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Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Evening Journal - Tuesday, November 29, 2022

It's getting late, but I thought I'd pop in for just a bit before heading for bed. Have you had a good day?

Christmas Tree in My Bedroom

~ What Time It Is...

... 10:20 p.m.

~ What I'm Doing...

... taking a break and having a cup of tea before bed.

~ I Am Praising The LORD For...

... another opportunity to spend time with my girls this afternoon. 

~ Things That Made Me Smile Today...

... bumping in to an old friend in an unexpected place at an unexpected time and just moments ago I discovered that it's snowing!!! 

~ What I Did Today...

... Amanda had to return Kayla to her biological mother after the Thanksgiving holiday, so, afterwards Amber and I met her and Alysia for lunch in Nevada. We stopped at Dollar Tree, Walmart, and Wood's Supermarket while in town to pick up a few groceries and other things. After I got home I decided to bite the bullet and put up a couple of Christmas trees. I'm not putting the big one up this year because of the kittens, but I did put up two smaller ones...one in the kitchen and another in my bedroom. I just hope the kittens leave them alone and don't wreak havoc. Time will tell! 😁

~ My Evening Prayer...

... that the Lord's peace would settle upon loved ones that have lost family members this week and that He would strengthen, encourage, and comfort them in whatever way they need. Please put the Staub/Pennington/Genser families after the loss of Grandma Staub and the Chiles/Vansel/Burkenbile families after the death of my ex sister-in-law, Shirley. Thanks so much!

~ What's For Supper...

... actually...I didn't have supper tonight...just sort of snacked.

How about you? How was your day? What did you accomplish? What was on the supper plate for you and yours?

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Monday, November 28, 2022

Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - November 28, 2022

It's the last Monday of November 2022! Did you have a nice Thanksgiving? 



I spent Thanksgiving at Patrick and Amber's. Three of my children and their families were there, a couple of my cousins, a daughter-in-law's grandparents, and good friends. 



A total of twenty-one of us enjoyed the day with plenty of good food and great fellowship for everyone!



Now Thanksgiving is behind us and the Christmas season is officially under way! Woo-hoo!

I'm excited about the holiday season, of course, but, I have to admit, I'm having a really hard time missing John right now. The Christmas season was so special for us. In fact, he propsed to me on Christmas Eve. 

Christmas Eve 1987

I love and miss him so much. Fifty-five years of friendship and thirty-three years of marriage...our lives were so intertwined and we were (and I still am) so incredibly blessed! Blessed to have known him...blessed to have been his wife...blessed to have shared the biggest part of a lifetime with him. I am so thankful! 

The parts for the hot water tank arrived mid-week and Rudy was able to get me up and running before the weekend. It was so nice to come home from work Friday night and take a wonderfully hot shower. Again, I am so thankful!

I don't have a lot of time this morning, so let's get right into this week's post...shall we?

Northern Harrier Hawk In a Farm Field
on My Way Home From Work

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

- clean house
- do laundry
- figure December bills and budget
- get together with Carla
- meet Amanda and the grandgirls for lunch or supper
- wish granddaughter, Alysia, a Happy Birthday
- finish decorating for Christmas
- pick up stamps
- fill out and mail Christmas cards
- change the calendar page
- finalize plans for Family Christmas (coming up in less than two weeks)
- wrap a few Christmas gifts
 
Red-tailed Hawk

This week's menu plan...

This week's plan includes using up leftovers and fresh items, as well as, doing some baking to help stretch out items on-hand. 

Leftovers include turkey, pumpkin pie, and tortellini. Fresh items include potatoes, carrots, onions, apples, mandarin oranges, yogurt, and cottage cheese. 

Ideas for using up the turkey and vegetables include making a small pot pie and the apples I will use in a new dessert recipe that I found. 

For breakfast this morning it's potatoes and onions with sausage; for lunch leftover tortellini. For supper I will most likely make salmon or chicken with oven-roasted carrots as a side. Snacks will include yogurt and mandarins.

I've got to get a carton of egg whites, then I will use the cottage cheese in a large batch of Trim Healthy Mama pancakes and freeze them in portion-sized batches. As for baking, my goal is to make a batch of Sue Gregg's Good Earth Rolls and some oatmeal cookies to freeze. 

