Monday 4 December 2023

Happy Homemaker 2023-12-04

Welcome to December 2023!

I'm on my 3rd round of covid, sigh.   I had a covid vacine & flu shot scheduled this week so will cancel both.  Will talk to boss so maybe I get to stay home this week instead of going in town?  I did! I'm staying home all week - telework

So was a week of sneezing, runny eyes and headache.  Grandkids came by on Thursday (their mom had covid too so did not matter and I did not know I had covid at the time thought it was just a cold).

Ordered a few things this week, gifts, winter coat, boots (hoping all fits).

Let's join Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom .  



The Weather

Nights & days will be getting colder... -14, -15 for nights and -7 or -8 for the days. 
Will get my thick winter coat out.

Looking around the house
Full Christmas mode is on.  I'm mostly ready

Thinking and pondering
Working on my word of the year for 2024... have some ideas.  Also need to work on my goals for 2024

Tv this week
Alertes,  Discussions avec mes parents, Le bon docteur, Entre deux draps, Indéfendable, Stats, Les moments parfaits, Nurses, Yellowstone, Christmas movies and When Calls the Heart

Listening to or interesting blog I saw this week
Nothing


Things on the menu this week
From the freezer.  Went to see what's in there and there is way too much.  Chicken tournedos and soups are on the menu

On my reading pile
Chocolat chaud et chat-pin de Noël - Émilie Chevalier Morreux - a Christmas chick-lit

On my to-do list

Over the weekend
  • Laundry
  • A nice hearty soup in the crockpot, will have for a few nights this week
  • EPQ (finance company) update... was procrastinating on that one
  • Decluttering children's toys, books, etc...
  • Wrapping the gifts I have
  • Ordering online
  • Baking fudge, thumbpring cookies, skors squares
  • Cooking ham and mincing it for Christmas sandwiches
  • Lots of dishes to handwash!
  • Renew magazine subscription
  • Cancel flu & covid vaccine
  • Bank stuff
Monday
  • Post here - DONE
  • Wash main bathroom
  • Vac main floor
  • Watch a few webinairs? declutter emails? no idea.. or just relax and watch some Christmas movies
Decluttering 
  • 3 stuffed toys
  • 1 doll
  • 1 pj bottom
  • 1 cup
  • 10 children's books (will be given back to the free library)
  • 1 kid's bracelet
  • 2 fabric pouches
  • 1 sesame street krank radio
  • 6 dvds - Walking dead series 1 to 6 (will be given to dniece)
Upcoming this week
Not much as I still have the virus

To relax this week or In my crafting basket 

Christmas movies  and knitting

My simple pleasure
Getting stuff out of the house


From the camera:
Nothing

Funny of the week:





Monday 27 November 2023

Happy Homemaker 2023-11-27

Good morning  Last week of November!

Busy work week last week and then this weekend it was Xaviers 4th bday party (his bday is dec. 7).. lots of friends with children were invited at their house.  DD, her boyfriend and children also came.  it started at 10:00.  We left at 2:00 so dd could get the youngest one to nap.  DS, ddil and grandkids came around 4:00 for supper.  DD and family slept over.  

Sunday ds and grandkids arrived early so the children could play together.  Everyone left after lunch... and then it was cleanup time.. 4 little tornadoes in the house.

Let's join Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom .  



The Weather

When I woke up at 4 there was at least 4 inches on the ground but by 7:00 only a little left, it is raining now.
Mild week in the forecast 3 - 4 C.

Looking around the house
Picked up.

Thinking and pondering
Feeling so-so.. had stomach problems this weekend, headache, and something weighing on my mind.

Tv this week
Alertes,  Discussions avec mes parents, Le bon docteur, Entre deux draps, Indéfendable, Stats, Les moments parfaits, Nurses, Yellowstone, Christmas movies and When Calls the Heart

Listening to or interesting blog I saw this week
Nothing


Things on the menu this week
Lots of leftovers.  Chicken, pasta, potatoes, pork loin...

On my reading pile
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life - Hector Garcia Puigcerver & Francesc Miralles

On my to-do list

Over the weekend
  • Vac main floor
  • Mop main floor
  • Wash main bathroom
  • Dust kitchen and kitchenette
  • Move the children small bed to the basement , empty drawer underneath and make space for their clothes and diapers in my armoire.
  • Laundry, laundry, laundry
  • Friday had prepped guest bedroom (change bedding, vac, dust) and a quick cleanup in basement bathroom.  
  • Clean up small handprings here and there and in patio windows
  • Make a veggie soup in crockpot
  • Make porkloins in other crockpot ... all for Saturday night and we ended up having fondue instead... so we ate all of this for lunch on Sunday

