Enjoyable Week On The Homefront

Another week in January has come and gone. We have had everything from moderate temps to Sunday night's dangerously cold temps. In the time I was  editing this post (about 30 minutes) Sunday night the temperature dropped 4 degrees. 

Monday, Jan 19: It  was much colder here than I like it to be, but I just felt normally cold, not the deep down "can't get warm no matter what" cold I was feeling Saturday and Sunday. 

Because I was out of commission for the weekend I got to spend the larger part of Monday doing stuff that did not get done those days. 

The kitchen needed some major attention, and did it ever get it. Next on the list of things to do was to work a bit in the laundry room. 

I have a giant laundry room and it is where everything gets put until I either decide we don't need it, or find a permanent place for it to live. 

I worked in it for a bit then decided I needed to take a long hot shower and do a little personal pampering. (Priorities, right?)

Once it was game time we settled in to watch the CFP final game. Wow what a game. Congratulations to Indiana University and any IU fans.

What I learned: TheHub and I happened on a Youtube travel video from the vloggers perspective of a Mennonite family who invited him into their home. 

We have been going  occasionally to The Dutch Oven Bakery about an hour from home, which is a Mennonite owned and run store. We  thought it would be nice to see a bit more about how a Mennonite family might live day to day.

As usual, once we see something we do a deeper dive, and found the denomination was founded by Menno Simons, a Dutch former Catholic priest, during the Reformation movement. We did learn quite a bit about the origins, successive splits, and basic tenets, that I am not going to post here, but we both found it very interesting.

Dinner: When I did my meal possibilities for the month, I forgot to include ball game meals.

Sloppy Joe's, chopped salad

Tuesday, Jan. 20: I went to sleep at a decent time and woke fairly early. I figured I might as well start the day putting a load of laundry in while the coffee was brewing.

After coffee it was time to do another load, followed by another load, and another. 

This turned into an at home work day and I did get much done, including more work in the laundry room. I'm glad I did because the next two days are dicey for getting anything but the barest minimum finished, and I like to get time consuming chores done when its cold and I don't want to go anywhere anyway.

What I learned: In the late afternoon TheHub and I watched a video about the Lakota Native American reservation. I learned a lot not only about their tribe but also about the nation itself. One of the most interesting facts though, was that members of different tribes cannot set foot in their tribal cemetery. This particular person in the video has a Navajo son in law who has to remain outside the gates for any tribe members graveside service. *

Dinner: Pulled pork, baked potato, coleslaw

Wednesday, Jan.21: I woke very early for me and I am not one of those early morning people. One of my rewards was seeing the absolutely gorgeous sunrise from start to finish. I think those of us who seldom see them really get excited at its beauty. It's kind of like those of us who rarely see it finally get to see snow. 

I sat at the kitchen table which sits in a bay window and was able to also watch all the early morning critters. Squirrels and chipmunks were scurrying all over the place, and the birds were hunting their early morning meals. (Note to self, after the rains be sure to hang the bird food ornaments before the really cold weather gets here)

We have a gas fireplace which would not stay lit and had the repairman at the house before 9. Glad that was fixed!

It was class day, then I had a slew of errands to run before I came home.

After a late lunch at the house, TheHub and I went to The Pig. They had some sales that I did not need, but sometimes if the price is really good (or what is the new good) I will get it and freeze or store it for later use. 

Next we ran to Costco. I needed gas and TheHub needed to go into the store (Recreational shopping! I don't even try to stop him anymore)

What I learned: I love Aaron Copeland's song Hoedown, but found there was a bit more to its origins than I believed. He was traveling  in the Appalachians and heard fiddle player,William Hamilton Stepps, playing his rendition of Bonaparte's Retreat, transcribed it note for note and ultimately it found its way to his score for the musical "Rodeo".

Dinner: Leftover mushroom goulash over spätzle, tossed salad.

Thursday, Jan. 22: I woke, had a couple of cups of coffee, then got dressed to take My Beloved Sister to the oral surgeon. She had a small procedure, but the dentist likes the patient to be under twilight sedation, requiring a driver. 