Good Earth Rolls

Other than that, that's about it for today! I hope your day is going well and that you have a wonderful week ahead! 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Thanksgiving Eve 2022

It's the day before Thanksgiving and I've been enjoying the hussle and bussle of working in the kitchen today since early morning.



Thus far I've made two pumpkin rolls, a pumpkin pie, and have prepared the turkey that will go into the oven late tonight. The only thing left to do for my part in tomorrow's feast is to prepare the Heavenly Corn. I will assemble that in the crockpot tonight and refrigerate until morning. I will plug it in and heat it up when I get up. 



In addition to cooking and baking, I've watched a couple of old Thanksgiving shows online, have done a couple loads of laundry, and talked to several of my children on the phone. Other than that there's really not a whole lot going on on this end. 



How about you? How are you spending this Thanksgiving Eve and how are your Thanksgiving preparations coming along? 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Monday, November 21, 2022

Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - November 21, 2022

It's the Monday before Thanksgiving and plans for the holiday season are well under way!


How are things going your way? Are you ready for Thanksgiving? How was your week and weekend?

Christmas Decor Going Up @ Union Station
Kansas City, Missouri

My week here was full, crazy, wildly busy, and fun; my weekend was also full, but quiet, relaxing, and enjoyable. Pictures from the past week and weekend are scattered throughout this post.

Ceiling of Union Station
Kansas City, Missouri

I had the followup appointment with my doctor last Monday concerning the infection that had developed in my upper hip. She said that it still looked "impressively terrible" but that it was healing nicely. She extended the antibiotics another week and said to keep doing what I was doing (bentonite clay with charcoal and tea tree oil and Watkins Petro-Carbo Salve) because it was working. Unless something unexpected happens, I do not have to return to her again until next year. Praise the Lord!

The Missouri State Park Quilt 
Currently on Display @ Graham Cave State Park
Danville, Missouri

The Block Representing My Park
Prairie State Park - Mindenmines, Missouri
Top Row and Second From the Left

Tuesday was spent running errands and packing; on Wednesday I left to go to Amanda and Aaron's for a few days. 

Inside Union Station
Kansas City, Missouri

Soon after my arrival we visited a few places that we had been talking about going to for quite some time. The first place we went was to the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium in Union Station downtown. No pictures were allowed to be taken during the show, but it was great! 

After the planetarium, we visited Forest Hills Cemetery where several famous local personalites are buried. Among the graves that we visited were those of Satchel Paige, R.A. Long, and Tom Pendergast, but, the one that we were actually there to see, was the grave of Confederate General Jo Shelby. My 3rd great-grandfather served under him during the Civil War; visiting General Shelby's grave served as another adventure for us in our tour of 'Little Dixie'. 

Shelby's Last Stand
Grave of General Jo Shelby
Monument Honoring the Confederate Dead

Early Thursday morning we took off and drove across the state to Deutschheim State Historic Site at Hermann, Missouri.

Deutschheim State Historic Site
Hermann, Missouri


Hermann is a lovely little town that was founded by German Americans in the late 1830's. It sits overlooking the Missouri River and is one of the most beautiful towns I've ever seen. Most of the structures are made of brick and are of German design. 

The White House Hotel
Hermann, Missouri

Looking Out The Window
@ Deutschheim

Harbor Hal's Inn and Suites
Hermann, Missouri

St. Paul's United Church-Christ
Hermann, Missouri

The Strehly House
Circa 1842-1869
Hermann, Missouri

We ate lunch at the Hermann Wurst Haus Market. The atmosphere was quaint...the food delicious! Aaron even found some locally made root beer!

Traditional German Sausages and More

Amanda, Aaron, and Alysia Getting Ready
For Lunch @ the Hermann Wurst Haus

I Chose the Reuban with Chips and a Pickle
It was so good!

Calvin's 1836 Barrel-Style Root Beer
Made in Hermann, Missouri

After touring Deutschheim, we visited the Missouri River and the Hermann Riverfront Park.

Hermann Riverfront Park

The Missouri River @ Hermann, Missouri

Amanda, Aaron, and Alysia
Hermann Waterfront - Hermann, Missouri

While out on our full-day adventure we also visited Graham Cave State Park, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Jewell Cemetery State Historic Site, and, ended up in Jefferson City at Jefferson Landing. Altogether I added five new state parks and historic sites to my collection. What a great day!

