Thankful Thursday

I hope your having a wonderful week!  I've had a busy but 
good week.  It's already Thursday and then means sharing my 
Thankful Heart.  

And a few hearts we made today . . . 

We made a few origami hearts that I will include in the cards that I  will mail to my PenFriends.  Interestingly I have a few new friends.  One of them loves Origami!  

I photo'd these on my new planner which I am still debating about if I like it or not.  I'll be going tomorrow to the Ace Hardware.   It's where I got my 'free' calendar last year.  I think if they still have some I'll go ahead and pick one up!  

And now on with the Thankfulness. . . 

I guess I am Thankful that I can get a free calendar in case I decide not to use the $8.00 planner I bought!

I am Thankful that I had help today making the hearts.  My grandson is here for a couple of hours on Wednesdays since MaMa works nights and his stepdad doesn''t get home in time to take him to Karate.  So his 'Pa' takes him.  I am Thankful that we live close to each other to help out.  

I am Thankful they are all well.  Last week my daughter and Son In Love both had Pneumonia.  He missed a week of work.  

We are all Thankful he has lots of sick days so they didn't loose his pay.  However our daughter doesn't get sick days.  But she 

can re-schedule so she can make up the time.  

I am Thankful that it is almost Spring.  I love Spring.  

I am Thankful for my home.  We have a nice house and a wonderful yard for Domino.  We have a great neighbor with a sweet dog that comes to visit.

Life is good!

Wordless Wednesday

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday

Right Around The Corner- I Got My First Valentine Today!

One of our favorites. 
Valentines Day
Are you making plans?

We are crocheting some hearts.  My grandson is learning . . .

We've already made a few cookies.  But we will make more. 

Lot's of hearts to decorate with . . . 

Some look better than others

Planning on decorating my mothers tree.  They will all blend in with other hearts.

I like this one the best ,I like the size, perfect to hang from a ribbon

Here's the Valentine I got in the mail.
I am in a PenPal group.

A collection of small hearts. 

Do you have plans for Valentines Day? 

We are still deciding what we are going to do. 

But we will have some fun decorations. 

And some great cookies!

Menu Monday-Dinner Last Night-Winging It

Good Morning everyone.  I am back with Menu Monday.

This week I have planned a few new things and some old standbys

Monday - Mongolian Beef, Broccoli and Rice

Tuesday - Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Wednesday - Brown Sugar Pork Chops, Italian Pasta Salad

Thursday - Chicken/Dumplings   Beef Stroganoff, Corn, Salad

Thursday - Rotel Quiche, Salad and Fruit

Did you notice I already scratched the Chicken and Dumplings?

Yep I ended up cooking them last night (Sunday).  I don't know what I was thinking when I made the plans.  We had Chicken from last week that I planned to turn into Dumplings but it wouldn't wait till Thursday.   

It was one of those meals that I am crossing my fingers and saying a prayer.  And thinking we'll love it or toss it.  Sadly I have to admit this happens more often than not. 

Dawng as I am writing this I am kicking myself in the ______

for not taking pictures along the process.  Maybe next time!

I had intentionally decided on the Chicken/Dumplings for two 

reasons.  #1 I already mentioned it was leftover Chicken. 

#2 I had cooked Pork Chops with Rice and Cream Gravy and Sweet Peas on Saturday night.  

I kind of have a secret when I make C&D.  I don't really have a recipe.  I have eaten some amazing C&D's cooked by some amazing cooks but I never got a chance to get the recipe.  I have had to come up with my own.   My secret that works for us. 

I use leftover Cream Gravy.  I add the regular ingredients most people use Chicken Broth and Milk.  

But 

Here's the 'Winging It' part.  I used all the milk last night in the gravy.  And I didn't have any broth.  I made a few adaptations. 

I added this

Walked away and let it simmer a bit. 

I said a prayer too!
Here is how it turned.

A 'Keeper'?

Yes!

Family Supper-Have A Good Week

We're having a Family Supper tonight

Back tomorrow for 

Have Good Week

Simple Sunday-The Fabulous Party

 

Have a Blessed Day

The party is 'Live' at Our Holiday Journey.  The InLinkz is not 

working properly so I was not able to post here.  Please go 

over Here  Scroll down under the photo and you'll see a box and message look at the bottom and you'll see a blue box Click on it

to link up.  

The good news about all this now there are photo's when you link!

Happy Homemaker in Texas

Joining Sandra. 

She provides the prompts. 

I add a few of my own. 

The weather 

It's been really, really cold.  But it is slowly warming up. 

How many days till Spring?

Outside my window
My computer is moved to a different room now.  I still see out front but my view is the bushes part of the beds.  They are so over grown and ugly.  I hope to replace this spring so I'll have a pretty view!

On the breakfast plate

I think I'll make a pancake.  Bake some bacon.  Yum. 

Do you cook your Bacon in the oven.   I cook mine at 350 for

20 min. then check it.  It comes out crisp and flat.  Love this 

method!

Today I am wearing

Leggings (black) and a extra long T-shirt

(staying in and don't expect company)

On the TBR pile

   

All these 'on deck' for tours in February

Today I am reading

This one sounds so good.  It's said to be similar to Nora Roberts

and Sandra Brown.  We'll see. 

Just finished 

 If you love a good, sweet and clean read

you will love Sophia Summers.  Click here to visit her site. 

