A Recipe And A Wish

I have a soup recipe to share with you. It's not for the faint of heart. Our friends came over for appetizers last night (more about that later) and I needed to serve something a little more substantial for the guys. Can you guess what kind of soup it was? I'll bet you guessed it. Baked Potato Soup, and according to my taste testers it's a "keeper". This soup is loaded with everything yummy :: potatoes (of course), cheddar cheese, green onions, bacon, sour cream, garlic, and milk. It's thick and hearty and just perfect for a cool fall evening.

So, that's the recipe. And the wish? Happy Halloween!

Reflection

About this time, four years ago, hubby and I began packing every belonging we owned into cardboard boxes. We were excitedly preparing to move into our labor of love. For almost two years, we'd been researching, planning, coordinating, watching and waiting. Our move took place on a cold and snowy December day in 2005. This is definitely where we're meant to be.

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Fast forward to October 2009. It's a beautiful fall evening and I come to a screeching halt when I see this: A beautiful view of nature through the front door, a crisp shadow on the wall, and a reflection of it all in the mirror. How could I have missed this for the past four years? As silly as it may sound, writing this blog has opened my eyes. I see things very differently now. I've discovered a love of photography and aspire to learn more about it. I've made connections with people I would never have come into contact with if it weren't for blogging. I've been able to share a tiny bit of my life with others and, in doing so, I've received so much more. I find myself on a constant search for the beauty and positivity in life. It's been good and I truly love this little space of mine. Thank you for sharing it with me.

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"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

" The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind."

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~Wayne Dyer

Color Explosion

I'm back from my little getaway with gorgeous fall color to share. This was my fourth consecutive year visiting Ithaca, NY and I must say I'm in love with this town. I went with a friend this year. We ate, and laughed, and walked, and laughed some more. We visited the falls, and ate, and laughed. We went to the farmer's market and ate and walked. We strolled around downtown and ate and laughed. It was a good time. Did I mention that we ate? We had a fabulous lunch at the Moosewood Restaurant. I ordered a delicious salad that was loaded with all kinds of goodies and my friend had stuffed delicata squash. Of course we shared tastes and both dishes were super yummy.

We stayed in a cottage just a few blocks from downtown so most everything was within walking distance. The neighborhood streets were full of charming old homes and the sidewalks were loaded with crispy crunchy leaves.

We chose to visit Taughannock Falls State Park and to walk the upper and lower loops around the gorge and the falls.

It was a leisurely walk, about four and a half miles or so. Very peaceful and very beautiful :: well, except for the occasional gasps from my friend....she was afraid we'd cross paths with one of these:

We never did

(Image Found Here)

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The Ithaca Farmer's Market was spectacular. Everything sold there is produced within thirty miles. It was all beautifully displayed :: wine, cheese, pastries, handmade gifts, jewelry, yarn, produce and so much more. Of course we traveled home with much more than we came with.

The market sits along one of the fingers of Cayuga lake, sheltered from the weather by pavilions. This was a view from the pier:

It had been raining while we were shopping under the pavilions, but we hardly noticed. The sun came out as we headed to the car.

As I share these photos with you I find it hard to believe that we were surrounded by so much beauty. But it's true, and every moment was savored. It was a very good weekend indeed.

A Light Packer I Am Not

My friend and I are going on a weekend getaway. I'm all packed and ready to go. I always pack too much :: I can't help myself.

• duffel bag stuffed to the brim - check
• pair of cute new winter boots - check
• my own pillow in a vintage pillowcase - check
• lots of magazines and books - check
• warm and toasty scarves - check
• camera with extra memory sticks so I can take lots of photos to share with you - check

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While I'm away, enjoy the view.

Will My Guests Be Frightened?

I purchased a fern in the springtime to spruce up our front porch. It was one of those hanging pots you can buy at any garden center. It was bright and healthy looking and of normal "hanging-pot" size. Our front porch is covered and receives the afternoon and evening sun. Ferns do very well in this location. Very...very....well. We couldn't bear to let the chilly fall weather damage this hearty fern so we've been keeping it in the exterior garage for the last couple of weeks. Yesterday hubby brought it inside. I thought it would be beautiful in the corner of the dining room :: it barely fit through the doorway. Certainly then, it would be a fabulous addition next to the buffet in our basement living area. Nope. Ever heard the saying, "There's an elephant in the room."?

So it's tucked away in the corner of our basement guestroom just as happy as can be. We'll continue to water it and next spring it will brighten up the front porch once again.

In the meantime, do you think my guests will be frightened?

A Worthy Walk In The Rain

We got up bright and early yesterday morning, dressed in lots and lots of layers, and gathered in the rain to participate in a 5K walk. This particular walk was organized to raise money for breast cancer research and support in our local area. It was cold, and it was wet, but it was a great time for a very important cause. The course was beautiful and we had supporters cheering us on every step of the way....

But most importantly, it was a morning to support and celebrate our friend and the many others whose lives have been affected by this disease.

You go girl!

Warm and Cozy Friday Evening

We used the fireplace last night, for the first time this season. So nice. So very nice.

It was one of those peaceful Friday nights where everyone did their own thing, together.

Knitting was my activity of choice :: it's very calming for me. Hubby fiddled with his new iphone :: that's relaxing for him.

And this is what Molly did.

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It was a good night.

Some Days There's Just No Need For Words........

Tastes Just Like Candy :: Really It Does

At the apple orchard last weekend, we purchased some butternut squash. I'm using it up this morning, trying to stay one step ahead with meal prep for the week. This dish couldn't be easier. Just a pan full of cubed butternut squash, some sliced onion, a drizzle of olive oil and a decent sprinkle of kosher salt, roasted in a 450 degree oven for 30 minutes or so. Yum! I'm not kidding when I say it's just like eating candy. I've been nibbling on it already. In the crockpot is Squash and Black Bean Chili from The Healthy Slow Cooker. It's my first time making this chili, but from the same cookbook I've made Turkey and Corn Chowder with Barley, and Breakfast Rice. Both were great recipes that I'll add to my repertoire. This very nice cookbook, written by Judith Finlayson, includes over 100 crockpot recipes. With each recipe, she includes what she calls Mindful Morsels and Natural Wonders. These sections include tips on nutrition and interesting information about the particular ingredients in that recipe.

In addition to butternut squash, this chili contains onions, black beans, tomatoes, green peppers, chopped green chilis and a variety of spices including a cinnamon stick. Mmmmmmm....it smells great already. I'm dreaming of dinner.

Kate's Latte

It's a beautiful fall morning here. The leaves are beginning to turn and the plants are covered with sparkling droplets of water. As I started down the sidewalk to the backyard, a bunny scurried out of the little cluster of Blue-Eyed Grass.

I'm sipping on a warm, refreshing homemade "latte". I've named it Kate's Latte because it's something my friend drinks when we meet at our local coffee shop. Instead of the sugar-laden specialty coffees, she enjoys this beverage and considers it a special treat. It's a simple little drink :: just a bag of herbal mint tea, a quick splash of cream, and a tad of sweetner (I used agave nectar in mine this morning). I've never tried this particular combination before and I must say it's quite delicious and calming. Beside my nice warm drink is a special napkin made by my mom. So, this morning, I feel as though two of my favorite ladies are sitting right here with me. I'm looking forward to a weekend filled with a little bit of gardening, some cooking, a lot of housekeeping catch up and, of course, some fun time sprinkled in the mix.

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Wishing you a happy day!