Picture My Life via InstaFriday

Welcome to another week in my life via Instagram photos.  

Kinda like a sneak peek into my world via photos I snap throughout the week.  Simple things; that really don't make a blog post by themselves. A way to share a bit more of me with you, my wonderful readers.

Days and days of rain, fog and gloomy weather lately here in Georgia.  One afternoon riding home I stopped to snap this photo at the lake down the road.  It ain't no 'street' ...it's barely paved.  It once was dirt. This is the country.  

Friday, during my lunch hour at work; I got a much needed haircut.  I said this on my 'What I Wore' post on Wednesday; but dang I look thinner after a haircut!

Saturday night, we treated ourselves to dinner out.  Nothing fancy, but at least I didn't cook it!  Shane's Rib Shack.  LOVE the bbq sandwiches on Texas toast.  On the way home we stopped at a newly opened place to pick up Sunday breakfast....

I prefer Krispy Kreme; the nearest one of those is about 45 minutes...so a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.  These were SUPER gooey Fresh Yummy.
I make a menu plan every week for several reasons.  I've shared those before in my posts.  One of the reasons I do it is to hopefully save money while grocery shopping.  I had a small list Sunday, when I headed out to buy what we needed to eat for the week.  The only non-food items I purchased was razors and dish washing detergent.  This was my buggy (or as some call it, shopping cart).

$75!  I can still see the floor through the wire.  Ugh.

I love this little boy.  My Bear.  He wasn't smiling the night he lost his cartoon time, due to really bad behavior at 'school' (day care) one day this week.  Can you tell this photo was made BEFORE the 'incident' occurred?  ha!

Over the hill, there is an old dairy.  I love it's weathered silos.

I started rearranging the mantel.  Touches of red for Valentine's.

Although it ended up totally different.  You can see it here.

This painting hangs in our living room.  We purchased it at a festival by a local artist.  

One of my loves is barns.  Guess it's a good thing I'm a country girl!

The little Turkey chick is growing and getting feathers.  Why yes that IS a mirror in there with him.
He likes looking at himself and it keeps him from being lonely.  No we don't know if it's a girl or boy yet, we just tend to refer to it as a him.

How was your week?  What filled it?

Linking up at:

Farm Valentine's Mantel

Read with a Southern accent

Hi Ladies!  (and maybe even a few Gents)  Lemme pour you up a tall glass of sweet iced tea.  We can rest a bit in the 'Sitting' room.  Why YES I did re-do my mantel!  It's kinda like that show on the TV; Extreme Makeover.  I just pulled everything down, dusted it off like my Momma taught me, gathered up all the old country farm items I could put my hands on and stuck 'em up there.  Honey, all that loveliness didn't cost me a dime!  I kid you not!

I'm just pea green with envy over all those ladies crisp white mantels that you see all over blogland.  So I decided I had to do something about it.  Now painting that rock just isn't an option.  I'd find myself sleeping in the hen house.  Then I remembered I'd stolen some white shutters a few years ago from this junk store at a little over two bucks each.  That would give me the white brightness I desired.

Since Valentine's is coming up, there had to be a few touches of red.  

To hide the fact that the roses are fake as them nails those gals get put on down at the 'Toe-n-Go', I stuffed that mason jar with paper shreds.  If you promise not to tell my secret I'll share where I got them.  Lean in real close now.  I bought them last year at the Dollar Tree; 2 bunches of 'em.  I did!  I swear.  And those books, well I snagged them at the Goodwill for nearly nothing.  Uh huh, I shop religiously at the Goodwill.  Don't you dare tell the Jr. Women's League.  Cause they think I paid megga bucks for those fancy name brand duds I wear to the meetings.  The heart shaped rug beater is a bone-afide antique that I found in a small store several years ago.  My little chubby bird was on clearance after Christmas a couple of seasons ago.

On the other side, I did that fancy technique of layering with that saying board.  It used to hang on the wall.  Might have to put it back up there one day.  The butter mold?  It's another for real antique.  My grandmother actually made butter in it.  Sure enough!  I bet that takes a long time.  

Don't tell the Farmer, but I pulled that lantern off the back porch.  Sure did!  Had to spit shine her though.  It was mighty dirty.  For some reason, my mantel isn't complete without my old bottles.  They seem to sneak in every time I redo the thing.

You need that sweet tea topped off?  Sure thing Sugah!  It really is the simple things in life, ain't it? I've found I don't have to spend a fortune to fancy things up a bit here and there around this old Farm place.  Besides it sure makes me smile.   

