The Week Ahead: All Quiet?

Last week was so full that I could barely think at times.  I had fun with the boys and especially with Isaac but confess that by Friday all I wanted to do was just let him lie quietly with the Kindle in hand and watch Baby Grandpa Dentist.   Doesn't that sound weird, the Baby Grandpa, I mean?



All three of the youngest children are finding it totally fascinating, lol.  It's on You Tube and it's for children.   It's a head form that is bald, and the thing 'eats' foam ice cream which 'rots' his teeth and the narrator fashions more in a dental mold from Playdoh and refits his mouth with new teeth.   I'm telling you I'm totally flummoxed about why the children love it so but there they are stuck to the screen watching this video almost non-stop...They do intersperse with Peppa Pig and Paw Patrolm but soon enough they come to me and ask for Baby Grampa.   It keeps them occupied when I've done all I can and just need to NOT do for a little bit.  What's more their having the Kindle means that Grandpa is watching TV as he chooses and not being bored to sleep by Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol and Mickey Mouse Club.

Friday afternoon after the boys had gone home, the sun was still shining bright, the wind blowing briskly cold.  I told John, "Let's GO..." and where we went was out to carry off trash, pick up mail, drop off mail and ride over to Butler to get a Subway Sandwich for supper that evening.  I made it plain that I had planned weekend meals but I wanted no part of dishes nor cooking nor thinking of anything much either for supper on Friday evening and most of all I wanted to get out of the house!

Saturday morning was cold, too, and sunny but it clouded over and rained.  Taylor's daddy sent a picture of her playing in the snow and other friends in North Georgia posted their snow photos.  At least we didn't get much rain...but it's slated to rain all week long which I find disappointing.  I had so hoped we'd find time to finally have my birthday celebration.  Perhaps...

Work:

Work pretty much took a back seat this week with lots of visits/stays by family over the way.   We kept up with the basics of housework and that's enough.  Basically all I got done last week was the most important day out (John's last day of work/retirement breakfast) and making cakes for our birthdays.  I also managed to get one extra post finished up and posted on the blog.

I will say that while my creative goals initially were thought to not have been met, I realized as Isaac played with a dishpan of water and a measuring cup for an hour that I had been creative in keeping him occupied for two days with games and amusements whilst his Mama and Daddy were gone and that was a good deal of creativity going on.   I did finish Washington Square and then watched the movie, too.  Then I  started on a book I hadn't planned to read this month.  It was a free kindle book, Maids of Misfortune and I really am enjoying the reading of it.

So this week's plans will include:
working on that capsule wardrobe I mean to wear for the next six weeks
making out a list of things to be done/needed for home and personal use including my spring wardrobe
make a pillow cover  for our room
Plant peas?  Depends entirely upon wet the ground is...I may have to wait until fall and plant them then
Clear and declutter living room cabinets


New goals that must be attended to this week:
It's Harvest week.  Bills, errands, planning for the month ahead since this is the last check and it will be a month until we have first retirement check.

Groceries

Buy Valentine's for the children and get those in the mail that needed to go out.

I may be making Isaac's birthday cupcakes if Bess isn't up to it.  For sure we will go up on the day of his birthday and share ice cream or something with him.  I like to be there for the little family gathering on the actual birthday.

John has a 'trunk' that is a bin he bought and has offered it to me.  I'd planned to put bed linens in it and slide under the bed but it wouldn't fit...I must rethink how I'll use it.  I asked him to put in the pantry for now.  I may use it there.  This requires some thought and then will require moving things about.

I need to find time to get over to Mama's.

I could add tons more but I'll just stop with this.

Meals this week:

We did pretty well with staying on point with meals this past week.  I missed only making the bean soup.  I'll bring it forward to this week.

Roasted Chicken, Sourdough Stuffing, Pear and Walnut Salad with Blue Cheese

Chicken Enchiladas, Green Salad
The beef ones didn't hold up well in the freezer, and I put these in at the same time so I'm expecting them to be a mushy mess.  I'll just bet it's a good mushy mess though.  I'll pour green enchilada sauce over them.  And it was a mushy mess but it tasted good all the same.

Bean Soup, Green Salad
from last week's menu

Swedish Meatballs over Noodles, Green Peas, Waldorf Salad
Wish I still had Lingonberry jam to go with these...but I will have some whole berry cranberry sauce left from our roasted chicken dinner so I may just serve that alongside since the tastes are similar.

out one day?  Maybe my postponed birthday?  
Fingers crossed...

Brunswick Stew over Rice, Cornbread, Coleslaw
I need to buy butter beans (must make sure to put that on my shopping list) and will use leftover chicken from the roast chicken dinner.

Cherry Braised Beef Short ribs, Mashed Potatoes, Crusty Bread
I guess by this point we'll be about full of chicken meals.   I don't typically make any extra vegetables side dishes with this, since I load up on carrots, onions and celery in the crock pot with the beef and dried cherries.