Menu Plan Monday

I have been on a blogging hiatus for the last few day because my camera was water logged. It is now deceased and we have purchased a much bigger camera due to be delivered any day now. Oh, I hate to be with out a camera! I take pictures and videos daily.

Here is my menu for this week. I hope you all have a wonderful week,friends.

Monday: Honey Baked Chicken, green beans (from our little garden) and an Asian Peanut Salad

Tuesday: Creamed Beef S.O.S. and peas

Wednesday: Taco Soup and Salad

Thursday: Reuben sandwiches (we did not have these last week, because we decided to get Domino's pizza instead. Dominos was running a special deal, $5.99 for a large two topping. We couldn't pass up that deal!)

Friday: Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Saturday: Chicken Broccoli Braid

Sunday: Grilled Pork Steaks (it's a St. Louis thing... I had never heard of a pork steak until I moved here, but they are delicious)!

I will also be making applesauce from the bushel of Lodi apples I recently purchased as well as apple butter, zucchini bread and putting up corn for the winter.

Fun times folks, fun times!

Childhood Memories

As a child I would often drift off to sleep with the theme song from M*A*S*H playing in another room. My parents would watch the show weekly and so the theme song became comforting to hear.

Now that I am an adult, I still love hearing that theme song. Even though the song is titled "Suicide is Painless", it still reminds me of being a child and having that comforting feeling knowing that my Mommy and Daddy were close by.

For the last few years, My Sweetie and I always watch one taped episode of M*A*S*H before we retire for the evening. He knows what that song means to me, so even though we could fast forward through it, we always stop and listen. To me, it's as comforting as hearing my parents voice.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Pork Tenderloin with Merlot Mushrooms

Tuesday: Reuben Sandwiches and Hot German Potato Salad

Wednesday: Beef, Mushroom, and Onion Tart

Thursday: Simply Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada's with Chevy's Red Rice

Friday: Special Date Night! Dinner and Michael Buble Concert

Saturday: Sloppy Joes and French Fries

Sunday: Dinner out

Happy Father's Day to My Sweetie

I often over hear my husband telling our children, "Do you know your Mommy and Daddy have waited for you for all of our lives."

I just love that! Because it is SO true.

He is the most wonderful Daddy to our children.

It is simply this, I could not ask for a better Daddy, Husband or Best Friend then My Sweetie.

Happy Father's Day my Darling.

My Heirloom Garden

This is just a peak inside my heirloom garden. This year, I thought I would try using all heirloom seeds. I purchased all my seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds in Mansfield, Missouri. Heirloom seeds are non-hybrid, non-GMO, non-treated and non-patented.

In my first bed I planted the following: Chantenay Red Core Carrots, Purple Plum Radishes, Green Onions, Tom Thumb Lettuce and Blue Lake Bush Beans.


In this bed I planted the following: Green Globe Artichoke (this is an experiment), *Basil, *Rosemary, Thyme, *Oregano, *Thai Basil, Mammoth Dill, and Red Leaf Lettuce. As for the tomatoes I planted the following: Henderson's Pink Ponderosa (Pink), Green Zebra (Green and Yellow Striped), Amish Paste (Red), Paul Robeson (Purple), Beefsteak (Red), Riesentraube (Red, Cherry).

Believe it or not, these photos were taken two weeks ago and now the garden is completely filled in and we have harvested all the radishes, have lettuce daily, and the tomatoes are 3 times this size and all covered in blooms.

This is My Sweetie's first garden and he is just thrilled. He says it makes him happy to see me with my garden because he knows how much I love to garden. Isn't that just the sweetest thing!

The picture below is of one of my blueberry bushes. I wish I had a picture of the blueberries when they were actually blue...but we ate them!

I also planted two raspberry bushes along the back corner of the property. However the deer have been nibbling on those.

Thanks for dropping by my garden. It has been fun to plant most everything from seed and watch them grow daily. I never thought those spinley little tomato seed sprouts would turn into enormous plants, but they did! I hope to have pictures once we start harvesting all our tomatoes.

*Not planted from Seed

Bloom Where You Are Planted Wednesday

The majestic Old Courthouse has remained over the past 150 years as one of St. Louis' most prominent architectural landmarks.

The Old Courthouse was the site of the first two trials of the pivotal Dred Scott case in 1847 and 1850. It was also where Virginia Minor's case for a woman's right to vote came to trial in the 1870s.

You may tour this historic structure, and visit the restored courtrooms to learn more about our 19th century judicial system.

Also, there are many exhibits most of which are actual models or historic items rather than mere text or photographs, date back to 1764, at which time the St. Louis region was a French fur trading port. Other exhibits come from eras ranging from colonial times on up to the 20th century. The Old Courthouse served as an actual courthouse from the mid-19th century up until 1930.

First Crush

While I have had many crushes on movie and television stars over the years, I will always remember my first crush, Dick Van Dyke. I remember first laying eyes on him when he was playing the chimney sweep Bert in Mary Poppins.

It wasn't until I was older that I discovered he had his own show back in the 60's. While I love watching reruns of The Dick Van Dyke Show, I have only seen a few.

