Saturday, April 11, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan April 12-18, 2026
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan March 8-14, 2026
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| Happy Sunday! |
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Book Report: The Trackers
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
Yay, March! My daffodils are popping up out of the ground! Maybe that old groundhog isn't as smart as we think he is!
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 finished this sweet little zipper pouch for a friend of mine. We had breakfast together this week, and I'm pretty sure she liked it!Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookie Cups
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Book Report: A Man Called Ove
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
Good morning! How are you all doing today?
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.
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan Feb 15 to 21, 2026
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan 2-8 to 2-14, 2026
Happy Valentine's Day!
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
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan 2-1to2-8, 2026
This will be quick today. I'm heading out to my youngest granddaughter's symphony concert this evening, and we're not going to be home much today. Busy week ahead! Schools are back open, the below zero temperatures are behind us (at least for now), and there's only minimum snowfall predicted for this week. So I'm back to my normal schedule, and I can't wait! I'm getting a touch of cabin fever.
Here is what my menu looks like this week:
(As usual, links are below)
Links:
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Overnight Oats
Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches
Chicken and Vegetables with Rice Bake
Monday, January 26, 2026
Book Report #1 January 2026
This is the first book I finished in January 2026.
Title of Book: The Authenticity Project
Author: Clare Pooley
Fiction:
Started: December 20, 2025
Finished: January 4, 2026
Published: 2020
352 pages
Setting: London
Themes: Honesty, Loneliness, Connections
Tone: Charming, uplifting
One sentence summary:Overall impression: Fun read
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan 1-18 to 1-24, 2026
Hello from freezing Indiana!
I hope you all had a great week last week! Mine was a little busier than anticipated, but all is good. I know I can't wait for the championship IU game tomorrow night! Go Hoosiers!!
I have had so many new visitors to the blog, and I thank all of the Linky Party hosts for all the kind comments and even a feature! That is amazing! I'm just hoping any visitors can find something useful here. I do still enjoy cooking and baking!
So on to this week's menu plan. I'm making sure to incorporate nights for leftovers. Luckily, my husband eats pretty much whatever I put in front of him. He's not fussy that way! It doesn't bother him to eat the same thing 2 nights in a row. But if your family doesn't like that, I totally get it. My daughter's family rarely touches leftovers. Even though I love to cook, I love my nights off in the kitchen as well! It gives me more time to read and sew!
Here's what I'm cooking this week: (Links are below)
Links:
Caramel Apple Pie Overnight Oats
Peanut Butter Chocolate Cream Pie
Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies
Lemon Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
Easy Amish Sour Cream Cornbread
As for reading this week, I finished Twice by Mitch Albom. I really liked the book! Loved the characters, it was easy to read, and it does give you something to think about. I am thinking I might post a review if anyone is interested.
My plan was to start The Secret Life of Albert Entwhistle, but I changed my mind and started A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman instead.
Oh, I am loving this book! I am about halfway through it, and it is just a heartwarming story of a grumpy, lonely, eccentric old man. It just touches my heart. I'll tell more after I finish it. My sister told me she loved both the book and the movie. So I'm excited to finish this one!
Then after this one, I'm reading The Book Thief. My daughter, granddaughter, and I are going to hear the author of The Book Thief speak at a presentation sponsored by one of our small bookshops near here. I can't wait to go to that, and it's at the beginning of March. My daughter has read it, and my granddaughter is reading it for her high school English class. So I need to catch up to them!
That's it for this week! You all have a wonderful, blessed week, and I hope to meet many more readers this week through the comments. I love reading them, and I love meeting you all! Take care!Sunday, January 11, 2026
Weekly Menu Plan 1-11 to 1-17, 2026
Links:
Slow Cooker Queso Chicken Tacos
Ultimate Peanut Butter Cookies
Chocolate Covered Cherry Hot Chocolate
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