Friday Hodgepodge - January 13, 2023

I can't believe that another week has flown by and that it's Friday again already! Good grief!!!

I had every intention of coming back in here to share throughout the week, but it just hasn't happened. 

And, yes, before I get too far into this post, I changed the name of my blog back to what it was originally. Am I crazy? Maybe a little, but after I did it, it just didn't feel right, so I changed it back. And I'm sorry. Just bear with me, please. I'm still trying to find my way after my husband's death and it is only by trial and error that I'm figuring things out and determining where everything fits in my life now without him. It's hard.

Okay...upwards and onwards! 

Monday and Tuesday were spent making headway in the Van Gogh room. I'm still not done with it, but I've made a huge dent. Now it's down to simply sorting through stacks of papers, books, and correspondance. In the process of cleaning, I've discarded a full bag of trash and pulled out three Walmart sacks full of stuff to be dontated. I'm not in a huge hurry to get this project done, but I would like to have the room cleaned and organzed by the end of the month.

I'm doing well with the winter food challenge. I have finished up a lot of previously opened packages (bacon bits, croutons, bread sticks, sunflower seeds, etc.) and have made a bit of a dent in the freezer and deep-freeze. As time goes on things will get harder and more creative, but, thus far, mealtime remains pretty normal. 

Wednesday was daughter, Amanda's, birthday and, also, daughter-in-law, Nicole's. Nicole and I were going to go out for lunch here in town, but, then, plans grew and it ended up that half the family met up at Butler and ended up celebrating both birthdays at once. It was a lot of fun! 

After lunch we went our seperate ways. Some headed home and others chose to stick around and shop the bulk food and herb shops in town; Tony and Nicole and their family and my cousin, Dave, and I headed to the Appleton City, Missouri, Cemetery where Dave's parents, as well as my own, and several other close family members, are buried, including his sister, our grandfather, and our great-grandparents.

After we left the cemetery we headed out to the place where Dave lived (and I spent a good deal of my summers and weekends at) when we were children There's nothing there now but the driveway, farm fields and memories, but it's always good to see the old home place. 

It just so happened that, along the roadway, we met up with one of the area ranchers. He knew everyone in the world that we knew there growing up and filled us in on who had died, who was still alive, where they lived, who they married, and what they were doing now, and anything thing else that he could think of. It was really great for Dave to know what happened to friends and neighbors that he had grown up and went to school and church with.

After that we went up the road and around the corner to, once again, "touch the grave" of Mr. Williams! The mysterious L. A. Williams was born in 1806 and died in the 1880's. Childhood dares led us to run up to and "touch the grave" of Mr. Williams proving to the others how brave we were. Mr. Williams grave is all but hidden by a sprawling cedar tree now and no one would even guess that it was there unless they already knew it to be so for a fact. 

Those of us who took the jaunt to Appleton ended up back in Bulter before the evening was over and, after making a quick stop at Walmart and having supper in Nevada, finally started making our way home. It was a long day, but a good day. Thursday was spent recovering! LOL!

Now, here it is Friday and the day is getting away from me. I need to run a few errands so I guess I better be getting off of here for now. You have a nice day and a great weekend ahead and I'll be with you again soon!

Until next time...

~Rebecca

 

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Morning Musings - 3/11/13/Update On Aunt Linda

 

23 Things in 2023

I don't feel that I did too well with my 2022 list, but I'm not letting that stop me from forging ahead and thinking about things that I'd like to do, and accomplish, in 2023.

I have struggled though. Usually, I have things coming up that are already on the schedule or that I know might actually be a possibility, but, honestly, 2023 is a blank screen. Other than family birthdays, holidays, and work, there's really nothing on my calendar. 

It took me a while to get there, but here's what I came up with...

 

1. Purpose to sow daily towards gaining greater health in every area (spirit and soul and body - I Thessalonians 5:23; prosper and be in health - 3 John 2).

2. Keep up with scripture reading and daily Bible study. 

3. Read 12 new books. (I wanted to say 23, but I know me. I'll be doing good if I read 12.)

4. Focus on simple and nutritious foods. 

5. Get 30 minutes of physical activity in, at least, five days a week (walking, hiking, dancing, gardening, yard work, etc.).

6. Lose at least 23 pounds.

7. Post my weekly master to-do list and menu plan here on the blog.

8. Practice hospitality by inviting family members and friends in to share a meal at least once a month.

9. Welcome a new grandbaby into the family.

10. Save money by using up gift bags, tissue paper, wrapping paper, gift tags, and cards on-hand instead of buying more. 

(NOTE - I probably have enough of these items on-hand right now to open my own gift shop, but am already fighting myself on this one. Dayspring is calling my name with their after Christmas sale, BUT I refuse to give in! Thankfully, the wrapping paper that was really drawing my attention is already out of stock.)

