October Meal Plan and Shopping List

Since the school year has started up again my routine has been dusted off and is slowly getting back on track. I was asked last year to please post my meal plan and shopping list for others benefit so here it goes. It is rather simple and a bit of a peak into our schedule. So with no further ado here is the month of October dinners of course:

Friday 10/1 Pancakes, Eggs, Ham, Hash browns and fruit
Saturday 10/2  Grilled sandwiches and soup
Sunday 10/3 Pot Roast with oven roasted carrots/potatoes and sweet peas
Monday 10/4 Chicken with Rice Pilaf and mixed veggies
Tuesday 10/5 Sheppard's pie
Wednesday 10/6  Dinner at the Church before service (sorry you are on your own)
Thursday 10/7 Pizza and salad
Friday 10/8 French Toast, Eggs, Ham and fruit
Saturday 10/9  Grilled Sandwiches and soup
Sunday 10/10 Pork Tenderloin, Rice Pilaf and mixed veggies
Monday 10/11 Chicken with roasted potatoes/carrots and steamed green beans
Tuesday 10/12 Spaghetti with flat cheesy bread and sweet peas
Wednesday 10/13 Dinner at the church ( on your own)
Thursday 10/14 Pizza and salad
Friday 10/15 Waffles, eggs, ham and fruit
Saturday 10/16  Grilled Sandwiches and soup
Sunday 10/17 Turkey Breast. stuffing. corn on the cob and salad
Monday 10/18 Chicken and Perogies in marinara sauce with flat bread and steamed green beans
Tuesday 10/19 Meatloaf Muffins, macaroni and cheese, steamed mixed veggies
Wednesday 10/20 Dinner at church ( on your own)
Thursday 10/21 Pizza and salad
Friday 10/22 Eggs in a basket, ham, fruit, hash browns
Saturday 10/23 soup and sandwiches
Sunday 10/24 Ham, rolls, macaroni and cheese, green beans
Monday 10/25  Chicken and Dumplings
Tuesday 10/26 Tamales, Spanish rice and mixed veggies
Wednesday 10/27 Dinner at church (on your own)
Thursday 10/28  Pizza and salad
Friday 10/29 Pancakes, eggs, ham, hash browns, fruit
Saturday 10/30 soup and sandwiches
Sunday 10/31 Roast, rolls, roasted potatoes/carrots and sweet peas



Here is the shopping list I have included what I order from Schwan's in case you want to try them..
 Schwans   total $46.96:  I really enjoy ordering from Schwans!! I get top quality food, at a good price and it's brought to my door by a friendly representative... I highly recommend (p.s. the veggies are beyond good)!!
Chicken Breasts # 407  $13.99
Chicken Bites # 588   $14.99
Tamales # 600 $9.99
Cheese Pizza # 843  $7.99

I admit I am lucky when it comes to doing my grocery shopping. Giant Eagle has wonderful prices on things I like to keep in the house. Every week there is something new in the buy one get one section, I earn fuel perks(.10 off a gallon for every $50.) and food perks (up to 20% off of my total grocery bill) when I buy gas. They have box top give aways that help Goosie's school and so much more. When my Mom comes to visit I like to take her by the cheese department.. if and when we move I will miss Giant Eagle. It will be a hard grocery store to replace. All that being said here is the list for the month and then I just buy things as we run out. If you do not see it on the grocery list it is because it is already in my pantry. Please check your own pantry before running out to the store. Money is a hot commodity to everyone so keep a tight hold on yours!!

Grocery Store List: 
BOGO:
Round Roast
Raspberries
5 lb bag Apples
Brownberry Bread
Baggged salads
~
2 for $3
Baby Carrots
~
2 for $4
Capri sun
Ms.Butterworth's syrup
~
2 for $5
Mission multi grain tortillas
Land o' lakes spreadable butter
~
2 for $6
Simply Orange
Coffeemate
5lb bags baby red potatoes
~
3 for $3
Renuzit air fresheners
~
4 for $3
College Inn Chicken Broth cans
~
3 for $5
GE chicken broth cartons
~
3 for $6
Trix yogurt
~
2 for $7
GE lunch meat
~
4 for $10
Edy's Ice Cream
Klondike Bar 12 pk
~
5 for $10
GM Cheerios
Pop Tarts
Kraft Shredded Cheese
GM Fruit Snacks
Dole Fruit Jars

Non-sale items:
Nesquick
Cream Cheese
Pie Pumpkins .89/lb
Pork Tenderloin 3.99/lb
Kids Vitamins
White/Wheat/ Rye bread
Sugar/spices

That is about it dear readers, I will post recipes if you ask me to otherwise just make things how you usually would! Enjoy this months menu!!

A Demise of Tea Cups

 This pale blue tea cup started it all. Hubby bought it for me just after he proposed. We were still living in Ocean Shores Wa. and after scouring antique shops I truly appreciated this one. Hubby bought it for me and I have enjoyed many cups of tea and coffee from it. I am thankful it survived the fall.