Monday
  • Post here - DONE
  • Prep for in-town work tomorrow - DONE
  • Wash basement bedding & remake beds
  • Pay cell phone
  • Go through last week emails... ouch!  unsubscribed from lots of sites... just too many emails
  • Finish up Christmas cards
  • Finish up 2 bday cards for niece and nephew
  • Finish wrapping stocking stuffers
Decluttering 
  • 2 bibs
  • 3 baby washcloths
  • 2 baby pacifiers
  • 1 rubber duck
  • 1 small styrofoam snowman
  • 1 toy figurine 
  • 1 vest
  • 1 Halloween wig
  • 1 jumping rope
  • Emails
Upcoming this week
In-town work on Tuesday

To relax this week or In my crafting basket 

Christmas movies with some hot chocolate or tea

My simple pleasure
Reading / watching Christmas movies


From the camera:
Christmas in Chicago ;)





Xavier

Anne-Élizabeth


Funny of the week:






Monday 20 November 2023

Happy Homemaker 2023-11-20

Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving week to all my American friends!

Last week was all about our 4-day trip to Chicago.  I took wednesday afternoon off and we went to my sis's house (the airport is half an hour from there ... with no traffic).  We had supper at my parent's house and slept at sis's because we were leaving at 8:00 the next morning.

We arrived in Chicago at 2:00 pm on Thursday.  Took the train to the Congress Hotel... an old hotel with lots of history (Al Capone is rumored to have slept there.. under a false name .. so no real proof), and ghosts.  Had a quick supper and took a Uber to see the Black Hawk's hockey game.

Friday we walked 16km.. we did some parts of the riverwalk to visit the Pier and took the architectural boat ride on the Chicago river (it was cold even with our winter coats, hats & mitts) but well worth it.  There was also a tree lighting - a first for us as there are none here so we decided to go there... mistake... so many people we were caught in the throng and could not even move or see anything... we got out of there as soon as a big guy opened up a small breech to move out... so no did not see the tree lighting but we saw it lit next day.  We visited millenum park but the 'bean' is being repaired so could not approach it :(  We went to Macy's to see the big Christmas tree in the Walnut room.  Had supper at Lou Molnatis (recommended by our driver) ... it was ok but it would not be our favorite, but to each his own and it is very popular.  We had half left over so we took the leftovers in two boxes and gave them to homeless people on our way out.

Saturday was another 16 km of walking.  We started by going to see the Bears Stadium (closed but we walked around it), and went by the aquarium and Lake Michigan waterfront.  Then we went down Michigan avenue, they were prepping for the Christmas parade.. no way we were getting caught in that throng, so we kept going and seeing the big fancy stores on the magnificent mile.  We stopped to see the big Christmas tree in Bloomingdales.  Then we decided to come back but a few streets parallel to the parade and guess what?! that was were all the parade cars where and the bands... no people... so we got to see most everything, behind the scenes!  We also went to the Christmas market.

Had supper at Exchequer restaurant (recommended by hotel concierge), it was excellent.  Then we finished night off at the hotel bar with a cup of tea.

Sunday was taking the train at 7:30 to the airport and then back to sis's house to get our car.  We then went to see my brother as sil had to go to hospital on Thursday and had her gallbladder removed.  Afterwards we went to my parent's house and got to see my other brother and 1 cousin.  Sis was also there so we all had supper together.  Got home at 9:30 last night.

It was a nice vacation.  I did had some stomache problems but luckily it happened at the right time each day (when we were at hotel).  Chicago is a beautiful town with lots of parks and walkways.  Problem is being able to go to a restroom (as in all big cities but this was worst . ... even McD's you had to present a receipt before they unlocked the doors).  The pier had no restroom problems however.  Lots of newly arrived immigrant women and children on the streets begging for money.  One of our waiters at the hotel was from Columbia.. had been there for a year.. paying 900$ for a single room for him, his wife and baby and working 7 days a week.. he said he was finding it hard and learning english at the same time too.

Let's join Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom .  



The Weather

Colder this week.. this morning it was -9C with winds... brrrr.. and snow 10cm in the forecast for Wednesday

Looking around the house
Boxes in the LR (Christmas tree yet to be done) but everywhere else Christmas decor is all up.

Thinking and pondering
I'd like to get an 8-hour sleep night... ah... how blissful that would be.

Tv this week
Big brother, Alertes, Aller Simple, discussions avec mes parents, Killing Eve, The walking dead, Le bon docteur, Après le déluge, Mégantic, Entre deux draps, Indéfendable, Stats, Les moments parfaits, Nurses, une affaire criminel, some Christmas movies, Yellowstone, Christmas movies

Listening to or interesting blog I saw this week
Nothing


Things on the menu this week
Probably hamburgers and we will figure out the rest as we go

On my reading pile
Finished my book on vacation... weird ending... need to find a new one...

