Happy Homemaker Monday

The Weather:::

31 degrees and sunny....   but     turning much cooler this week!

Right now I am: 

I am enjoying my morning coffee and a  donut! 

Thinking:

I have 2 days  left to cut out the material and  make those two aprons for my girls...   Lord,  please  provide the  unction to  get this done!!!

On my reading pile:::

no reading this week!

On my tv:::

We  so enjoyed  Downton Abbey last evening!

Hope to  share  an episode fo Foyle's War with my family tonight....I am  so  ecstatic I got the series for Christmas!

Something fun to share:::

Everyone  has just left to take the girls to the   doctor...  I  am  sitting in a quiet  house with  nothing  pulling my attention ..... I love my grandchildren  so much,  but sometimes silence is golden!  

On the menu for this week:::

I have no idea

On my to do list:::

One load of laundry

Tidy up ( do toys ever stay put for  longer than  5 minutes)

Sewing project

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::

I  have the  fabric and pattern all set to   make  a matching   pair of aprons for  mommie and    Birdie... have to get it done today!!!

Looking around the house:::

I love looking around this home....  I am so proud of  our daughter and her family...even though   the organzation is   at a minimum  at this time....it is still   so comfortable and  a  lovely  space  for  them....  I will pick up a  path   of toys  on my  way to the  living room in a few minutes!

From the camera:::

One day before  lil  Cuddle bug was born!

On my prayer list:::

The world, the church,  persecution, God's provision,  against evil plots and that they will be exposed and eradicated,  the family and  friends

Bible verse, Devotional:::
2 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

Five Favorites on Friday

 

Today marks  my  first opportunity to join in with   this fun   meme...click the image to return to Susanne's Place!This  has been an exciting week...

1. Last Saturday  Lynn and I drove up  to  Newburyport, MA.... what a delightful  diversion for 2 old fogies like us...the very first thing I noticed about Newburyport is that is  is laid out  almost exactly like  Donegal, NI! ...  which is btw, my  very favorite  spot on earth! 

 

THis photo  from online   shows   N,Ma  town center... 

as per the following  photo of Donegal.. both are  situated  so   beautifully  about  round   town  centers..

 

The streets  about both  curve ever so   nicely  around   as  several streets  find their apex  at town center! Can you  ever imagine  how delighted I was to find that  Newburyport had a lovely Irish shop right there  across forom the   circle.

 

Again,  an online shot shows  the  main street  a  few shops down...

but  I will now try to post  some of my photos...

 

We were just arriving in town when the similarity hit me...   the Irish store is there on the left.. note  there was the remains of a 2 inch snow from the previous week!

THis being so very near the  Massachusetts northern coast,  a short drive took us to Plum Island  and  a view of their lovely  lighthouse!

 

As we passed back through Newburyport,  the    lampposts were  lit and   the remnants of  Christmas past   were  bidding us adieu!

2.  Another  huge blessing is that our  newest family member is  growing and thriving   and  a  delightful  bundle of joy!!!

 

3.   WE  also  revel in the joy that this one brings us every moment of the day!

 

4.  Our sweetheart, Birdie,  caught GA GA today trying to get the dough done while she and her mom were upstairs tending to baby... When she wakes up from her nap   she and I will  roll out and  cut out our Linzer cookies with  my new  Linzer cookie cutters.. 

 

 

We're making these  plus some with  chocolate in the center!! 

5. 

Birdie and I have done crafts every day since we got here...  and  we have decorated this tree with our handiwork.. pretty  great  working with an  awesome  two year old.. we particularly love the pinterest  project of the hand made owls  out of  paper towel rolls.. we named    them "Hoot" and "Annie"!  
God bless!

Read the Book Challenge

Well,   as I contemplate this new year..  I  know  that I have already stated that  I wanted to  spend less time on my  cell phone  and  more time at the  athletic center...but  then, I, also, saw this challenge!!! I was  visiting  Susanne's Place  and I really felt the need to join in on this challenge...

