Monday Menu

Hello everyone!  I hope that you had a very productive week and a restful weekend!  It has been a rough end of the week for me - I woke up Thursday morning with a sore throat and then came down with a full fledged cold!  So, this weekend was spent just trying to chill out and get over this - I still am having a hard time  with my voice - I always lose it when I catch a cold - so it's been a little quiet on the home front.  I can't miss work now - I only two more weeks to go and next week is my last five day week.  So - I'll just 'soldier on' and hope that things get better soon.

We did alright eating at home - just not necessarily eating what I had planned.  Monday night we ended up eating leftovers from the previous week - Mountain Man actually used leftover Spaghetti and made Baked Spaghetti on Monday night.  Tuesday Night I fixed Southwest Taco Pie - then Wednesday night we had Fried Chicken and potato wedges.  Thursday night was when I got sick so we had Chicken Noodle Soup and Grilled Cheese sandwiches, Friday we did have Pizza, and then on Saturday Chicken Pot Pies.  Sunday night we had the Pork Chops that I had planned for Monday night - but at least we ate them!  So, in a nutshell, we didn't have anything was on the menu plan BUT we didn't eat out!  

Let's get honest here - it has been really hard for us to stay with the menu plan with me working.  Mountain Man tries to help, but he doesn't like sticking with "the plan".  I really don't want to tell him I don't want his help (and it is nice to come home and not have to worry about cooking after working all day), but it sure does make sticking with a plan HARD!  However, like I said, I only have two more weeks of work and then we can really get back with "the plan" with a vengeance because I will be doing all the cooking again.

I'm hoping that we will be able to stay with "the plan" this week, but we shall see.  Actually, I have changed things up a bit to see IF it is something that Mountain Man will do for me.  Wish me luck!

Monday, May 21 -  Chicken Alfredo, Pasta, Salad

Tuesday, May 22 - Pork Loin Roast, New Potatoes, Green Beans

Wednesday, May 23 - Grilled Hamburgers, French Fries

Thursday, May 24 - Country Ribs, Potato Salad, Sliced Tomatoes

Friday, May 25 - Movie Night - Pizza

Saturday, May 26 - Chef's Choice

Sunday, May 27 - Bar-B-Que Pork Sandwiches, French Fries

Monday, May 28 - Memorial Day - Family Cook Out!

We shall see how this goes - I guess you see that there is a lot of pork on the menu this week - well, there was a really good sale on pork a couple of weeks ago - now we need to eat it.  Also, there is a lot of grilling - I'm hoping that if I have Mountain Man grilling he can stick to "the plan".  What do you think?

June is going to be a month of eating out of the freezer - it is too full (if there is such a thing) and we need to clean it out.  That should also help with the food budget.

I hope that your week went well and that you are all ready to start a new week with your plan ready!

Hugs -

Carol

Taming the Jungle

Last  week I shared with you the pool and patio area of our home.  We have made so many changes - and we have even made some more this week, but that will wait until later to share those changes with you.

This week I thought I would share the front of the house and let you see some of what we have done.

Remember when I shared that the county property appraiser called our house the "Jungle House"?  Well, there was a reason.

This is what the front of our house looked like when I first came to see it.

The front of the house was so overgrown we didn't even know if the house had a sidewalk.  The realtor and I walked over palm fronds to the front door and hoped that we would not step on any snakes.

Two days after we had submitted our offer, but before the bank accepted it, my Realtor called and told me I had to go by the house.  The bank had sent a company in to trim everything back.  This was the first time I saw that we did indeed have a sidewalk. 

It was still in bad shape, but at least I didn't feel like I had to worry about snakes or mice or some other creature biting me.

The first thing we had to do was take out all the palm trees - there were twenty-three palm trees in the front yard alone.   Yes, you read that correctly - TWENTY - THREE!

When we had the inspections done on the house the septic inspector told me that we HAD to take out some of the palm trees as the roots were growing into the septic tank.

So, that was the first step in getting the front yard into a presentable state.

When Mountain Man and I arrived back in Lake Placid and closed on the house the very next week we started on having the palms and overgrown landscaping taken out.