To my excitement, I found the entire first season at our local library!

So, after the kids go to bed, My Sweetie and I are planning on snuggling up on the couch and watching a few episodes. I am sure as we watch we will sit and wish we lived during the time when life was a bit more simple.

Menu Planning Monday

Monday: Hambuger Diane with Sweet Potatoes

Tuesday: Croque Monsieur (for Sissyboo) Croque Madame for the adults

Wednesday: Pork and Sauerkraut

Thursday: Beef Lo Mein

Friday: Brenner (Breakfast for Dinner)

Saturday: Grilled Beef Bulgogi

Sunday: Dinner out for Father's Day


This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

My Flowers

Join me on a little tour of My Magnolia Cottage's flowers while they are in bloom.

The ginger lemon scent of a magnolia bloom is almost indescribable.

The Knockout Roses are the pretties hot pink color.

The Daylillies are currently in full bloom.

My hydrangea bushes are all shades of blue and purple. Since they are so beautiful, My Sweetie and I are going to plant some more bushes soon!

I found a sweet little surprise in my hanging petunia basket.

Here is a picture of my little lilac tree. The scent carried throughout the entire backyard. I only wish it would have stayed in bloom just a little bit longer.


Thank you for visiting and I am looking forward to showing you my little veggie garden soon! My Sweetie and I are new at gardening, but we just love it and plan to add more blooms and veggie planters every year.

Buffalo Chicken Salad

This recipe was requested, so here it is. It is delish and SO easy!

Ingredients:
2 hearts romaine lettuce, chopped
2 ribs celery with greens, chopped
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
1 package, 3/4 to 1 pound, chicken tenders, cut into bite size pieces
1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1 turn of the pan
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and black pepper
1/4 cup Frank's Hot Sauce

Directions:
Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat.

Combine lettuce and celery in a salad bowl. Combine ranch dressing and blue cheese crumbles in a small bowl.

Add oil and butter to hot pan with the chicken. Season with salt and pepper and sear for 2 or 3 minutes, then add hot sauce. Reduce heat a little and cook 5 minutes more.

Toss salad with dressing and season with salt and pepper. Top salad with Buffalo chicken and serve.

Games People Play

As a child I never thought that being an adult could be any fun! However, when you're married, it's like having a built in best friend to play games with any time you wish.

Well, My Sweetie and I love to play all different types of games! We try to play board and card games several nights out of the week. One of our favorites is Yahtzee. We have kept the dated score cards since we first started playing years ago, and love to look back at them and laugh at the little notes we have left on them. (Usually it's something silly about him beating me at the game.)

Do you have a favorite board or card game you play with your spouse? I hope you do, because it is a wonderful relaxing way to spend time with your best friend!

Only God Could Create Something This Beautiful:

Right before my company was due to arrive for dinner, I realized that I hadn't purchased any flowers for the center of the table. So, I ran outside to our garden and cut this beautiful hydrangea.

I am still amazed that this is just one flower. Isn't God awesome?

Bloom Where You're Planted Wednesday

We all need a place to get away and be alone with our thoughts. Over the years every place that I have lived, I have always had my special devotional places. These areas are where I can be alone, pray, read my Bible and write in my journal.

My new meditation place is The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. It has the most amazing devotional areas. I would like to highlight just a few below:


*The Agony Garden is a perfect place for visitors to pray and reflect in quiet solitude. A large, Carrara marble statue of Jesus kneeling in prayer portrays Christ's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His betrayal.

The Annunciation Garden stands majestically on a hill overlooking the Main Shrine. The larger-than-life sculptures of the Blessed Virgin and the Angel Gabriel are mounted on a stone wall. It is located at the highest elevation of the Shrine, affording a panoramic view of much of the Shrine property.

Each hour is dramatically marked by the tolling of four large bells installed in a reflection pool.



A Mothers Memorial Wall flanks the curved walkway with bronze plaques honoring individual mothers. Seasonal flower gardens surround the memorial walkway throughout the year, especially in the summer months when the "Our Lady of the Snows' roses are in bloom. This beautiful location invites visitors to pause, meditate, and pray.

A concrete pathway leads the visitor up to and around the Resurrection Cave that resembles a giant stone. The cave is hollowed out on one side, revealing a cut geode, with a tomb-like vacant slab representing the Risen Christ.

A two-acre playground with a spiritual theme was added to the Shrine grounds in the summer of 2002. This recreational area is fun for children of all ages. It provides parents and grandparents a backdrop for some religious instruction. The seven days of creation are colorfully depicted in a rubberized walking surface that circles the playground. At the entrance to this wonderful play area is a life-size sculpture of a kneeling Jesus.

This is such a unique place for people of all faiths to visit.

*Content taken from snows.org

Menu Plan Monday, even though it's really Tuesday........

Monday: Chinese Take Away

Tuesday: Mom's Chicken Salad on Croissants

Wednesday: Korean Ribs over rice

Thursday: Buffalo Chicken Salad

Friday: Chipotle Tamale Pie

Saturday: Grilled Hamburgers with Betsy's Vidalia Onion Rings

Sunday: Dinner at the International Horseradish Festival