Happy Homemaker Monday {Jan 13, 2025}

There a many possibilities for January yet. It keeps me focused, and joyful.  I'm a bit behind on home repairs/projects, but moving forward.

Winter gives me more time to browse our local library, and read up on new teas, recipes, tinctures, garden plants and more. Has anyone had experience with bay leaf tea?  I'm just now learning about it, but have not made the tea.  I'm wondering if all bay leaves are the same or different?  I buy mine bulk, so I'll have to check the package label.

Another question.  Ha.  Sigh.  When we emptied our moveable cupboard that holds extra canned garden goods, we discovered cowboy candy from 2020.  Toss?  I mean it's now 2025.  My husband is insisting anything canned is good (not the same for tomato based goods), but I'm against him on this one.  Garden season is around the corner, so I can toss and be safe.  What would my fellow canning blog friends do?

Gardening folks - do you plan on planting anything new this coming garden season?

Photo courtesy of my cousin in the LA area.  This was their sunset a few nights ago.  Prayers continued.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom, although I am currently now a "stay at home housewife."

I know these posts can be a bit long, so I'll try and keep things short and to the point.

The weather in my neck of the woods . . .

We had another snow storm that blew in last Friday.  We got another 2-3 inches of snow or so.  It's about 12°F windchill this morning.  Today will be 11 degrees colder than yesterday.

Things that make me happy . . .

-waking up to a clean and tidy kitchen

-battery operated thin twinkle lights in a few areas of the house during winter.  They add a bit of sparkle during dark, cold winter days.

-our few mantle photos, that I turn on in winter.  They have little lights that come on with a built in timer.  I plan to add a few more.  We keep these until winter is over with.

Book I am reading . . .

-See last Happy Homemaker for the three daily readings (Here)

I unburied this book, which I started back in May of 2024.  Totally forgot about, as it was underneath something else.  It is somewhat boring, so it's dragging along.

I started this one too, but it's my downstairs book. Yes, I am reading two books at once, ha ha!  The top book is light weight, so I can read it on the treadmill (or will continue on the treadmill if doctor clears me).

What's on my TV . . .

Recent movies:  Crazy, Stupid, Love,  Morning Glory, recent football game, 80 for Brady

On my breakfast plate . . .

Apple/Cinnamon/Walnut Steel Cut oats, Canadian Bacon or Chicken breakfast "sausage" patties

Fun fact:  I learned the steel cut oats at as a prebiotic in our body.  Interesting for sure.

On my lunch plate . . .

Egg Salad on avocado bread, fresh fruit

On my dinner plate . . .

Leftovers.

On the menu . . .

-Sheet Pan Parmesan Chicken and Vegetables

-crockpot herbed flounder, roasted veggies or green beans

-Mexican chicken or tacos

-Leftovers

On the to-do list . . .

In recent lists, I have overloaded my list with dedicated ambition, but to no avail, left almost all to-do's half done.  In light of that...the list will be me picking 3 off my notebook.  I went around the house and wrote what needs done.

Not sure what I'll pick yet, but the goal is only 3 now. In addition....

-make cream of celery soup

New recipe I tried or want to try . . .

Crockpot herbed flounder.  It's on the menu.

Recipe we tried - Homemade Avocado bread.  Delicious.  I baked it the exact time the recipe called for, but the photos looked crispier on the edges (or more done) than ours turned out.  It is very good however.  We can just cook it a bit more in the air fryer before using.  We plan to make more of this "bread" and put it in the freezer to use as needed.

To try:  Crockpot herbed flounder.

What I am creating . . . 

Crochet lap afghan, baby blanket, and jar openers.  Updates on it all soon in another blog post. It will take up too much space to post it all here.  Working on our Christmas binder (recipes, gift ideas, games etc). Oh, and a crochet combined new project I hope to be sharing soon (pretty fun so far).

No words needed (favorite photo or picture) . . .

Sunday Joy - met up with a couple for breakfast at a local restaurant that has a "country" store inside.  All of the Christmas items were on sale 50% off and ended the same day.  Love this store, and the food.  The food is the closest to homemade you can find.  Good company made the morning wonderful.

Devotional, Prayers or Bible Verses . . .

Good thoughts, good vibes, good life!  Not a Bible verse, but a good reminder.

Happy Homemaker Monday {Jan 13, 2025} © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

49 Weeks Until Christmas 2025

I'm joining Anne in the Kitchen (blogspot - Cooking and All that Jazz ) with her Christmas countdown preparations and fun planning posts.

Preparing for the next Christmas season.  January is the best time to work on crochet Christmas gifts and/or ornaments.  My family has been overwhelmed with my gracious and over abundance of ornament making over the years.  I need to find another outlet for them now.  Maybe nursing homes?  Adult assisted living facilities?  

 We have located a non-gmo Christmas cookie sugar sprinkle for next year's cookies.  I had no idea they even made them, and our Menard's sells Watkins brands.  They make this in "green" too with no artificial dyes.

Current library book for Christmas possibilities:

Delicious Foods to Make and Give Homemade, by Judith Choate.  A good library find for holiday planning if you are doing so during these slower winter days.

It has many recipes and ideas.  However, what in the world would you use parsley jelly for ?

The book suggestion is for a glaze on poultry, fish, veal or lamb.  Honestly, I would rather dehydrate my herb garden parsley and use it that way.  Would you use the jelly?  Just wondering.  It is an odd recipe, and with sugar too.

I have printed and saved one adult game for our binder.

I have not yet tried any new recipes for the next holiday.

49 Weeks Until Christmas 2025  © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart