HAPPY HOMEMAKER AND MENU PLAN MONDAY

I can't believe this is last week of August, but it really doesn't make me sad.  I'm not sure about the rest of you but I am SOOOOOOO ready for fall! And while the actual cooler weather is still several weeks off, just the word September makes me start feeling closer to it.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
We had a couple BIG, but short storms over the weekend, but all in all it was cooler and pretty nice.  Hurricane season this close to the coast can be unpredictable and ever changing so you just roll with the changes.  It's clear right nowas the sun begins to rise, but there are some seriously gray and threatening clouds around the perimeter so we'll see as the day goes on.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
Apple Cinnamon oatmeal and coffee.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
I see a little tidying up to do and a load of laundry, but all in all, not too bad.  I finished a painting project on Saturday and then went into deep cleaning mode.

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

• I have lots of paperwork to do this week.
• Get some packages wrapped and shipped.
• Photos for ebay sales.
• Make appointments for getting the A/C fixed on the car and have it detailed.
• Make appointment for last big drywall project.
• Finish editing the photos for my post about the Painted Churches, Fredricksburg and the Pacific War Museum.

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR

• In All my years by Ciara Knight

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
BREAKFAST	YOGURT & FRUIT	SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE	FRUIT SMOOTHIE	YOGURT & FRUIT	MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS	CINNAMON GRANOLA STUFFED FRENCH TOAST	BACON & EGGS
LUNCH	FRUIT & CHEESE	SOUP & CRACKERS	SANDWICH	??	MEAT & CHEESE	LEFTOVERS	SANDWICHES
DINNER	FRIED FISH with SWEET & SPICY AVOCADO SAUCE	PEANUT BUTTER BURGERS	SWEET CORN SOUP	SHALLOT LIME CHICKEN with PEACH & STRAWBERRY SALAD	SLOPPY JOES	PIZZA	C.O.R.N.
DESSERT	COFFEE CINNAMON PEAR FUDGE CAKE

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES and links FROM LAST WEEK

• NEW LIFE for an OLD KITCHEN AID
• PIMIENTO CHEESE
• CILANTRO LIME CHICKEN
• CINNAMON GRANOLA STUFFED FRENCH TOAST
• SHALLOT LIME CHICKEN with PEACH and STRAWBERRY SALAD

RECIPE FINDS TO TRY LATER
While we were away last week we went to lunch with my oldest, er maybe I should say longest friends.  We've known each other since we were 2 and 3 years old, LOL Lisa wasn't even born yet.  Leslie and Lisa took us to a favorite restaurant of theirs, Jack Allen Kitchen, but it was new to us.  ALL 4 of us cleaned our plates.  The food was AMAZING!  I even bought the cookbook the next day.  I've successfully made an appetizer, Pimiento Cheese so far.  When I was a kid Pimiento cheese in a jar was a favorite with crackers on Thanksgiving, but it grossed me out.  I now know that was NOT real food LOL!  Anyway I have read the cookbook from cover to cover and made labels for the recipes to be tried soon:

• Fried Fish with Sweet & Spicy Avocado Sauce
• Crunchy Fried Shrimp with Blackberry Sauce
• Sweet Corn Soup
• Pickled Cucumbers
• Black Eyed Peas
• Sweet Dried Tomato Basil Vinaigrette
• Cucumber Relish
• Red Wine Vinaigrette
• Taco con Todo
• Turnips & Pot Roast
• Enchilada Tejana
• Chocolate Ice Box Cake
• Blackberry Cobbler
• Red Velvet Cake with Strawberries
• Manor Punch
• Skirt Steak
• Artichoke Gratin
• Mustard Caper Dressing (for hubby only)
• Carrot Soup
• Cilantro Pesto
• Pumpkin Bread
• Pumpkin Goat Cheese Tart
• Mama's Chicken
• Pumpkin Spice Butter
• Pear Ricotta and Pecan Tart
• JAK's Slaw
• Pickled Beets
• Gingerbread Cookies
• Broccoli Casserole
• Potato Casserole
• Carmelized Onion Sauce
• Meatloaf
• Balsamic Syrup

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
Last week I finally started the sealing of the brick on the atrium wall. Once it was done we realized that we weren't going to be able to save the natural look because of all the repair spots so we would have to paint it.  Let me tell you what a pain that was.  The brick just soaked up the paint.  If only we'd known before we could have had the painters spray it way back when.  BUT, we LOVE the finished look even though it took me 2 days to get into ALL the crevices.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.