Either his office has no heat, or he likes to work under arctic conditions. I know it was not just me who was cold because about every 30 minutes his receptionist would ask who needed a blanket, then would bring them into the waiting room.

Fortunately it was a relatively quick procedure, and I was able to leave the dreaded cold room. I know it was not a terribly cold day (high 40's), but I swear I was warmer walking to the car than I was sitting in that frigid room.

I had planned to run into the store and grab whatever prescriptions she needed, but she felt fine and went with me. I did irritate her by making her hold on to a buggy (cart or trolly for you non southerners) while we were walking. Crazy of me right, after all she had just been sedated! 

Because it was going to take a few minutes to fill the meds, instead of sitting there and waiting like normal humans, we shopped a little. (Chocolate ice cream after a procedure is a necessity isn't it?)

Amazingly, on the ice cream aisle they had reduced large 3 wick candles to 2 bucks. Because I am determined to scent my house everyday, and ignoring the multitude of candles I already own, 3 butterscotch scented babies jumped into the cart. I don't know how.

Once home, after dropping her at her house, I did a little administrative stuff, some laundry, and a bit of reading.

What I learned: TheHub and I have been following a young British couple's travels since they first arrived in the states**. In the evening we watched/listened to their take about their trip to Tombstone, Arizona. Naturally once they were talking about Doc Holliday, we did a bit of our own research of his life. Things I didn't know before: His given name was John, he was a successful dentist in Georgia, contracted tuberculosis and moved to Arizona for his health, became a gambler, sharp shooter, and friend to Wyatt Earp, and hooked up with his common law wife, Big Nose Kate, who indeed had a larger than normal snout..

Dinner: Shrimp Alfredo, toasted baguette (I had eaten a ton of veggies at lunch and TheHub did not want salad so I didn't bother making one.)

Friday, Jan 23: I woke early, had coffee and was reading when TheHub discovered a big box by the front door addressed to me. I knew I had not ordered anything that large. Curiosity got the best of me and I opened it immediately. We were surprised to find a big Peterbrooke basket filled with all sorts of chocolaty treats.

It turns out, this was a thank you gift for referring our financial advisor to another person. It was unnecessary, but will be enjoyed! Very much enjoyed!

I had planned on doing some meal prep during the day since I had no plans to go anywhere and had a couple of winter squashes that needed saving before they ruined. It resulted in spaghetti squash in nice strands ready to be heated for meals, and a roasted butternut squash pureed for a future soup. Later I made a huge pot of chili, and enough spaghetti sauce for at least a couple of meals. 

The rest of the day was filled with doing odds and ends to the home front.

What I learned: Referrals to my stockbroker = chocolate.  Anybody out there looking for one?

Dinner: Meat sauce over spaghetti, tossed salad

Saturday, Jan. 24: I slept pretty well, woke neither early nor late, had my coffee, and started doing some chores. After putting the first load of laundry in I started organizing a section of the laundry room. 

Then I had a phone call with My Beloved Sister (we actually talk every single day), and talked with Son3 and DIL3. 

DIL3's parents are going to be in Birmingham in February for a Porsche event at Barber Motorsports Park. It will be great to see them, and I need to get some restaurant reservations made well ahead of their visit. 

After my phone calls I attacked the dining room. It was way past due for an intensive decluttering. 

I started a box with things I no longer need nor want, then needed to get a bigger box. The buffet has 4 drawers and 2 cabinets. I was amazed at how many things I had either forgotten about or had no idea I even owned. It was pretty easy to get rid of much of it. I would guess I reduced it by a third.

Next I moved to the corner cabinets. Years ago I had them built into two corners of the room to store china, crystal, and silver. Sadly other things were stuffed into them and needed to be re-homed. The upside was finding a box of charging cords TheHub had put in there who knows how long ago. In fact we tore the house up looking for one of them last summer. I have no idea why I did not think to look through the china cabinet.

I did not get rid of any or the crystal or silver___yet, but got it all in order and rearranged so it will be easier to use. If a year goes by without me using something, it will be going out of the house next January. None of my kids want it and there is no reason to keep it just to keep it.