We actually lived with nothing in the front, except grass, for four months.  Finally, we had saved enough money to have some landscaping done by a professional - but it was just the first step.

Beds are being prepared and new irrigation is being installed.

Landscaping going in.

Aww, so much better!  

Not perfect - but a good start.

See all the bare spots in the yard - yep, that's where some of those twenty-three palm trees were.

Last year we concentrated on doing the inside of the house, but we did put weed n' feed on the grass and just kept plugging away at getting things planted and trying to get the bare spots covered.

Finally, in March, we added some other flowers and another flower bed - just a little difference in the way it had looked.

New flower bed with day lilies and bird of paradise.

 We know that there is still more work that we need to do - for example, we are not happy with the entry way, but that will come.  We just have to have patience.

We have added some solar lighting along the walkway and a couple of solar spot lights on the small palms.

So, we went from this

 To this -

 To this -

 Finally, to this -

 While we still have work to do we are so happy and proud of how far we have come.

Hope you think so too!

Hugs -

Carol

I'm linking up to some of these great blogs:

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Meet Me Monday at You Are Talking Too Much

Your Cozy Home Party on Monday at Cozy Home Scenes

Motivated Monday at Be Colorful
Beautify It Monday at http://bringingbeauty.blogspot.com/
Show it Off Mondays at http://www.getouttamyheadplease.com/
Make it Great Monday at http://etcetorize.blogspot.com/
Just a Party with my Peeps on Monday at http://howtonestforless.com/
Monday Marketplace at http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/
What's in the Gunny Sack on Monday at http://www.thegunnysack.com/

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Tutorials and Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z
Terrific Tuesday at http://adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com/
Swing into Spring on Tuesday at http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/
Tuesday To Do at http://blackberryvine.blogspot.com/
From Dream to Reality on Tuesday at http://thediydreamer.blogspot.com/
Uncommonly Yours on Tuesday at http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/
Time for a Party at http://www.finecraftguild.com/

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

DIY by Design on Wednesday

Uncommonly Yours on Wednesday at Uncommon Designs

Show and Share on Wednesday at Southern Lovely
It's a Party on Wednesday at http://acreativeprincess.blogspot.com/
Hooking up with HoH on Wednesday at http://www.houseofhepworths.com/
Catch as Catch Can at http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/
Open House Party on Thursday at http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
Thursdays Favorite Things Blog Hop at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Link It Up Thursday at http://kadie-sevenalive.blogspot.com/

Show Me Extroidinary on Thursday at The 36th Avenue

Grace at Home on Thursday at Imparting Grace

It's A Party on Thursday at A Creative Princess

Open House Party Thursday at No Minimalist Here

Share Your Creations on Thursday at Kristen's Creations
Grace at Home on Thursday at http://www.impartinggrace.com/
Transformation Thursday at http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/
Time Travel Thursdays at http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/
Super Sweet Thursdays at http://sofabulouslyflawed.blogspot.com/

Tickled Pink Fridays at 504 Main

Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Feature Friday Free for All at Five Days...5 Ways

Addicts (not so) Anonymous on Friday at Addicted 2 Decorating

Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence
Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Friday's Unfolded at http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/
Friday's Features at http://www.redouxinteriors.com/
Freedom Friday's at http://myturn-evelyn.blogspot.com/

Weekly Top Shot on Saturday at The View From Right Here

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors
A Pinteresting Party on Saturday at http://herestohandyandy.blogspot.com/
Say G'Day on Saturday at http://www.natashainoz.com/

Overflowing with Creativity on Sunday at It's Overflowing

Sew Darn Crafty Sunday at Sew Many Ways

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Simply Klassic Sunday at A Simply Klassic Home
Sunday Round Up at http://www.arosiesweethome.com/
It's Party Time on Sunday at http://itssoverycheri.com/
Nifty Thrifty Sunday at http://www.niftythriftythings.com/

Monday Menu

I hope everyone had a fabulous Mother's Day.  It was an exciting week for me - with my birthday on Thursday and then Mother's Day on Sunday - let's just say we were very busy!


Mountain Man was so good to me on Thursday - first he had watermelon for me when I got home from work - then he cooked dinner (the Spaghetti that was planned) and then had coconut cake for dessert!  On top of all that I received a beautiful hydrangea plant.

