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Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Tuesday 4 - Odds and Ends

It's Tuesday and it's time for Tuesday 4! Here are Annie's questions for Week 8 of 2020...




1.  You're having a lovely dinner party for friends and family.  What will you serve for appetizers, main course, and dessert?

Probably the norm...pasta (spaghetti, lasagna, or tortellini), sauce, and homemade French bread. Depending on the season, holiday, or event dessert could be anything from fresh fruit to cake or homemade cannoli.

Candlelight Christmas Eve Lasagna
 2. Snow storm! You've got house guests and you're all stuck inside for the night. What do you prepare for dinner.  Will you  watch a movie? Which?

Been there done that before! A big pot of spaghetti with sauce and homemade bread. No movie. Games...most likely Apples To Apples or Wildcraft! The grandchildren love these two! 

Apples to Apples Card Game, Bible Edition   -
Apples to Apples Bible Edition
Image result for wildcraft game
Wildcraft!
3. We are going into New York City for the weekend. Where do you want to go?

To see the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.

Image result for brooklyn bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge

Image result for statue of liberty
The Statue of Liberty

4. You are going to night school. They offer courses in writing short stories, painting, piano or guitar lessons, simple home repairs, baking, and gardening.

Which do you pick (or make up one of your own) and why?

I love art and would greatly enjoy taking a course in painting. This would be my #1 choice. A little further down the road I would enjoy taking a course in baking and maybe even one in gardening just to strengthen my skills and learn some new techniques. 

The Van Gogh Room
(a.k.a. My Office)
Hallah Bread
Zucchini By The Wheelbarrow Full
That's it for this week!

Until next time...
Rebecca

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Happy Homemaker Monday - February 24, 2020

Monday, February 24, 2020

Happy Homemaker Monday - February 24, 2020

Greetings, Dear Ones! And Happy Monday! 💗

I trust that you had a great week and weekend and that you're up and at 'em this morning...ready, willing, and able to take on the challenges of a brand new week! 💪

Our week and weekend here fairly flew by in a blur of activity and somewhere along the way I lost a week. As of Friday night I honestly thought that we had two Sundays left in the month of February. Imagine how surprised I was to discover that fellowship Sunday was THIS week instead of next! 😲 With some last minute maneuvering we made it, but I sure wasn't prepared for it. 

Some of the children at Wednesday's library
program. The topic was vertebrates.
As last week was very full and the week ahead promises more of the same, I'm going to get right on into this week's post. Won't you join me as I visit with Sandra and the other lovely ladies on Happy Homemaker Monday?

Please join me as I link up with Sandra of Diary of a
Stay At Home Mom
 and all the other lovely ladies that gather
there on this week's 
Happy Homemaker Monday! 💗
The weather...

WET! 
Right now it's 44 degrees and the rains that we've had experienced all night (very heavy at times) are expected to continue throughout the day. The week ahead doesn't look too bad, though, considering it's the end of February going into the first of March. 




How I am feeling this morning...

... Well rested (we were in bed before 8:00 last night) and ready to get to work!

On my mind...

... family members and friends that have lost family members and experienced trouble this past week...some of which I've not even had time to see yet. I am hoping to rectify that within the next day or two.

On the breakfast plate...

... oat pancakes with fresh strawberries and a cup of Twinings Irish Breakfast tea

On my reading pile...

... am still working on Greater Health God's Way by Stormie Omartian and The Great North American Prairie: A Literary Field Guide (Stories From Where We Live) by Sara St. Antione (Editor). A little here and a little there and, eventually, they'll both get done. 😉

An Image That I Saw On Facebook - So true! 💗
On my tv computer...

Image result for great alaskan race movie

Image result for white fang movie 1991

On the menu this week...

Monday - Homemade veggie pizza and salad
Tuesday - Spinach and Turkey Feta Burgers (recipe below), sweet potato fries, and salad
Wednesday - Oven-roasted chicken breast, mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables
Thursday - Italian sausage and oven-roasted potatoes (freezer), and salad
Friday - Broiled salmon, baked potatoes, oven-roasted carrots, and salad
Saturday - John's night to cook
Sunday - Leftovers

SPINACH AND FETA TURKEY BURGERS

This is my favorite way to enjoy burgers! They are not only tasty, but juicy! 😋

1 lb. 93/7 turkey burger
a handful of baby spinach leaves, chopped
2 oz. crumbled feta cheese
1 tsp. garlic powder
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Put about a half- to three-fourths-of an inch of water in a large skillet and let heat while you mix all ingredients together. After mixing ingredients, divide and form into four 3/4-inch thick patties and gently place in water in skillet. Cook, turning once, over medium heat until done through and water is gone. 