11. Deep-clean, declutter, and organize every room in my home. (I think this going to have to be an annual, or semi-annual, event every year. There's just too much clutter!) 

12. Visit Hannibal, Missouri and take a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi River.

13. Visit the Steamboat Arabia Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. (We visited several years ago, but I want to revisit with fresh eyes and armed with more information.)

14. Visit Fort Rock Family Camp in Arkansas...either as a registered guest or maybe as a voluteer.

15. Create and keep a new nature journal.

16. Get the north shed cleaned out, repaired, and organized into a storage shed.

17. Redo the front porch.

18. Paint and hide rocks with the grands.

19. Log at least 12 new geocache locations.

20. Explore a new-to-me trail. 

21. Visit at least one Missouri state park that I've never visited before. 

22. Visit Bass Pro and Wonders of Wildlife in Springfield at Christmastime.

That's what's on my 2023 bucket list. What's on yours? 

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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It's Monday morning and, ready or not, here we are, off and running into a brand new week! How was your weekend? My weekend here was quiet. 

I worked Saturday. Everyone was out of town and I was the only employee on the park. The sky was gray with thick, dark clouds and it was windy and cold. I only had four visitors all day and they didn't come in until an hour or so before closing. It was strangely quiet. I saw no wildlife and there was no traffic on the road. I was glad when the day was over and I was in home, safe and snug, for the evening. 

Sunday was church in the morning, then resting and relaxing the rest of the day. I read, visited with family and friends, watched the latest episode of The Chosen, and made my plan for the week ahead. 

Let's take a look at it now...shall we?

This Lovely Honey Lavender Candle That I Received As 

a Christmas Gift Smells So Good and is So Bee-utiful!

This week's master to-do list...

I was well pleased with last week's progress. Not only did I get the bedroom finished, but I made a lot of headway throughout the rest of the house, too. I got all the Christmas items collected up, organized, and put away for another year AND I got a good head start on the Van Gogh room...which is great!

- Clean house

- Do laundry

- Continue cleaning and organizing the Van Gogh room (focus on sorting books and papers)

- Celebrate daughter, Amanda's, birthday

- Celebrate daughter-in-law, Nicole's birthday

- Walk 

- Write (and mail) a few letters and cards

- Figure mid-month budget

- Work

The Side of One of My Favorite Teapots

Can you tell? I'm getting spring fever.

This week's menu plan...

With the winter food challenge in full swing I continue to look for ways to use up food on hand. Over the weekend I thawed out a pound of turkey burger and turned it into four turkey burgers. I had one with oven fries Saturday night and froze the others for future meals. I also made a peach cobbler with canned peaches. My cousin stayed for lunch after church Sunday and together we polished off a jar of turkey bean soup and the last of the cornbread out of the freezer. 

Meal ideas this week include...

Breakfasts - Oatmeal, eggs and toast, THM pancakes

Lunches - Soups, sandwiches, salads served with breadsticks or slices of homemade bread.

Suppers - Broccoli, cheese, and rice casserole (made with frozen broccoli and cauliflower), turkey burger with rice, black beans, and cheese, sliced ham with potatoes, onion, and green pepper, homemade pizza, fish and chips.

Well, that's it for here today. What's the week ahead look like at your house?

Friday Night Sky

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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The First Master List and Menu Plan Monday of 2023 - January 2, 2023

Winter Food Challenge Update - Friday, January 6, 2023

Good morning! It's Friday!!! 

I was supposed to work today, but they ended up cancelling today's prescribed burn, so, here I am...trying to figure out which direction to head at home. I thought I'd start with an update on the winter food challenge, then tear into the Van Gogh room. It's a mess!

Okay...the winter food challenge...

I'm really pleased with the way it's going thus far. This week I've focused on using up fresh items and odds and ends that go along with them.

For example...I had open bags of croutons, bacon bits, sunflower seeds, and an open box of bread sticks. When I went shopping Sunday night I picked up salad makings and am using these items as additions and accompiments to chef salads (mixed greens, sliced deli meat, boiled egg, and shredded cheese) for lunches. 

For breakfasts I've been enjoying THM's "sweat pants" oatmeal almost every day, but, instead of adding frozen blueberries to it, as I usually do, I've been chopping up a whole apple and adding it instead. This has rapidly become one of my favorite breakfast foods of all-time!

To make, put one cup water, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil, and one apple (washed, cored and chopped, with skin on) into saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and leave to bubble for three minutes. Shut heat off and put a lid on the pan. Set timer and let sit for 12 minutes. Serve with cinnamon and sweetner of choice. I use THM's Super Sweet, which is a stevia-based sweetner (the closest thing to it at the store would be Pyure). I use 1 1/2 teaspoons of Super Sweet and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. 