Then, while he was cleaning up the kitchen (yep, he even did that!) the doorbell rang and I received some beautiful tulips from my two girls in Atlanta.

Saturday night, Mountain Man, our daughter, sil, and I went to Outback for my belated birthday dinner.  Of course, Mountain Man HAD to tell everyone there that it was my birthday - so the wait staff called me "birthday girl all night.  Of course, I also got the brownie and ice cream along with the little song - it was all in good fun and we had a good time.

Today, we had everyone (the sil, daughter, and mom) over for lunch/dinner - Mountain Man grilled chicken while I fixed mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, biscuits, and rolls.  Everything was really good and I think everyone enjoyed the meal.  After lunch we 'Skyped' with the girls in Atlanta - They were able to  see how Lorelai has enlarged Melissa.  Let us just say that I think Melissa will be glad to see Lorelai make her appearance!  (For those of you out there that are Mothers, you will remember how you felt when you were eight months pregnant.   She is excited, but is really ready to not be pregnant anymore!)

Well, that is just a quick rundown of how the end of the week went.  I hope that you all had a fabulous weekend and your hubs treated you as well as Mountain Man treated me all weekend.  Now, let's get to the menu plan for the week.

Monday, May 14 - Pork Chops w/Rice and Green Beans

Tuesday, May 15 - Chicken Alfredo, Pasta, Salad

Wednesday, May 16 - Slow-Cooker Enchiladas

Thursday, May 17 - Grilled Fish, Wild Rice, Corn

Friday, May 18 - Movie Night, Pizza

Saturday, May 19 - Chef's Choice

Sunday, May 20 - Chili Cheese Hot Dogs, Tator Tots

We actually stayed with the plan (pretty much) last week - I think we can stay with it this week.

So, how did you do last week?  Did you stay with it or did you get derailed?  Have a super week!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is going to be a little different.

I'm not going to post about anything that we have done, made, improved, etc.

You see

Yesterday was my birthday.

I am sixty years young.

Man, that is sooooooo hard impossible for me to comprehend - I don't think that I'm "that old", I don't feel like I'm that old (most of the time), but the calendar says I'm 60.

I remember being a teenager and thinking 60 was OLD!

Well, guess what, all you youngsters out there, 60 is YOUNG!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Anyway, I received two beautiful gifts of flowers.

First, my oldest daughters that live in Atlanta sent me these beautiful tulips.

Tulips are one of my favorite flowers.

 Aren't they beautiful?

Thank you Crystal and Kim!

When I got home from work - Mountain Man wanted to go out and sit on the patio for some reason (it is REALLY hot here and MM does not like the heat.)  Well, I go outside and look what I found -----

This beautiful patio hydrangea plant.

This is another one of my favorite flowers.

Mountain Man had given me a hydrangea plant four years ago when we lived in North Florida.  We had to leave it when we sold our home and starting traveling - that is also the year he gave me "Mac".  He knows how much I love this flower and we saw these at Lowe's yesterday.  I was very surprised to see a plant on the porch this afternoon.

While I had to work (don't we all?) I started the day with beautiful cards - even one from my four legged babies.

So, while I might have hit the BIG 6 - 0, I look at it this way - I'm that much closer to being able to draw my Social Security benefits!

WOOT! WOOT!

Have a great weekend and I'll "see" you Monday with the menu plan!

Hugs -

Carol

Pool and Patio Area

In the past I shown you a few pictures of the pool and patio area of our home.  I have also shown you some of the interior pictures of what the house looked like when we bought it.

However, I have never shown you pictures of what the outside of the house looked like when we bought it.  I thought I would share those with you today.

Remember, the pictures that I am going to show you are pictures of pictures so the quality is not that great.  

This is the back yard and what was left of the screen enclosure the first time we looked at the house.

This picture was taken inside the pool enclosure, or I should say, what was left of the pool enclosure.  Most of the screening was gone and the "landscaping" was grown into what was left of the screening.
(and, yes, that is the landscaping that you see on the back side of the pool!)