From the camera...

Outside Our Front Door This Morning

Our Front Yard and Driveway
Looking around the house...

... Stuff is stewn here and there, Sunday morning's fellowship dishes are still piled in the kitchen sink, and the trash needs taken out. 
The house needs a thorough cleaning, which I plan on starting as soon as I get done with this post. 

Chore I'm not looking forward to today or this week...

... I can't think of anything that I'm not looking forward to, but I do have a very full week ahead, so won't be putting in as much time working at home as I'd like. Any extra time I do have this week will be devoted to cleaning and organizing the Van Gogh room (my office). 

To relax this week, I will...

... enjoy cups of hot tea, read, and, hopefully, have some down time to just do nothing. 


On my prayer list...

- President Trump, Vice-President Pence, and every other elected official in this country - that they would be convicted in their hearts of any wrong doing against the American people and be endowed with Biblical wisdom from on high at every turn
- For a great awakening in America and beyond
- For extended family members that have lost loved ones this past week
- For Jordan who was injured when the race car that he was working on fell on him - complete health and healing.

Devotional/Bible verse...

Image result for kjv bible verse images psalm 25:5

Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a lovely, productive, and great week ahead!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Tuesday 4 - Toiletries and Cosmetics

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Tuesday 4 - Toiletries and Cosmetics

It's Tuesday and it's time for Tuesday 4! Here are Annie's questions for Week 7 of 2020...



1. What brand of shampoo do you think works best for you and what does it do for you?
Aussie and Pantene have been my top two choices for decades and I rotate using both on a regular basis.


Aussie is my favorite for every day use; Pantene is my preference for the first few washings after applying hair dye or when I just need a change from the Aussie. Both brands keep my hair soft and managable and give it body without weighing it down.


Image result for Pantene Pro-V Radiant Color Volume Shampoo 12.6 fl. oz. Bottle


2. Do you have a favorite  brand and shade of lipstick and blush?
I hardly wear makeup at all anymore...in fact...it's been years, but, when I did wear it (and if I wear any in future) Covergirl is my brand of preference for lipstick and blush both - Iceblue Pink lipstick and something frosted and rosy in blush. 
Image result for covergirl 505 lipstick
(2 Pack) COVERGIRL Cheekers Blendable Powder Blush, Natural Rose

3. Is soap your favorite for face washing or do you use other products?
The only thing I've used on my face for the past 30 years is Mary Kay's facial cleanser and moisturizer.
Image result for mary kay cleanser timewise


4. Do you have an all time favorite perfume or scent that you wear? If you don't wear perfumes, is there a scent that you love in general?
Some favorites over the years have been Emeraude, Ysatis, and Lady Stetson, but for more than a decade now I have only used Body Fantasies Signature Vanilla Body Spray. Everywhere I go people tell me how good it smells and it truly is my favorite scent of all.
Body Fantasies Signature Vanilla Fantasy Body Spray, 8 fl.oz.
Body Fantasies Signature Vanilla Body Spray
That's it for this week!

Until next time...
Rebecca

Tuesday 4 - In Memory and Honor of Toni Taddeo

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Happy Homemaker Monday - February 17, 2020

Happy Homemaker Monday - February 10, 2020

Tuesday 4 - Home Work


Monday, February 17, 2020

Happy Homemaker Monday - February 17, 2020

Greetings, Dear Ones! Happy Monday and Happy President's Day! 
💓✰💙

Image result for happy presidents day

I trust you all had a good week and a lovely Valentine's Day weekend! Our week and weekend were great here and there were a lot of sweet surprises along the way! 💘🌷🍬💋


John and I celebrated 32 years of marriage on Valentine's Day. I had to work that day, but we had a nice supper that evening and I made the Raspberry Nutella Puff Pastry Heart that I told you about last week. Mine didn't come out as pretty as the one in the picture, but, oh my! What a delicious dessert! Definitely one of our new favorites and one I will make again for sure. Next time I will use the whole pastry and make a rectangle. That way none of the crust will be cut away to form the heart. 

Theirs...

This raspberry nutella puff pastry heart is an easy Valentine's dessert everyone will love! Quick and easy recipe.
Raspberry Nutella Puff Pastry Heart
Mine...

I know what I did wrong. I should have flattened the edges more and pressed
them together forming a smooth heart shape, but it's okay. It tasted delicious!
Enough about all of that. Let's join Sandra and the other ladies at Happy Homemaker Monday and take a look at the week ahead, shall we?

Please join me as I link up with Sandra of Diary of a
Stay At Home Mom
 and all the other lovely ladies that gather
there on this week's 
Happy Homemaker Monday! 💗
The weather...

