Glowy. As November evenings should be.
New colors for Livi's cut-out-paper art.
And more Olivia creativity: the first Caramel/Apple/Cranberry crisp of the season. It was delicious warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.I tried a new recipe today. Well, sort of. I had the idea that there may be something like a taco chicken soup out there, and found this one. Then tweaked it, as I am wont to do. I had to substitute anyway, because I had no ranch beans or hominy (here in Minnesota we seldom find hominy in the pantry. or is it just me?). Basically, I used Emeril's recipe for inspiration, then had a tex mex heyday. I used red and green pepper, onions and garlic, poached the chicken in broth with cumin and chili powder--then used that as part of the broth for the soup. Added extra homemade salsa (and a little 'pour' of pickled jalapeno juice), and a bit less tomato paste...Oh, and besides lots of corn, two cans of black beans and one of refried black beans. I added all the cream cheese I had (maybe four oz.), a teeny bit of velveeta (I know, but yum), and a serious dollop of sour cream. My. It was tasty, I must say. Especially with some tortilla chips crunched up in the bowl.
Have you heard Shane and Shane's new record, Everything is Different? It's glorious. Musically, vocally intense and beautiful in that particularly Shane-ish way, and so worshipful. so soul stirring. It has blessed my week immensely.
So has this sermon. The gospel of Jesus Christ, humbly and passionately preached. I need to hear this over and over.
Well, one of the hindrances to posting here for me (besides the pressing immediacy of real people and real life that takes most of my time and energy for entire months!), is that I start off rambling, as if I were writing to a sister or to Katie, and then become self-conscious about the rambles, and seize up. Asking questions like, 'does this need to have a cohesive theme? a coherent point? is it OK to treat it like a not-very-private journal for the sake of friends-far-away? Is blogging the strangest thing ever?' Answer: possibly, one of the. Then comes the thorny issue of how to wrap up the post intelligently... Hm. . Perhaps this evening we'll forgo the intelligent wrap and just say,
'Peace to you, and goodnight'
14 comments:
I for one, have missed you terribly, so what a treat it is this am as i sit and drink my peppermint cofee, and read your blog. I have been coming here, and today, i am so happy to see something new!
Loverly lights, and beautiful papers. Must string my lights, and get to buying some papers for myself and my girls. Thanks for not giving up on this blog.
Christina
Oh Aunt Missy,
It looks so cozy, and inviting. Can I come?? =) I love the lights, and that quilted thing on the table. It's wonderful.
I cannot wait till we see you guys in a couple of weeks!!!!!!!! And then the month after that. I am sooooooo excited=D
I have missed your posts Mrs. J. There is always a feeling of peace in them. Your lights remind me of my room, totally happy. I personally like it when you start to ramble, your posts don't have to have a coherent point. It's just a fun way for us to look into your blessed home and enjoy it with you.
Grace and Peace to you dear one,
Leah
Ramble on, my friend. :-) Nothing better than a good dose of rambling on a cloudy Saturday. I'm sure you've heard that there's a house for sale behind me. I've also heard that history can repeat itself and i'm all for that! much love!
Blogging is weird, but great! It is wonderful to meet people through their writings...love your cozy home! I just spent the last two days rearranging our living area and we love it! So much seating and great arrangements for talking!
Glad to have you back rambling...
Oh, such kind comments and warm encouragement! Thank you friends, near and far, silver and gold (dearest Pam, that's gold, not old--and don't I wish I were going to be your neighbor again!) You've taken time to check in here against evidence that I would really post anything, and you've brightened this day. Peace to you, and goodnight, again.
Hello, from England. I love to look in on several of your family's blogs - they transport me to places of peace and respite. Will is a very talented young photographer with wonderful subject matter in his sights. I also very much like the sound of your chicken dish but what are velveeta and hominy? Do I remember hominy grits from the Laura Ingalls Wilder books?
Hello Lucille,
Good to hear from you! Thank you for your encouraging words. It's amazing to make acquaintance across the Atlantic by way of this funny blog world.:)
Velveeta is the brand name of a 'processed cheese product' (doesn't that sound horrible?) that tastes kind of like cheddar, but not, and melts really easily. It's not generally found in the sophisticated cook's or nutritionist's cupboard, but does make a rich macaroni and cheese or nacho dip in a pinch! Truth is, though, the second time I made this soup (for Sunday potluck)I used cream cheese (I'd had a chance to get to the store) and it tasted even better.:)
Now, hominy. Not an expert, here. Sorry Southerners--you could do a better job. ;) It's corn that has been 'nixtimalized' or soaked in lime water(? I think) in order to removed the hull and to make it more nutritious. It's ground up to make grits (which is like porridge, kind of). I'm not sure, but I believe it's sold in cans, unground, to be used in recipes.(of which recipes I know nothing!)
When we lived in Guatemala they used a similar food to make a mash that was then made into tortillas. Now that was good.
Anyway, in the chicken soup recipe, I didn't know if the 'hominy' mentioned was a mash or if it was kernels. So to substitute, I put in both regular corn, and refried beans. It turned out well, I think.:)
Well, have a good day--evening, I guess, now, for you!
Melissa
Good day to you Melissa and also to my husband who is in New York at present. Thank you for your comprehensive answers. I have got to get some velveeta now, it sounds delish. Maybe he could bring some home.
I'm happy to make your acquaintance. I've got a chicken pie with puff pastry just coming out of the oven for supper now. I wonder what Greta was making over at the Rose Garden!
Lucille
Melissa -- those sticks/branches over that doorway have just about stopped me in my tracks. Can you tell me more about that? How are they affixed?
That photo has given me an idea for a way I can solve a problem I've been grappling with for ten years!
So please do tell me more! Thanks!
Hello Lynn--
Thanks for writing! The tangle of viney sticks above the sliding glass door makes me happy.:)
Katie is the implementor (-tress? -trix?) of all rustic twiggy ideas around here. I mentioned this idea in vague terms, and pretty soon she was dredging our grove for dead and dying Virginia Creeper vines. She laid a few long vines out (roughly double the length that we wanted), evened up at one end. Then at the end of the length she doubled or folded them back and wound and tucked them back to the other end. We held the tangly bunch up against the old curtain rod, and she tied it on in six places with jute string.:) The tangle of vines in front do a pretty good job of camoflauging the string. And there are a few hummingbird nests tucked in for filler. It's not heavy, and has stayed put very well. That's pretty much it, I think. It's definitely use-what-you-have decorating.
Kate, are you reading? Any comments, since you're the one who actually made the Woodsy Tangle of Beauty? Thanks, sweetie.
Best wishes on the ten year dilemma, Lynn. Blessings to you!
Thank you Melissa! I don't know if we have Virginia creeper here in Texas, but I'll think of something.
If I get my back door problem solved with this idea, I'll post pictures for you!
I LOVE violating the rules of fairy-twinkly-ness! How else would anyone want to decorate? White lights feel fairy-ish in the spring and summer, and cozy in the fall and winter. Just saying, even though they weren't in this particular post. :)
Also, I love the herbs... I love making myself a pot of tea and adding a generous helping of red raspberry leaf in the evenings. :)
AND I love rambling blogs. It helps me feel like I get to come visit the farm for a few minutes. :) So please, "say what you need to say"... sorry, John Mayer moment... and thank you for posting, Aunty. Love you!!
~Michal
So nice to see you blogging again--feel free to ramble away! :)
Here, a blog by another busy mom that you might enjoy:
http://ourmothersdaughters.blogspot.com/
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