It's the first week of May! I've been waiting all winter for this!
Here's what we're having this week:
Links:
Enjoy your week!
Monday, May 4, 2026
Friday, April 24, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan April 26 to May 2, 2026
Hi there!
Exciting day over here! My middle granddaughter is graduating from college this week with a degree in nursing! I'm so excited to see what the future holds for her!
Of course, for me, that means another busy week ahead. But what fun! I know God will lead her on the right path for her. I never dreamed watching grandkids grow up would be this wonderful!
So let's take a look at what I'm making this week:
Recipe Links:
As for reading, I haven't had much time lately to sit down and read. But I finished The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. It was good, not a Must Read by any means, but a good story.
I just started The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. I've been waiting for this one for a long time, as it was on hold at the library, with about 25 people ahead of me in the queue. But I finally got it, and started it last night. I have to say it pulled me right in! I'll keep you posted on this one, but I don't have much time in the week ahead to just sit down and read, uninterrupted.
After The Correspondent, I'm thinking The Book Thief is next. I cannot wait to read this one. I went to an author speak, where Markus Zusack was the speaker. Oh my goodness, I loved this guy! He's just amazing, so humble, so funny, and just a genuinely nice person. I got my book autographed by him, but I'd only read 4 pages when I went to his presentation. I know, my bad. But the first 4 pages were awesome! I had to finish some other library books first, before I could pick The Book Thief up with a clear conscience. And since I own that book, library books trump owned books because I have to return them.
So that's where I am this week. What's going on with you, dear readers? What is happening in your lives? You really should comment, so I know! Sometimes it's awfully one-sided around here!
Have a wonderful, blessed week, everyone!
Hugs,
Friday, April 17, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan 4-19 to 4-25, 2025
Happy Sunday!
I've got a lot on my plate this week, both literally and figuratively! And getting ready for a fun, busy week next week. Upcoming events include visits from family, a pinning ceremony, college graduation, and prom. I am so excited for all my grands!
So let's get right to it! For this week, here's what I'm making and baking:
Links:
That's it for today! I hope you all have a blessed week!
Hugs,
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan April 12-18, 2026
Good morning!
Sorry to have missed the last couple weeks, I was just too busy to take time to post. The holidays will do that to me!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter holiday.
We did, and it seems spring has sprung big time outside. Beautiful days, much warmer, and all the trees and flowers are in bloom.
I'm trying to spend more time outdoors now that the weather is nice. I've taken some nice walks, and it feels so good to get outside and breathe in that fresh air.
As the warm weather gets nearer, I try to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying my favorite season. So my cooking and baking time is going to start to decrease, and I'll be using my air fryer, Instant Pot, and crockpot more.
Here is what we're having this week:
Next up is The Correspondent, one I've been waiting to read for quite awhile. I'm pretty sure I'm going to love it. I love sitting out on my swing in the spring and summer, and reading while listening to birds chirping and kids playing outside. It's my favorite time of year!
I hope you have a good week this week, and as always, I hope you can find a yummy recipe or two to make for your family. Take care and see you next week!
Monday, April 6, 2026
Mini Vacation
I've had to take a break, because I've just been too busy to get everything done.
I'll be back on Sunday with my menu plan, at least I hope to be.
Until then, take care and see you soon!
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan 3-15 to 3-21, 2026
This week, making my menu plan has been on my To Do List since Friday. Still not totally done.
But before the week slides by, I at least had my dinners planned out. I thought I better post them in case someone actually looks for them!
So here are my dinners this week. Breakfast is going to be mostly eggs and bacon or sausage this week.
Hope you're all having a great week! Mine is good, but super busy!
As always, links to recipes are below:
Links to Recipes:
Have a wonderful week! Hopefully I'll do better next week!
Hugs,
Sunday, March 15, 2026
This Week's Menu Plan
That was me, yesterday.
One of my granddaughter's friend's dad passed away suddenly last week. They planned a traditional Jewish shiva to honor him, and my granddaughter asked me to prepare some food.
So, I did. I made a huge pot of matzoh ball soup, another huge pot of lentil soup, deviled eggs, rice pudding, a bagel platter with assorted cream cheeses, and a Jewish apple cake. I bundled it all up in containers suitable for the freezer, and delivered it.
I've been so busy I haven't even thought about next week's menu plan.
Today, I have a corned beef and cabbage dinner cooking in the crockpot. We're having it today so my son can have some fresh and not left over. It's best the first day. We'll probably have leftovers tomorrow.
After that, I'm not sure yet! I haven't sat down long enough to think about it yet, or to plan a shopping list. So, I may post it later this week.
So stay tuned....maybe I'll get the plan done tonight and can post it tomorrow!
Have a blessed Sunday!
Hugs,
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan March 8-14, 2026
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This coming week starts out beautifully, but then I think on Thursday winter comes back. He's not finished with us yet. I keep forgetting it's not even spring yet! I'm trying to brace myself. I just hope it doesn't stay too long, before spring kicks him to the curb.
