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Monday, November 29, 2021

Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - November 29, 2021

Good morning, Dear One! It's Monday! 💗 The last Monday of November! Can you believe it? 😧


How was your week and weekend? Did you and your family have a nice Thanksgiving? 

My week here was good. I had a lot of anxiety leading up to Thanksgiving, but, once it arrived, it turned out well and, with the company of close family and good friends, I survived the first Thanksgiving without my husband. It wasn't easy though and I miss him terribly. 😢

Amanda and her family ended up coming down and we cooked up a storm Wednesday afternoon and evening. We combined our food with everyone else's and spent Thanksgiving Day at Patrick and Amber's. Buddy and Christy and their family came, as did Anthony and Nicole and theirs; fifteen of my twenty grands were there.

In addition to the kids and their families, good friends and extended family members joined us, as well...Amber's uncle and his girlfriend, Patrick's parents, Amanda's mother-in-law, and unofficially-adopted kids, Keith and Miranda...thirty-one of us in all...and would you believe??? I didn't take a single photograph!!! Never even thought about it!!! 😭

Thanksgiving daytime temperatures were super nice; Thanksgiving evening turned off really cold. In fact, by that evening a few of us went out to the park in search of frost flowers in the dark. They were just starting to form and were small, but everyone got to see some.



By Friday morning frost flowers were out en masse. Amanda's mother-in-law (my new friend), Lisa, and I went out to the park and took a little tour. It was Lisa's first time to the park (in the daytime anyway) and her first time of seeing frost flowers in their full glory. We had a great time!



I worked a full day Saturday and went back out to the park Sunday afternoon to take photos. The photos below are of Tuesday's prescribed burn. The first one I took early in the afternoon just as they were getting the burn started; the second one I took that night. The last one is of the bison. For whatever reason, they've been hanging around the burn unit all weekend long. I'm not sure what the big attraction is. There's not much left for them to eat on that section. Silly bison!!!





Now...here we are...it's Monday and I'm ready to start a brand-new week and jump, full-throttle, into the Christmas season! How about you? Are you ready? 

Let's get started on this week's post!



This week's to-do list...

- work
- clean house
- do laundry
- enter data (transect plant species; work @ home)
- wish granddaughter, Alysia, a Happy 11th Birthday
- figure December budget and bills
- pay bills
- select a winner in the current giveaway
- get together with my friend, Carla
- fill out and mail Christmas cards



This week's menu plan...

Breakfast ideas...

- cinnamon-apple toast with Triple 0 yogurt
- French toast
- THM pancakes with blueberries, Triple 0 yogurt, and syrup
- sweatpants oatmeal
- cottage cheese on toast with fresh fruit
- scrambled eggs and toast

Lunch ideas...

- holiday leftovers
- fish sandwich with baked potato
- grilled cheese sandwich with Just Like Campbell's Tomato Soup
- black bean and cheese tostadas
- tuna melt with chips
- homemade pizza (freezer)

Monday - Broiled salmon, potato pancake, sauteed celery, and fried apple
Tuesday - Turkey burger with cheese, black beans, and brown rice
Wednesday - Chicken soup and bread (freezer)
Thursday - Black-eyed peas and cornbread (freezer)
Friday - Turkey cheeseburger with potato wedges
Saturday - Bison chili with crackers
Sunday - Leftovers

Well...that's it for today, Ladies. You all have a nice day and a great week ahead and I'll be with you again soon.

Until next time...
~Rebecca

P. S. - Tomorrow is the last day to enter the drawing for a chance to win a free copy of Mrs. White's book! To enter click HERE.



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Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Two Day-After-Thanksgiving Soup Recipes



 DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING SOUP #1

1 turkey carcass
4 chicken bouillon cubes
2 ribs celery, chopped
3 carrots, sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
2 potatoes, chopped
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 tsp black pepper
salt to taste
1 can peas (optional)
1 cup uncooked noodles

Simmer turkey carcass in large pot with enough water to cover. Add bouillon cubes and spices. Cook 45 minutes. Strain broth and pick meat from the bones. Return meat to the broth. Add remaining ingredients except peas and noodles. Cook until tender. Add peas and noodles. Simmer until noodles are tender. 

(Tip - Add vinegar to the water when you cook the bones for soup. It will draw out calcium from the bones into your soup broth. Add 1 oz. of vinegar to 1 quart of water up to 4 oz. of vinegar no matter how much water you use. You won't taste the vinegar in the final soup.)

DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING SOUP #2

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and finely diced
2 celery ribs, finely diced
1 medium onion peeled and finely diced
3 (14.5-ounce) cans chicken broth
1 cup corn kernels
2 cups diced roasted turkey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 lemon, juiced

In a heavy saucepan heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and add carrots, celery and onion; cook until soft and golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add chicken broth, corn, turkey, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil. Simmer soup uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Before serving squeeze in the juice of a lemon.