Book Date

  The time frame given is books purchased from June 2015 - December 2016.    For this challenge, hosted by The Book Date, she wants us to choose one of the percentage goals from the list below that we want to accomplish reading out of the books purchased, list the books we purchase in a post and then cross them off as we read them.  There will be a couple link up posts in the year, I believe, where we can share how we are progressing.  You can read the full rules at her link.

So  to begin  we  choose  below  what  percent of books we  commit to read, if I get  40-60%  done I will feel that I was  very successful!!!


20% or less Money Sitting on the Shelf.

20 - 40% Making Inroads.

40 - 60 % Moderately Successful

60 - 80 % Maximising Returns

80 - 100% Mission Accomplished
I am going to have to be at home to find all the books that will fit this category of being purchased since last June, but I am thinking I have at least a half dozen to read.. My problem is I havent read a book in its entirety for a time... so I do wish to begin again to get the full measure of blessing in each one! But I do encourage many others to join in on this fun challenge!!!!

New Year Hodge Podge 2016

Happy New Year! Welcome to the first official Hodgepodge of 2016! Here  are my responses for the new year!!!

1. Are you ready for new? Is 2016 likely to be very different than 2015? Do you want it to be?

I must say I am behind in even thinking of the new year...  hubby and I are  caught up in  a  new  world of discovery and   enlightenment.. dealing with a new born and a two year old....when we adopted Amanda  she was almost 3 months old.... this is   new territory  for us.,,, ground breaking you might say... Ive given not a tittle of  an idea about  the new year..  it's here whether I like it or not!!!.  I pray it promises to be better  than  last year!!!!!

2. January 6th is National Technology Day. Currently, what is your single biggest struggle or frustration when it comes to technology?  Everything... impossible to keep up!

3. It's that time again...time for Lake Superior University to present a list of words (or phrases) they'd like to see banished (for over-use, mis-use, and general uselessness) in 2016. You can read more about the decision making process here, but this year's top vote getters are-

So (at the start of every single sentence), conversation (as in hotly debated topics where we're invited to 'join the conversation'), problematic, stakeholder, price point, secret sauce, break the Internet, walk it back, presser, manspreading (common in larger cities where some men take up the entire bus or train seat by sitting wide), vape, giving me life (refers to anything that may excite a person or make them laugh), and physicality

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word not on the list you'd like to add?

HA....  I am so out of touch.,.. I've never  heard of any of them!!!!!I must be obsolete!
4. Share one of your current health related goals.

I truly do  pray that I will  become excited about our  gym membership and use it regularly...  last year we wasted a ton of money on it......  we both  need it so badly!!!

5. Let's talk fifty shades of gray. As in the color. Gray is currently a popular color in home decor, paint, wardrobes, hair, wedding party attire, and more. Are you a fan? Do you have the color in some variation in your home or wardrobe? Gray hair, the old gray mare, gray matter, gray area...which gray idiom can you most relate to right now?

My new kitchen cabinets are   painted  a color in the mossy gray  spectrum...   in that regard I feel somewhat  in the mainstream.... I am  trying hard to  rid myself of gray hair.....  and  trying to exercise the gray matter as much as I can!!!!

6. Certain foods are considered 'lucky' if eaten on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Cooked greens to bring economic fortune, black-eyed peas or lentils also symbolize money, pork which symbolizes progress, fish for good luck, and if you're in Spain 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. Did you eat any lucky foods on the first day of the year? Is that a tradition in your home? Of the foods listed, which most appeals to you?

I  am a lentils kind of gal...  you  can give black eyed peas back to the  Indians...  dont mean to be  non pc here  I am really assuming they  introduced us to them!!!

7. What's the single biggest time waster in your life and what, if anything, will you do about it this year?

My cell phone's newness hasn't worn off of me yet..  I need to     just   give it a rest for sure!!!
8. Insert your own random thought here.