This week's menu plan is a bit ambitious, I think. I don't know how I'll do as far as following it. It's hard for me, because I follow a carnivore way of eating. And, we've decided to follow a much better heart healthy way of eating. So I see lots of changes coming.
Here's an example of what I do to adapt to my carnivore diet. For tonight, we're having smoked sausage, potatoes, and sauerkraut. As I prep it, I keep some smoked sausage aside for me, and I use fermented sauerkraut for my portion. No potatoes for me. The rest I will prepare according to the recipe. So, I usually buy extra meat so I get enough. I have added fermented sauerkraut and pickles to my diet, because they're good for my gut health. So I'll have a big bowl of smoked sausage and sauerkraut, and my husband will get the regular meal.
When I went for my annual checkup this week, my blood work came back so good that I'm trying to steer my husband's meals more carnivore. I'd love to get him away from the desserts, but he's got the old sweet tooth. I'll have to keep working on him.
Carnivore seems like such a drastic way to eat for most people, yet I find it's the easiest thing in the world. I'm going on 2 years carnivore now, and I'm down from well over 200 pounds to 135 and holding. My blood pressure is down, my aches and pains are mostly gone, my energy level is up, my focus ability is up, my GERD is gone, my skin is soft and healthy looking, and I just feel great. I wish I would have done this 30-40 years ago.
Sorry for the ramble! Here is my menu plan for this week. I'm going to have to freeze several of the baked goods, or I give it away to friends and family, since my husband is the only one eating it. And that's okay, but sometimes (like today) I would rather use my time doing something else, than spending a lot of time baking. So we'll see how this week goes! I'll try my best to follow my desserts plan, but I may cut one or two desserts and just let him eat leftover dessert all week!
Links to the recipes I'm using this week are below.
Recipe Links:
My next read is going to be The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I have to read as much as I can of that one, because I'm going to an event this week where the author is speaking. I at least want to be halfway through it!
That's it for me this week! I hope you have a great week ahead, with lots of sunshine and smiles!
See you next Sunday!
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Book Report: The Trackers
★★★☆☆
(3 out of 5)
Title of Book: The Trackers
Author: Charles Frazier
Genre: Fiction
Started: January 13, 2026
Finished: February 19, 2026
Published: 2023
428 pages (Large Print)
Themes: Historical Fiction, Depression Era, Suspense, Art. Wealthy vs. Poor, Survival
Tone: Somber, gritty, reflective
One Sentence Summary:
The Trackers is about a New Deal muralist who becomes involved in a cross-country search for a wealthy rancher's wife, while working on a commission in Wyoming.
Setting: Early 1930's Wyoming
What I Think:
Although I enjoyed the book overall, I found the story line to be slow moving and almost too detailed. For me, the story lacked depth, and I found it to be somewhat monotone. It was like I was reading it in the voice of the old Dragnet guy on television. After all the detail after detail in the middle of the book, the quick wrap-up at the end left me a little frustrated. It was almost as if the author himself was just tired of writing this book, and woke up one day and said, "I'm wrapping this thing up today." And notice I used quotation marks - the author does not use quotation marks in this book. So although I didn't dislike the book, I can't say I was enthralled with it, either. This book, for me, was meh. But I did finish it!
Rating Scale
On a scale of 1-5
Readability - 3.5
Setting - 3
Enjoyment - 3
Writing Style - 2 (no quotation marks)
Characters - 3
Overall, just an okay book for me.
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan March 1-7, 2026
This week had its ups and downs, but all is good today. I just finished deep cleaning a bathroom, which felt really good! I got some sewing done:
I used a pattern from Ticklegrass Designs. It's just a mini charm pack, plus the lining fabric and a zipper. Super great instructions, very easy to put together. I've made several others of this pattern, and loved how each one of them turned out.
Now I'm working on a different zipper pouch for a different friend, and I'm kind of making it up as I go along. I'll share it when it's finished, hopefully I'll get it done this week. I'm using a bunch of my pink scraps.
I have lots planned for this coming week, as I'm starting to get some spring cleaning done. It's supposed to rain all week, so I'm planning on staying in most of the time. Although we did get out and start walking again the other day. My husband and I just walk through the neighborhood, but it felt so good to get out and get some fresh air. We'll continue to walk if it's not raining!
Here's my menu plan for the week. Nothing too exciting again, just some good home cooking. As usual, links to the recipes are below.
Banana Cream Pie
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookie Cups
So on to books. I'm still reading Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl. Really good, though, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. After looking at the end of the book, which I should have done before I started, I found out it's a fictionalized biography of Estee Lauder, based on real events in her life, but some of the other characters have been created by the author. So even though it's fiction, it's based on her real life. I'm loving it!
Have a great week, everyone! See you next week!
Hugs,
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Book Report: A Man Called Ove
★★★★★
(5 out of 5 stars)
Title: A Man Called Ove
Author: Fredrick Backman
Genre: Fiction
Started: January 12, 2026
Finished: January 26, 2026
Published: 2014
337 pages
Themes: Love, loss, human connection
Tone: Grumpy humor, deep sadness, hope, love, loneliness
One Sentence Summary: A Man Called Ove is about a crabby widower, whose life and suicide attempts are put off by some new neighbors, leaving him to find friendship, love, and a new outlook.