This tea cup I bought off of Ebay. As soon as I saw it I wanted it. It was as if the beautiful back lacquer was calling to me. The hand painted rose on the inner lip did me in. I have told my sister S that when she comes to visit, this will be her tea cup to use. S has joked for as long as I can recall that she is the black sheep of the family, what better then a black tea cup to celebrate!

 Wonder of wonder the yellow rose also survived. She too is one of my favorites ( they all are). This tea cup reminds me of my sister C. It's simple beauty could be over looked, but if you did you would miss the wonderful detail of it's moderate adornment. Hubby bought this one for me also in Wa., it is part of a mismatched set that was the beginnings of a tea cup collection.

This beauty was my Mother's Day gift this year. Yes, it was another Ebay find and I am sure the seller would have a heart attack to see what has become of the saucer. When it fell it split right down the middle. I can fix it of course. Thankfully the cup it's self was not damaged so with a little super glue, and a careful hand. This tea cup can return to my many uses of it. Just hold the plate fully!! This one reminds me of my sister N. She is so full of life and vibrant. I know it's colors are muted, but the scene is full of life and color. I will enjoy sharing a cup of tea with her one day.

This tea cup is also from the mismatched set. This one has small roses all over it and I have also enjoyed many cups of both tea and coffee from it. This cup reminds me of my sister I. Elegant and sophisticated, and in it's own way toned down enough to fit in with the other eccentric pairs in the set.  I has come for a visist and  I had forgotten in all the rush to sit and enjoy some tea. Tea you see is a good way to catch up on all the things you miss out on and although they may be tea cups you most certainly may have coffee in them instead! A little glue on the handle and it will be usable one more, the beverage of choice will have to be not too hot and not too cold, but just right!

The Forget-me-not's. Their beautiful blue has cheered me on many a dull day. This is V's cup. She visited me once and I forgot to get my set out and have a hot cup of tea with her. The tea cups after all are about the memories made with them not just the ones you make staring at them. V has been my best sister friend for as long as I can remember. I will have to repair the saucer, but the cup is once again thankfully undamaged. A little super glue and things will be better. This one also came from the mismatched tea set.

This tragic tea cup and saucer got the second worst of it. I am thinking of putting it in a shadow box. It now needs to be replaced. This one reminds me of Christmas. I realize that nothing on it screams tis the season. But to me, Christmas is comfort and being around those whom you love. They inspire you and challenge you all the while they nudge you on loving you regardless of the outcomes of your decisions. It's a safe place to land. This cup reminded me of my Mom. It was also part of the mismatched tea set.

Here is the most damaged. It will also go in a shadow box. the saucer is untouched. The cup is not replaceable. This was also one of the mismatched sets. This cup and saucer reminded me of my sister L. It isn't elaborate in decoration but it is beautiful and full of character. I haven't had a cup of tea with L and it seems I will have to now find her a new cup. Alas the first time she will see her cup is in the pretty picture pile now on my blog.

The only woman in my family who has yet to have a tea cup is G. She is difficult to find one for, although I am sure she would have a laugh at that. G is wonderful, strong, independent and has always looked a little different then the rest of us. But she also fits right in. Without G my big family wouldn't be complete and without a cup and saucer for her my set is not complete. So I will keep looking and I hope that by the time she comes for a visit I will have a special cup pairing for her also. Until next time dear readers! Be blessed!

The Close of Summer

Summer has come to a close to the house on the hill. School has started for the oldest two offspring, and Bubbles is finding that naps are not such a bad thing after all. Every morning after waving bye to Hubby; Miniman, Bubbles and I walk Goosie to the bus stop. His knees are from running precariously down the hill and falling gloriously on them.

Miniman's Knee's

But Miniman isn't the only one changing. Bubble's is finding more and more ways to get into things she shouldn't. No doubt taking notes from Goosie she has begun to take pictures.  The one below is probably the first of many. All three of the children are artsy. And being a little artsy myself I won't be the one to drown it out ( neither will Hubby).



Bubble's is taking pictures

 Well, that about sum's things up for a bit. Not much of anything else has been happening. I have a new job since the Drive-in theater is closing for the season, more for my sanity then anything.  Everyone is adjusting to the new routine and I am once again left to ponder how those parents who choose to homeschooling get it all done. I admit that I am taking responsibility for Goosie's school work in a way I never had before. If she fails a test, it is not her fault. It is mine; for not insuring that the information she has to learn has in fact been learned. I struggle with study habits often putting things off till the last moment an then rushing to get it done. I do have the desire to change and I am finding that the more I instill good habits in Goosie the more they are in fact also instilled in me. We are always learning, I have even started taking guitar lessons. Well enough for now dear readers.. I will write more a little later, be blessed!

