Staying In Enjoying Favorite Things-AKA Dog Days

Hello and Welcome

 Today I thought we would share a few of our favorite things to do when we 'Hang Out' at Home

Warning!

No photo's of me . . . I am the writer

And this is what happens when I am writing.  'The girls' have their favorite spots to wait will type and type and type.  And sometimes grip but that is another post.  But  I will share a little tour of the house.  Only because I am sure your trying to figure out if that is really a shot gun leaning by the end table.  

And yes it is . . . 

And it's mine! 

There is another story behind that I'll share at another time.  

HeHe

This Domino.  Sometimes we call her #1 when we are talking about her/them  because she came first. 

This is Lola.  #2 we have her almost a year now.  Yes that is the sweetest paw print on her back.  She is laying in my mothers chair which we brought from her house when she lived with us a short time before going into a nursing facility.  Before we had the chance to get rid of the 40 year old crushed velvet pink and gray grandma flower chair Lola took it over.   It sits to my right as I type. 

Another shot of Domino 

Changing sleeping patterns between naps and outside play time when it isn't raining. 

MaMa look the sun is out.  Are you done typing Yet?

Oh bother.  Maybe Oh brother.  

She does lay there and sigh alot!

And she snores too.  

Oh boy a sunny day and I got a bone!  It's actually a deer antler.  
A real one not from a store.  Dad share his prized collection with the girls.

In between naps we watch people outside.  We are across from the football field of the middle school.  People in our neighborhood walk their dogs.  And a neighbor puts it's cat out everyday at 5 p.m.  It saunters down to our house and stands in the curb until the dogs bark and whine in a greeting. 

Napping with a friend

Sometimes I watch t.v. on the couch in the evening.  Lola loves to lay on the couch with anyone that will let her. 

Most evenings it is 'Dad' notice where the remote is. 

Sometimes there's barely room for two

Sometimes I read a good book in the evening.  My favorite kind a good 'ole print copy.  Sometimes I don't get much reading done. 

Time for 'Night. Night. I have my Dragon ready'

So how do you spend your lazy days at home?

Menu Monday-On The Dinner Plate AKA My Rustic Dinner Plate

Hello and Welcome to On The Dinner Plate

This is a theme I have been wanting to do for awhile and included as part of my Menu Monday.   And I wanted to call the series

The Rustic Dinner  Plate

Rustic because there is nothing fancy here. No flashy photography not even cropped images.  No staging.  Just plain 'ole mostly simple food.

Wanna see what is on my plate

A couple of nights ago I took a bean soup out of the freezer I had made a couple weeks before.  i am learning to cook Low Sodium so it has been a challenge for me to get beans tasting good without bacon or a ham hock. This version was cooked with no sodium.  I garnished it with Low Sodium Bacon and some tortilla strips from a salad kit.

The Cowboy's appetite has greatly improved! along with the bean soup I made a tossed salad with greens from garden and some thin sliced tuna.

A complete meal.  Not fancy. But good eats.

Another evening I cooked Hot Wings.  They were so good. I dredged only in flour (not salt no other spices) and fried in an iron skillet.  Kind of like MaMa and GrandMa.  But the resemblance stops there!  Then I took those wings and tossed in Sweet Baby Ray bottled wing sauce.  We had some fresh asparagus and the Cowboy asked for some.  He has to limited celery now because of his liver disease.  Weird huh? I thought so.  He did have a couple pieces of celery though.

Another challenge I have now is making 3 meals a day and snacks.  Who cooks 3 meals anymore.  Back to cookin like MaMa and Grandma!  I've been trying different flavor pancakes. Sweet Potatoes are good for the dogs so I added some.

Only to a few though. A couple for the dogs and one for us to tossed.  The dogs loved them.  We decided to save the pumpkin for them.

Scrambled eggs and a couple of pancakes foe breakfast.

My next attempt was adding applesauce to my batter. I began to feel like Julia Roberts tasting eggs.  

Do you know which movie?

I try to do do simple healthy lunchs sometimes the Cowboy cooperates

This lunch was so yummy.  The chicken salad was from a deli. I just served with a bit of Arugula a boiled egg and some yummy walnuts.

I made a Low Sodium version of Broccoli Rice Casserole using homemade white sauce instead of canned soup. 

Another breakfast plate.  It is a challenge to keep the fried foods off our plates.  The Cowboy loves fried eggs cooked in grease.  I love fried potatoes!  

Well that's a few of our breakfast/dinner plates.  

What have you been cooking?

Enjoy Your Week!

And linking with . . . 

Happy Homemaker In Texas

The Weather
I woke to sunshine.  It is very nice outside but the backyard is under water.  I need mud boots!  More rain expected. 

From my window
I have a new garden.  Did I tell you?  It is called a Bumble Bee garden and is filled with little yellow flowers that Bumble Bee's love.  AKA the yard is filled with Dandelions.  I give up. 

