Happy Homemaker Monday

Welcome to another edition of Happy Homemaker Monday. I hope you had a great weekend and are ready for another week. This is going to be another busy week for me but next week...ahhh, sweet relief! I should be able to get back on schedule (what's that???) and get some maintenance stuff done around here! But, in the meantime, need to stay focused this week to get everything done! 


Happy Homemaker Monday is started each week by Sandra at {Diary of a Stay at Home Mom}. So, let's get started...


The weather...Now this is a depressing subject! At 9:00 am it is 60 degrees F, the wind is blowing (hard) and I am wearing a SWEATSHIRT!!! Brrr! Oh well, the strawberries, raspberries and lettuce like the cooler temps.


On my reading pile...My Bible, A Time to Embrace by Karen Kingsbury and my new Vegetarian Times magazine!!!


On the TV...Nothing till Wednesday when Dogs in the City will be on again.


On the menu for this week...

• Monday--Mushroom Barley Soup & Salad
• Tuesday--homemade Pizza and Salad
• Wednesday--gone to Stamping Club (guys are on their own:)
• Thursday--Mizidra (hubby liked it so much last week he asked for it again)
• Friday-Monday will be at daughter's house:)

On my To Do List...

• Get projects ready for Stamping Club
• Make 4 Graduation cards, 2 Birthday cards and 6 Thank You cards
• Finish gifts for Granddaughter's birthday
• Pick and freeze strawberries and raspberries
• Pack to go to daughter's
• Plus the laundry and housework that is usual

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating...

Dress for granddaughter's 18" doll in lavender fingering yarn.
Hope to have it finished by the time I get there on Friday:)

Wheat Doily (haven't started the wheat part yet).
Hope to have it finished and ready to show by next week!

Homemaking tip...My all-time favorite tip is the Mystic Maid Microfiber Cloth. Now, I know you have tried a lot of microfiber cloths, some good and some not so good but Mystic Maid takes microfiber to a whole new level. I received my first Mystic Maid cloth as a gift. I thought "What's with this and what do I do with it?" I don't remember how long it was before I finally used it but when I did, there was no going back! This cloth is hands down the best way to clean mirrors, windows, shiny marble countertops, black-topped ranges, faucets--anything you want to shine with no streaks!!! You don't use any cleaner (a huge savings right there) plus unlike paper towels the cloth is reusable (another cost savings)! To use, just wet with water, wring out and wipe your surface. When the surface dries there are NO STREAKS!!! The cost is US $14 (includes shipping and handling within the US) which is a bit pricey however I have had my cloths for about 15 years and they are still as good as new! I don't know what you would have to do to wear out one of these cloths.

Looking around the house...A little cluttered but clean. Our 12 year old miniature dachshund at my feet. Stamping stuff spread out on the dining room table ready for me to get to work!

From the camera...

Raspberry bushes are loaded! I picked over a gallon of berries yesterday and will likely get about half that today! I feel so blessed to live in a place where we can grow good food to eat and to have a husband who enjoys growing things--food, flowers, trees...

Something fun to share... Multigrain Tortilla Chips by Food Should Taste Good! These chips/crackers are made with flax, sunflower, and sesame seeds, quinoa, soy and brown rice. They are certified Gluten Free and are DELICIOUS!!! I particularly like them paired with Sabra Hummus and I am able to purchase them both at Costco:)

On my Prayer List...

• My brother who recently lost his wife
• A friend with cancer
• A friend who is trying to figure out where God wants them
• My mom's health
• My trip to visit daughter on Friday
• Warmer weather (I know, be careful what you ask for)

Bible verse; Devotional...

This is for me this morning from a little book called Steps to Christ by Ellen G. White:

"Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, "Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee". This is a daily matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ."

Thank you for stopping by today to share my Happy Homemaker Monday! I hope you have a truly blessed day! Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday #21

Ahh! It looks like this post is kinda funny looking but I don't have time to fix it before I leave this morning so please forgive me. I hope you enjoy reading it any way. I was going to try to fix it but decided to move on. Better luck on my next post?!!!


Good Morning! And welcome to Happy Homemaker Monday! This fun project originates each week with Sandra at {Diary of a Stay at Home Mom}.  Lots of fun stuff on Sandra's blog so check it out when you have time to browse:)

The weather:::

Raining:( We need the rain but... Only 51 degrees! Summer, please hurry! 
On my reading pile:::  
Haven't really felt like reading lately but the books I am trying to read at the moment are:

• The Energy of Money by Maria Nemeth, Ph.D. 
• A Time to Dance by Karen Kingsbury (honestly I can't believe I haven't finished it yet)
• Horse of a Different Color by Ralph Moody (one more chapter to go). This is the last book in the Little Britches series and we read them aloud as a family.

On my TV:::

Not really interested in anything till Wednesday night when Dogs in the City will be on again. Love that show!!! Also would like to watch The Shunning and Summer in Genoa this week on Netflix.

On the menu for this week:::

 Monday -   Dinner out--Olive Garden maybe:)
Tuesday -   Garbanzo Pot Pie
Wednesday -  Potato Soup
Thursday -   Mizidra (brown rice topped with lentils then built like a tostada)
Friday -  Bean & Bulgar Chili
Saturday -  Not sure
Sunday -   Tacos

On my to do list:::

• Shopping with hubby today
• Gotta get those sewing projects started and finished!
• Gotta get some cards made--need Thank You, Father's Day and Birthday, oh my!!! And several of each!

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::

• Started a doily last week and finished it last night.
• Planning to make a clothes pin bag out of an old pair of blue jeans.
• Will definitely be making those cards this week.
• I am planning to crochet a dress for my granddaughter's 18" doll while traveling today. Need to make two of them because she has two dolls.
• I have fat quarters that are begging to be made into a purse (for me???)

Summer Fun:::

I am hoping my summer fun includes a few motorcycle trips with my husband. Something about holding on for dear life to the man I love. Hmmm:) 


And am also hoping to make a visit happen with my niece and her children plus my daughter and granddaughter. 


Other than that, I will enjoy picking strawberries and raspberries from our garden:)

Looking around the house:::

I have three dogs--a 12 year old miniature Dachshund; a 2 year old Great Dane and an 9 month old English Bulldog-- who are playing and fighting in the living room (at my feet) as I type. Dishes need to be done (which I will do as soon as I am finished with this). My new doily is on the coffee table ready to be pressed, photographed and blogged.

From the camera:::

I posted a picture of Rocky in the windowsill yesterday for my Sunday Night Chit-Chat but this one is the look he gave me when I asked him what he was doing up there!

Something fun to share:::

I can't think of anything at the moment but will come back and edit if I think of something.

On my prayer list:::

• My mom's health
• Friends who are turning their regular restaurant into a Vegan restaurant. They have a strong desire to teach people about health. They are currently eating about 75% raw themselves; she has lost 35 pounds and he has lost 55 pounds. Such a testimony to what they are doing.

Bible verse, Devotional::: 

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow:for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Matthew 6:33 & 34

Thank you for stopping by today. I enjoyed taking part in Sandra's Happy Homemaker Monday:) Kat

Gluten Steaks

When I went to visit my daughter last month she had a list of things she wanted me to bring or make while I was there:

• Granola (recipe here)
• Raisin Bread
• Mizidra (recipe here)
• Apple Pie
• Gluten Steaks (also called Seitan--pronounced SAY-tawn)

Her very sweet neighbor came over to try the Gluten Steaks and pronounced them good. She is a Follower of my blog and asked me to post the recipe so here goes!

GLUTEN STEAKS

1 1/2 cups cold water

1 small onion

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup wheat germ

1/2 tsp salt

1 Tbsp chicken-like seasoning (I use Bill's Best)

1 Tbsp nutritional yeast

1 Tbsp soy sauce

1 Tbsp peanut or almond butter

Blend above ingredients in blender for one minute. Pour into bowl and add 2-3 cups gluten flour. Mix well. Form a long roll, wrap in plastic and refrigerate one hour to overnight. Slice in 1/3" slices and drop in boiling broth. Boil 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Boiling Broth for Gluten

8 cups water

1/2 cup soy sauce

Add any or all of the following ingredients:

• 2 cloves fresh garlic
• 1 Tbsp granulated onion
• 1 tsp marjoram
• 1/4 tsp thyme

Bring to boil before adding the gluten. As stated above, boil gluten for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

When gluten is finished boiling, bread with your favorite breading mix and fry like you would chicken fried steak. Best served with mashed potatoes and gravy but my daughter eats them cold out of the refrigerator:)


I hope you enjoy this recipe! Kat