Makes 4 servings.

Note: Leftover rice may be substituted for the corn.

Until next time...
~Rebecca

P. S. - Don't forget to enter the drawing for your chance to win a free copy of Mrs. White's book! To enter click HERE.



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Monday, November 22, 2021

Master To-Do List and Menu Plan - November 22, 2021

Greetings, Dear One! Happy Monday! 

I hope that you and yours had a good week and a great weekend! My week was strewn with emotional ups and downs, but, by week's end, the tsunami had leveled out and, at the moment, I almost feel like me. I hope it lasts.



I had a great weekend. On Saturday I went with Buddy and Christy and the children to Louisburg to go to the cider mill. We took a little detour on the way and ended up seeing some beautiful country and visiting some neat historic sites. 



The highlight of our trip, though...and I know that only those that are closest to our family will understand this...but the highlight of our trip was discovering a Price Chopper store, quite by accident, and in the most unexpected of places. (Price Chopper was our hometown, Italian-owned, grocery store back home in the Kansas City area.)

Buddy said, "I wonder if they have eggnog?" 

I said, "Anderson-Erickson?" 

"Yes."

"I don't know."  

"I'm going to find out!"

Buddy, granddaughter Ruth, and I went in the store. Not only did they have Anderson-Erickson eggnog, but they also had Roma bread, Alessi bread sticks, genoa salami, sandwich pepperoni, Fontina, and more.

I cried in the store. I can't explain it, but it was the closest, and  most connected to my husband that I had felt since he passed. All his favorite foods where there and I knew how excited he would have been to have made this discovery with us. My son said he felt just like he did when he was little shopping at Cosentino's Price Chopper in Blue Springs. I knew what he meant.

I could hear my husband saying "let's get some of this" and "let's get some of that." I drew the line, though, when I heard, "I wonder if they have any Greek olives?" LOL! (I never did like those things, but John loved them!)

Anyway, it all sounds silly, I'm sure, but it meant the world to me. I got quite few of the foods that we enjoyed on a regular basis (especially during the holiday season) during the early years of our marriage and moving. I feel like I'm truly kicking off the holiday season in style now and John would be very happy!



I went out to the park Sunday afternoon and got the nicest surprise! My cousin from Colorado and his wife and daughter were in the area They called and met me out there for a short visit. 


While there the daughter (Katy) played a little tune on her fiddle for me out on the prairie and wow! She's good!!! I was hoping to put one of the videos that I took in this post, but I can't figure out how to get uploaded to YouTube right now. If I get it figured out I will post it next week. 

Okay...I've rambled on long enough. Let's get on with this week's post, shall we?



This week's to-do list...

- work
- photograph a prescribed burn out at the park
- clean house 
- rearrange and straighten the Van Gogh room (a.k.a. my office-turned-spare-bedroom when company comes)
- clean out the fridge
- do laundry
- spend Thanksgiving with family and friends
- thank God for His many blessings in my life



This week's menu plan...

Breakfast ideas (no particular order) -

- scrambled eggs and toast
- fat-free turkey slices with laughing cow cheese wedge, and egg on toast
- sweatpants oatmeal
- THM pancakes with fresh blueberries, Triple 0 yogurt, and THM syrup
- cottage cheese on toast with fruit
- cinnamon-apple toast with Triple 0 yogurt

Lunch ideas (no particular order) - 

- fish sandwich with baked potato
- grilled cheese and Just Like Campbell's Tomato Soup
- chicken ranch salad
- egg salad sandwich with fresh fruit and veggies
- Italian sandwiches with Sun Chips
- homemade pizza from the freezer

Monday - Chicken ranch salad
Tuesday - Ham with fried potatoes and sautéed peppers and onions
Wednesday - Bison chili with crackers
Thursday - Thanksgiving
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Leftovers



Well, Ladies, that's it for this time! You all have a great day, a lovely week ahead, and an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving! Love and prayers over all!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Friday, November 19, 2021

Recipe - Wintery Day Bean Soup

A delicious meal-in-a-bowl.


WINTERY DAY BEAN SOUP

1 tablespoon salt
Water to cover
2 quarts fresh water
2 cups ham or smoked sausage, diced or sliced into 1-inch pieces (I used leftover pulled pork from the freezer)
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 can (28 oz.) tomatoes
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Rinse beans and place in a large kettle with salt and enough water to cover beans. Soak beans overnight. Drain and replace in kettle. Add fresh water and ham or sausage (or meat of choice). Simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Add onion, garlic, chili powder, tomatoes, and lemon juice. Simmer for 45 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with crackers or corn bread.

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Thursday, November 18, 2021

Thursday Things

It's a cool 45 degrees this morning, but the sun is shining and it's a beautiful Thursday here on the tallgrass prairies of southwest Missouri!