This is, honestly, the creamiest, most delicous oatmeal I have ever eaten and, fortunately, I have a lot of rolled oats in freezer, so I will be eating this quite frequently.

This week's supper menus have looked like this...

Monday - Tuna and noodles with peas (canned and dry goods out of the cabinet)

Tuesday - Out

Wednesday - Tortellini (cabinet) with sauce (leftover from Christmas Eve lasagna, sealed, and in fridge), leftover canned peas, and garlic bread (freezer)

Thursday - Ham (freezer) with potatoes, onion, and green pepper (fresh)

Tonight's supper will be leftover tortellini with the last of the peas and homemade French bread from the freezer (turned into garlic bread, of course! I just toast it in the toaster, add a smear of butter, and sprinkle with garlic powder, parsley flakes, and dry basil...quick and easy with no fuss). 

Well, that's it for this week's update! Is anyone else out there joining me in this challenge? If so, I'd love to hear about your progress, as well. 

In the meantime, I hope your Friday is going great and that you have a wonderful weekend ahead! 

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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The First Master List and Menu Plan Monday of 2023 - January 2, 2023

It's the first Monday of 2023 and, even with all the ups, downs, twists, and turns that are sure to come, a bright, shiny new year lies stretched out before us, full of all kinds of wonderful possibilities! How did you ring it in?

I worked at the park on New Year's Eve, but that evening I was invited to ring in the New Year at Patrick and Amber's. Tony and Nicole and their family was there, as was my cousin, Dave. We were all of so tired that none of us were sure that we'd make it until midnight. We agreed early on that if it became too much we'd check out the world clock and find out where it was midnight and celebrate that country's New Year arrival and call it quits, but, in the end, it didn't come to that. We all made it to midnight! 🥳

We ordered in pizza, visited, and played games. As the clock neared midnight, Patrick read a scripture passage, prayed, and dedicated the new year to the Lord and His service.

At midnight the kids shot off a few fireworks and, soon after, we called it a night and went home.

Sunday morning was church, then, I had to be at work for our annual "First Day" bison hike. We're not normally open on Sundays, but Missouri State Park's "First Day" hikes are on January 1st no matter what day of the week it falls on. The weather was really nice and people were out enjoying it. We interacted with a total of sixty-seven visitors in a short three hours, and it turned out to be a great afternoon for everyone. The weather was absolutely gorgeous!

As soon as I got off work I picked my cousin up and we headed to Nevada to shop and meet my son-in-law and granddaughter for supper. We had a great visit and, even though they had already returned Kayla to her mother, somehow in the middle of it all, her mother brought her back to where we were eating, so that Kayla could say hello and see me for a minute. It was a nice surprise and I enjoyed getting to see her, too, even if it was only for a very short few minutes. 

Now, here it is Monday afternoon. I way overslept this morning, but that's okay. I needed it. Let's take a look at the week ahead...shall we?

A Christmas Gift From One

of Our Regular Visitors

This week's master "to-do" list...

- Clean house

- Deep clean the bedroom

- Clean and organize the fridge and freezer

- Do laundry

- Figure January's budget and bills

- Pay bills

- Go to the bank and post office

- Celebrate grandson, Silas's, 15th birthday

- Shop online for vitamins and suppliments

- Work

- Wish Tony and Nicole a Happy Anniversary

American Kestrel

This week's menu plan...

As previously posted, I've started the self-imposed winter food challenge and am already making progress towards using up foods on-hand. I did shop last night for fresh items and other things needed to round things out. 

Some of the foods that I'm going to focus on this week include leftover fresh items from the holidays (apples, oranges, potatoes, and onions) and items in the fridge and freezer that need cleaned up (leftover tuna and noodles, pasta sauce, canned peas, turkey/bean soup, shredded cheddar cheese, and a variety of homemade breads). 

Tallgrass Prairie Sunrise 

Meal ideas for this week include... 

Breakfasts - eggs and toast, oatmeal, THM pancakes (freezer) with fruit

Lunches - chef salad with bread sticks, soup and sandwich, homemade pizza, leftovers

Suppers - pasta with sauce, peas, and garlic bread, broiled salmon with a baked potato and oven-roasted carrots, broccoli, cheese, and rice casserole with a Good Earth Roll, turkey burger with oven fries

I'm going to stop here. I've worked at this off and on all afternoon in amongst other things and now we've got storms moving in. I think I'd be wise to get off the computer. 

I hope your first Monday of 2023 is going well. Have a nice evening and a great week ahead!

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Happy New Year 2023

I'm Wishing You and Yours A Very

Happy New Year 2023! 

Until next time...
Rebecca

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