Happy Homemaker Monday 3/6/2017

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:::
Low to mid 60s all week but creeping just over 70 on Tuesday - I'll take it.

On my reading pile:::
Finally finished Book Two of the Daughters of Blessing series by Lauraine Snelling, No Distance Too Far.  Moving on to Book Three, A Heart for Home, and then I can finally start on the next series, Song of Blessing, the ones I got for Christmas.

On my TV:::
I have PBS Passport so I was able to watch the finale of Victoria before it actually aired but I had to wait until last night for the finale of Mercy Street.  I binged through Seasons One and Two of When Calls the Heart so that I would be caught up to enjoy Season Three - loving it!  Midsomer Murders Season 19 will be on Acorn TV today so that's my afternoon entertainment.

On the menu for this week:::
More snack food but a special weekend menu - afternoon tea Friday or Saturday - working on the menu now to go with my lovely new Mikasa Love Story china - a belated Valentine's Day celebration.

On my to-do list:::

• Volunteer shift at the gift shop
• Doctor's appointment
• Pick up Vic at the airport

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
An afternoon tea menu and tablescape.  Will share more later in the week.

Looking around the house:::
Not much mess when it's just me - quick whiz over everything and prepare for two week's worth of laundry when Vic gets home.

From the camera:::

Mousse in Chocolate Tuxedo Cups and a napkin rose from Friday night's Chick Ministry - it's our Sunday School class ladies night event every couple of months - I made the dessert and brought the rose to show everyone - it's a Pinterest success!

Something fun to share:::

I'll share the Declutter Challenge update here this month.

March 1 - Fridge/Freezer - Done - not much to declutter since we've only been here for three months but there was a jar of mayonnaise that I tossed and I turned the leftovers into lunch and dinner so the shelves are pretty empty now.  I toy occasionally with the idea of having a small under the counter fridge or refrigerated drawers in our forever home - we just never seem to buy enough to fill a large fridge.  Throwback to my days in England, I guess, when we shopped every day, had daily milk delivery, and had a small under the counter fridge.  Will have to think more about that one.

March 2 - Pantry - I don't really have a pantry in this house because we just don't buy much boxed or canned food anymore.  I do have a double cupboard where I keep a few things so I tidied that up.

March 3 - Kitchen Cupboards - These were OK - in the three months we have been in this house, I've moved things in the cupboards from one side of the kitchen to the other twice in an effort to find the best system that works for me.  I think I've got it now.  The way things are set up are the most efficient for loading the dishwasher and for food preparation.  I found a plastic container with some Wilton decorating supplies that I've had for some time so I moved those over to the cupboard that holds all my Wilton.

March 4 - Kitchen Drawers - Also OK; again, I've moved things around a few times to see what works best.  Adding deeper drawers to my forever home wish list - even my long drawers are somewhat narrow and you can't have more than two tea towels or cloth napkins on top of each other or they get caught every time I open the drawer.

March 5 - Master Bedroom Nightstands - Done - I moved a Longaberger basket to the nightstand to organize hand creams and lotions so that I can have them handy (excuse the pun!) to use them up.

March 6 - Master Bedroom Dresser - Done - everything in its place and a place for everything!

What I'm wearing today:::

Black yoga pants, turquoise long-sleeved shirt, flip flops.

Bible Verse, Devotional:::

Every time we encourage someone, we give them a transfusion of courage  Charles Swindoll