In The Refiner's Fire

  A couple of lovely Christmas treats we received as a gift this Christmas! Yum! So, after publishing the menu last week John and I went through the freezer and refrigerator and decided that we better eat all the things that will be difficult or impossible to eat when we do not have an oven or stove top for a month or two.  That means last week's actual meals looked nothing like the menu!  That happens, I guess. With that in mind, here is what we're eating this week: Sunday, January 10:       Brunch: Cereal, Fruit and Toast       Snack: The last Christmas Cookies       Dinner: Perfect Potato Soup, Homemade Bread Monday, January 11:        Breakfast: Toast and Eggs        Lunch: Leftover Soup        Snack: Yogurt        Dinner: Beef Stir Fry, Rice, Orange and Grapefruit Wedges Tuesday, January 12:         Breakfast: Smoothies or Overnight Oatmeal         Lunch: Leftover Soup         Snack: Yogurt         Dinner: Fish Tacos, Fruit Wednesday, January 13:         Breakfast: Oatmeal

John's Birthday Dinner January 2020  This week started with John's Birthday - he loves crab legs and we typically have them for dinner on his birthday, as part of his birthday gift.  Here in the upper mid-west of the U.S. crab legs are usually on sale at this time of year, so it works out well.   We have so much produce in our freezers and refrigerator this week and we are trying to eat our cupboards down a bit so things are easier to store during the big part of our remodel.  Here is what we are eating this week: Sunday, January 3, John's Birthday:     Brunch: Smoothies, Oatmeal Muffins     Snack: Soft Pretzels     Dinner: Crab Legs, Green Beans Monday, January 4:       Breakfast:  Eggs and Toast      Lunch: Salad with Tuna      Snack: Yogurt      Dinner: Pork Chops, Cauliflower, Carrots Tuesday, January 5:      Breakfast: Oatmeal with Walnuts and Craisins      Lunch: Chicken Noodle Soup from the Freezer      Snack: Yogurt      Dinner: Chicken Lasagna, Green Beans Wednesda

Sale flowers on my kitchen table. My goodness - nothing like taking almost a whole month off!  I really did not mean to.  The end of the semester is always busier and this year was no exception.  I am finally starting to feel as though I can come up for air a bit and take some time to do things other than work obligations.   I have a small bit of time off before classes start again and I am looking forward to taking a few days off and simply resting. Here are some of the frugal things we did or received in December that were frugal: * We ate most meals at home, making soups in the slow cooker and on the stove top, roasting meats and vegetables in the oven and cooking stir fries and some breakfast foods on the stove top.  Christmas meals included Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, green salad and fruit salad and Seafood Chowder, both served with potato lefse. * The children made cookies, homemade trading cards and plushies (stuffed animal toys) for their friends using materials we alre

 From our family to yours, Merry Christmas! See you in 2021! Lea

Salad Lunch! YUM!   This week starts December - wow!  In some ways 2020 has gone so fast; in others, so slow.  This Saturday we will start the Christmas baking - shortbread cookies this weekend.  Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent so we will start with the Christmas Decorations.  We will be putting the tree up early this year, since we need to have it down by January 4.  We typically leave it up until the 6th (Epiphany) or a bit later but this year we need it down for the construction on the house to continue. Here is what we are eating this week: Sunday, November 29, 1st Sunday in Advent:          Brunch:  Egg Bake          Snack: Popcorn          Dinner: Taco Soup, Tortilla Chips Monday, November 30:          Breakfast: Eggs and Toast          Lunch: Leftover Soup          Snack: Yogurt          Dinner: Shrimp, Potatoes and Brussel's Sprouts Bake Tuesday, December 1:           Breakfast: Smoothies or Overnight Oatmeal           Lunch: Leftover Soup           Snack: Yogurt      

A beautiful sunrise earlier this month!  This week the U.S. celebrates Thanksgiving - a holiday dedicated to giving thanks for everything good from the last year.  I am so grateful for a day to rest, a day with my immediate family, phone calls with others, and lots of good food to eat!  I am grateful that we have everything we need, some of what we want, reliable housing and transportation, and jobs we can still do.  I am grateful that I was able to work from home two of three days this week and that my husband was able to have the minor surgery he needed this week.  I am grateful he is recovering well from that surgery and will be back at work soon.  I am also grateful for the ability to help others and to call and write (email, text, and letter) those we love when they cannot be with us in person for the holiday. We have been enjoying not doing much this week: we have done a  lot of staying home and watching movies and reading.  It has been heavenly!  I have a fair amount of work I n