Monday I worked around the house; on Tuesday I went to Walmart and did a little Christmas shopping while the guys in tire and lube rotated and balanced my tires. 



While there I ran into my oldest granddaughter and got to see her engagement ring in person (it is gorgeous!!!) and had lunch at Sonic with my youngest son. 



I ran out to the park both Monday and Tuesday evenings to take photographs. I've scattered some of them throughout this post.



I had lots of company on Wednesday. Amber and Mercy dropped by in the morning, and Tony and Nicole and their children a little later (I ended up having lunch with them). Then, my friend, Carla, came over in the afternoon. Amber would have stayed longer, but Silas had to be at Children's Mercy in Kansas City. They are hoping to get his new prosthetic finished up before the end of the year. 



I found out this morning that Connie Hultquist passed away. Thank you to everyone who has been praying over her and, please, continue to remember her family.

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I still have no idea what I'm doing. For the past decade and a half, it has been John and I's tradition to spend Thanksgiving in Kansas City at our youngest daughter's. Many a Thanksgiving evening you would have found us downtown for the annual Plaza Lighting Ceremony or at Crown Center for the annual lighting of the Mayor's Christmas Tree. For us, there was nothing like officially kicking off the Christmas season in our beautiful hometown area of Kansas City! 



Now, without John, I don't know that I'm up to much of anything this year. No matter what I end up doing I know that someone is going to be disappointed, but I also know, that I can't be everywhere at once and I'm just going to have to do what need to do to make it through. Please pray for me for clarity, wisdom, and direction as to what I should do.



Well, I had more that I wanted to share, but time is getting away from me and I've got other things to do. 

I hope that you and yours are having a lovely Thursday and that your day is going well.

Until next time...
~Rebecca






 
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Monday, November 15, 2021

Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - November 15, 2021

Greetings, Dear One! Happy Monday!

Here we are...November 15th and the middle of November already! Can you believe it? Christmas is, literally, just around the corner! I trust that you and yours had a lovely weekend.  


Bittersweet

I was up and at 'em early Saturday morning looking for frost flowers. Temperatures were just right and I was not disappointed. Frost flowers were scattered all over the park, but especially down around the campground and picnic area. I photographed dozens of the delicate beauties, but this one is my favorite. It looks like a an iris. So pretty! 💗


Here are a few other things that I observed while out and about Saturday morning...






After I got done piddling around at the park I ran to Pittsburg and picked up a few things at Aldi's, then shopped the sales at Dillon's; Saturday night I watched War Room again. One of the best movies ever!!! Super good and straight on! Miss Clara is an inspiration! 🙏


Our oldest granddaughter announced her engagement over the weekend. Congratulations, Heather and Corey!!! I love you guys and am so happy for the two of you. I know that Grandpa would be, too. I only wish he was here to share in your happiness. 


Now, here we are...Monday again...and I'm so thankful! No matter how well things go, or how busy I manage to keep myself, weekends are the worst. They're when I miss my husband the most and, no matter what's going on, I feel completely lost and scattered during the course of them. I'm glad it's Monday!

Let's get on with this week's post...shall we?


This week's master to-do list...

- work
- clean house
- do laundry
- wash bedding
- get tires rotated and balanced on my car
- go to the Louisburg Cider Mill with next-to-the-youngest son and his family



This week's menu plan...

Breakfast ideas (no particular order) - 

- cinnamon-apple toast with Triple 0 yogurt
- fat-free turkey with egg and Laughing Cow cheese wedge on toast
- THM pancakes with fresh blueberries, Triple 0 yogurt, and THM syrup
- cottage cheese on toast with fruit
- Sweat Pants oatmeal
- scrambled eggs with fresh asparagus and toast

Lunch ideas (no particular order) -

- grilled cheese sandwich and Just Like Campbell's Tomato Soup
- chicken ranch salad
- THM tuna melt with fresh veggies on the side
- Crispy Salmon Siesta on a bed of sauteed zucchini noodles with fresh veggies on the side
- egg salad sandwich with fresh veggies and fresh fruit on the side
- chicken soup and homemade biscuits or bread from the freezer

Supper plan -

Monday - Chicken ranch salad and grapes
Tuesday - Black bean and cheese tostados with salad
Wednesday - Broiled salmon, baked sweet potato topped with sautéed spinach, and fresh asparagus
Thursday - Sausage patty with breakfast potatoes and sautéed peppers and onions
Friday - Turkey cheeseburger with sweet potato fries and a veggie tray
Saturday - Sesame chicken, brown rice, and sautéed vegetables
Sunday - Leftovers

That's it for today! I'm wishing you and yours a lovely day and a great week ahead!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

P. S. - Don't forget to enter the drawing for your chance to win a free copy of Mrs. White's book! To enter click HERE.



#Monday #menuplan #todolist  

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