The First Master List and Menu Plan Monday of 2023 - January 2, 2023

It's the first Monday of 2023 and, even with all the ups, downs, twists, and turns that are sure to come, a bright, shiny new year lies stretched out before us, full of all kinds of wonderful possibilities! How did you ring it in?

I worked at the park on New Year's Eve, but that evening I was invited to ring in the New Year at Patrick and Amber's. Tony and Nicole and their family was there, as was my cousin, Dave. We were all of so tired that none of us were sure that we'd make it until midnight. We agreed early on that if it became too much we'd check out the world clock and find out where it was midnight and celebrate that country's New Year arrival and call it quits, but, in the end, it didn't come to that. We all made it to midnight! 🥳

We ordered in pizza, visited, and played games. As the clock neared midnight, Patrick read a scripture passage, prayed, and dedicated the new year to the Lord and His service.

At midnight the kids shot off a few fireworks and, soon after, we called it a night and went home.

Sunday morning was church, then, I had to be at work for our annual "First Day" bison hike. We're not normally open on Sundays, but Missouri State Park's "First Day" hikes are on January 1st no matter what day of the week it falls on. The weather was really nice and people were out enjoying it. We interacted with a total of sixty-seven visitors in a short three hours, and it turned out to be a great afternoon for everyone. The weather was absolutely gorgeous!

As soon as I got off work I picked my cousin up and we headed to Nevada to shop and meet my son-in-law and granddaughter for supper. We had a great visit and, even though they had already returned Kayla to her mother, somehow in the middle of it all, her mother brought her back to where we were eating, so that Kayla could say hello and see me for a minute. It was a nice surprise and I enjoyed getting to see her, too, even if it was only for a very short few minutes. 

Now, here it is Monday afternoon. I way overslept this morning, but that's okay. I needed it. Let's take a look at the week ahead...shall we?

A Christmas Gift From One

of Our Regular Visitors

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

- Clean house

- Deep clean the bedroom

- Clean and organize the fridge and freezer

- Do laundry

- Figure January's budget and bills

- Pay bills

- Go to the bank and post office

- Celebrate grandson, Silas's, 15th birthday

- Shop online for vitamins and suppliments

- Work

- Wish Tony and Nicole a Happy Anniversary

American Kestrel

This week's menu plan...

As previously posted, I've started the self-imposed winter food challenge and am already making progress towards using up foods on-hand. I did shop last night for fresh items and other things needed to round things out. 

Some of the foods that I'm going to focus on this week include leftover fresh items from the holidays (apples, oranges, potatoes, and onions) and items in the fridge and freezer that need cleaned up (leftover tuna and noodles, pasta sauce, canned peas, turkey/bean soup, shredded cheddar cheese, and a variety of homemade breads). 

Tallgrass Prairie Sunrise 

Meal ideas for this week include... 

Breakfasts - eggs and toast, oatmeal, THM pancakes (freezer) with fruit

Lunches - chef salad with bread sticks, soup and sandwich, homemade pizza, leftovers

Suppers - pasta with sauce, peas, and garlic bread, broiled salmon with a baked potato and oven-roasted carrots, broccoli, cheese, and rice casserole with a Good Earth Roll, turkey burger with oven fries

I'm going to stop here. I've worked at this off and on all afternoon in amongst other things and now we've got storms moving in. I think I'd be wise to get off the computer. 

I hope your first Monday of 2023 is going well. Have a nice evening and a great week ahead!

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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

Happy New Year 2023

Taking A Look Back At That 2022 Bucket List

Off and Running With the Winter Food Challenge and Sharing A Recipe For Turkey Bean Soup

Dollar-S-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g, Cabinet-Clearing, Clean-Up-The-Food, Winter Challenge Plan 2022/23