Busted Squirrel! I love squirrels, rather I should say that I love watching them! This little critter is noshing on the feed that we put out for the birds who are currently residing in our outside vent (from our kitchen range hood). The birdies have built a nest there and in the tall skinny trees under my office window. It has been so cold, that we put out water and seed for them. So, this little guy, climbs ontop of the set up we have for the bowl and was busted sneaking the bird's food. I took this photo as... Continue reading

Call Me! Telephone Mini Album Call me maybe! In one of the "Purse Series" classes, we made a purse type (receiver is the purse handle) telephone mini album. Original design by me, a lot of handcrafted phone themed embellishments; phone booths, flair, tags (we made great use of pages from... Continue reading

It is absolutely frigid here! We are at -10 and that is without the windchill. I think that I read that the wind chill temp was -35 below. We have not seen that kind of cold in forever it seems! The house is making all sorts of noises and the wind is just incredibly swift and loud. Riley does not like the wind at all; he spends a lot of time under our bed (or under our covers if we are in bed!) This is bone chilling, take-your-breath-away, water turns to vapor type of cold. Tomorrow is supposed to be... Continue reading

Everett Covered Bridge-Deer Sighting 1/4/2014 Today, the hubby and I while doing some quick errands before dinner with friends, took the long way home to see if we could spot and take photos of deer. They are abundant around us and they are such beautiful creatures. I love watching them! Our route took us to the Everett Covered Bridge area, along the river banks were we hike in the summer up river with Riley and slosh through the shallow swimming hole. Today it was all frozen and slushy, the sun streaming through the massive pines, and deer, deer, deer! I... Continue reading

Snowy! Lovely! Bath Nature Preserve-Snowy Bridge 1/2/2014 We took a short hike today, the wind is blowing the snow all over and doggie was starting the 3 leg dance so we cut it short! The walk was a total winter wonder land! I love hiking in the snow. (hubby not so much!) Riley becomes a "thunder dog" when he runs in the snow, it is hilarious to watch. There is now a big pot of Ham and Bean soup on the stove, the tea kettle is brewing and we are staying inside for now! I plan on getting some crafty... Continue reading

Bedford Reservation, Look Out Point --looking up Tinker's Creek 12/31 Happy New Year! Today is a gorgeous snowy day and I am smiling! Today is a NEW DAY and I AM GLAD! Resolutions. I don't think that they are really for me. I would rather find something that resonates with me, which is why my post today is centered around a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson-- "the only person you are destined to be come is the person you decide to be" Experts say that 8 out of 10 people who make a NYE resolution break them before February! Odds... Continue reading

Thank you for being patient while I catch up on my blogging! Soups are being made daily, just not alot of free time to post! Continue reading

Thanks for bearing with me, will post the recipe and photos tomorrow. I have been making the soups daily, it was hard to sit and post while trying to finish other projects! Continue reading

will post the recipe and photos tomorrow, thanks for bearing with me while I catch up on the blogging! I have been making the soup daily, I have just not been able to sit at the computer to post! Continue reading

I made this Fun soup solely to utilize the Halloween pasta shapes that I purchased from Home Goods (LOVE that store!) This can also be made in a crock pot and left to simmer on low, for a no fuss soup. It is a fast and easy soup if you... Continue reading

With Halloween Eve upon us, of course we await the Great Pumpkin--in this case, the Great Pumpkin Soup! This is a surprise of a soup. I liked it much better than the Butternut squash soup that I had previously made. You can use fresh cooked and pureed pumpkin or canned... Continue reading

Usually it is Thursday's that I want a soup that I can just dump into one pot and call it a soup! This week, it was Friday! This is a very flavorful soup, one that is a variation of one that my paternal grandma used to make for my dad.... Continue reading

mmmmmmmm...I don't think that there is anything more comforting for my hubby, Mr. E as a good old crockpot pot roast. Except maybe this soup! It tastes just like a slow cooked pot roast! In fact, to make this soup, I cook a beef roast in the crock pot and... Continue reading

A simple soup. A lot of flavor. I really liked this one, so it can also be found under Kelley's Favorites! Testing out new recipes is a lot of fun, unless the recipe turns out to be a total stinker! I will always make the recipe exactly as it states... Continue reading

Funny story...and true. I belong to a crafty message board, and within this board there are various sections of discussion--one of which is NSBR (non-scrapbooking related) I am a frequent poster to this board. Well, Sunday, I was called a stalker by some judgmental twit! I use the term twit... Continue reading

my camera is charging batteries again! Chicken Soup with Leeks and Rice 2 tablespoons of olive oil 3 leeks, chopped and cleaned 6 skinless, boneless chicken thighs, diced 1 cup of long grain white rice 6 cups of vegetable or chicken stock 6 bacon slices 1/4 chives, chopped 2 tablespoons... Continue reading

Many of you have probably tasted this soup before if you have been to the Olive Garden restaurant. It is one of their three "regular" soups that they serve. Zuppa Toscana loosely translated means "soup Tuscany" or a soup that originated somewhere in Tusacany. I love this soup because it... Continue reading

I first tried soup with leeks at a new, little cafe in our neighborhood called Sweet Pea Cafe. The soup was delicious and ever since then, I vowed to try to use leeks for the very first time in my own soup. FABULOUS soup! Mr. E and I went out... Continue reading

Cheeseburger soup you say? I found a thread on the message board Two Peas--quite a few fellow peas were raving over it, (the orignial recipe was a Taste of Home recipe) so I mentioned it to my hubby, Mr. E, who said that sounded good, called his Dad and asked... Continue reading

I cannot believe that I fell asleep and did not post my soup on the day! AAAArrrggghhhh Nevertheless, it was a looooong day today, and I came home, fell across the bed and was out like a light, woke up and it was 12:42 a.m. The steak soup that I... Continue reading

A bright new take on your regular "old" chicken noodle soup. This recipe comes from Giada de Laurentis, who I adore on the Food Channel. I love most of the recipes that she creates. I did not think that my hubby, Mr. E would like this version so much, with... Continue reading

My mom first made this soup and got me to try it. At first thought and sound of it (cauliflower soup) my initial reaction was "uh, yuk" but I was so surprised that it really was so very good! It is a fast soup and it is one that you... Continue reading

This one sounded soooo good and comforting. Mr. E and I found this one in a new soup book, and adjusted to our liking...more pears! You can also take a shortcut by using already pureed butternut squash, a huge time saver! Slightly spicy from the cinnamon and savory at the... Continue reading