first snow

Being from Buffalo, N.Y.....this is always a big thing for me!!!....it was just lovely this morning....especially pretty against the back drop of the colorful fall leaves.....these big huge flakes falling down.....there is always something magical about the first snow....silent, white and beautiful.....even if it doesn't stick to the ground and accumulate....you know there will be bigger and better snowfalls to come.....hopefully a big, huge storm!!...there ususally isn't the massive lake effect storms around here that I was used to growing up....but every year I hold out hope that a big one will rip through and we'll all be trapped home for the day....all tucked in cozy and nice, sipping hot cocoa, playing board games and watching it swirl around outside......maybe this year mother nature will treat me to a big snowstorm....or at least a white Christmas!

Make a Smilebox postcard

cheddar corn chowder

My dad and sister were coming for the night this past week and I wanted something warm and comforting to offer them after we got home from the kids activities....hhhmmm...how 'bout some soup!!! :)...I was going to use the roaster chicken in my freezer that jennifer juniper gave me when her power went out to make chicken noodle soup....I got out some cookbooks because believe it or not I've never made it!....and instead I came across this one from the barefoot contessa cookbook...my dear friend Liz gave me two of her books years ago and I treasure them.....this recipe called for fresh corn...and I just so happened to have bags full in my freezer.....remember the post about the corn zipper??....well, everytime I got corn from Deener's this summer I "zipped" a few ears to put in the freezer and have another time.....well, this was the other time!

8 ounces bacon-chopped

1/4 cup good olive oil

3 large onions-chopped

4 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup flour

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

12 cups chicken stock

5 cups diced white potatoes, unpeeled...about 2 pounds

10 cups corn kernels

2 cups half and half

1 pound sharp white cheddar cheese-grated

In a large stock pot on medium heat cook the bacon and olive oil until the bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve. Reduce heat to medium, add the onions and butter to the fat, and cook for 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent. Stir in the flour, salt , pepper and turmeric and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and potatoes, bring to a boil, and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. If using fresh corn, cut the kernels off the cobs and blanch the kernels for 3 minutes in boiling salted water. Drain. Add the corn to the soup, then add the half and half and cheddar. Cook for 5 more minutes, until cheese is melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot with a garnish of bacon.

o'dark hundred

The term o'dark hundred stems back to my flight attendant days where all you use is military time....generally on extremely early departures when we would have to meet in the lobby of our hotel at 5am.....that meant getting up in the middle of the night....for anyone who knows me, I am generally not a morning person....I usually stay up very late every night and getting up early is torture ,and the only thing I don't miss about leaving my job as a flight attendant......well this is the first year my daughter has had to ride the early bus for school....it arrives at our bus stop at 6:43am...and she is an even worse morning person than I am!!!.....several weeks before school started she and I would comment about what time she would have to go to bed, how hard it was going to be to get up etc.......then about a week into school it dawned on me how hard it was going to be for me!!!!!!!!!!!!...I'm still going to bed after midnight every night and by Friday I feel like someone poured sand into my eyes!!.....but it is amazing how much I can get done before 8am...yet still feel like I'm not getting anything done!!!...how is that???...this view of the sunrise from my deck is beautiful every morning and I like to catch a glimpse of it to start my day.....it makes me take a deep breath and appreciate all things simple and wonderful.

craft on sister friends!!!

Wow!!.......I truly needed a little girlie craft time!!!!!!!!!......on the agenda was goldleafing pumpkins and crafting some fabric pumpkins similar to the ones I saw at Shakerwoods a few weeks ago....the goldleafing process is soooo stinkin' easy I can't believe it!!!!....another whole realm that I had never entered!...in the span of a few weeks I've tie-dyed and goldleafed!!!.....who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks!...



...then of course we dined on scrumptious homemade carrot cake that our own wonderful marzipan mom whipped up for us......and presentation is always an added woo-hoo!!!...and jennifer junipers cupcakes were gone before I could get a picture......


..."don't panic...you can't mess this up"....is what I kept hearing...and it's true!...




...just look at the truly wonderful pumpkin treats we made!!!.....fall treats just for us!!....we certainly crammed a lot in from 9:30-11:30...and that doesn't even count all of the chattering that was going on about karaoke at T.J.,s Hideaway , a junk emporium, the auction barn, and a full blown getaway weekend!!!!! Wheh!!! Thanks again girls!!!!!!! I'm fullfilled for now.........

window washing 101

I'm sure there have been hundreds of articles in Goodhousekeeping, Real Simple and Martha Stewarts magazine about the proper way to wash windows....but here is the way I do it!!!!.....I know my mother will be proud....I think of her whenever I am doing it.....she's the Queen!!!.....it's very easy to just call the guy and write the check....but he always seems to show up the morning it's going to rain and I don't have my screens out yet!....one of the last times he came to my house I picked his brain so I knew exactly how he did it... one doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to do this....but I do have to thank my wonderful friend Tammy for getting my shoulders in shape....it does take some elbow grease!!...pictured above is the supplies you'll need....a buckey of hot water with a few drops of any dish detergent you have......no vinegar...can you believe it???....a good squeegee...he recommended the Ettore brand....they come in several sizes....I use the big one on my windows and sliding glass doors and the littler one on the french doors going into my study......I have this terry cloth thing that fits over a handle that I use to dip into the water and then squeeze out really well......but an old wash cloth will do fine....and then a few absorbent towels.......



I usually do all of the insides one day while I take out my screens and then the outsides another day.....it's easy, but takes along time if you do them both on the same day.....so you just scrub them down and then.....

pull your squeegee across...drying it after every swipe........then when you're done go around the frame of the window with your towel to sop up any remaining drips......even if you don't give your guy up....it's nice to touch up your sliding doors or french doors in between.......NEVER a streak!!!!!!!......it is SUCH a nice feeling when they are done.....but I have to warn you...it is a thankless job....probably no one will notice but you!!!

a fall dinner

The occasion was my niece and nephew home from college on their fall breaks......pretty mums and my smiling sister in law greeted us at the door...candles were lighted....football was on t.v......the pork, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes were delicious......but it was before and after the meal that was wonderful!!!!.....you may recoginze the brie baker I got at Shakerwoods.....I didn't think I'd be able to try it out so soon.....I'm thrilled!!....it was delicious....just put the 8 oz. wheel of brie in it ....pour about a 1/4 cup of caramel sauce over it and top with chopped pecans....we baked it at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes and served it with wine and a baquette......

......and the apple pie my niece baked was as scrumptious as it was gorgeous!!!.....she made these little itty bitty cinnamon rolls to put on top.....the whole evening was a much needed treat!!!...thanks again!