cake baked, I got my french bread recipe going in the bread maker.  I use it just for the dough part and then shape and do the second rise myself.

 

I went a little different this time, usually I make 8 loaves from the recipe, but I went with 16 smaller baguettes this time.  It's a very easy recipe to make and the bread always turns out so good.

 

I freeze these and then pull out whatever I need and let sit on the counter for a few minutes.  

I wanted to tell you as well that I watched the first episode of the new Robin Hood series.  It was very good although forewarning, it does have some sexual content.  It never used to bother me when I was younger, but I must say I just really dislike all the sexual content in shows and movies.  I don't understand the need for any of that, maybe I've been watching too many Turkish tv where they tell wonderful stories without all that nonsense and sometimes without even a kiss.

 

Anyway, aside from that it was a good first episode.  You can watch the first episode for free on Amazon Prime and then it is available through MGM, which I don't have and at the moment it is definitely not a must especially as we're still dealing with this ridiculous shutdown.

 

With that said, that was my Tuesday, I made some greek meatballs for dinner with some pasta, deviated from the original meal plan but that's how life goes.  I don't always follow the menu to the letter, I change days here and there, or make something slightly different.  Instead of Quinoa, I made pasta for the boys and I just had some brown rice.

 

Now I will love you and leave you.  I'll come back tomorrow morning for my Wordless Wednesday, with a picture of the Solstice Star Blanket progress. 

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 11/03/2025 }

 

 

 

Good morning everyone, and a very happy November.  This is the first Happy Homemaker Monday of this month.  My word we are closely approaching the end of 2025.  Can time please slow down?  

 

It is a cold morning again, it has been quite chilly the past 3 days, but we are supposed to get into the 80s later.  Make it make sense!

 

With Blogtober over, I am continuing with my daily posts for the foreseeable future.  Lots of Thanksgiving and Christmas planning, homemaking, baking, cooking. crafts and Period TV shows and everything cozy and wonderful for this time of year.

 

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.  I do have to come back and put up my Sunday post for yesterday, I didn't get a chance because honestly Sunday's are just too busy for me.  Anyway, let's get on with our post for today.  

 

Have a blessed week my friends ♥ 

 

 

*** The Weather *** 

Very cold mornings and warm afternoons.  The first part of the week is going to be quite warm and then it cools down again.  No wonder people get sick, with this crazy change in temperatures. 

 

Monday - Sunny, 82 

Tuesday - Sunny, 82 

Wednesday - Sunny, 82 

Thursday - Sunny, 86

Friday - Sunny, 80

Saturday - Sunny, 82  

Sunday - Mostly Sunny, 67

 

 

 *** Right now I am ***

Sitting at my desk, I am working on this post and also watching The Perfect Neighbor Documentary on Netflix.          

 

 

*** Thinking and pondering *** 

It is now been a month since the shutdown and my husband has missed 2 whole paychecks and half of one.  It is incomprehensible to me that this could be happening in this country.  Just sad.

 

Anyway, I am also thinking about everything I want to get done this week, some things Thanksgiving related and some just normal household running related.  

 

 

*** How I am feeling *** 

Since we are all women here, I will say that it's the beginning of that time of month, so I'll leave it at that.  Hahaha  

 

 

*** On the breakfast plate *** 

I'm sipping through my second cup of coffee, and just had a bowl of oatmeal with cocoa and peanut butter.   

 

 

*** On the lunch plate *** 

I made Lasagna for dinner last night, but for me, I made a separate small serving using zucchini noodles instead of pasta.  I had half of it last night, and will have the other half for lunch today, with some leftover salad.   

 

 

*** On the dinner plate *** 

Roast chicken and potatoes, zucchini in tomato sauce. 

 

 

*** On the menu *** 

 

Monday

Roast chicken and potatoes, zucchini in tomato sauce.

Tuesday 

Greek meatballs, quinoa, tomato and cucumber salad.