I've enjoyed our little visit.  Hunny, I sure do hope you will drop back by the farm.  We might even bake up something deLish next time.  Cause I know you've got to run along down the road to those fun parties:

Link to Valentine's Day Mantel Party

 

Menu Plan 1.22.12

Last week's menu offered up more leftovers than expected, so I was able to roll some unused meals into this week's plan.  The purpose of menu planning is to have something in the pantry or freezer READY to cook and avoid extra trips to the grocery store (I shop once a week).  You can read my easy tips on how I plan HERE.  I usually menu plan on Saturday morning and shop Saturday or Sunday; cause I hate going to the grocery store after working all day.  With having to work next Sunday, I am planning a bit further than usual.

Last week's Easy Chicken-n-dumpling noodles

Sunday - Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole (new recipe) with English peas ***Edited to add:  This was easy and was OH SO delicious!  It will be placed on our Master Menu List.  

Monday - Lasagna with Garlic bread  (rolled over from last weeks menu)

Tuesday - Leftovers (if not, then Breakfast - because we didn't have it last week, thanks to plenty of leftovers)

Wednesday - Sloppy Joes with sweet tater fries and slaw

Thursday - Leftovers or fend for yourself

Friday -  Pizza

Saturday - Field peas with Hashbrown Casserole 

Sunday - Leftover peas and casserole  (I have to work)

Need more menu ideas and inspiration?  Check out the Organizing Junkie's Monday Menu link up.

What's cooking up in your kitchen this week?

Week in Review via Pics

Welcome to InstaFriday!  Where many of us link up to share our week in photos from our phones.  These are a sample of pictures posted via the App InstaGram.

We hatched one little turkey chick earlier this week.  Isn't it CUTE?!

Happy to report, he/she is doing great.

We actually have chickens hatching as I am typing!

A late Christmas gift that was JUST in time for a cold rainy weekend.

Two of our cats - Max in the box, our old man

Bella on the box, a rescued kitten.

My favorite ice cream.

A little Goodwill shopping find.  I styled it twice this week! See it Here.

Rain, rain and more rain this week. (drops on my car windshield)

Cozy comfort food on this week's menu plan - Easy Chicken-n-Dumplings

Rainy day pool.  Winter.

I'm missing Summer, are you?

Linking up with:

Enough - My one word for 2012

I AM 'enough'.
I rarely ask much of you my wonderful readers.  However, if you would like to know why I picked this word, as my one little word for this year.  I wrote a heartfelt post on my other blog,  Southern Sunflower Seeds, that is still a very fresh, young blog to me.  You may read about it there.  If you like.
Because it matters.  Because YOU matter.  Because we are ALL 'enough'.

Weekly Menu Plan 01.15.12

Enjoying a three day weekend after a long busy work week.  Bitter cold came barreling into Georgia on Friday and hung around for Saturday.  I wanted a lazy day, so I skipped heading out on Saturday for my weekly shopping.  Will have to go by Monday to stay on the plan.  Thankfully, this menu plan keeps me with a short grocery list!  Plus I planned for leftovers on Tuesday, when I head back into the office. 

Saturday - Roast beef gravy over loaf bread (used up the last of the leftover roast beef)

Sunday - Potato Soup and grilled cheese

Monday - Easy Chicken-n-dumplings (using pasta noodles)

Tuesday - Leftovers

Wednesday - Crock pot Pork Chops with Gravy  This was a HIT the first time around.

Thursday - Breakfast for dinner

Friday - Lasagna, garlic bread, salad
Need more ideas?  Check out the Organized Junkie's Monday Menu Plan link up party.

My Week in Photos

I'm loving Instagram!  The little photo sharing app on my iPhone.  It's fun.  Plus some of the ladies I follow are really amazing with just a cell phone camera.  Here's a glimpse into my week via better than last week photos from Instagram:

Saturday morning breakfast.  Blueberry pancakes at iHop.  Yummy!

Weekly Menu Planning.  Wanna know how I do it?  Read Easy Menu Planning.

Errands around town with Bear.

Lazy rainy Sunday.

Sunday's dinner - My Easy Chicken Pot Pie.

Eggs!  Compliments of our farm chickens.

Brown bagging lunch this week.  Have you ever tried to find parking at a University?

View off the balcony outside my office at the U...winter in Georgia.

I've worn my favorite boots four days this week to work.  Flat and comfy!
Plus a sneak peek at my Thursday outfit (skirt via Goodwill).
Linking up with InstaFriday.  Check out all the other great pics from the week.
Plus if you like, follow me on InstaGram sherri9