At the moment it's 48 degrees and cloudy. We have slight chances for rain throughout the day and the high is expected to reach 60. For mid-February not bad at all!



How I am feeling this morning...

... Good! Got up early and met our oldest daughter-in-law for breakfast at Mary's. Came home, got supper going in the crockpot, and put vegetable ends that I've been saving and freezing on to simmer in a big stock pot to turn into vegetable broth. When I get done here I'm going to get started on the house.

On my mind...

... Am in deep-cleaning and purging mode. Over the weekend I managed to empty three totes full of stuff that has been packed since the move three-and-a-half years ago and deep cleaned and purged my lower kitchen cabinets. Threw away a lot of stuff and was able to drop another big load of stuff off at the second-hand shop on my way home from the nursing home yesterday. It feels great being able to finally start getting through some of this stuff and getting it out of my way. As my friend, Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage, points out, with every Walmart sack full of stuff donated, thrown away, or given away, I gain one very valuable cubic-foot of real-estate and free up space! It's a win-win no matter how you go!


On the breakfast plate...

... Had biscuits and gravy with a side of bacon at Mary's this morning.

On my reading pile...

... am still plugging along on Greater Health God's Way by Stormie Omartian and The Great North American Prairie: A Literary Field Guide (Stories From Where We Live) by Sara St. Antione (Editor)
On my tv computer...

Still enjoying old episodes of Family Affair with Brian Keith and Sabastian Cabot.


Image result for family affair"
Buffy and Jody

On the menu this week...

Monday - Crockpot swiss steak (using turkey breast cutlets instead of beef), homemade French bread, and salad
Tuesday - Black bean and cheese burritos with Spanish rice
Wednesday - Breakfast for supper
Thursday - Italian sausage stuffed peppers, pasta, sauce, homemade French bread, and salad
Friday - Broiled salmon, mashed sweet potatoes, mixed buttered vegetables, and salad
Saturday - John's night to cook
Sunday - Leftovers

From the camera...

The First Crocus of 2020
Tiny Bluets Blooming In Our Yard
Am trying my hand at hydroponic gardening and, so far,
the romaine lettuce is doing GREAT!!! I'm excited! 🥗
Looking around the house...

... There are a few dishes in the sink and some things that need to be put away, but, other than that, it's not bad. I was off work Saturday and did most of my regular cleaning then. After I spruce things up a bit today I want to get back to more deep cleaning and purging.

Chore I'm not looking forward to today or this week...

... I can't think of anything that I'm not looking forward to, but the chore that is weighing heaviest on my heart right now is to deep-clean my kitchen. I want to take down all the teapots and cups and things, wash them, and get them back up all glittering clean and sparkling. THAT will make me happy, happy, happy! 💗 

To relax this week, I will...

... enjoy cups of hot tea, read, visit with family and friends, and take a walk.


Buttons From My Button Collection
On my prayer list...

- President Trump, Vice-President Pence, and every other official in this country at every level - that they would seek God's wisdom and that their eyes and ears would be open to the truth of God's Holy Word.
- For a spiritual awakening in America and beyond
- Friends, family, and acquaintences that are suffering physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and financially right now. There are so many!

Devotional/Bible verse...


Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a lovely, productive, and great week ahead!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Happy Homemaker Monday - February 10, 2020

Monday, February 10, 2020

Happy Homemaker Monday - February 10, 2020

Greetings, Dear Ones! Happy Monday! 💗

I trust that you and yours had a great week and weekend. Ours was good here and, in many ways, very productive.


After 3+ years of not feeling well and battling a few health issues I was able to finally get back to daily walking and dancing. I am already feeling healthier and stronger and I am so thankful for God's healing power on every front!

We enjoyed fellowshipping with a couple of our children and their families this past week. Sadly, our youngest daughter wasn't able to make it down as planned though. Every time we get a date set for her come on her days off we get a snowstorm on, either, her end, on ours, or on both. We have rescheduled for early March. 


Image may contain: tree, plant, bridge, sky, outdoor, nature and water
The Creek This Week Where I Work
@ Prairie State Park
Had she still been with us, my mother would have celebrated her 79th birthday on Febrary 8th. Its hard to believe that she's been gone going on 15 years.


Image may contain: 1 person, child and closeup
My Mother - Margie Kathleen (Lemmons) Brown
Yesterday kicked off a week of week-long of celebrations...three birthdays (grandson, Dante's, was yesterday, granddaughter, Kira's, is tomorrow, and grandson, Jed's, is Wednesday), Valentine's Day, of course, is on Friday, and John and I celebrate our 32nd wedding anniversary on that day as well...so...lots going on this week and lots of sweet surprises, I'm sure! 💕


Happy Birthday #5, Dante!
Image may contain: 1 person, indoor
February 14, 1988
Okay...enough about all of that. Let's join Sandra and the other ladies at Happy Homemaker Monday and take a look at the week ahead, shall we?


