Good Morning!

Good morning!  I'm enjoying my coffee on the porch.  Pull up a chair and join me :-)

Hope ya'll have a great day!

Simple Pleasures

Lately I have been "re-learning"  how to enjoy the simple pleasures in life.  Here's a list of a  few of the things I have been enjoying lately:

uninterrupted prayer time
sitting on my porch in the early morning quiet
water pistols with the kids
reading
popsicles
watching hummingbirds 
"piddling" around in the garden
browsing through cookbooks for new recipes
a cup of coffee/hot tea
conversation with a friend
playing with my grandchildren
listening to the laughter of children

I am so thankful that God allows us the "simple" pleasures.  What have you been enjoying lately?

Strange, but it Works!

As I have mentioned in previous posts, my family and I have had quite a few unexpected (and unprepared for) things going on over the last year or so.  As a result, our finances have become even tighter than usual.  AND as often happens, when things get tight, it seems like one thing after the other comes up that requires a cash outlay.  Well, we are in the midst of the one thing after the other cycle at the moment.  One of the "things" is the central unit in our home has gone out.  I had the "air conditioner repair guy" out this past week to check it out and it will take close to $600 to replace the part that needs to be replaced, which is totally out of the question for us at this time.   As a result, we have been trying to find ways to reduce the amount of heat we are generating in our home.  Some of the things we have been doing are: hanging all laundry outside (which we usually do anyway), using the crockpot more, have more cool/cold meals, keep lights off, and not using the stove except when absolutely necessary and then only in the early morning.

Today, my youngest son and I took aluminum foil and covered the windows on the back of our house and two of the windows that get a lot of sun on the front of our house.  I know that sounds strange and is probably not something most people would consider, but it really doesn't look as bad as it sounds and it immediately lowered the temp a few degrees. Since we live in a mobile home, located in a sunny location in the south,  I think, that the appearance of aluminum foil on the windows is definitely something I can live with until we can get our unit replaced.  Hopefully, that will happen sooner, rather than later ;-)

Since I have not been feeling well the last several days, and am having a few "hysterectomy related" issues I am not going to attempt a menu plan as such, for the week.  We will most likely be having quite a few salads (pasta, potato, lettuce), sandwiches (pulled pork, chicken salad, ham, turkey, etc) on a variety of breads (homemade, hoagie rolls, hamburger buns, etc.), grilled meats and veggies, crockpot potato wedges, and fruit and veggie trays.

Hopefully, I will begin to feel better soon and can step things up a bit around here.  There are soooo many things that need attention in the VERY near future.

Hope ya'll have a great week!

Menu Plan for Week of May 6, 2012

I have been very slack on menu planning the past several months and it seems that everytime I think I will get back on track with it life happens.  This time it's in the form of a complete hysterectomy for me.  I had the procedure done this past Thursday and am starting to feel pretty good, although I'm still a little weak and tired.   

During the couple of weeks leading up to my surgery, Amanda and I decided to get busy and cook enough meals to get us through the first couple of weeks.  Here's a look at the menu for this week:

Sunday -  pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, and chips

Monday - Taco chicken bowls with rice, chips, and green beans

Tuesday - Meat Loaf, peas, mashed potatoes, cornbread

Wednesday - Leftovers

Thursday - Chicken Enchiladas and tacos

Friday - Italian Chicken and steamed veggies

Saturday - Hamburgers


Breakfasts - cheese toast, hot and cold cereal, fruit, and smoothies

Lunches - leftovers, sandwiches, fruit, and soup

Snacks - fruit, smoothies, cookies, peanut butter and crackers


Amanda has had her hands full the past week or so taking care of her family of little ones and also taking care of me and all of the men folks at my house.  She has become a very capable young woman and has been willing to serve her family without complaint.  I am VERY proud of her. 

I am also thankful for the willingness of my husband and sons to pitch in and help do whatever they can to make things easier for her (and me).  I am very blessed.