The Homemaker Plans Her Week: Ending and Beginning

I reviewed my goals for April and the goals I'd made for each week this month.   I hit on all but two goals.  I did not finish three items (Yet!  There's time in which I might!), but I got so many things done, some of which weren't on my lists that  I am stoked to see how much I can do come May.  I worked hard, but I didn't work myself into the ground.  There was plenty of time to rest, laze around, visit, get unplanned tasks knocked out, and more.  I'm not mad about that!

So here we are this week with one foot in one month and one foot poised to step right into the next month.  Time to finish a few things and time to get started on new ones, too.  I like weeks like that!

Work:  

Zone work: I'll split it.  Since it is the end of the month, I want to concentrate on the Laundry area and Back Entry (pretty much all one area).  And since it's also the beginning of a month, I'll work on the Front porch, living and dining room.

In the laundry area just general tidying, and wiping down the appliances.  In the back entry, encourage John to decide if the new brakes can go live in his shed...And get him to gather all his other little bits and pieces that have accumulated there.

In the living room: It's time to pack away the Afghans, consider changing out pillow covers, dressing the dining table prettily once more.  On the front porch, I plan to go ahead and move plants outdoors.  We're close enough to nighttime temps being safe for all the plants to return to their summer home.

I still need to finish this month: weeding, cleaning the shed, and getting the guest bath fully cleaned.  I've done a lot in all three spaces.  I'm pushing the first part of this week to get more done in all three spaces.  

Finish up the inventory of the household stuff.  I have the baskets in the laundry to go through and the bins in the guest room closet (flour, sugars, meal, rice, dried beans).

For May: Write out my goals for this month.

Plant the things I bought last week.  

Mix some compost into the planters.

Make it a point to buy some soil and mulch, though John's done all he can to resist my requests thus far.  Truly, he does not like to haul such in the car, but we have a weather tech mat in the trunk and we don't have a truck.  So car hauling it must be.

Keep Caleb while Katie goes to her appointment.  Which in my opinion would be a great time to go get the soil and mulch since we pass two DIY stores and a Walmart on the way to her house and again going back home.

Kitchen:  

Make bread.  

Gather some of the expired items from the pantry cabinets to plan to use this week.

Work on those warm-weather menus.  I'll be glad I have them to inspire me when I'm weary of cooking meals. I'm in luck!  I was flipping through past year's inspiration sheets and found some of my previous menus for warm-weather meals.  I'll add a few to the list but it's a grand start!

Pick up eggs while they are on sale. (Sunday after church).

Menus:  

Filet Mignon, Potatoes Anna, Peas with Mushrooms, Green Salad.  I thawed these this week and want to cook them.  It's a fancy meat but was only $4 a pound.  They deserve a fancier menu to go with them.

Sticky Garlic Drumsticks, Stir Fried Vegetables, Pickled Carrots.  The stir-fried vegetables will include bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and bean sprouts, all from the pantry.

Ravioli Lasagna, Garlic Butter Biscuits, Salad.  The Ravioli Lasanga will use one of the many cans of tomato soup from the pantry.  It has not expired, just overstocked.

Chicken Shwarma, Rice Pilaf, Tomato and Cucumber Salad, Pickled Red Onions, Naan. Using coconut milk from the pantry in the Pilaf, and almonds from the freezer. Although I am trying to eat more protein, I think if the breasts I took from the freezer are larger, I'll just use one for each of the two meals I've planned.  If smaller, then I'll take out an extra pack before making the second meal.

Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Coleslaw.  A lesser quality pork sausage will extend the ground beef for the meatloaf.  

Chicken Piccata, Sauteed Spinach, Italian White Beans, and Tomato, Noodles.   Cannelini Beans and capers from the pantry.  

Cheeseburgers, Fries, Onion Rings, Fixings (lettuce, Tomato, Pickles).  I have half a cup of recently expired pancake mix.  It makes an excellent batter for homemade onion rings.  I also have lovely Vidalia onions, five pounds of them.

Personal/Leisure:

I am really struggling of late with my self-image.  Dark spots on my skin, dry patches on both eyelids, hair that refuses to look half decent, weight gain... I can offset most of these things by taking more time to groom myself properly each week.  I'm also looking for a new hairstyle that will suit me more than my current one.  Another thing I can do is spend a little more time making sure my clothes for around the house and out of the house, are accessorized and fit as well as they can, even if it means pushing half my wardrobe aside for a few weeks.

Stop whining about my weight and start doing something about it.  8 years ago when I lost weight I did it using the Iowa Plate Method.  I'm going to try the same plan and see how that goes. 

I did not read my April books, Enchanted April, and April Gold, or watch the movie, "Enchanted April".  I hope to read one of those books and watch the movie this week before we slide into May.  The May selection for the Elizabeth Goudge book club is The Scent of Water. I plan to read along with the group.  

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