January 2018 Reading List

Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel Series by Amy Clipston

A Hopeful Heart

A Mother's Secret

A Dream of Home

A Simple Prayer

Chicken Noodle Soup

 

5 cups water

1 medium onion,

2 cloves garlic, pressed

1 cup carrots, diced

1/2 cup celery, diced

1 1/2 cups egg noodles

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

½ tsp. salt and pepper

In a large pot over medium heat; cook onion and celery until just tender, 5 minutes. Pour in chicken and water and stir in chicken, carrots, basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Cover and heat to boiling for 20 minutes. Add the noodles and simmer at a reduced heat for 15 minutes before serving.

1/2 pound cooked chicken breast, chopped

KonMari: Books

My poetry books stored in the china cabinet in my guest bedroom/ 26 yrs. daughter's bedroom.

 My books stored in the china cabinet in my master bedroom.

My crafting books, coloring books, notebook collection, and bible study supplies.

My Notebook Collection

Life Notebooks (homemaking, family, health, and inspiration)

Cooking Notebooks (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert)

Hobby Notebooks (interests, fabric crafts, decorating, and gardening)

Seasonal Notebooks (winter, Christmas, spring, summer, and autumn)

Faith Notebooks (Bible Study, Old Testament, New Testament, and Genesis) 

I keep a basket on my desk for the current book that I'm reading and magazines. I have a magnifying glass, book light and my glasses in it too. I read all the magazines that I had collected before I donated them.

My Cooking Notebooks. I have about 15 recipes left to type for my notebooks. I don't own any cookbooks.

My exercise books in my exercise room.

Redoing Shawn Jr's Old Bedroom: Part 3

We finally got a few things finished up in our son's old bedroom. We spent about $25 to redo the bedroom. That doesn't include the ceiling fan that we bought 6 yrs. ago but hadn't installed until now. We have things left to do but are happy that the bedrooms back together. We're using it as a temporary guest bedroom but it's going to be my husband's hobby room.


We installed the $3 hooks behind the door. We put down the brown rug that our son didn't want.


















We replaced the switch plates and outlet covers for $1.00.

We hung the $5 mirror on the wall that I had bought at a thrift store in the Summer. We hung the $15 curtains that I bought at Walmart a couple months ago.

We removed all the paint project supplies. My husband hung the $15 ceiling fan that we had bought about 6 yrs. ago.

My husband's stuff moved from the basement to the closet. We installed a hook inside the closet door.

You may be interested in  Redoing Shawn Jr's Old Bedroom and Redoing Shawn Jr's Old Bedroom: Part 2.

Clutter Busting Challenge January 2018

We are purging 36 items.

My Purge Pile:

KonMari: Clothes Part 2

I took everything out of my husband's closet.

My husband's clothes temporarily in the laundry room.

The contents of my husband's closet stacked in the living room.

My husband's closet after taking everything out.

My Husband's closet during.

My Husband's closet after a fresh coat of white paint.

  


















My husband's closet after he put everything back.

 

KonMari: Clothes Part 1

I  took everything out of my closet. We repainted and I put everything back.

My Closet Before:

My Closet once everything was removed.

My Closet During:

The contents of my closet stacked in the living room.

My Closet After: fresh white paint.

My Closet after everything was put back.

Chicken Barley Soup

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 cup chopped carrots

1 cup chopped onions

1/2 cup chopped celery

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1-1/2 lbs skinless bone-in chicken breast (makes 14 oz cooked)

7 cups reduced sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup chopped parsley

2 bay leaves

2/3 cup dry barley

fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Heat a large heavy pot on medium heat. Add the oil, carrots, onion, celery and garlic to the pot and stir. Add chicken, broth, parsley, and bay leaves and bring to a boil. When boiling, reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer covered over low heat until the chicken and vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes. Remove the chicken, shred or cut the meat, discard the bones and return the chicken to the pot along with the barley, adjust the salt if needed and add fresh ground pepper. Simmer an additional 40 minutes, until the barley is cooked. Discard the bay leaves and serve. Makes about 9 cups.

Servings: 6 Size: 1 1/2 cups Calories: 262

KonMari: Preparing for Success

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m Jennie, a 45 yrs. housewife, former at-home-mom/homeschool mom. My husband Shawn works in the IT dept. of a local hospital as a Systems Administrator. Our children are grown (21, 25, 26, and 28), 2 of our 4 children still live at home. We have a 5 yrs. granddaughter and 3 yrs. grandson. We’ve spent the last 7 years downsizing our possessions /becoming rational minimalist along with redoing the house. My home is over 100 yrs. old and is perfectly imperfect.

 

I’m thankful that the discarding, organizing, and decorating portion of my KonMari journey is finished. I'll do a quick look over of each categories but I'll mostly be following the red portion of the challenge when it applies and working on my own projects. We have moved onto projects, repairs, painting, and refinishing the woodwork in our home. I have a list that’s specific to each room that my husband and I will be trying to get done. I'll deep clean my house along with the challenge too.

My project goals so far for the categories:

• Books-Finish typing up the recipes for my Cooking Notebooks.

• Furniture- Paint the grandkids furniture stored in the barn. Purchase table for family room seating area. & Paint Entertainment center. & Paint the living room and family room.

• Sentimental- Delete unwanted digital pictures, organize our 6 photo boxes of printed pictures, scan printed pictures to digital, and update our gallery wall.

My vision is to be a light and love as Christ loves me. My husband and I to enjoy our empty nest years with many adventures. To be a blessing to our children and grandchildren while sharing many family times. Have a peaceful relaxing home that supports our life together. We enjoy our home and love to welcome our family and friends.

Our Living Room

Welcome to our Home.  I wanted to share my living room with you today.

The living room view from the doorway.  We plan to paint this year and eventually refinish the floors.

The living room view toward the closets and entertainment center. My husband and I use the closets for our clothing and personal thing rather than the very small master closet.

The living room view toward our couches. We hope to replace the couches this year. I'm considering painting the end tables.


 

















The living room toward the double door entry. I have sentimental photos and memory books on stored in the entertainment center. I hope to paint the entertainment center this year.

The corner of the living room with my decor.

Cheesy Broccoli Soup

 

2 cups water 

1 teaspoon chicken bouillon or 1/2 vegetable bouillon cube

1 package (16 ounces) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed

1 medium onion, chopped

1/4 cup butter, cubed

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup 2% milk

1 pound process cheese (Velveeta), cubed

In a large saucepan, bring water and bouillon to a boil. Add broccoli. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup liquid.

In another large saucepan, sauté onion in butter until tender. Whisk in flour until blended. Add the milk and cheese. Cook over medium-low heat until thickened and cheese is melted, stirring frequently. Stir in broccoli and reserved cooking liquid. Yield: 4 servings.