Sunday Thought ~ Psalm 7:17

 Love and Hugs
Phoebe x

Here We Go Again...

Its that time of year again... the month long round of check ups to make sure the cancer is staying away.

And so far so good... Today a mammogram and apart from the usual 60 year old aches and creaks... Im doing ok..

Its put my mind at ease... and I would just like to remind you ladies...and you gents... to make sure you get regular screenings for breast, ovarian, cervical, colon and prostate cancers

Uncomfortable yes...but life saving

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Whats For Dinner ~ Meal Plan Monday

Thanksgiving week... and its a busy one... and not just meal prepping including doctors appontments and checkups for MrD and I. Seeing as our doctor is an hour away... thats going to take a bit of time.

But... the turkey is defrosting nicely, and as Ive been using leftovers from the freezer...cooking will be easy too... including a meal out on Wednesday as we travel to the doctors and try to get home in all the holiday traffic for our church Thanksgiving service. A couple of years ago it took us three hours to travel thirty miles.... crazy!

And Friday...the day Ive been waiting for... Christmas decorating starts...yippee!!

Hope your plans are running smoothly.

Heres this weeks easy menu

Weekly Plan - 21st November 2022

Monday              Leftover Lasagne

Tuesday              Beer Battered Shrimp Tacos (Mr D request)

Wednesday         Dinner Out

Thursday            Thanksgiving Turkey and all the Trimmings

Friday                 Leftovers

Saturday             Pizza

Sunday                Turkey and Cranberry Quesadillas

Sunday Thought ~ Psalm 100:4

 Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Dad...

Dad....

16 years and I still think of you and Mum every day 

Until We Meet Again

Love Always xx

In The Beginning...

Eight years ago today...on my way to the airport.. 

The start of the 5,000 mile journey from the Uk to begin my new life in California..

Where has the time gone?

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Definitely Autumn...

Gale force winds

Smashed plants

More snow on the mountain

and our first fire of the season...

I think Autumn is definitely here

Love and Hugs
Phoebe x

Autumn Visitor..

Poor MrD... he loves mowing our lawns. But although the back lawn is thriving, a lot of the front lawn didnt make it through the scorching summer. So decisions had to be made. It seems that the clover in the lawn is spreading... so we are going to add to it. Planting clover seed wont make a grass lawn.. but it will stay green.. Fingers crossed.

At least our plants have survived and are adding welcome colour to the Autumn garden.

We are also getting some new visitors to the garden... Robins! I didnt recognize them at first. American robins are more tall and slender compared to British Robins.. that are little and fat. A bit like me and MrD!

But they all have the pretty red breasts.. and seeing as they were my mums absolute favourite, they are a welcome sight

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Whats for Dinner ~ Meal Plan Monday..

Good Morning from the Blue House...

Im feeling a bit miserable cos I have a streaming cold.. Im not ill.. but the constant sneezing is annoying... and I feel like walking round with hankies stuffed up my nose cos its so sore from sniffing, wiping and blowing.. Too much info?? I dont know... but since having cancer I seem to get any little bug thats going... 

Today..in about 30 minutes..our electric is going off as they work on the power lines.. no internet...no television..no radio... til four this afternoon (dang I should have bought that battery radio when I saw it on sale!)

Anyway... its not going to keep me down..my stove is gas so I can still have my coffee. Plus I can carry on with my holiday planning.

Also this week I start with all the six month check ups to make sure the cancer is staying away. Apart feeling a bit creaky Im sure everything will be fine

Have a great week..and here's this weeks dinner menu.

Weekly Plan - 7th November 2022

Monday              Honey Sesame Chicken Stir Fry

Tuesday              One Pot Mexican Ground Beef and Rice

Wednesday         Breakfast for Dinner..including Bubble and Squeek

Thursday            Spaghetti and  Meatballs

Friday                 Pizza Night

Saturday             Turkey Burgers and Zesty Coleslaw

Sunday                Leftovers

 

Sunday Thought ~ Colossians 3:17

 

In the Kitchen ~ Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

 It was quite a productive day yesterday in the Blue House Kitchen.  A tasty Shepherds Pie for Dinner, a crusty loaf of bread, and a Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread. 

Ive never made it before...but it turned out lovely.. and MrD thought it really good. And thats all that matters

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

3/4 cup Libbys 100% Pure Pumpkin puree
4 large, very ripe bananas
3/4 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 egg
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chip

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees 
• Spray a 9×5 inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, mash the bananas, pumpkin puree and egg together until creamy 
• Beat in the sugars and vanilla. 
• Set aside.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder 
• Whisk to mix them. If you have a sifter, you can use a sifter for this step.
• Add the dry ingredients to your banana mash 
• Beat on low speed for about a minute.  Don’t over beat! 
• Stir in the chocolate chips if you are using them 
• Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. 
• Use a wooden skewer as a toothpick to check the doneness. 

Early Morning..

Good morning from the Blue House

It’s been a lovely couple of days.. chilly.. heavy rain.. and perfect autumn weather

So today I’m giving my kitchen a good clean, making a shepherds pie for dinner and baking some bread. 

I do love a cozy home 

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Flowers in the Rain..

All this rain is doing me the power of good

The flowers are loving it too

 Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Whats for Dinner ~ Meal Plan Monday

Well..its raining... and its due to rain for the next couple of days...wonderful. It really feels like Autumn now.. and although its a bit chilly..Im loving it

This weeks plans are few and far between... so Im just cleaning closets... cooking comfort food... and spending my afternoons listening to my old time radio stations and stitching.

Life is so enjoyable right now..

Here's this weeks menu x

Weekly Plan - 7th November 2022

Monday              Chicken, Roast Potatoes, Carrots, Green Beans

Tuesday              Cafe Rio Chicken Tacos

Wednesday         Shepherds Pie, Cabbage

Thursday            Garlic Shrimp Alfredo

Friday                 Pizza Night

Saturday             Leftover Cafe Rio Chicken Quesadillas

Sunday                Leftovers

Too Early??..

Good Morning from The Blue House.
We woke up to snow on the mountains…

Is it too soon for Christmas music???

Hush Hubby...

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Impatient...

Good morning from The Blue House

I’ve been thinking.. and I mean no disrespect as I love living in America… and I do love its traditions.. And Im a big fan of the Fall season… with its cool temperatures.. beautiful colors, and pumpkin spice everything

\

But…

Do you think we could skip Thanksgiving .. and jump straight into Christmas???

No?? Ok .. pass me another pumpkin spice  latte.. 

think about stuffing the turkey.. 

and plan on getting the tree up in 23 days.. x

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

The Day After...

We sat out for a couple of hours last night, but there were far less Trick or Treaters than last year. My neighbor thinks it may be due to the warnings of tampered candy. But still there were some very good costumes.. and I should mention my own grandbabies.. 

who were a cute dinosaur complete with tail.. 

and the gorgeous Lady Bug superhero from some movie( no clue)

But now Halloween is over.... all thoughts are turning to Thanksgiving and Christmas... They will be here before we know it. Although I may make some treacle toffee for the weekend even though Bonfire Night isn’t celebrated in the US

So my Holiday Folder is out... and Thanksgiving is already organized....so I can concentrate on Christmas.  My food list is underway and I will buy a couple of items a week to store. Im still deciding which cookies to make... there are so many to choose from. The gift shopping has began... and I like to wrap as I go along... Im determined to be organized this year

How are your preparations coming along?

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x