On my to-do list

Monday
  • Post here - DONE
  • LR Christmas decor
  • Book appointment for bloodwork and ECG for January - DONE
  • Laundry, laundry, laundry
  • Transfer $$ to sis for airport parking
  • Reserve parking for in-town work in December - DONE
  • Prep for in-town work tomorrow
Decluttering 
  • Nothing
Upcoming this week
In-town work on Tuesday
Saturday will be Xavier's bday party so we are going to my son's house.  Thinking I might give him his gift here on his real bday (dec. 7) as there will be lots of peoples and gifts anyways.

To relax this week or In my crafting basket 

Knitting

My simple pleasure
Being back home


From the camera:

(More Chicago pics to come next week... the Christmas ones!)




Funny of the week:






Monday 13 November 2023

Happy Homemaker 2023-11-13

Good morning

What a busy work week!  so much to do.

We had grandkids for supper and to sleep over on Thursday.  Xavier has found a rock and he thinks it's a dinosaur egg and if he takes good care of it he'll get a dinosaur! haha

Friday I worked from 6:30 to 9:30 (wanted to take the whole day off but too much work), then we went to town, did a few errands and dh had a gastroscopie (camera in the mouth), all went well.

Saturday we had supper at sil's for my niece's 23rd bday.  DS and family were at dd's house for a children bday party for Alysanne - 4 years old.

I started decorating as I was cleaning up rooms on Saturday.

Not going in-town for work this week as not working enough days.  Mondays are my usual days off, and then I will be Thursdays and Friday off (and probably wednesday afternoon if I don't have too much work)

Let's join Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom .  



The Weather

November temperatures, freezing nights and below 10C during the days

Looking around the house
Christmas decor is starting to cozy up the house

Thinking and pondering
A busy week coming up

Tv this week
Big brother, Alertes, Aller Simple, discussions avec mes parents, Killing Eve, The walking dead, Le bon docteur, Après le déluge, Mégantic, Entre deux draps, Indéfendable, Stats, Les moments parfaits, Nurses, une affaire criminel, some Christmas movies, started Yellowstone too... way too much
Have started dvr'ing Christmas movies

Listening to or interesting blog I saw this week
Nothing


Things on the menu this week
No idea, ...

On my reading pile
L'enragé by Sorj Chalandon

On my to-do list

Over the weekend
  • Vac main floor
  • Wash main bathroom
  • Dust all main floor
  • Laundry
  • Started decorating
  • Paid bills
  • Send osteo bill to insurance company (they pay 30$ out of 100$ :( )
  • Start packing seriously
  • Prepped bday cards and wrapped gifts for upcoming bdays
Monday
  • Post here - DONE
  • Wrap ornaments I made for friends
  • Figure out and wrap stocking stuffers
  • Do a few hours of telework
Decluttering 
  • 1 small Christmas tree (all needles were falling off)
  • 1 expired eye ointment
Upcoming this week
Wednesday we leave for sis's house.  Thursday until Sunday .. a trip to visit Chicago.

To relax this week or In my crafting basket 

Knitting

My simple pleasure
Clean house

*** Thanksgiving Tips, DIY, Ideas or recipes ** (new category)
Recipe we make for the Holidays
Ragoût de boulettes (meatball stew)
Meatballs
1 1/4 lb minced pork
1 1/4 lb minced beef
1 tablespoon sarriette (I think it's called savory herb?)
1 small minced onion
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon powdered ground clove
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
Salt & pepper
Toasted flour

2 enveloppes St-Hubert's Ragout gravy
8 to 10 pure pork sausages
* I add worcestershire sauce and a little beef Bovril

Prep meatballs (I make mine quite big so they don't harden). Roll in toasted flour. Sear in hot oil a few seconds on each side. This will insure that they stay firm when added to the gravy.

Prep gravy according to package (1 enveloppe 8 meatballs, 3 enveloppes for 24 meatballs). Add meatballs and let simmer 45 minutes. *I finish them in the oven at 350 - 2 hours - take lid off pot 15 minutes before the end so gravy thickens (or use cornstarch). Can also be done in crockpot.

Boil sausages 15 minutes and add 20 minutes before the end of cooking to the meatball/gravy pot.

Suggested serving: 3 meatballs + 1 sausage + boiled potatoes + beets

From the camera:

Xavier and his dinosaur egg



Coming up soon:




Monday 6 November 2023

Happy Homemaker 2023-11-06

Good morning

Halloween... we had 160 trick or treaters.  Grandkids had a blast (pictures down below).  DH helped out at townhall for decorations as festivities were there mostly (hot-dogs, hot beverages, games, marshmallows)

Went in to work Thursday instead of Tuesday and dh came to town for errands while I worked.  He bought a new sound bar... now to find someone to install it.