This was what the side of the house looked like.  I have not included pictures of the front of the house - I'll save those for another post.
This picture was actually taken my the neighbor the winter BEFORE we bought the house.  We bought the house eight months later - so all of this had grown even more!

Another shot of the side yard - taken from the street.

I'll save pictures of the front of the house for another post, but I think you get the general idea.  The place was a disaster. 

Some people might even wonder WHY we even bought this house.  The only thing I can say is we thought it had "good bones".

Before we closed on the house the bank came in and had all the shrubbery cut back.  The company that came in just cut everything to a waist high height and called it a day. 

The only thing I can say about this stage was - at least we could see out.

After we moved in we had all the shrubbery taken out - and I do mean everything!

Then we had the pool cage re-screened, and the pool deck painted.

The next step was to buy some furniture for the patio.

 The first stage of decorating was pretty minimal, but it was a beginning.  Also, it was so much better than what we had started with.

Then we moved to stage two.

We added a couple of things and moved a few things around.

Much better.

But it still needed some help.

 Today we changed things up again.

It was time to do a little summer decorating since the temperature here has been in the high 80's and low 90's.  So, while the calendar says it is still spring the weather is saying that summer has arrived!

So, take a look of the patio now.

 Don't you love my doxie?  It has traveled all over the U.S. with us.

Mountain Man gave me "Mac" for my birthday about five years ago and I took her with us when we were traveling full-time.

Now that I have overloaded you with pictures AGAIN I'll close this post.

I'll just leave you with two last pictures.

Remember --

We went from this ----

To this ------

So much better!

Hugs -

Carol

                                    

I'm Linking up to some of these great parties:

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Meet Me Monday at You Are Talking Too Much

Your Cozy Home Party on Monday at Cozy Home Scenes

Motivated Monday at Be Colorful
Beautify It Monday at http://bringingbeauty.blogspot.com/
Show it Off Mondays at http://www.getouttamyheadplease.com/
Make it Great Monday at http://etcetorize.blogspot.com/
Just a Party with my Peeps on Monday at http://howtonestforless.com/
Monday Marketplace at http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/
What's in the Gunny Sack on Monday at http://www.thegunnysack.com/

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Tutorials and Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z
Terrific Tuesday at http://adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com/
Swing into Spring on Tuesday at http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/
Tuesday To Do at http://blackberryvine.blogspot.com/
From Dream to Reality on Tuesday at http://thediydreamer.blogspot.com/
Uncommonly Yours on Tuesday at http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

DIY by Design on Wednesday

Uncommonly Yours on Wednesday at Uncommon Designs

Show and Share on Wednesday at Southern Lovely
It's a Party on Wednesday at http://acreativeprincess.blogspot.com/
Hooking up with HoH on Wednesday at http://www.houseofhepworths.com/
Catch as Catch Can at http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/
Open House Party on Thursday at http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
Thursdays Favorite Things Blog Hop at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Link It Up Thursday at http://kadie-sevenalive.blogspot.com/

Show Me Extroidinary on Thursday at The 36th Avenue

Grace at Home on Thursday at Imparting Grace

It's A Party on Thursday at A Creative Princess

Open House Party Thursday at No Minimalist Here

Share Your Creations on Thursday at Kristen's Creations
Grace at Home on Thursday at http://www.impartinggrace.com/
Transformation Thursday at http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/
Time Travel Thursdays at http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

Tickled Pink Fridays at 504 Main

Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Feature Friday Free for All at Five Days...5 Ways

Addicts (not so) Anonymous on Friday at Addicted 2 Decorating

Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence
Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Friday's Unfolded at http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/
Friday's Features at http://www.redouxinteriors.com/

Weekly Top Shot on Saturday at The View From Right Here

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors
A Pinteresting Party on Saturday at http://herestohandyandy.blogspot.com/
Say G'Day on Saturday at http://www.natashainoz.com/

Overflowing with Creativity on Sunday at It's Overflowing

Sew Darn Crafty Sunday at Sew Many Ways

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Simply Klassic Sunday at A Simply Klassic Home
Sunday Round Up at http://www.arosiesweethome.com/
It's Party Time on Sunday at http://itssoverycheri.com/
Nifty Thrifty Sunday at http://www.niftythriftythings.com/