Graham Cave State Park

Rock Bridge State Park
Columbia, Missouri

Jewell Cemetery State Historic Site
Columbia, Missouri

The Missouri State Capitol Building
@ Jefferson City, Missouri

The Governor's Mansion
@ Jefferson City, Missouri

I had a sweet surprise waiting for me at Jefferson Landing. 
My friend, Angela, who I mentored at Spring Training in 2018,
works there! I had no idea! It was great seeing her again after
all this time. We had a very short, but wonderful visit! 💗

After we got Amanda and Aaron's they had enough energy left to put up their Christmas tree. I went to bed and saw it the next morning! LOL!

Amanda and Aaron's Christmas Tree 2022

I came home from Kansas City on Friday, worked Saturday (frost flowers were out in full force!), and visited Patrick and Amber's church in Rich Hill on Sunday. A lovely Thanksgiving meal was served afterwards. Sunday evening was spent relaxing. 

Table Decor @ Lighthouse Family Fellowship
Rich Hill, Missouri

Now, here we are, back around to Monday and the day is getting away from me. Let's take a look at the week ahead...shall we?

Weekend Frost Flowers

Have been without hot water again since Friday (last time was without for 22 days! I highly suggest never purchasing a Richmond brand hot water tank. They're junk!!! This is the third one we've had since moving into this house in 2016). Surprisingly, though, even though the warrenty expired in February (?), the company acknowledged that there is a known issue with the gas valve on the 2020 model and are sending replacement parts free of charge anyway. I'm so thankful! 

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

- clean house
- do laundry
- wait for the parts for the hot water heater to arrive and get it fixed
- meet Amanda for supper in Nevada when she picks Kayla up 
- make my contributions for Thanksgiving dinner (bake a turkey, make Heavenly Corn, and make two pumpkin rolls)
- celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends
- answer a few cards and letters
- mail a birthday card
- work

This week's menu plan...

Supper tonight...turkey sausage patty with fried potatoes, onions, and peppers. Tomorrow night...taco soup or chili with crackers or cornbread.

On Wednesday I plan on baking a turkey breast to slice and freeze in portions appropriate for multiple meals. I will also bake and assemble the pumpkin rolls. 

Wednesday night I will bake the turkey for Thanksgiving at Patrick and Ambers on a low temperature overnight. Thursday, of course, will be Thanksgiving fare all day long and the weekend will be steeped in leftovers, I'm sure! Yum!

That's it for me today! How about you? How's your Monday going? I hope your day is going well and that your week is off to a great start! I wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving and may God's richest blessings be yours throughout this holiday season!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Monday, November 14, 2022

Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - November 14, 2022

It's a chilly morning here on the prairie and they're saying that we might get some rain and snow before the day is over; right now it's 34 degrees and cloudy.

I hope that you and yours had a nice week and weekend. Mine here was great! 

Northern Harrier Sailing Over Tallgrass Prairie

I had a doctor's appointment Thursday afternoon to deal with an infection that had developed. She gave me a shot of penicillen and put me on an oral antibiotic. I have a follow-up appointment later this morning.

I worked Friday and things were slow. Not only was it a holiday, but it was cold and windy. Still I had a few visitors and a couple of brave hikers. It was a good day and I got quite a few wildlife photos coming and going.

White-tailed Deer

Saturday I, along with Amber, Amanda, and Tony and their families, spent an early Christmas with my aunts and cousins back home. That's a former tradtion that had not been celebrated since moving to Liberal twenty-six years ago. It was good to get together and visit...very reminicent of times past, but, now, with new generations to share. 





We had lots of food, fun, and fellowship. We sang Christmas carols, played pool, and even dug out the old home videos from 1972 (I was 10- or 11-years-old in them). My children and grands got quite a kick out of them! We had a great time!

Sunday was quiet. After church I worked around the house and started the Christmas craft project that I have been anxious to get started. I will share more about that in a future post. 

Now, here we are, it's Monday again. Let's take a look at the week ahead, shall we?

American Bison

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

- clean house
- do laundry
- go to follow-up doctor's appointment
- figure the mid-month budget
- go to the bank and post office
- answer some cards and letters
- spend a few days with my youngest daughter and her family
- work

Red-tailed Hawk

This week's menu plan...

It seems I have an endless supply of leftovers and fresh items. I will concentrate on using up as many of them as I can this week.

Northern Harrier Hawk Over Tallgrass Prairie

Well...that's it for today! How's your week ahead look? 

Until next time...
~Rebecca
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