Monday Morning...

Monday has rolled her way around again.....

I was up with the birds this morning and have accomplished quite a bit for this early morn.  First load of laundry folded and the next load is in the dryer.  I have our dinner casserole all made and chilling in the fridge.  And, most importantly, I've spent some quite time with the Lord before the busyness of the day takes over. 

Today, I made one of my Mom's casseroles for dinner.  I don't know where she obtained the recipe, I imagine she snipped it out of a magazine many years ago.  I like to serve it with rice.  I'll either make dinner rolls or a salad to go with it also depending on how the day progresses.

Mom's Chicken Casserole

• 2   Whole Chicken Breasts cooked and coarsely diced (I used 4 lrg chicken thighs)
• 2   10.5 oz cans of cream of mushroom (or celery) soup
• 2   4 oz cans whole mushrooms (drained)
• 2   6 oz cans whole water chestnuts (drained)
• 1   12 oz pkg frozen peas
• 1   Cup slivered almonds (I've never used these in the casserole)
• 2   Cups crushed potato chips (I usually sprinkle with bread crumbs or I'll use Panko in place of the chips)

1. Mix all ingredients (except potato chips) together and pour into casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray
2. Bake at 350 for 30 min., give casserole a good stir, add topping of your choosing and cook for another 30 minutes for a total of 1 hour.  Serves approx. 8 people.

Joy in the quite productivity of the early morn.

HDP

On Your Mark...

On your mark....

Get set....

Go!

Hope your Monday gets you off to a great start of the week!

HDP

Monday - The Grind

But in a good way.

When I was working full-time, I really disliked Monday's.  It would start about Sunday afternoon, I'd get a big lump in my stomach just thinking about the coming week.  Little sweat beads of anxiety would form in my gullet as I thought about projects, looming deadlines, and bosses to please.  Fridays were the hope of freedom and slipping out of the bondage of 9 - 5.  Sundays brought to mind the tightening of the chains of obligation.

I have a completely different mindset these days.  I like Mondays.  It's a return to my routine and my sense of normalcy.

Our weekends don't have a lot of structure.  With the exception of Sunday morning "Sunday School" and our Sunday morning church service, we pretty much "wing" our weekends.

Mondays are "the grind"; but it's a smooth grind.  The rhythmically turning wheels in a well oiled machine that produce happy accord.  My Mondays of laundry and grocery shopping set the tone for the week; what cuisine we'll partake of at mealtime, a clean supply of towels for bathing, and the soft scent of freshly laundered sheets in which to lay our heads at bedtime.

I take great joy in my routine; my customary Monday.  It's habitual schedule and structure bring me peace of mind, and harmony in my home.  

Happy Monday!

HDP