Please join me as I link up with Sandra of Diary of a
Stay At Home Mom
 and all the other lovely ladies that gather
there on this week's 
Happy Homemaker Monday! 💗
The weather...

32 degrees with a windchill of 25 and partly cloudy at the moment, but the week ahead doesn't look bad at all. It does look like we might get another round of rain, sleet, and snow on Wednesday though. 


How I am feeling this morning...

... I'm feeling pretty good. A lot of things got done last week that took a lot of stress off and eating 
healthier and getting back to walking and dancing has done wonders! I'm trying to be more consistant in Bible reading and quiet time with the Lord, too, which, actually, is the most important thing of all. 


On my mind...

... Am thinking about the week ahead and planning accordingly. I still have Valentine bags to put together for the grandlittles and I need to pick up ingredients for our anniversary dessert. I have decided to make this...

This raspberry nutella puff pastry heart is an easy Valentine's dessert everyone will love! Quick and easy recipe.
Raspberry Nutella Puff Pastery Heart
On the breakfast plate...

... Fat-free turkey slices, a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese, and an egg on toast with hot tea

On my reading pile...

... am still plugging along on Greater Health God's Way by Stormie Omartian and The Great North American Prairie: A Literary Field Guide (Stories From Where We Live) by Sara St. Antione (Editor)
On my tv computer...

Still enjoying old episodes of Family Affair with Brian Keith and Sabastian Cabot.


Image result for family affair
Family Affair - 1966-1971
Mr. French, Jody, Uncle Bill, Cissy, and Buffy
On the menu this week...

Monday - Leftovers and freezer clean-up - last of the crockpot haggis and tatties (freezer), a frozen vegetable medley blend (give to us by someone that was moving) with leftover cauliflower added to it, and salad
Tuesday - Turkey Italian sausage, oven-roasted potatoes, oven-roasted carrots, and salad
Wednesday - Pork roast and noodles over mashed potatoes, oven roasted carrots, brussel sprouts, and salad
Thursday - Italian sausage stuffed peppers, pasta, sauce, peas, homemade French bread, and salad
Friday - Steak, baked potatoes, asparagus spears, and salad with Raspberry Nutella Puff Pastry Heart for dessert
Saturday - Broiled salmon, mashed sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, and salad
Sunday - Leftovers

Now that I'm getting past some of the food allergies (vinegar, and anything that has vinegar in it...which is pretty much everything) and the anaphylactic reactions that they caused, I am truly thankful to be able to relax and enjoy more of what I am able to eat. A salad used to consist of a bowl of plain lettuce. Yuck!!! Over the past three years I pretty much quit eating salads and fresh vegebles altogether. But, today, a salad consists of not only lettuce (romaine), but a wide of variety of other fresh vegetables including spinach, alfalfa sprouts, grape tomatoes, green pepper, red onion, grated carrot, and diced cucumber, topped with feta cheese, fresh avacado slices, black pepper, and Pompian NON-ALLERGENIC red-wine or balsamic vinegar. I am in love with it! And, again, I am sooooo thankful! 🥗

From the camera...

Yellow Tulips - So Pretty!
Looking around the house...

... I worked Friday and Saturday, was gone all day yesterday afternoon, and didn't do a thing last night. Stuff is strewn about here and there. Rooms need to be straightened and stuff needs put away. There are a few dishes in the sink, the laundry is waiting patiently to be done, and there is Valentine stuff everywhere. Overall it's not bad and it won't take long to get it all back in order once I'm done here.

Chore I'm not looking forward to today or this week...

... I can't think of anything that I'm not looking forward to, so I will tell you what I'm most looking forward to this week! I am greatly looking forward to celebrating birthdays (started that yesterday) and putting together the rest of the stuff for Valentine's Day and our anniversary. This is going to be great week...full of fun and lots of love! 💘

To relax this week, I will...

... enjoy cups of hot tea, read, walk, dance, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy celebrating our anniverary.

On my prayer list...

- President Trump, Vice-President Pence, and every other official in this country at every level - that they would seek God's wisdom and that their eyes and ears would be open to the truth of God's Holy Word.
- For a spiritual awakening in America and beyond
- Friends and family members are suffering health issues, pain, and loss.

Devotional/Bible verse...


Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a lovely, productive, and great week ahead!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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