Friday we told ds we would pick up grandkids from daycare and brought them here for supper and for a sleepover.  Brought them back to their house Saturday at 10:30 as ddil's 5 year-old sister had just arrived for the weekend to play with them.

Saturday afternoon and Sunday were housechores.

My gut has been acting up this week so a little less energy.  So glad to mostly be working from home when this happens.

Let's join Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom .  



The Weather

Getting colder... around 0C all week and nights are below 0... Frost everywhere when we wake up.

Looking around the house
Fall decor is down so for now not much up.. looking  bleak.  will start putting out 'winter' decor slowly.

Thinking and pondering
Tired, Chicago, need to sleep, work overload, tired ...

Tv this week
Big brother, Alertes, Aller Simple, discussions avec mes parents, Killing Eve, The walking dead, Le bon docteur, Après le déluge, Mégantic, Entre deux draps, Indéfendable, Stats, Les moments parfaits, Nurses, une affaire criminel, some Christmas movies, started Yellowstone too... way too much
Have started dvr'ing Christmas movies

Listening to or interesting blog I saw this week
Nothing


Things on the menu this week
Meat and tomato macaroni, boulettes de viandes, ...  DH made chicken pot pies on Friday and sent one to ds ... we have leftovers from ours for today.  He had also made a strawberry pie.

On my reading pile
I had to reset my Ebook and lost my books (but have a backup on my computer ) A l'eau de rose et de vaisselle  by Sandra Ganneval... was not interesting so gave that up
Read EM by Kim Thuy.. a quick interesting read
Now reading L'enragé by Sorj Chalandon

On my to-do list

Over the weekend
  • Vac main floor
  • Wash main bathroom
  • Laundry
  • Make ragoût de boulette for this week and some for freezing
  • Made a potage so we have enough leftover for this week too
  • Prepped pasta macaroni for tonight
  • Deep-cleaned main pantry
  • Dusted kitchenette
  • Took down Fall decor
  • Put away Halloween

Monday
  • Post here - DONE
  • Make chocolate / pumpkin cookies
  • Help dh wrap up the gazebo
  • Prep for in-town work tomorrow
  • Knit
  • Do a few hours of telework
Decluttering 
  • Elliptical is finally out of here. DDIL wanted it but dh would not take it over saying they have already too much stuff in their house. told him it's either that or she buys a new one full price... I gave her the one I had. Never used it but had it for free too.

    Small vaccum (from my parents that was here), sold on Marketplace but not sure it won't come back as the lady was saying tube was too short? duh it's like that. It's been 5 days... so crossing my fingers it's not coming back.

    12 small tubes of paint given to grandkids (came from mom's)
    1 pan (but dh replaced it with a new one)
    2 boxes expired cereals
    2 boxes expired cookies
    2 expired cans (1 gravy and 1 cranberry sauce... stuck in the back of the pantry shelf)
    1 broken cup
    1 broken dessert plate
    1 pair of jeans
    1 tupperware container
Upcoming this week
In town work Tuesday 
Thursday 8:00 am osteo appointment
Friday afternoon with dh in town for medical exam (it's this week, I thought it was last week)

To relax this week or In my crafting basket 

FINALLY started a pair of knit socks

My simple pleasure
A cup of hot tea

*** Thanksgiving Tips, DIY, Ideas or recipes ** (new category)
Even though our Canadian Thanksgiving is of the past, here's the cookie recipe I am making today.  My cookies are bigger (galettes) so it will probably give me about 15 or 16.
Soft Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies - A Family Feast® They have lots of tips on the site

Soft Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies - Lightly sweet pumpkin cookies full of chocolate chips and walnuts. So good!

Soft Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yield: 3 dozen
Prep: 20 minsCook: 11 minsTotal: 31 minutes

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup oil (canola or vegetable)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon milk
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional but highly recommended)
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper sheets(or lightly grease the cookie sheet if you don’t have parchment paper).
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine pumpkin, sugar, oil, vanilla and egg. Mix until well combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. In a small bowl, dissolve the baking soda with the milk. Add both the dry flour mixture and the wet baking soda mixture to the pumpkin mixture. Mix well.
  4. Add in the chocolate chips and nuts and stir until evenly combined.
  5. Using a medium cookie scoop(medium scoop is equal to 1 1/2 tablespoons), drop mounds of the cookie dough on the prepared cookie sheets.
  6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool slightly before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

From the camera:
I gave Xavier a dinosaur t-shirt... he was HAPPY!

DD's boyfriend's children
Xavier and Anne-E



Funny of the week: