Sister Coffee Date!

Saturday was our third Sister Coffee Date.  This time we went to one that was halfway between her house and mine. We visited Skytop Coffee.

It was nice but not our favorite. It felt cold but could have just been the weather and we were sitting by the window.

Our coffee was not sweet at all, even though we were told the flavors were sweetened. It wasn't too bad once I got used to it though.  I had cinnamon bun coffee and a blueberry muffin.

My sister got the exquisite looking breakfast sandwich that I kind of regret not getting too.

The nephew was all smiles.

We had a lovely time and chat. <3 Looking forward to the next one already!

Learner Permit, crochet progress and PC stuff

Hannah got her Learner's Permit on Friday

I finally finished week 2 of the Attic 24 Spring Frost CAL

On to week 3!

It's starting to feel blankety and I am loving it so much! I'm envisioning it in my future library on a big comfy reading chair...

Monday I came home to a squeaky clean kitchen.  Hannah did some deep cleaning while I was at work.  It looked amazing!

The Deluxe Cooking Blender is on sale this month.  I call mine Peggy.

Yesterday I did a LIVE video making a smoothie on my FB page

You can check it out HERE.  Tonight I am going to make peanut butter.

Happy Wednesday!

Cook Book Club! Running, superbowl snacks, etc...

Friday night was Cook Book Club! This month we did the Unofficial Disney Parks Cook Book.  I ordered it used off Thrift Books and have no regrets. There are so many recipes I want to make again!

So much yummy food, fun and laughter!

Mickey Sugar Cookies, Caramel and Chocolate dipped Pineapple, Turkey Legs, Cream Cheese Stuffed Pretzels, another Gaston Cinnamon Roll, Jack Jacks NumNum Cookies

Loaded Buffalo Tots, Campfire Chili, Gaston's Cinnamon Roll, Tiger Tails and hummus Trio, Stitch Juice and Mint Julep

Mickey Sweet and Spicy Chicken Waffle Sandwiches

Ollie showed off his Disney Monorail

Saturday Hannah and I visited Serendipty - I had a Sweetheart Latte and she had a Caramel Macchiato

Then I met up with my sister for 5 outside miles, while Mom and Hannah watched her boys.  It felt great to be running outside with my sister again! Then we all had lunch together.

The new Spring Catalogs have arrived! 

For the Super Bowl Party I made pretzel bites.  I made regular ones with a cheese sauce I made in my Blender and sweet ones which are a variation of the cream cheese filled pretzels my Mom made for cook book club.  Instead of filling the bites I made the filling into a sweet cream cheese dip- it was a hit!

Bruno...

Monday night Hannah and I went over to see Ryan and Nicole's new apartment.  Nicole made stuffed peppers for dinner and we played a little Skip-bo

And played with the her cat Jenny

Flowers delivered to work yesterday from my Valentine <3

Happy Wednesday! Hope your week is going well.

January Reading

1- Finding Faith (Finding Home #1) by B E Baker    1/3   (Kindle/own)★★★

This had all the cozy feels of a Hallmark Christmas movie in book form. 

Mary is convinced she never wants kids.  Her own mother abandoned their family when she was young. He father turns to alcohol as a result and she ends up doing much of the raising of her younger sister Trudy.  Afraid of repeating her parents mistakes she never wants kids, nor will date anyone who does.

Until she meets Luke, a handsome electrician with two small children.  He leads a transient lifestyle, living in a travel trailer with his kids, moving from city to city for work.  Being that it's only temporary, Mary agrees to date him, in spite of him being a single dad...

It was heartwarming, cheesy and predictable. Clean romance.

But that’s kind of pathetic. I should have a cocktail dress in my trunk. I should be spontaneous and fun.

2- Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock    1/4   (print/own)★★★

A different holiday read, our Christmas book club selection. It took me a little bit to get into the book- no reflection on the story itself.  I think I was too bogged down with my TBR and trying to read to many at once to get through it. Over all I did enjoy this story.  I really grew to love Finn the crusty cab driver as the story progressed.  I confess the last couple pages were my favorite in the story.

3- They Called Her Mrs Doc by Janette Oke    1/11   (eBook/hoopla) ★★★★★

This is one of my all time favorite books and was a comfort re-read for me.  It still hit all the right spots. Set mostly in the Canadian old west.  I truly enjoyed Cassandra's journey from a spoiled daughter of a wealthy city doctor as she moves to a small western town with her fresh young doctor husband.  One of my favorite parts is when she meets her best friend while expecting her first child and begins her faith journey.  The story spans most of her adult life.

4- Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory    1/17    (Kindle/library)★★★

An open door romance, story went as expected. Parts were annoying. I didn't really like the female protagonist that much.  And that's pretty much all I have to say on the subject.

5- Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other by Sam Heughan, Graham McTavish    1/18 (audio/own) ★★★★

My friend Aimee recommended this to me last year. I enjoyed listening to it from the very start. The banter between Sam and Graham is fantastic.  I highly recommend the audio over any other format as it is read by both authors.  I think you need to listen to it to get the full experience.  Sam and Graham go on a road trip through Scotland, visiting historic sites. The book includes stories of their travels, a bit of history as well as tidbits from filming the Outlander series.

6- June Bug by Chris Fabry 1/20 (eBook/hoopla)

I read this one to preview for book club.  Very interesting tale.  At the beginning of the story June Bug sees her picture on a Missing Child poster in Walmart.  She states up until that point she has believed everything her father has told her.  She is 9, I believe and her whole life she has lived in a run down RV camper moving around the country with her dad.  There were a couple graphic scenes that I do not think added to the book or story at all.  Not sure why the author chose to include.  Over all though I enjoyed this mystery. 

7- A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers    1/31    (print/own)★★★★

At first this one wasn't really doing it for me.  I think I am finding novellas are really not my jam.  This book is a compilation of 5 novellas.  It did get me in the end though.  And it made me want to go back and study all these women's stories deeper.  Rahab's story was perhaps my favorite. I just loved how much she wanted to be part of the nation of Israel and be known my God.  It really struck me how no one is beyond God's reach.

DNF- The World We Make- the language on the first page alone was too much for me.  I couldn't get past it at this time and abandoned the book for now.

Total:  7     2023:  7

Kindle/Ebook: 4   Print: 2   Audio: 1

Library: 3  Owned: 4  Borrowed: 

Unread Shelf: 1     Purchased: 0  *I read 4 books I own- but 2 were book club and read at the appointed time, Clanlands I listened to right away. So I am only counting Finding Faith- which I purchased on Kindle. 

The weather this weekend was certainly frightful.  School was closed on Friday and for that I am thankful. My drive home was one of my worst ever.  But I made it. I was literally shaking by the time I made it safely to my driveway.  I spent much of the reminder of the evening here.  

My spring frost blanket is slowly coming along but I am still in week 2.

 

Added bonus, the jeep battery died on Saturday.  

My super amazing husband replaced it for me in single digit temps.

I'm blaming the cold temps for my sourdough fail but it could have just as easily been the baker.

 I saw this on Facebook last week and am going to print it to hang in my bathroom.  

This is something I need reminded of again and again.

I am in love with Passionate Penny Pincher's menu plans.  I have purchased all the PDFs, when they were on sale last summer.  No regrets.  The menu boxes are super cute but the PDF fits my lifestyle and kitchen better.  I just print them as I make them and add them to my binder.  Several recipes are also on the PPP website.  Also I am not affiliated in any way with Laurie or PPP- just a huge fan girl!

Shepherd's Pie from the Freezer Meals box, I didn't freeze it but just made and baked  it right in my 12" skillet.

Hannah made the french toast bake (from the NEW 5 ingredient box) and zesty fruit salad (from the sides box) on Monday.  The house smelled so amazing when I walked in the door.

Tonight I am using my new digital slow cooker stand to make creamy Italian chicken (also from new 5 ingredient box).

Tuesday night I watched some of the Spring Reveal of new pampered chef products coming this spring.  Some fun stuff on the horizon.  Stay tuned.

Tonight is Game Day Comfort Foods! Be sure to check it out. More info can be found HERE

And just because, ending with these two snuggly pups.