The Weather Outside is Frightful, the Fire Insides Delightful

 

We made "Three Bean Soup" today. When I was eating it, I told Tom, 'be careful it's hot!' And it's spicy hot too!' smile... Just what we needed on a cold blustery  day...

 

Three Bean Soup
by Gert StevensRW

1 large onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. olive or canola oil
1 can (16 oz) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (16 oz) fat-free refried beans
1 can (16 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14 1/2 oz) reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 can (14 1/2 oz) stewed tomatoes, cut up
3/4 Cup salsa
2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. ground cumin

In large saucepan, sauté the onion, green pepper and garlic in oil until tender. Add the remaining ingredients; mix well.
Bring to boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes.  Yield: 8 Servings

 

 

 

We had this little guy out there on the deck the other day. He was cold, as you can see, with his tail wrapped up over his back...

 

 

Tuesday, we woke to this beautiful, cold site! (Do you see the smoke coming out of the chimney on the left side of the picture?) Seems you see less and less of them. I still like to see it!!

 

The temperature was about -3 below. But with the winds it felt like 20 some below zero! Brrrr..

 

Can you believe when we got to the cancer center, they said it was the wrong day..sad... So...we went out for breakfast. The streets were slick, since we had some snow in the night,  but it was navigable. Anyway...it was really nice to get home where it was warm!! smile...

 

Today, we were up early and tried it again...smile.. And they took her in like they should have!! Then we came home, where it was nice and warm! smile...

 

Tuesday when we were heading over for breakfast, I was looking out the window at the wooded area along the road. And guess what I saw! A deer laying down, just watching the cars buzz by. (I'm surprised I saw it as it blended in amongst the trees so well.) I said to them, "where's my camera?"....smile.. Oh, ya, on my lap.. Dahh...I didn't catch a photo of it.. darn.......

 

By the way, I finally had it on the schedule to go to the Senior Center today for lunch. And guess what! They were closed due to this terrible cold weather!! (They were right to do that though, I'm sure we would not have gone back! Especially, since we had to go later to pick her up.)  I think our temperatures tonight are to get much worse...so we'll just turn up the furnace and snuggle down and sleep in tomorrow (I hope..lol)

 

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 'good night'...............

 

 

Cold, Snow and Windy

 

 

First of all, no we didn't make this (find the recipe here) chili today we made it last week. But actually I thought about chili yesterday when we were getting groceries. I bought some chili mix, and am excited to try it. I love something easy...ha..ha...  Tom usually makes his own special recipe, but it takes a long time, and makes a huge pot! I'd just like a recipe for a smaller amount.  So, I thought it would be fun to see how you make your chili!! 

 

 

 

When I was working on my computer today, I found this picture I took in the spring of 2009 and thought....YES...we all need a spring picture...smile.. Can't you just smell those flowering crab apple blossoms?? smile...

 

We had a snowy day...actually we got 1 1/2" of it...then by this evening it was all melted! But, tomorrow morning people will have to be careful as they go to work. My friend stopped by and fixed my hair, so as always it was nice to see and visit with her! Our IT man came and finished fixing my computer! Hopefully, I can now print postage for packages I want to mail...smile...

 

Hope you had a wonderful day like we did!!

 

Blessings,

Gert

 

more as it happens here in the city.....................

Fall is in the Air...

 

The other day we went shopping and when we came out of the store...this is what we saw!! Pumpkins everywhere!!! smile... (Actually they were off loading them when we went into the store...)

 

Instead..of getting the pumpkin, back there we stopped at a little stand near by, for a watermelon and I spotted these. I said to Tom, I want that ugly pumpkin...(and a white one!)

 

Yep, our "ugly pumpkin" welcomes all who enter our home! smile.. As does our 'white' pumpkin!!! ha..ha.. (sorry I didn't get a picture of the white one...)

 

As you can see the trees are turning and the wind is really blowing!!! The temperatures were dropping today, but are to warm back up tomorrow! Normal fall...temps up and down!! smile... 

 

Having that in mind, yesterday we made cookies and chili! yummm..  This is such a great way to bake cookies, we bought some frozen cookie dough that was already made into cookies and plop them on the cookie sheet, and bake 'em! They were so good! We only bought one dozen just to see what they tasted like, I will certainly buy more. Yummmm

 

And the chili...well that was a different story--we knew what that tasted like and we weren't disappointed! It was so..so good, especially on a cool, windy day. smile..

 

Are you decorating and enjoying some fall cooking and baking??

 

more as it happens here in the city...............

Happy First Day of Summer!

Well, "Happy First Day of Summer" to all of you! How are you enjoying this day? I thought our sun out in our back yard would be a perfect  photo to greet the summer!!! smile....

Our morning started with clouds and rain...so it was another Farmers Market day that we missed! sad... 

Remember I told you Tom made chili yesterday? We tried it out last night...just to be sure it was eatable...lol Of course it was delicious...and had it for lunch today. When I was telling my daughter Brenda yesterday about it...fear struck her voice as she remembered how Tom 'use' to make it! HOT-HOT-HOT smile..   When he originally got the 'Chili' Cookbook...he found this recipe and made it just like it stated!  It called for something like 4 Tablespoons of chili pepper and red hot chili and red medium chili, he now has it down to like 1/2 tsp each...ha... He learnt a lesson..how great recipes can be but you have to tweak it for your family! smile... So I let Brenda know if she were here she would agree that the chili now...was 'yummy'...smile...

While we were having lunch I kept hearing a bird singing away...so I opened the door to hear the song. Tom and I looked out and we both saw some activity in the house. So we are just sure there are babies in it once again this year!! We shall keep watch, and hopefully catch a shot of them!!

I've been wanting to tell you about our little Rusty...he is such a good boy....and so helpful to me. If I should drop something on the floor..he will pick it up and bring it to me! Whether it's a pencil, sock, paper or many other items...he is amazing! Today...he went to the groomers and got all prettied up! smile... or should I say..he looks so 'handsome'!!! He even got a fourth of July kerchief! He has been sleeping since he got home...when he goes visiting he is pooped when he gets home...smile...

How did you spend your first day of summer???

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"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

February 19, 1939: Jack got up at five this morning. It was warm at first today and then it really got cold. I slept this afternoon. I tried the stove out by baking a cake. It burned on top.

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more as it happens here in the city...................