My visit with R

Last night I had the pleasure of taking a meal to a newly widowed woman. Admittedly I was nervous at first, I wasn't sure what comfort I could offer her in what to me would be such a desperate time. I would certainly want my family around; hers is around they just aren't next door. As I neared the retirement complex my heart went out to R. The streets were quiet, signs posted here and there to watch for children at play and that the speed limit was 25. I drove a rapid 15 to be safe, mostly because I was lost and the street signs confused me a bit. When I finally arrived to her home with the Shepperd's Pie in hand I said a prayer.  The Lord knew what she needed better then I did, and I just needed to be willing. I had left all distractions in the truck, so with only my keys and her dinner I rang the door bell.
I was instantly greeted by an exuberant dog ( I found out later his name is Zeus). I put my hand down so he could see I was friendly, and entered the house. It was warm. Warm in the sense that R was still devotedly loved and severely cared for. R and I talked. We talked about our husbands; our children; the families we grew up in; the different jobs we both had; and the things we enjoy doing with our spare time. R told me about settling her parents estates; the daunting task of settling her husbands and of the many wonderful trips they would take down to the Florida coast. " He loved it there" she said " So much so that if I didn't like it so much here, he would have moved us, but Florida is a place to visit not a place to live.. I like the four seasons too much!".
All in all I listened while she talked. It was refreshing, to hear the recall of fifty-nine years of marriage, the short courtship they had (only two months) and the childeren they raised.  Sitting on the floor at her feet my hand absent-mindidly rubbing Zeus' belly, just listening.  She showed me pictures, and told me how she still sensed him with her. He would be sitting in his chair or on his side of the table. Their house was full of memories.. she even shared with me the way he died and how hard it was for her to say goodbye. I shared with her my own experiances with Hubby's health, and when she cried my arms were not empty, nor were my eyes. Towards the end I let R know that I needed to make my way home. In a sense I didn't want to leave. Not because I knew she would be physically alone, but because I genuinly enjoied her company. I invited her to the house ( I know childeren are a wonderful distraction), left my number in case she needed a ride anywhere or just wanted to get out. R was a pleasure to meet and I am thankful I was able to bring her a meal. I am sad it was under such circumstances, but thankful all the same.  We may never know the impact we have on anothers life.. all we are aware of is the impact they have on ours. My meeting with R has made me all the more thankful for the wonderful things in my life.. and thankful that I have someone  new who I can sit and knit with! Be blessed dear readers!

It's a Roller Coaster Ride.. so when do I coast??

About two weeks ago Hubby and I had a run in with poison ivy. He was itchy all over like you wouldn't believe. I thankfully only had it on my hands and arms. So last week when Hubby once again broke out in itchy bumps on his neck he thought it was poison ivy. Well, it wasn't. And after asking him to go to the Doctor a few times, he finally went.  At first he was told he had foliculitis which is basically a bacterial infection in the hair follicle. He was given antibiotics and sent on his way. Only a few miles down the road, his face became numb and paralyzed on the right side. He then went again to the ER ( a different one) and this time was diagnosed correctly. Hubby  has shingles, and Basil Palsy. Both are temporary, the palsy can last u to six months. The blessing is that this too shall pass. The last time I talked to him, he couldn't close his eyelid, and is not sure if he will just have to put a patch over his eye or if they are going to try to splint it shut. I can honestly tell you dear readers that when he first told me of the paralysis the first thing that popped into my head was a stroke. To then find that it is not a stroke.. I cannot begin to express my gratefulness. So prayer is what I am asking for.
 Over the Labor Day weekend we went south for a family reunion. All of my sister's were there along with their children. the only one missing was N's Mr. Man. He is still deployed in the sandbox, and he was very missed. I can honestly say that whenever I saw all the brother-in-laws standing around together.. I just expected to see him in the mix. N and he are a good pair.. they compliment each other well. It was fun, but also chaotic. With eight sisters, sixteen children, and six brother-in-laws all in one house.. it looked like some sort of convention! Mom and Dad were in the middle of all the chaos. Mom smiling, her skirt shaking; Dad taking pictures and promising us all that we would have a copy of the pictures soon. It was the home I grew up in, at least my definition of home. Home to me is where your heart finds comfort,
encouragement and rest. While I didn't find too much rest because there was too much to take in all at once, I did find comfort and encouragement.  So  while it was at my sister G's house, it was home.
The trip there and back was uneventful, and we arrived to both destinations safely. Now it is just getting things ready for later. Thanksgiving we will be welcoming both my parents, and one of my sisters along with her family( I think her family). There is much to do and I don't like to be caught with things not done when I have had  ample time to do them. So the basement is 3/4 of the way finished. There is just more to do and then it is the task of keeping it all up.. that can be the challenge! Well, dear readers; the dishes are calling my name and I really must attend them! Be blessed until next time!