Happy Homemaker In Texas

Welcome 

I am a Happy Homemaker in Texas

 

Linking with Sandra for Happy Homemaker 

on Monday

Sandra provides the prompts.  

I add a few of my own

The weather today it is actually cold and a bit drizzly.  It looks more like winter than spring. 

Right now I am Thinking  I don't know how I will possibly get done what I need to today.  I hurt my knee yesterday and it is 

giving me fits!  I am thinking The Cowboy may have to go to work with me on Monday.  We'll see how that works!

In the garden everything is about the same. I did notice how

nice the mums in the back yard garden are looking and how 

different the front yard looks.  More on that later I'll write a post about my front yard. 

Everything was looking great and I had blooms on the tomatoes.  I hope it isn't too cold now! 

On my reading pile

Nothing new that I haven't shared.  I always have a book on my phone waiting to be read for a review.

My reviews are posted over here. 

In the kitchen

I made this soup this week for my lunch.  It was so yummy.

I've been mentioning this for a couple of weeks here at 

HHM.  I finally made it and loved it. 

On the menu I am taking a break this week from stressing about a menu.  We have tons of stuff in the freezer and I am determined to get it cleaned out and organized. 

Last weeks menu what worked what didn't

What didn't work was me!  I didn't not stick to the menu.

And I didn't keep track of what we actually ate. 

I do know on Tuesday we were talking way to late and I didn't get dinner started so we ordered pizza. 

Oh it is coming back to me.  The Cowboy found chicken fried steak meat on sale so that was the plan that night (Tuesday)

Since I didn't cook it on Tuesday I cooked it on Wednesday.

Thursday was corned beef because our daughter comes on Thursday and it is one of her favorites. 

Friday night we had left overs I made hash with the meat and potatoes and cooked fresh broccoli.

Tonight we are eating left overs out of the freezer!

In the craft basket nothing much.  No spending anytime creating.  Spending more time decided what I can keep and what needs a new home.  My only dilema is finding a home for my cast offs. 

Something fun to share

Have you made the trip to Magnolia Market?  And now there

is the new cafe Magnolia Table.  I've already been to the market but we didn't do anything around town. 

Waco is actually going to be our first road trip. 

We are thinking of going in a few weeks because it is so 

close and just look at and check out the r.v. parks there. 

Click here to read the post about 15 things to do!

Features from The Fabulous Party

Ellen who is new to the party this week shared a post about Essential Oils for relaxation.  I need that!

Click here to read her post. 

I loved the idea of a Classic Roast Beef Po Boy.  I always have left overs of Roast.  But Jaxx has a new cool way to cook it.  

His recipe for Instant Pot or Crock is here. 

I am adding this one to my list for On The Road Recipes!

From the camera

There is a new baby in the family!

Deco/Scripture

A little different I thought this was cool.

Click here to check it out. 

I hope you enjoyed your visit. 

I'll be linking with 

Happy Homemaker Monday

The Fabulous Party

and a few others the list is below

Have a great week!

It's A Boy! and This/That

Yes it's a boy.  And he's finally here.  We are delighted.

Have you ever seen a 1 hour old colt?  He is super sweet isn't he!

So a lot has been going on this week and I am preparing ever so slowly for a big dinner tomorrow night.  

But

Some how late yesterday afternoon I injured my knee.  And I am 

miserable.  Went to bed at 9 last night.  It was much better today but I had to go out to get produce and flowers and a cake because I didn't get baked what I intended too. 

And

It's cold here!  And wet and drizzly.  Ick.  I was limping across 

the grocery store parking lot.  And my first stop didn't have pretty flowers and no pretty romaine so I then I had to go to another store which I intended to because they have better cakes anyway but usually higher on produce and they were but the flowers were cheaper and the soda was too!  So I got flowers and dessert.

Which 

Turned out to be a mini cheesecake sampler which I think worked out o.k. in the end anyway. 

And Now

I am off to rest my knee before I pull things together for tomorrow.

Have a Happy Day!

We are!

On The Dinner Plate-They Call it Fried Rice

A couple of weeks ago we had one of the Cowboys favorite suppers his mom cooked. 

They called it Fried Rice

it's not

This is what it is.

Begin with some ground beef.  Yes ground beef.  In Fried Rice?

This is the Cowboys plate.  Complete with saltine crackers. 

Now to me that is just weird.  But that's the way his family ate it! it!

I added the stir fried veggies for a side.  They never had a side!

Begin by steaming some long or medium grain white rice.

I steam mine in the over at 300.  1 cup rice.  2 cups water plus a

little more.  I saute it briefly in the pan first with a little olive oil then add the water.  It cooks in my oven 20 minutes and comes out

perfect.  

And then you start the ground beef.  Cook it up in a skillet with salt and pepper and chopped white onions. 

Drain off the grease and give it a little taste and then you realize you forgot the onions.  Never fear.  I chop them real fine so I can add them now. 

Once the onions are cooked with the beef set the skillet aside.

Clean and rough cut some celery.  Dawng I hate it when my celery starts to go bad.  Need to cook all this up!

  Chop up some garlic.

In a non stick skillet cook the celery and garlic.  The Cowboy 

doesn't like it crunchy so it's cooked well.  Now just dump them out on top of the meat in the first pan.

Peel and chop a carrot and pre cook it. 

At this point now you have your beef and the veggies waiting in the skillet for the last step.

They will sit and rest a few minutes while the side is stir fried 

quickly.  I bought this . . . 

The package contained way more than we needed so I divided it.

I tossed the veggies in the freezer for another meal.  I separated

the carrots out because I don't really like the way the crinkle 

cut carrots cook.  I saved them for Domino.  She will love them boiled and put on top her kibble. 

At this point I set my mixture back on the burner and turned it on low to begin to warm while I stir fried the veggie mix.

First I fried a piece of bacon then added some olive oil to the skillet and stir fried up the veggies. 

I didn't add the sauce that was included because I wasn't sure if we would like it.  I am glad I didn't it was hot!  That surprised me. 

I expected sweet not hot!

Once it was all done I quickly finished of the Not Fried Rice.

Add the rice and then douse the entire thing with Soy Sauce. 

As in more than you think it needs.  That is how they eat it!

This is how my plate started.  

And the way it ended.  The sauce ended up being good but a little goes a long way.  Can you tell I am not a fan of snow peas. 

I did eat 2!

And so that is how Cowboy likes his mom's Fried Rice.  

Give it a try you might like it too! It's a fast a simple and yummy meal!  I'd leave off the crackers!  

Do you eat crackers with Fried Rice?

The New Journey-A New Adventure

I know some of you aren't seeing much sign of spring

So I thought I would give you a little spring

today

Enjoy a little spring with my while I share the news about our
new planned adventure.

I am super excited we are moving forward with a dream that I have had for a very long, long, time.  

If all goes well by October we will be on the road.  

We've been spending the last few weeks talking about motor homes and what we want and need for the lifestyle that works for us. 

We've been devouring the inter net and reading everything we can find and following blogs and getting information about the living the R.V. lifestyle.

We think we've done our homework.  And learned a lot not only 

about the equipment but where to actually camp.  

I was shocked at how expensive R.V. camp grounds can be.

But there are many options.  And many discounts available.

We've begun our time line and plan to spend October and November on the road.  

We will be traveling to Central and West Texas visiting some places we've never been. 

On our frugal budget we are looking for special places that are not real expensive.  Parks are very economical and offer lots of fun things to see and do. 

I will be using my camera alot!  And, I am getting a new computer

because here's the super Big news.  I am starting a blog.  

I know your thinking I am crazy once again.  

It has been my dream to travel.  See the U.S.  See the sites

and eat at really neat places.  I will blogging about places to visit and reviewing restaurants.  

In December we will be coming back to our neck of the woods

and spending the holidays with our family.

Since I won't be working anymore I will have time to do some things I've missed.  I missed Bible Journaling and coloring.  

That will still be easy to do.  But I am not sure about my sewing machine and quilting.  We'll talk about that later.  HeHe.

Our general plan for the New Year is go West again and then

Work our way back over to the East Coast.   We have some 

big dreams and some big plans.  

 

West Coast Winter Time!

Today begins our Journey.  We are off to R.V. shop!  

And then home to rest and unwind and plan!

Sunday Supper-The Easter Edition

Welcome

The welcome mat is out.  Welcome Friends!

I hope your a weekly visitor to Sunday Supper.  

Today my post is a little different.  I can't help but wonder if you were wondering if there would be a post here today on Easter Sunday. 

I am all about holidays, home and family.  I love the opportunity to have family over.  I can be a bit creative in finding themes to decorate for and/or things celebrate.  

Today I am making it simple and sharing a few last minute 
Easter ideas before we have our family meal.  

I hope you enjoy these.Maybe you'll want to save for next year.  

 
Click here

Clever and creative idea . . .

Click here


A review of this ham product and how to's. Click here.


Click here


Lots of Table inspiration from Pinterest on this blog. Click here

And a few yummy desserts 

Click here for the pin.  The link did not work but there is a description on the pin. 


Click here


Very cute.  My grandson would try this one!  Click here

I hope you've enjoyed the the last minute inspiration!   

I am going to go and put my feet up for a few before our family comes!  

Happy Easter

The Fabulous Party-Simple Sunday

Let's link.  Link any old or new Family Friendly posts.  

We love parties feel free to link yours too!

Happy Easter

All the posts were pinned.  I added a new feature on the sidebar.

With all the trouble I've had with getting the time right I have decided to have the post live at midnight.  The link will be live 

by 7:00 a.m Sunday morning.