Happy Homemaker - Jan. 13,2025

 Since I somehow missed writing the first one of these for the year, I will write this one. I have been away from my blog for a while, but I intend to keep on top of it this year and I have plans made for that to happen. If you aren't aware of what Happy Homemakers is, I suggest you stick around and read this post and then hop over to Diary of a Stay At Home Mom and find out all about this link up party. 

It has been a hard week around here as we have had 2 snows that have left measurable snow and has caused our kids to be out of school all week. Part of the downside of living in the country is that gravel roads aren't easy to remove snow from. It makes getting the kids to school much harder and the bus drivers are challenged much more than those that have routes in town. 

THE WEATHER IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS:

Cold and Snowy. We have about 16 inches of snow on the ground and may get more this week. Temperatures aren't supposed to be above freezing until Friday. I hear that we may have more snow this week. I told my husband that I hope it just snows all that we are going to get at one time and it moves out and spring comes early.

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

We were married 30 years on Saturday. My husband did not feel well so we did not really celebrate, but it was still a good day. He makes me happy. My grands make me happy. We found out that our son and daughter-in-law are going to be moving a little closer to us and that makes me so happy. 

BOOKS THAT I AM READING:

To A Tea by Vera Dodge. It is a Guideposts book and so far, it is fairly good. The beginning was a little slower read than I like, however, it is getting more exciting now.  It is part of a series of tea shop mysteries, I believe. I plan to investigate that more. 

WHAT'S ON MY TV:

When Calls The Heart just began a new season and that is what we are currently watching. Several shows that we like are starting new seasons and I am thankful as I am tired of reruns. 

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE:

Zucchini bread that I made yesterday and coffee. I found a blueberry coffee that I am enjoying. I have also been drinking a lot of hot tea with the cold, snowy weather we have had. 

ON THE LUNCH PLATE:

I am truly not sure as I have physical therapy today. I will probably have a sandwich once I return home. 

ON THE DINNER PLATE:

Crockpot Peper steak- a recipe that my husband found online that he wants to try. I hope that it is good. The pictures look really good. I will let you all know. We love pepper steak but I haven't ever made it in the crockpot. I will make rice to go with it along with some veggies.

ON THE MENU:

Monday- Crockpot Pepper Steak

Tuesday - Goulash

Wednesday - Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry

Thursday - Ham and Bean Soup with cornbread

Friday - no idea yet

Saturday - dinner out if we can celebrate our anniversary

ON MY TO DO LIST:

1. Bible Study /Prayer Journal

2. check emails and business reports

3. therapy

4. declutter kitchen Tupperware

5. plan Pink Zebra sale and game night

6. call my friend, Libby

NEW RECIPE I TRIED OR WANT TO TRY:

We tried a Pork Chop Supreme recipe the other night that my husband found. It was good, although I made a note that I would add more milk than the recipe called for. Here is the recipe:

• 4 boneless pork chops
• 4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
• 1 envelope Lipton onion soup mix
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1/4 cup milk (I would add at least 1/2 cup)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup oil (for browning)

1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

2. Brown pork chops in the oil in skillet

3.Thinly slice potatoes and place in bottom of the baking dish in a single layer. These act as a base to the dish and will absorb all the flavors that are added to this dish.

4.Place the browned pork chops on top of the potatoes. 

5.Mix together onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup, milk and salt and pepper and pour over the meat and potatoes. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour. 

WHAT I AM CREATING:

I am working on a scrapbook of all the letters that my husband wrote to me when we were dating and adding a few other things to it. It can be treasured by our children and grandchildren later in life. 

NO WORDS NEEDED:

DEVOTIONAL, PRAYER, BIBLE VERSES:

My Bible study yesterday was entitled " Age Is Only a Number". The verses were all verses that spoke of the elderly and their wisdom. Here are the verses:

Proverbs 16:31/ Proverbs 20:29 /Proverbs 17:6

Job 12:12/ Job 32:7

Psalms 92:13-15

Leviticus 19:32

Isaiah 46:4

My favorite was Job 32:7 which says, " I said, Age should speak

, and multitude of years should teach wisdom."

I feel as though many younger people do not understand that the elderly have lived and experienced many of the struggles that they are dealing with and if they would allow the elderly to teach them how to get through the struggle, life would be easier. I learned a great deal of things about life from my grandparents and I am thankful for those lessons.