What I learned: I learned I have entirely too much stuff!

Greek style chicken, broccoli, cauliflower one pan meal

Sunday, Jan. 25: We got dressed and headed to our communion service, then went to our church's early traditional service, followed by Sunday school. It was pouring down while we were in the church. Since we had only a one person umbrella and I am a princess (not!), TheHub got the car and picked me up at the door. I only got a little wet instead of drenched. Many thanks, and trust me, I did thank him repeatedly.

Once home we called Son3 to see how badly the storm hit them. They were/are iced in but still have partial power. I did read that over 1,000,000 homes in the states are without electricity right now, so they were very lucky.

What I learned: Today I learned that the book of Job, when read in Hebrew, was actually written as poetry.

Dinner: Pot roast with carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, zucchini

Next week's possibilities:

Pumpkin sausage soup, salad, rolls

Chicken and rice soup

Crock pot beef brisket, mashed potatoes, green beans

Beef stew, coleslaw, cornbread

Hamburger patty, asparagus, mashed potatoes

Persian Chicken, rice, broccoli

Chicken parm, spinach salad (bookmarked). 

Butter chicken, rice, kale salad

Veggie frittata , fruit compote

Black eyed peas, mac and cheese, coleslaw

Eggroll in a bowl

Pizza in a bowl

Pork chops, mashed potatoes, asparagus

Stuffed baked potato w/ leftover bbq pork butt, tossed salad

Grilled tuna steaks, baked potato, tossed salad, dinner rolls

Grilled scallops, broccoli salad, baked potato

Groceries bought this month:

2 dozen eggs

1 bell pepper

1 red pepper

4 pounds potatoes

2 cabbage heads

2 cartons baby bella mushrooms

2 sugar free ketchups

3 pounds onions

3 lb pork butt

1 bunch scallions

2 cauliflower heads

1 broccoli head

1 carton white mushrooms

1 carton grape tomatoes

4 small zucchini

2 cucumbers

2 bunches grapes

1 container greek yogurt

1 container sour cream

2 cream cheese

4 cans table cream (use for cooking only)

small bag dried oregano

2 bags pork rinds (mine)

2 bags Fritos (TheHub's)

1 bag individually packaged chips (TheHub's)

1 tin grilled mackerel (trying for the first time)***

1/2 gallon Almond milk

2 cans green beans

2 cans whole potatoes

1 can diced ham (trying for the first time for adding to omelets)

1 can white meat chicken (I keep this for emergency meals)

fresh  ginger

3 cloves garlic

ginger paste

garlic paste

hot dog buns

hamburger buns

rye bread

1 pack romaine hearts

2 cans tomato soup (TheHub's)

1 can pumpkin puree

1 porterhouse steak (Sale price. )

1 chuck roast (Nice looking roast at a decent price. Impulse buy)

3 lbs. ground chuck (Convenience purchase. Impulse buy) 

2 cucumbers (Actually needed these)

2 cans Margaret Holmes okra, tomatoes, and onion (Sale)

2 packs cornmeal ( out of it and needed it)

2 pounds sausage (Sale)

1 dozen eggs (Weekly free item)

1 tin smoked trout (Trial )

1 baguette

Used from the freezer: (not making much headway there)

4 packs ground chuck

1 pack shrimp

1 pack cooked shredded chicken

Books read this week:

Less

Jingle

Have a good week staying on plan, going off plan, or with no plan at all.

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

* I realize how nerdy TheHub and I must seem, probably because we are! But there are so many weird and wonderful things we never knew that are there for the taking that we can't resist! 

**Jack and Paige are a young couple who travel the world. They have such a wonderful attitude about their explorations and seem to find positives everywhere they go. I wish the world had their attitudes! I know I need more positives around me.

If you want to check them out they can be found here.

***Tried the grilled mackerel for lunch one day. I ate it straight from the tin with a dollop of garlic bacon aioli and it was really tasty. The smell was a little overpowering though. Next time I need to rinse the tin the moment I take the fillets out. Though they sell it as a single serving I had lunch 2 days from it.