Affirmations

I just saw this posted on Southern Living....everything cherry.  Of course I had to share!
http://www.southernliving.com/food/entertaining/cherry-dessert-recipes
Lucky you if you have a cherry tree of your own!

Cherries and Advertising

In case you haven't noticed, there is this ongoing theme on this blog....cherries. I was going through my collected "cherry" themed graphics and photos, wanting to write a little something ode to the cute, sweet little fruit...and it IS February....President's Day and all.....George Washington and the cherry tree (shame on you, George!)....and I found these two posters with a cherry theme. Well, that sent me off on a tangent; of course, what doesn't? But I digress.

These posters got me thinking....thinking on how much I adore the artwork. Oh, how I love the art that went into advertisements decades ago. You just don't find the same kind of artistry as a whole in print media anymore. I love the stark contrast of the bright colors against a black background. They reach out and grab you and pull you in.

They are beautiful works of art that stand alone, but the underlying common theme of them for the most part is they are advertisements for liquor. It was classy. It was whimsical. It portrayed a life filled with merriment and frivolity. Of course, liquor and beer ads have always done this, but these are just pure beauty.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not much of a consumer of alcohol myself, but a little something now and then for relaxation or celebration in moderation is a good thing.

But most of all, I just love the art. Here.....sit back and enjoy the rest of the collection. Oh, I also threw one in there for coffee, just for good measure.

Quick and Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup

It is a cold and snowy day....let me correct that.....a cold and snowy WEEK here in Oklahoma.  When it is snowing, I seem to get the urge to cook and bake, to create warmth and feel all "homey"; to "nest" per se.  

Today is no different.  

A soup, stew, or chili always sounds good.  It just gives you warm fuzzies.  So, today, I was thinking how good chicken tortilla soup sounded and I decided to see if the pantry had enough ingredients to make some, or a reasonable facsimile of, and I'll be darned if I didn't find everything I needed.  A well-stocked pantry is a great thing not to be underestimated!  

What I came up with is a Chicken Tortilla Soup that is the quickest and easiest, and quite a tasty soup if I do say so myself.  This soup can be finished in 20 minutes from the opening of the first can to the finished product and what a nice, warm dinner it is to come home to after fighting the elements outside. 

Here is what you will need:

2 cans cream of chicken condensed soup
1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies (such as Rotel)
1 can chopped green chilies 
1/2 can whole kernel corn
1 13 oz. can chicken breast, including broth(or you can use leftover shredded rotisserie chicken)
1/8 lb. processed cheese spread (such as Velveeta), cubed
1/2 C. chopped yellow onion OR minced dried onion
1 C. milk
3/4 t. powdered garlic
1/2 t. cumin
1/2 t. chili powder 
1/4 t. dried rosemary
1/4 t. chipoltle pepper powder (optional)

Here is the easy part....dump it all in a large saucepan, stir it together and simmer for about 20 minutes.

Yep, it's that easy.

Put a few broken tortilla chips in a bowl and ladle the soup over the top then garnish with a dollop of sour cream, chopped cilantro and a little sliced avocado on top.  Sprinkle a little grated cheddar on top if you like.

Now you have a rich and creamy soup that is perfect for snow days, or any time of year for that matter! Wouldn't it be nice to make it today?

Getting in the holiday mood

I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet but, doggone it, I'm getting in the holiday mood. (Did ya get that right there? DOGgone it? I crack myself up.) 

Seriously, I love this room with the red accents...and of course, the puppies!

Dreams of Outdoor Spaces

I love Pinterest.  I not only pin, I will save and collect photos of inspirational things, home design photos, funny memes, etc. on my phone.  The other day, I was going through my accumulated photos in the gallery on my phone and noticed a common theme; I had bunches of photos of outdoor porches and decks with various seating vignettes.  I've decided to post some of them today as a salute to the end of Autumn.  Well, technically, it is not the end of Autumn according to the calendar, but according to our Oklahoma weather, a cold front is coming in and about to put us in winter mode.  So, enjoy along with me as I share my hopes and dreams of a future fab patio/deck/outdoor living space.

I have an inclination toward the Cottage/Shabby Chic style.......

......Or else the Rustic/Log Cabin type look

  

  

  

 

  

.........or a combination of both!

Last, but not least, the ultimate place to live!......

(((Sigh)))