How I am feeling this morning 
Oddly.  Even though I am looking at Dandelions I am planning a great day of staying in and working in my crafting room.  Makes me happy.  And the computer booted and is working and that makes me super happy. 

On my To Do List
Work on a Flower theme Junk Journal 
Begin a Trash 'Fraken Paper' Junk Journal 

Both for SWAPs

Maybe do a little more straightening in the craft room and move another shelp. 

Batch cooking actually Baking today

My Ta Da moment
Batch cooking- Made 7 meals for freezer
Finished and mailed 3 packages 1 SWAP and  from games

On the menu 
In the freezer to choose from this weeks Batch Cooking
Roasted Chicken
Smothered Sirloin
Ribs
Salmon
In the freezer ready to cook--Pork tenderloin, Steak, Catfish

On the dinner plates 
This is what we ended up cooking during the week 

Monday Roasted Chicken, Fried Canned New Potato'es, 
Salad
Tuesday Smoked Salmon, Shrimp Cocktail, Brocolli Rice Casserole
Wednesday Fried Chicken Wings w/ Buffalo Sauce, Fresh Asparagus, 
Thursday Bar B Que Ribs, French Fries, Fresh Spinach/Arugula Salad
Friday  Smothered Steak, Mashed Potato'es, Green Beans

Thought for the day 

You never really know what people are going through.  Offer a 

Smile

On the breakfast plate
Just a plain 'ole hearty Cowboy breakfast Fried Eggs, Sausage, Hash Browns and Toast A blog I like 
You all know I love to read and cook. And connect with authors. 
Now I can do it all in one place.  Check out this blog!  

Click here

In the craft room 
Making a Flower theme Junk Journal.  I'll add a few pics later.

On the book shelf
The same as last week.  Don't tell.  I didn't turn a page.  But tonight . . . oh that's the next topic!

What I am reading 

I got this one in the mail!  I mentioned last week I won a giveaway. The author was enough enough to send me an autographed copy!

I'll be turning the pages tonight.

A Blessing to share
This week the Humane Society offered a Free vacination clinic. 
The girls went for shots.  Lola was just read since we got he last year.  Domino was behind but they are now up to date. 

From the camera

Yes we have had a lot of rain.  My daughter brought her pig home from the old barn where she worked. He is enjoying his new puddle.

Scripture/Devo

7 PRAYER TIPS

Pray Psalm 91 over your families and nation.

Pray against fear and remind ourselves that God has not given us a spirit of fear.

Pray for wisdom for our leaders to contain the spread of the virus while protecting their people effectively.

Pray for courage for believers to share Jesus effectively through this time of crisis.

Pray for a worldwide move of God.

Make a decree that the coronavirus will cease worldwide, and that God will heal all who are currently affected by it.

Re-consecrate yourselves, your families, and your nation to God through the taking of communion

Linking with Sandra at Happy Homemaker Monday

Click here 

And linking over here . . . 

   Create With Joy click here

In The Craft Room-Prayer Pocket Reveal

Hello and Welcome

Today I am beginning something new.

I am sharing from my Crafting Room.

I am  beginning today with some mail I received.

I received a package from a FB friend that makes Prayer Pockets for nursing homes and Hospice.  

She sent me one to Bless me because of my husbands illness. 

She simply wrapped it all up in this pretty Butterfly paper.  I'll be using some of it in a Flower Theme Junk Journal that I am working on. 

This pic shows the back of the pocket on the left and one of the tags that was inside.  

A close up of the tag.  See the dangle charm at the top hanging from the lace.  It pocket includes lots of scripture. 

This is the front of pocket 2.  I loved the sentiment.  This one was filled to the brim and overflowing.  

The marker printed the books of the Bible on card stock and then embellished them with Lace at the top making a lovely book mark.

Two more tags with Faith word sentiments.  The one on the left has another charm.  I love the charms

I hope to take a much better photo.  This is a simple scripture card but so pretty.  I plan to also try coping on my printer so I can make some prayer pockets or journals filled with scripture. 

Another tag with a Faith sentiment.  This one was so pretty. 

The flowers are layered sticking up from the surface.  

Another one I will try and print more.  The Lord's prayer. 

Sorry for the sideways shot.  This is a prayer card.  It is a tri-fold it opens up to this . . . 

Lot's of writing space for Prayers or Journaling. 

The back of the empty Prayer Pocket.

Front of filled pocket.

This one was filled with printed scripture cards with gorgeous colors and flowers. 

Lot's of space for writing.  Not embellishments but just as pretty. 

Tags come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and mediums.  

It's always fun to receive Happy Mail.  I hope you've enjoyed sharing this moment with me.  

Now I am off to play with glue and paper and make something Beautiful to Bless someone.  

What are you doing today? 

Wednesday Filled With Words-The Story Behind The Photo

Good Morning everyone. 

 Welcome to a Happy Sunshine filled day here in Texas

Today I am sharing with you the story behind a special photo that I shared on Saturday in my Happy Homemaker in Texas post.  If you missed it you can go here to read my post.  

Let's get on with the special photo and the story!

