Monday, March 13, 2017

Happy Homemaker Monday 3/13/2017


It's time for another Happy Homemaker Monday with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  Click here if you'd like to join in .

The weather:::

40s and 50s all week - we look to be just below the Nor'easter zone.

On my reading pile:::

Still working on  A Heart for Home by Lauraine Snelling.

On my TV:::
Midsomer Murders Series 19 was awesome.  I've moved on to The House of Eliott, a DVD series I got for Christmas.

On the menu for this week:::
Leftovers from the weekend and more snack food while Vic is gone, again!  Corned Beef and Cabbage to celebrate his return on St. Patrick's Day.

On my to-do list:::

  • Fun stuff - two lunches this week - first an Irish Dance demonstration and lunch at the local Irish Pub and then the Joint Services Luncheon, an annual event that rotates among the Army, Navy, and Air Force bases in the area.  "Special Guest Speaker" the announcement read so that peaked my curiousity.
  • Make reservations for Easter Sunday Brunch - saw that note in my planner for this week, Easter is coming!
What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::


Afternoon Tea table set with my new Mikasa Love Story china and rose napkin fold
I bought this three tier server - it came with three crystal plates but the rings that the plates sit on are the perfect size for any of my china so I can coordinate the server to the place settings
Savoury tier - Roasted Red Pepper Triple-Stack Tea Sandwiches (on brown bread), Beet-Cucumber Heart Canapés, Cucumber Canapés with Lemon-Pepper Aioli, Lemon-Lime Salmon Cups (in mini phyllo cups in the center)
My semi-fail scones - they didn't rise but tasted delicious and I'm a firm believer that lashings of Devon cream and strawberry jam can cover any baking mishap!
Sweet tier - Red Velvet Macarons, Strawberry Tartlets, Dark Chocolate Raspberry Tartlets, Chocolate Ganache Tarts with Coffee Vanilla Mousse
Most of the recipes are from the January/February 2017 Tea Time magazine Hearts-a-Plentea feature.  I'm very much a Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade cook so it's 50-50 on what I made for the tea and what I supplemented from my gourmet grocery store.

Looking around the house:::

Dishwasher is full from the weekend but just finished its cycle so needs to be unloaded and there are two loads of laundry to run.  Everywhere else is tidy.


From the camera:::

Sophia was the only rider from her team to compete at the IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association) Regional event this weekend, placing third in her class.  Sadly, only the first and second place winners go on to the next step, the Zone event, but she loved every minute of her 2016-2017 season and is looking forward to 2017-2018, her final year as a collegiate equestrian
Something fun to share:::

Continuing on with the Declutter Challenge update:

March 7 - Jewelry and Purses - Done as much as can be done.  My purses are still in plastic totes - one day I will have shelves in my closet for my purses - and my jewelry box is organized.  This mirrored jewelry armoire is on my forever home wish list as well.


How do you organize your necklaces?
March 8 - Shoes - Done.  I don't have as many pairs of shoes as I used to so they are easy to keep organized.

March 9 - Master Bedroom Closet - Done - hangers all finally flipped so we can see what we are NOT wearing and what can be donated.

March 10 - Paperwork - Still working on this as I ran out of room in the new lateral file.  I need to give it one more going over to see if there is anything else I can throw away.  Vic and I still need to go through his career files but I have a feeling he's going to want to save everything that's currently in there, at least until he retires.  They will have to stay in the plastic file boxes for now.

March 11 - Emails/Files on Computer - This is going to turn into the Declutter Challenge for 2017.  I accidentally dropped an email into the wrong folder and when I went to move it to the right one, I found several folders that took me on a real walk down memory lane - conversations with riding coaches at colleges that Sophia didn't end up attending, old Christmas greetings emails that I need to print and put in the appropriate Christmas card album - I have a lot of work to do to get my emails/files on the computer decluttered and organized.  I am a real file hoarder - I just know the moment I delete something, I'll need it again.

March 12 - Books/Magazines - Done - we cleared a lot of these before our last move and resolved not to buy as many magazines.

March 13 - Laundry Room - Done - it's really a Laundry Closet so there's not a lot of room for clutter.

What I'm wearing today:::
Black yoga pants, turquoise long-sleeved shirt, red fleece jacket, flip flops - the clothes I threw on to take Vic to the airport early this morning.  I need to take a shower and get dressed for the day.

Bible Verse, Devotional:::

I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God!  (Isaiah 61:10)  Today's devotion was all about celebrating the gift of today.  What makes your heart leap?  What makes you want to jump for joy?

13 comments:

  1. Sounds like you've got the decluttering well in hand. I'm hopeful to get some done here this spring.
    We just started the Midsomer Murders series 19 and like it much better than the last series.

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  2. I love your tea table setting... so very pretty! Hope you have a great week!!

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  3. I need to get on board with some sort of decluttering challenge, probably one that focuses on paper. Extra papers seem to be what gets me every time. Hope you have a wonderful week!

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  4. Your tea table setting and goodies look amazing!

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  5. Your tea table looks beautiful!! The food looks yummy!! And your napkins are folded so pretty!!!!!!

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  6. The tea looked amazing, so much yummy food. Sophia always does so well with the horse races, she's so good, congratulations to her.

    Have a wonderful week Pamela :)

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  7. The table setting is wonderful! everything looks so yummy. Congratulations to your daughter and her beautiful horse. Have a great week.

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    1. Sophia wishes it was her horse but in collegiate riding, the team hosting the show lines up the horses from local owners. The riders are judged on their skill in riding an unfamiliar horse each time.

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    2. Wow! Judged by their skill in riding an unfamiliar horse each time! I had no idea. That makes her achievement all the more impressive!

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  8. The food at your tea looked delicious. I need to do the decluttering. It looks like you've got a good system. Have a good week!

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  9. Everything at the tea is so beautifully presented. Looks like a lot of good recipes. Congratulations to Sophia on her award. Your horse is gorgeous! Sounds like you're making great progress on decluttering.

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    1. Sophia wishes it was her horse but in collegiate riding, the team hosting the show lines up the horses from local owners. The riders are judged on their skill in riding an unfamiliar horse each time.

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  10. I saw that jewelry box the other day in Sams and was wondering if it was a good buy! My daughter also rides horses! She loves them so much! I would love to do tea parties!!! We just did a teacup and mug exchange, so we are hopefully going to start accumulating some soon, so perhaps tea parties are in our future? lol we shall see! Have a wonderful week!

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