Happy Homemaker Monday

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The weather::: 

is bright and sunny.. perfect for   the  2017  Solar eclipse... 

I just want to  issue  a caution....   please    be absolutely sure  you have   proper viewing glasses...  there have been many sold  at a high price  on Amazon and other places  saying they are  certified when in fact have been recalled...  I have heard of people  buying glasses  at Dollar stores...   no no no!!!! No  viewing of an eclipse or anything is worth your precious eye sight..Hubs and I will go out on our porch and marvel at the gradual  darkness that covers the land and  pray  to the Lord  ...  give Him our  wonder and  glory for  his creation and  the workings therein!  We should  give Him the glory not His creation..  later we can see all we need to see on  the news!

To  check your glasses   view this.  Note  some  glasses  are falsely marked with the  verifiable code... just  be careful, please!

Right now I am::: 

 I  am    writing this blog and  cooking breakfast at the same time....   heheheh

On my reading pile::: 

Ann Voskamp, The Broken Way 

Ecclesiastes,Chapter Chapter 4-6

Max Lucado, When God Whispers Your Name 

Zola Levitt,  The 7 Feasts of Israel

Movies or Shows I watched this weekend::: 

I can not seem to get my fill of The British Baking Competition... on Netflix... especially the master's classes where Mary and Paul demonstrate how they do their bakes... We are celebrating 3 birthdays next week..    and I  intend to attempt  Mary Berry's Victoria Sponge cake.

Mary’s Victoria sandwich Preparation time less than 30 mins Cooking time 10 to 30 mins Serves Serves 8-10 Dietary For the final technical challenge Mary Berry asked the bakers to make this simple sponge with homemade jam and butter cream – without a recipe. For this recipe you will need two 20cm/8in sandwich tins, an electric mixer and piping bag fitted with plain nozzle. By Mary Berry From The Great British Bake Off Ingredients Forthe sponge 4 large free-range eggs 225g/8oz caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling 225g/8oz self-raising flour 1 level tsp baking powder 225g/8oz unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing For the jam 200g/7oz raspberries 250g/9oz jam sugar Forthe butter cream 100g/3½oz unsalted butter, softened 200g/7oz icing sugar, sifted 2 tbsp milk Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Grease and line two 20cm/8in sandwich tins: use a piece of baking or silicone paper to rub a little baking spread or butter around the inside of the tins until the sides and base are lightly coated. Line the bottom of the tins with a circle of baking paper. 2. Break the eggs into a large mixing bowl, add the sugar, flour, baking powder and soft butter. Mix everything together until well combined. Be careful not to over-mix – as soon as everything is blended you should stop. The finished mixture should be of a soft ‘dropping’ consistency. 3. Divide the mixture evenly between the tins. Use a spatula to remove all of the mixture from the bowl and gently smooth the surface of the cakes. 4. Place the tins on the middle shelf of the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Don’t be tempted to open the door while they’re cooking, but after 20 minutes do look through the door to check them. 5. While the cakes are cooking, make the jam. Put the raspberries in a small deep-sided saucepan and crush them with a masher. Add the sugar and bring to the boil over a low heat until the sugar has melted. Increase the heat and boil for 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and carefully

6. The cakes are done when they’re golden-brown and coming away from the edge of the tins. Press them gently to check – they should be springy to the touch. Remove them from the oven and set aside to cool in the tins for 5 minutes. Then run a palette or rounded butter knife around the inside edge of the tin and carefully turn the cakes out onto a cooling rack. 7. To take your cakes out of the tins without leaving a wire rack mark on the top, put the clean tea towel over the tin, put your hand onto the tea towel and turn the tin upside-down. The cake should come out onto your hand and the tea towel – then you can turn it from your hand onto the wire rack. Set aside to cool completely. 8. For the butter cream, beat the butter in a large bowl until soft. Add half of the icing sugar and beat until smooth. Add the remaining icing sugar and one tablespoon of the milk and beat the mixture until creamy and smooth. Add the remaining tablespoon of milk if the butter cream is too thick. Spoon the butter cream into a piping bag fitted with a plain nozzle. 

9. To assemble, choose the sponge with the best top, then put the other cake top-down on to a serving plate. Spread with the jam then pipe the butter cream on top of the jam. Place the other sponge on top (top uppermost) and sprinkle with caster sugar to serve

I have watched and watched her  and  I feel  inspired!!!!

On my TV::: 

I love  the Disney movie.. Brave...I introduced to Hubs  just this morning..

He loved it as much as I did...  I cry  every time!!!

On the menu for this week:: 

Monday~stir fry chicken  

Tuesday~  fish fillets and cole slaw

Wednesday~ Meatloaf

Thursday~Chef Salad

Friday~Crab Cakes

On my to do list::: 

~Laundry

~Enjoy the glory of  God's  Creator on the porch...  minus actually looking at the sun

~Finishing  work in  granddaughter's room...  need to  take box springs off the bed.. it is way too high and  buying a  cut  piece of plywood to  hold  the    mattress on the frame..

Exchanging  the  old  worn carpet in there  with the new    exceptionally cushy  plush rug

reasonable facsimile

~Setting up  the room  with various play stations.

(photos to come next week)

~Hang some pictures in  some of the rooms upstairs

~Change the sheets and  get all the beds    fresh and  beautiful

Our girls will be here next week!  yayayayaya

~Purchase a couple of gifts...

~Wrap gifts

~One day this week  we  are going on a  day church trip    

Looking around the house::: 

From the camera::: 

I've made two of these fairy gardens for the girls to play with

I also bought  fairy tutu  ballerina  outfits..  I  hope  things go well..  It has been two years since  the girls were here..   and  the  youngest hasn't ever been here before...

One of my simple pleasures::: 

Inspirational Quote, Bible verse, anything you want to share::: 

Please pray for the divisions in our country to be healed.. and pray against the evil spirit of leviathan .. the twisting serpent and the spirit of Jezebel who are the authors of these destructive events and patterns in our society..God is faithful to hear our prayers and work on our behalf. but we must ask. Also, this  eclipse  can be a warning to America  that God is about to do something      and  it  behooves  His children to press in closer than ever..  spend time in His Word and love one another  with the love of Christ!!! God bless !