Wednesday 

Feijoada (Portuguese bean stew), rice, sauteed swiss chard greens.

Thursday

Bean and veggie soup (using leftover bean stew), grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches.

Friday

French bread pizza (Homemade)

Saturday

Brazilian Hotdogs

Sunday

Pork Roast, Garlic Spaghetti, Creamed Broccoli and Cauliflower 

 

 

*** What I am wearing *** 

Winter pajamas because it's been so cold during the night and early mornings. Will change into either leggings or some comfy baggy sweat pants. 

 

 

*** On my reading pile *** 

Bible Recap.

Harstairs House by Amanda Grange, will be forcing myself to finish this book either today or tomorrow the latest.     

 

 

*** On my TV this week *** 

YouTube cozy vlogs.  

Great British Bake Off on Netflix.

Hallmark movies. 

New Robin Hood Series 

 

*** Looking around the house *** 

I don't have much to do today just the basic pick up and tidy, which I'm thankful for because I don't have the energy today. 

 

 

*** To do list for the week*** 

Bible and Devotional time 

Daily homemaking chores 

Water inside plants

Finish Part 4 of the Solstice Blanket

*** What I am creating ***

Solstice Star Blanket CAL by Helen at Crystals and Crochet.  

 

   

*** From the camera ***  

The cozy season is here ♥ 

 

   

*** Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses *** 

Continuing prayers for the shutdown, not just for my husband but the hundreds of thousands struggling at the moment.

 

l am also praying for Nigeria, for my brothers and sisters in Christ who are being slaughtered just because they love God.  It is heartbreaking.

{ The Blue Zones Kitchen One Pot Meals - TLC Book Tour }

 

The Blue Zones Kitchen One Pot Meals

100 Recipes to Live to 100

By Dan Buettner

An instant New York Times Best Seller!

This mouthwatering cookbook features 100 quick and easy plant-based recipes inspired by the blue zones, many made in 30 minutes or less.

The #1 New York Times best-selling author and Emmy-winning host of Netflix’s Live to 100 helps busy home cooks boost their longevity with researched-based, easy-to-find healthy ingredients.

After more than 20 years spent uncovering the secrets of the blue zones—the happiest and healthiest places around the world—Dan Buettner puts the lessons he’s learned into practice with 100 research-backed recipes designed to boost your longevity.

Inside you’ll find easier-than-ever plant-based breakfasts, dinners, snacks, and sides inspired by the blue zones, with grocery store-available ingredients and made with flavors Americans love best, including: 

    A protein-packed Tex-Mex Breakfast Skillet
    The perfect crunchy snack: Crispy Roasted Chickpeas
    Good-for-the-soul Creamy White Bean and Tomato Soup
    A twist on a classic: a Deluxe Blue Zones Minestrone
    Veggie-loaded Spanakopita Pasta
    Crowd-pleasing Southern Style Sheet Pan BBQ Tofu with Sweet Corn and Green Beans
    An easy Slow Cooker Bourguignon
    No-Bake Peanut Butter and Honey Cookie Bites


Written with busy households in mind, these one pot, one pan, or one baking sheet recipes enable you to eat like the world’s longest-lived people without spending hours in the kitchen.

Perfect for busy families, health-minded home cooks, culinary enthusiasts, and anyone interested in eating the Blue Zones way, this is a cookbook that will change your diet—and your life.

 

 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and National Geographic for the review copy. 

 

 

{ First real cold day brings crochet and a roaring fire }

I opened the blinds this morning, and was met by the welcoming sight of condensation on the window, creating a photo frame like appearance.  A random drop ran down leaving a crooked line that brought to life the trees outside while obscuring everything else around.

 

Often, I will open the bedroom window to let in the fresh air, but this morning it brought in a chill that had me reaching for a sweater, before I could even take in the first breath of air.  Ahhhhh that joyous feeling when the cold finally sets in and I know I can, for sure, say goodbye to summer until next year.

