Wishing For Pine Needles

Glorious Sunshine

Around here, we are finding warmer days.

Around here, we are basking in glorious bits of sunshine.

 

 
Around here, this balmy weather is taking more and more of our little moments out of doors.

(Where are your sunny days and higher temperatures taking you?)

Flour Sack Friday - Priceless

Some things in life truly are priceless.....

  

Happy Weekend to You!

End-of-Winter Soups #1

I got this little idea from my friend at Hurrayic  to start a "soup series."  Over the course of this winter, she has posted for her readers some excellent and very creative soup recipes.  Head on over and check them out!

And while we still have a few chilly days left in the forecast, I thought it would be just the right time to squeeze in a few more warm and cozy soups.

I received Ree Drummond's (also known, quite famously, as The Pioneer Woman) cookbook for Christmas and have really enjoyed her elegant-but-hearty style.  (And she has a really great sense of humor, which is also a plus during the madness that always seems to happen here whenever I start to make dinner!)  So my first soup in this series will be Ree's delicious Sherried Tomato Soup.

 

If you have Ree's book or know her style, she gives beautiful step-by-step directions complete with pictures for each recipe.  So instead of typing it out for you, I would recommend that you visit this  lovely link for the recipe.  (Or I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you just bought the whole book!)

It was enjoyed by (most) here....this two-year-old boy of ours seems to have quite the selective palate these days!  I will also add that it was a great way to use up some of the tomato juice we canned back in late summer. 

 

Hint:  Goes perfectly with a good, old-fashioned grilled-cheese!

 

Winter Catch-Up

I spent some time today browsing through our winter pictures, and realized that there is much left to share.  (I continue to strive to be a more frequent blogger, but until I reach that optimal blogging place the occasional catch-up post will have to do!)

Allow me to rewind back to mid-February (ahem) and a trip north to visit Great Grandma....

And some winter swimming in the hotel pool....

A lovely morning spent with my dear friend and college roommate, and meeting her baby girl for the first time.....

 

 

 

 

And, finally, our Valentine's Day magnet goodies!  My sweet girls simply could not understand why they had not yet been featured on "the blog."  Well....here they are, girls!

 

 

 

 

And not pictured:

A visit from Mimi and Auntie Nea

Five flus (which mainly happened during Mimi and Auntie Nea's visit, so hence the "no pictures")

A trip to the Fabric Shack

Lots of playdates

Some ice-skating

And lots of experimenting with and by our Cool Daddy.  (Even though I'm not the biggest fan of deep-frying, nothing will make me say no to a fresh, homemade funnel cake!)

I hope your winter moments are keeping you warm and busy!  Happy Monday!