All of my random thoughts this  month so far  are  related to   our  two year old granddaughter...  praying she will  continue in her  sweetness and love her innocence and charm....and  finally   give it up and  take her afternoon nap......  She's been singing in there now   for  2 hours...

Happy Homemaker Monday

                                 

Click here to return to to the DOTSAHM.

The weather outside is::::

Frigid  with snow!

On the breakfast plate this morning:::: 

Cup of coffee , 2 hard boiled eggs and  2  yummy biscuits  with butter

As I look outside my window:::

Snowflakes are  dancing on the   frosty air.....

Right now I am::::

Baby sitting   my   darling   2 year old  princess who is napping! 

As I look around the house::::

Well,, it isnt my house....and   housed within these walls  are   said 2 year old,   a new born and   sweetest  young  mom and dad ...  dad returned to work today,  mom took   the  doodle bug to  her  first pediatrician appt  with  my hubby... and I am looking  at  various   toys and  infant items strewn about the room....    I love it all!


On today's to do list::::

Laundry....My wonderful husband also  started the laundry this morning and  did the marketing...

I sorted  and out away yesterday's laundry... yes.,  it is  an everyday occurrence around here!
Cleaning....is a never ending job.. well.. picking up .... over and over and over, and over.....
I did make the beds an d opened the blinds
Made lunch and   have the items out and ready to start dinner   soon....

Happening this week::::
For me  mainly the same thing....  all depends on the weather whether we venture out for a  break from  the  cabin(fever).. I would love a stop at Crate and Barrel...others have various appts and  places to be,  but  I have my   precious ones to  cherish all week!


Currently reading::::no time to read!


On the TV today::::  

I did watch DOOL  since  it being the  50ith  Anniversary,  something major happens every week,.....  seems  everyone is getting killed off the show!

Still reveling in the premiere  of  Downton Abbey from last evening...  So  sorry to see it end this season!
Looking forward to new  hallmark  series and  movies.....

On the menu this week::::

Monday - Potato Soup
Tuesday - Taco salad
Wednesday - Spaghetti

What I am creating at the moment::::

I have the most adorable fabric to layout,  cut and   sew  into matching  daughter /mother    aprons....  Pray I get them done!

New recipe I tried or want to try this week::::
Before Christmas I  found  a Linzer cookie   tool  and now I am anxious to make some.. I bought the  ingredients so it is a matter of  finding the time....I know a 2 year old who  is  also anxious to help me!

 
1 cup Land O Lakes® Butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon almond flavoring*
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour

Powdered sugar
Small decorator candies, if desired
White decorator gel, if desired
3 tablespoons seedless raspberry or apricot jam
Directions

Combine butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, almond flavoring and salt in bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Add flour; beat at low speed until well mixed.

Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a ball; flatten slightly. Wrap each in plastic food wrap; refrigerate at least 1 hour until firm.

Heat oven to 350°F.

Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-half at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with 2-inch cookie cutters. Cut out center from half of cookies using smaller decorative cookie cutter. Place cookies, 1 inch apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 7-9 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to cooling rack. Cool completely.

Place cooled cookies with center cut-out onto waxed paper; sprinkle with powdered sugar. Decorate with small candies attached with decorator gel, if desired. Spread bottom-side of cookies without cut-out with 1/4 teaspoon jam. Top with center cut-out cookie, powdered sugar-side up.

Favorite photo from past few days::::

Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::

Happy New Year

An early New Year  Breakfast

A lovely    morning set for  two!
January always brings out the blue in me......  time for the blue transfer ware!
With a spattering of  snow and ice!!!!
Puts me right into the mood to    choose one of my new books   I  got for Christmas!!!
Of course, my first pick is....


Make It Pretty 

Return to Loveliness

Friends Sharing Tea 
Teacup Tuesday

  Grace at Home

 Thursday Favorite Things
No Place Like Home
 Home and Garden Thursday   

Otherworld Living!

Just so you all know   about what we've been up to....  this is Baa Baa after 3 weeks  with the  2 year old  granddaughter!!!!