{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 02/14/2022 }

 Good morning everyone, happy Monday!!!!

How are you all doing today?  I have woken up to a beautiful day, the sun is shining brightly, although it's a little cold, but I am eagerly anticipating Spring.  It's time to move on from this cold and start gardening and planning the year ahead, right?

I hope you all had a restful and wonderful weekend.  Mine was good.  On Saturday we celebrated my brother Miguel's 50th Birthday.  I made his cake for him, which is something I wanted to do because it's such a special day.  You know I'm not a cake professional, I just have fun playing around with fondant.  Seeing that he is a huge Liverpool fan (English football team), that was the theme for the cake.

I shared it over on Instagram, but I'll try to transfer the photo I took from my phone to the computer, and share it with you all later.

Anyway, I hope you all have a blessed week, may it be filled with joy, love, happiness, and abundant health.

♥♥ The Weather ♥♥

It is cold this morning, just 29 degrees at the moment, but a high of 72.  We are living in a seesaw of temperatures lately.  I would say it's a Texas thing, but I'm noticing it is everywhere, literally all over the world.  Just yesterday my stepmom was telling me South Africa has been the exact same way.

I am so looking forward to spring and summer weather.

Monday - Sunny, 73

Tuesday - Partly cloudy/wind, 73

Wednesday - Partly cloudy/wind, 78

Thursday - AM rain/snow showers/wind, 42  (I just can't lol)

Friday - Sunny, 54

Saturday - Sunny, 66

Sunday - Mostly sunny, 71

♥♥ How I am feeling ♥♥

Really good thankfully.  I slept so well last night.  It's amazing what a good night's sleep will do.

♥♥ On the breakfast plate ♥♥

Cup of coffee and toast with apple butter.

♥♥ On my reading pile ♥

Currently reading Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, hoping to finish it today, so I can move on to my next read.  The next one on the list is The Sugar Camp Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini.

♥♥ On my TV ♥♥

Today I am watching The Secret Garden (2020).  I've mentioned it a few times before but never end up watching and I really want to.  

I'm still enjoying my two Portuguese soaps, Quero e Viver and Para Sempre.  As well as the usual homemaking Portuguese vlogs.  

 

♥♥ On the menu ♥♥

Yesterday I made the new menu for the upcoming two weeks.  I'm trying really hard to make easy, budget friendly meals because the prices of everything, is completely out of control, and it's getting harder and harder to budget through this time.

Monday 

 Chicken, Potatoes and Bacon Au Gratin, Valentine's Day Cheesecake

 

 

 

Tuesday 

 Beef Burrito Skillet, Steamed Broccoli

Wednesday 

Salmon Patties, Spinach Rice, Salad

 

 

Thursday 

Ham and Potato Soup

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 

*Grocery Shopping*

♥♥ From the camera ♥♥

Fresh bread, straight out of the oven.  There is nothing so comforting as a slice of warm bread, with a pat of butter.

♥♥ Looking around the house ♥♥

I'm itching to start switching things around again.  You know that every spring and fall, I take my dining table and couches in the den, and switch places.  During the spring and summer months, the table is by the big window, because we enjoy watching the deer come by to eat, and the rest of the animals, as we eat our meals.

During the colder months, I switch the table to the other side, so it is by the fireplace, where we can eat during the colder weather, enjoying the fireplace.

I'm thinking I may switch it all around today, as we've been really enjoying all the deer we've had visiting our yard, each day.

Aside from that, my house is clean and tidy, and I just have the usual daily tasks to worry about.

♥♥ To do list ♥♥

I find that there is always a running list of things to do, in my mind.  Sometimes it helps to get it on paper, even if I'm not a huge list person.  Ok, let me rephrase, I love lists, love writing lists, but don't always stay on top of them.  I think the writing of the lists is more fun, than ticking off or staying with it.

Anyway, this is what is on my list today:

 

* Make cheesecake for Valentine's day dessert

* Take pictures of the two Valentine's day desserts Jasmine made.  She made these delicious truffles and some cheesecake bars for her boyfriend, and for us too.  

* Start laundry

* Take pictures of the next review book

* Mail off my Texas Voter Regristration Card

* Finish my book

* Take chicken and bacon out of freeze, for dinner

 

 

 

♥♥ Today's Devotional ♥♥

I was thinking I should just change the title of this category, for myself, to New Morning Mercies Devotional  Hahaha

I'm just enjoying it so much, that I plan on continuing every Monday with that day's devotional. 

 

Here is today's:

 

God's grace will expose what you want to hide, not to shame you, but to forgive and deliver you.

 

The light has come.  Run to the light, it is not to be feared.  Yes, it is the light of exposure, but what will be exposed has already been covered by the blood of the One who exposes it.