Happy Homemaker Monday - December 9, 2019

Greetings, Dear Ones! 💓 Happy Monday! 

Here we are...already into the second full week of December and time just keeps marching on!

Last week was wonderful! I spent most of the week at home cooking, cleaning, planning, crafting, and getting ready for our rapidly approaching family Christmas get-together on Saturday. I can hardly believe that Christmas is already upon us! 🎄

I did manage to get the tree decorated this week...only one though. The past three years I have put up four trees...the big one and three smaller ones. This year...only the big one. No time, no energy, no inclination. This year...one is enough. (I didn't even put my mom's tree up with the vintage ornaments. THAT makes me sad, but it can't be helped.) 😞

This year's Christmas tree. After I got it up I noticed that one
row of the prelighted branches has gone out. Oh, well!
 I hear that that is a common problem with pre-lit trees. 😖

I worked Friday and Saturday. Friday at the park; Saturday at Watkins Woolen Mill State Park where our youngest daughter works and coordinates their annual Christmas on the Farm event. It's always a lot of fun and my husband and I have worked that event for so many years now, that it would hardly feel like Christmas without it. 

One of My Favorite Things - The Traditional
Centerpiece on the Watkins Family Table

(I've included a few more pictures a little further along in this post.)

Last night I tried my hand at making Mary Berry's jaffa cakes using an Americanized version of the recipe. I bought the pan and ingredients for them quite some time ago and just now got around to making them. They turned out good and are quite tasty, but I doubt that Paul, nor Mary, either one, would approve of the appearance of my final bake. Fortunately, my husband isn't particular and he and I both like them as is! In fact, we like them too much! 😆 

My Version of Mary Berry's Jaffa Cakes
(Whispering - I don't think she'd approve of their appearance.)
To get to the link for the Americanized version
of the recipe that I used click HERE

Okay...enough about last week! Let's get right on into this week's post, shall we?

Please join me as I link up with Sandra of Diary of a
Stay At Home Mom and all the other lovely ladies that gather
there on this week's Happy Homemaker Monday! 💗

Right now I am...

... finishing up breakfast and enjoying a cup of tea while I work on this post. 

On the breakfast plate...

... Odd, I know, but am eating up a few leftovers that have gotten stranded in the fridge...a small piece of meatloaf, a cold baked potato that has been reheated and served with the last bits of cottage cheese out of an open container, a slice of homemade bread toasted and smeared with Smart Balance, and a cup of hot tea

The weather...

... Right now it's cloudy and 49 degrees, but temperatures are supposed to be falling all day before landing in the mid-20's this evening and it's supposed to be windy this afternoon. 

...  On my reading pile...

My Father, Daniel Boone - The Draper Interviews with Nathan Boone edited by Neal O. Hammon and Consider Jesus - A 31-Day Advent Devotional by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

Consider Jesus
by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

On the menu this week...

Monday - Oven-roasted chicken breasts, odds and ends of leftover vegetables from last week (butternut squash, green beans, broccoli, cabbage), and cottage cheese

Tuesday - Taco soup

Wednesday - Italian sausage, oven roasted potatoes, and green beans

Thursday - Ham, beans, and cornbread

Friday - Broiled salmon, mashed potatoes, and peas

Saturday - Potluck (Family Christmas)

Sunday - Leftovers

On my 'to do' list...

- Monday - Plan the week ahead, get caught up on housework and laundry, and work on Christmas stuff

- Tuesday - Dh has an appointment with the eye doctor and has to renew his driver's license; run errands, shop

- Wednesday - Focus on finishing up stuff for Christmas 

- Thursday - Celebrate granddaughter, Mary's, birthday, focus on finishing up stuff for Christmas
- Friday - Work; prepare food for family Christmas get-together on Saturday; expecting youngest daughter's arrival at some point
- Saturday - Celebrate dh's 66th birthday; attend our annual family Christmas get-together 🎄🎅🎁
- Sunday - Church

In the craft basket...

... Am still trying to catch up on the temperature afghan and have made a few more recycled Christmas card crafts to give as gifts.

Looking forward to this week...

... Getting to spend time with our children and grandchildren at Family Christmas 2019! 

Something I enjoyed watching this week...

The classic Christmas cartoons, A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Grinch That Stole Christmas, one of my favorite Christmas movies, The Man Who Invented Christmas and a Dicken's classic, Oliver Twist (BBC 2007).

Quoted by Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas

From the camera...

A few shots of Christmas on the Farm at Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site - Saturday, December 7, 2019...

The Lane That Visitors Follow From The Visitor
Center Down to the House and Mill

Old-time Lanterns Light The Pathway From
The Visitor Center to the Home After Dark

The Watkins Family Home

Father Christmas
Every guest on the tour receives a fresh orange from him. 

The Big Event of the Evening -
The Lighting of the Plum Pudding

The Kitchen Where Treats Are Served After A
Lamplit Tour of the Home is Completed

Scripture passage...

Prayer requests...

 - President Trump, Vice-President Pence, all elected officials and their families in every arena from the federal to the local level in every town, city, county, and state, and our nation as a whole

- A great awakening within our nation as took place in the mid-1700's, again in the early 1800's, and again in the late 1800's...early 1900's. Its time!

- Pat - has been moved into the special needs (Alzheimer's) unit at the nursing facility this week; took two falls on Friday; no injuries, but vitals had to be monitored closely afterwards; has another appointment with the cardiologist this week.

- Godly wisdom, direction, and peace during this holiday season and time of change

Thanks so much!

Well, Ladies! That's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed and beautiful week ahead! 💗

Until Next Time...

~Rebecca

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...

Happy Homemaker Monday - December 2, 2019

Happy Homemaker Monday - November 25, 2019

Happy Homemaker Monday - November 18, 2019