The story actually began many years ago when my son was 18.  

He is know 40.  In the photo if you look very close you can see my grandson's denim clad legs (who is now 18) watching his dad.

The horse is a 2 year old names Vincent.  He has a much longer fancier name but the call him Vince or Vincent.  After the painter not the country/gospel music singer. ( I always think of Vince Gill)

This photo was taken by my D.I.L. from the kitchen window with her cell phone.  She is a photographer by trade and I know she was just spittin' fire that she wasn't invited along for this momentous moment!

My son trains Reining Horses.  

Vincent was bred to be a reining horse.  

Thomas also teaches beginning riding to children and adults and coaches a few riders in the arena. 

  

 To many professional trainers and riders the horse is a vehicle a means to an end.  Not to this family.  Our horses are all apart of the family.  

That is why Speck's 'Welcome Home' 5 years ago was such a special day.  

Speck is pregnant now and with God's grace will deliver mid April. 

I hope you'll come back to read the rest of the story.  There will be several posts over the next little while including . . .

• Speck's homecoming
• Vince's baby pics
• About Reining and Speck's futurity
• The new baby!

Happy Trails

Visiting Character from Sleuth On Safari by A. R. Kennedy

                                                

Dr. Higgins

           

            After placing my designer leather duffle bag by the front door, I consulted my notebook. I checked off another item on my to do list. The previous page had already been completed. Checkmarks were next to each required item I had placed in my bag.

            I returned to my bedroom and placed my carryon on my bedside reading chair. I placed my passport, travel paperwork, and notebook in it and zipped it closed.

            I hoped this vacation’s lodgings would be more accommodating to my requests. My last vacation, to England, was disappointing. The hotel did little to meet my requests for a firmer pillow, for soy milk for my coffee or for the hotel guests to be quiet in the hallways.

            The last time I was on a safari, several years ago, the lodge was first class. Every request satisfied. Every meal met my dietary restrictions. My favorite red wine was waiting for me in my room. I’m sure my mentioning it to the travel agent, several times, did the trick. I did it this trip to. I expected the same level of service on this safari as I had experienced on the last.        

            I could only hope I was traveling with a better class of people than I had last time. The middle America dullards I had to share a vehicle with was the only negative on that trip. At least I could dine alone on the sumptuous cuisine.

            Some people found a safari life changing. Hogwash. It was a vacation. It was an opportunity to discover a new locale, to get some time away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and to check another country off my list.

            I set the condo’s security alarm, a necessity in the city which seemed to be more crime ridden every day. Just last week, a few blocks north, a colleague was a victim of a robbery. I reminded him he should have had a sophisticated security system like my own.

            I turned my sound machine on and set it to the white noise option. One more night and I would be far away from the city’s nonsense.

            No security alarms were needed in the safety of the luxury, remote lodge I was headed for.

About the book 

A bargain deal on a safari + one dead body = An adventure no one could plan for.

Naomi and her estranged sister are off on a trip of a lifetime—an African safari, a bucket list trip for Naomi on which she got a last-minute deal. Naomi thinks traveling with her sister will be the worst part of her African safari until she finds one of their fellow travelers, the unlikable Dr. Higgins, dead. She gets more adventure than she bargained for when she starts investigating what she thinks is murder but the luxury lodge says was a tragic accident. She only has a few vacation days, and a few game drives, to find the killer.

Buy the book 

  Amazon 

Menu Monday

Good Morning.  Welcome to a new week. I plan to have a great one. 

You?

It's Spring Break here in Texas so I have week off.  I hope to do lots of cooking.

And so let's talk

I love planning a menu for our meals. 

 Are you a menu planner? 

I am in a new season in my life as a wife and homemaker and so my idea of menu planning has changed abruptly.

My Cowboy is ill and has new diet restrictions.  He also feels so bad some days he just can't eat dinner.

And so planning a menu for our dinner has gone by the wayside for now.

Now I suggest a couple of choices early in the day so I can thaw meat and have it ready to prepare.

Some days even though we plan early in the day he just des not feel like eating.

I have always been a big soup person.  I just like soup.  The Cowboy has never been a fan of soups as a main course of a meal. Soup and stew is becoming a new staple in our house.  It is yummy and cozy.  And it fills you up and warms you up.  My Cowboy is always cold.  Soup is a good choice for many meals.

And so this new season does not include menu's but  I still plan our meals around what we have ready to cook.

Here are our choices this week

• A big ole yummy pot  roast
• We have ground beef so we could make Tacos, Spaghetti or Goulash, my version of Hamburger Helper Stroganoff.  I like batch cooking so if we do thaw ground beef I will plan to make Hamburger Soup.
• We have lots of Sea Food in the freezer so we could have Fried Cat Fish, a pan seared Flounder Filet, Shrimp ( oh the possibilities
• We have pork tenderloin so maybe oven roasting it with stuffing

There are lot's possibilities.  And it's Spring Break no work this week so I might jusy get creative.

So what are your dinner plans this week?

Simple Sunday