In the garden (plans)

On the menu (What I planned what we actually ate this week)

Monday- Navy Bean and Ham Soup, Sub Sandwiches  ✔

Tuesday - Oven Roasted Chicken Thighs, Curry Rice, Brocolli  ✔

Wednesday - Seafood Gumbo w/Rice and Hot Bread

Thursday - Hamburgers and Fries  Crab Cakes lefftover Gumbo 

Friday - Smoked Sausage, Cup of Gumbo, Fried Potatoes  Left over Navy Beans

French Bread and Salad

What we're eating tonight

Pork Chops/Cream Gravy, Rice and Green Beans

Menu plans (plans for next week)

Monday - Mongolian Beef, Broccoli and Rice

Tuesday - Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Wednesday - Brown Sugar Pork Chops, Italian Pasta Salad

Thursday - Chicken/Dumplings

Thursday - Rotel Quiche, Salad and Fruit

In the craft basket

Valentines is right around the corner. 

Fabulous features

Debbie Dabble shared a great Lasagna recipe and a soup recipe

and a few thoughts on blogging.  Click here to visit her. 

Carol at Comfort Spring Station shared some great posts this week.  Click here to make Play Dough.  Click here to visit 

her blog. 

 

We had a set back this week with the party.  The 'free' provider I used changed things up.  Not sure exactly what to do but will try again this afternoon. 

From the camera

My daughters mantle at Christmas.  I love the bow on the 

angel pig.

Scripture/Devo

I'll be linking at 

Happy Homemaker Monday

The Fabulous Party 

and a few more

Have a Wonderful Week

Menu Monday

Welcome to Menu Monday

I have been planning to start this feature for a few weeks.  

Something always seems to get in the way.  

Planning a menu really helps me.  Do you plan a menu?

The biggest help for me is it I can keep track of leftovers and use them up instead of forgetting about them! 

My goal this year is to keep my refrigerator cleaner.  I won't show you a photo of it right now!  I don't want to scare you off!  

Enough of all that let's get to the menu!

Monday- Navy Bean and Ham Soup, Sub Sandwiches

Tuesday - Oven Roasted Chicken Thighs, Curry Rice, Brocolli

Wednesday - Seafood Gumbo w/Rice and Hot Bread

Thursday - Hamburgers and Fries 

Friday - Smoked Sausage, Cup of Gumbo, Fried Potatoes

Those are my plans.  I rarely make a plan for Saturday or Sunday.

We usually end up picking up some bargains at the store on Thursday or Fridays so they are our usual meals on those days.  

I hope you'll come by often.  Next week I'll include more photo's of our meals.  

Have a marvelous week!

I'll be linking to a few parties.

Have A Good Day

Simple Sunday-The Fabulous Party

May Your Week Be Blessed

Inlinkz Link Party

Happy Homemaker in Texas

Welcome!   Today I am super happy because at least for now my 
computer is working again!  It has been difficult learning to use the tablet and it is super slow.  Even slower than the computer sometimes.  It is also harder for me to see which makes it slower still!  With all that said let's get on with it!

.

Joining Sandra she provides the prompts

I add a few of my own!

The weather
Deceiving.  It looks nice outside but it is frigid (to me)
This was the headline on my phone yesterday morning 

F.W.  Stock Show Cancels All Western Parade Due to Weather 

“While the parade is a celebratory event kicking off our annual Stock Show & Rodeo, we need to make decisions in the best interests of everyone involved,” said Brad Barnes, president and general manager of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. “Winds are estimated to be sustained at 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts exceeding 35. The challenging effect of the Northwest winds through downtown skyscrapers will only make these conditions worse.”


This is only the 2nd time in it's history the parade has been cancelled!  


Outside my window 
The sunshine is bright trying to make it a nice day but it is super cold and windy. 

On the reading pile 
to review for a tour.
Just for fun.  I have received a lot of 'free' books lately
  
Just finished reading

 A good clean romance. My review is here. 

About menus
This week I wrote my menu daily.  Here's what we 
was on the dinner plate this week. 
Monday Frito Pie and Guacamole
Tuesday BarBQue Ribs (from the freezer) Fried Okra, Corn on Cob
Wednesday Tortilla Soup, Guacamole Chalupa's 
(we had some great Avocado's this rippen perfectly)
Thursday Fried Cod, Crab Cake, Oven Roasted Potatoes, Ceasar Salad
Friday Sausage Casserole, Broccoli, French Bread

Something fun to share
Do you crochet?  I joined this fun group.  We get 2 new blocks
each month.  They get tricky through the year but there is a lot of help within the group. 

In the craft basket
I stopped on my first block because I decided I needed to add a couple more colors.  But here's my start


On my To Do List 
Buy more yarn to complete my pallete.
Buy Onion Sets
Work on getting rock moved and garden ready
Make Valentines Cards for exchange
Finish crocheting Hearts for Mothers tree

My Ta Da moment
Managed to get through the week.  Monday there was no heat in the house I worked in.  No heat on Thursday either.  But the repair man was due on Friday.  
Had a frustrating week dealing with mothers affairs but made it through.  Ta Da


The Fabulous Party Features

Loved this idea Marci shared.  Click here to read her post. 

New to the party this week.  A great post on organizing for the year.  Click here. 

A Domino moment

It was super hard to get a pic because they were running around like crazy but Domino was super happy to see the neighbor dog outside so we invited him over.

From the camera

The Cowboy is goofy!

Scripture/Devo

Standing on this promise