 

 

 

After the usual morning gym and a quick run to the commissary for some last minute grocery items, that I couldn't get at Winco yesterday, I came home, did what I needed to do, and then settled in for some crocheting by the fire.

 

I did that for about two hours, although, after 30 minutes with that heavy wool blanket on my legs and the first roaring beside me, I opted to move away from the inferno to a bit cooler spot.

 

I've also done some more reading today, I am desperately trying to finish this book so that I can move on to the next.  It's not that I'm not liking it, but I feel like some books I can devour in 2 days and some seem to take weeks.  This one is falling into the weeks, since it's been on my bedside table for the entire month of October.  *sigh* 

 

I am not making dinner tonight, it is our usual Saturday night fend for yourself.  I used to feel so guilty at first doing this, but the boys all love it.  They say as much as they love my homecooked meals, they also like having a day to eat snacks and whatever they want, kind of like a cheat day when you're on a diet.  Hahaha

 

So, as for myself, I might just have some apple and yogurt, I am not very hungry at all.

 

For now, I am going to finish this post and get it up on the blog, then I'm going back to my crochet.  We have started squaring off the blanket and I am loving how it is looking.  Can't wait to show you all, will probably do that this coming week, so you can see how big it is getting now.  

 

I will also probably watch some YouTube videos, I have a few vlogtobers that I haven't caught up with, so want to get those out of the way seeing as we are already in November.

 

Hope you're all having a fantastic Saturday, I will see you tomorrow! 

{ Blogtober 2025 - Day 31 - End of Blogtober }

 

I blinked, and the month came to an end.

 

I started off this Blogtober fully believing that I was going to fall off the wagon, maybe even just a week into it, and would abandon it as I have so often done in the past.  I know, it's not something I am proud to admit but I think we need to be real with ourselves and our shortcomings.

 

Blogtober was meant to get me back into the daily blogging mood, to force me to sit down and actually record and type up a post about what I did that day, or at the very least just show a simple photo.

 

 

 

By the second week, I fell into the groove, so to speak.  Blogging came back with a vengeance, I had that urge to find something to take a picture of, to make sure I was keeping track of my day and couldn't wait to come back, sit down and tell you all about it.  While I believed at first that I would fail, I am so happy to say that I managed to do it, and will continue posting with the same veracity as I have in the month of October.  After all, we have Thanksgiving coming up, and then Christmas and all the fun activities.  I have to make sure I record it all don't I?

 

So, here we are, the very last day of October.  I realize that I didn't share as much fall content as I thought I would, but that is ok too.

 

As we head into November tomorrow, I am going full speed into holiday mode.  This time of year always freaks me out at first, but then I quickly get into the groove and the next few weeks, are just a flurry of activity, food, planning, family dinners and happenings.  Are you ready?  

 

I want to end this post by thanking you all for following me along.  For all the sweet comments, for all those that also joined in with their own Blogtobers, and those that had stopped blogging but returned as well after reading my post on almost abandoning my blog.  It warms my heart to know that so many were inspired to return to their blogging roots as well.  

 

Now, let's wave goodbye to October and welcome in our friend November.  I pray and wish you all a very blessed month, a month of successes, a month of healing, of financial freedom and joy, abundant joy. ♥ 

 

 

{ Blogtober 2025 - Day 30 - Thanksgiving Tree }

 

Every year I put up a Thanksgiving tree.  It's become something that I love doing, to slowly bring in the holiday season, from Fall into Winter and Christmas.

 

I either leave it bare with just the lights on, or I do a very minimal nature inspired decoration with pine cones, dried orange slices and so on.

 

Not sure what I'll do this year, for now though, I will leave it just as is.  Twinkling lights are enough for me.

 

And don't kill me, I know it's a little early.  Usually I wait until November but this year, with everything going on around us, and the stress that is raging inside me, I needed something to calm me and to remind me daily that everything is ok, and that there is a lot to be thankful for, even during the strongest storms.