Setting: Ove's home in Sweden
What I think:
I loved this book. It is written so simply, so beautifully, yet has such a deep characterization of Ove. I felt like I knew him! He's seemingly simple on the outside, yet such a hurting, lonely man on the inside. This book is compassionate, funny, sad, simple, complex, and intense all at the same time. Yes, I cried for him, especially at the end. Not a book I will forget. I highly recommend this book.
Rating Scale 1-5
Readability: 5
Setting: 5
Enjoyment: 5
Writing Style: 5
Characters: 5
This is definitely one of my favorite books of all time.
Weekly Menu Plan February 22-28, 2026
Here we go with the last week of February! On to spring! I'm going to ignore the snow flurries outside this morning. :(
I've been trying to get some sewing done this week, not as much as I hoped, but I'm almost done with a cute little zipper pouch. I will post a picture later this week, IF I get it finished!
Lots of fun baking coming up this week! I've never tried the Apple Butter Cookies, but I have a jar of apple butter that I need to use up, so I'm looking forward to seeing if these turn out.
I pretty much went easy on my cooking time this week. Gotta use up those leftovers! So leftovers it is for a couple nights this week. I find it hard to cook for 1 or 2, so I don't! I still tend to cook like there are 4 of us for meals. Now my kids are middle-aged adults, so it's been a long time since I've had hungry teens! You'd never know it, though, by my meal plans!
Here is what we're having this week: Links are below.
Links:
Slow Cooker Pot Roast and Gravy
Blueberry Toaster Strudel - *Note: I just use refrigerated Puff Pastry Dough instead of making the dough from scratch. Just unroll, cut into rectangles the size of Pop Tarts, layer with jam or blueberry pie filling, top with another sheet of pastry, and bake.
Crockpot Sausage, Potatoes, and Green Beans
Almond Joy Rice Krispie Treats
Bailey's Banana Bread With Chocolate Drizzle
As far as books go, I FINALLY FINISHED The Trackers! Yay!! I haven't posted my review yet (but there are a few other books I've read this year listed on my Book Report page), but I will say, it was okay but not my favorite. I'll post my review later this week. Stay tuned.
Just yesterday, I started this one:
I'm curious to read this one. It's a fictional account of a friendship between Estee Lauder and Gloria Downing. I'm not sure at this point if it's based on facts, or if it's entirely fiction. I need to investigate that a bit further, but so far I'm enjoying what I've read.
If you've read this one, please let me know in the comments and tell me what you thought!
Time to get busy! Have a wonderful Sunday, and an even more wonderful week!
Hugs,
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan Feb 15 to 21, 2026
Spring is coming! I can feel it!
My bluebirds are already out by their birdhouse, getting things ready and fighting off the sparrows.
The snow is almost all melted, as we've had temps above freezing all week. And it looks like they're staying for the rest of this week! Woohoo!
It is so nice to look out and see grass instead of snow. I can't wait to see my daffodils popping up. Any day now, I'm betting.
I had a very quiet, not too busy week, but I have to fess up, I was quite lazy. I did some shopping, just for fun stuff, and generally just enjoyed being lazy. That isn't a good thing for me to admit, I suppose, but I'm just being honest! This week I am making myself get back into a more productive routine. I guess I just needed a mini-vacation!
Here are my meals I planned for this week. Nothing too fancy, just some easy-to-throw-together meals that aren't too boring.
As usual, links are below.
Links to recipes:
I'll try to finish it this week. I hope. I'm ready to switch to a new read!
I hope you all have a great week, and lots of good times with your families and friends!
Hugs,
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan 2-8 to 2-14, 2026
I know it's a bit early, but I probably won't post again until the 15th. And I love these cute little lovebirds!
Last week was kind of crazy for me, almost every day was interrupted by something I hadn't planned. Some weeks are like that! Nothing terrible, I just didn't get done what I wanted to do. I guess there's always tomorrow, right?
We've started to thaw out, thankfully! Tomorrow we have temperatures above freezing, and then it looks like a pretty long stretch of upper 30's and 40's, with even a couple 50's thrown in. I cannot wait to see all this snow melt. Hopefully by the end of the week, we'll even see some patches of grass. Spring is on the way!
Here is my menu for the week. Right now, I'm wondering if I'll have time to get this all done. I've got a lot of other things going on this week, and I'm not sure I'll have enough time during the day to get some of this cooking done. But I'll try! The worst thing is, I'll make it another time.
But here's what I'm planning right now: (links are below)
Recipe Links:
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Baked Oatmeal
Overnight French Toast Casserole
I didn't have much reading time this week. I'm still reading The Trackers. This book is good, and I'm enjoying it, but it's easy to put down and come back to later. Does that make sense? It's not a cliffhanger, or suspenseful enough that I can't put it down. But every time I pick it up where I left off, I get right back into the story. To me, that's a good thing, but I feel like it's taking me forever to get through it. So I'm really going to try and finish it this week!
That's about it for now! Take care, everyone, and have a beautiful week filled with love and valentines!
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