Winter ROX!!!!!

Okay, just so this is clear, this is NOT a post about rocks. 8D

Winter is my absolute FAVORITE season!
I luv it,
Luv it,
LUV IT!!!!
I mean, come on.
There are so many reasons why it is positively AWESOME!!!!!
1. Girls don't have to shave their legs.
8D
2. One word: SNOW.
I can't get enough of that cold little white fluffy stuff.
8D
3. Ice, ice, and more ice!!!
Come on.
How many of you out there DON'T luv sliding around on those little icy patches?
*crickets chirp*
Yeah, thought so.
8D
4. SNOW DAYS
I don't think I could live without snow days!
WE
NEED
BREAKS!!!!
(Well, and we need time to do our neglected homework. 8D )
5. No bugs.
Flies and mosquitoes are just drawn to me, so winter gives me times to replenish my blood supply.
Seriously,
I get AT LEAST ten bug bites on the first day of spring.
Hate those annoying little guys.
6. You get to freeze your butt off as you hide under your bed covers waiting for the big wintery ice monster to pop out of your closet and munch you to death!!
...Wait, that might be a bad thing.
Oh, well.
You get the point.
8D

Winter ROX!!!!!

Okay, just so this is clear, this is NOT a post about rocks. 8D

Winter is my absolute FAVORITE season!
I luv it,
Luv it,
LUV IT!!!!
I mean, come on.
There are so many reasons why it is positively AWESOME!!!!!
1. Girls don't have to shave their legs.
8D
2. One word: SNOW.
I can't get enough of that cold little white fluffy stuff.
8D
3. Ice, ice, and more ice!!!
Come on.
How many of you out there DON'T luv sliding around on those little icy patches?
*crickets chirp*
Yeah, thought so.
8D
4. SNOW DAYS
I don't think I could live without snow days!
WE
NEED
BREAKS!!!!
(Well, and we need time to do our neglected homework. 8D )
5. No bugs.
Flies and mosquitoes are just drawn to me, so winter gives me times to replenish my blood supply.
Seriously,
I get AT LEAST ten bug bites on the first day of spring.
Hate those annoying little guys.
6. You get to freeze your butt off as you hide under your bed covers waiting for the big wintery ice monster to pop out of your closet and munch you to death!!
...Wait, that might be a bad thing.
Oh, well.
You get the point.
8D

Excitement in the wings...

 

I don't know about you, but I have been kind of buried under a snowbank the last few months. Yes, the snow is ridiculously high, but the days, too, have seemed  brutally long despite nightfall arriving just as we finish up dinner. So what have I been up to? Well, I have finished writing 144 pages of a gardening magazine (Container Gardening 2011) and gained experience writing everything from the table of contents to the final page. To be honest, I don't think I will even so much as read a plant tag this summer. Full sun, partial shade...I don't care. The magazine, however, is gorgeous and is certainly leagues above any gardening magazine I have laid eyes on! Of course, Matthew Mead shot and produced every story; so how can you go wrong?

The other day, I went for a walk with a good friend and we both felt a spring in our step as the sun shone stronger than it has in months. I could feel its warmth lift me out of the winter doldrums and we chatted about spring fashions and the return of brighter days with nightfall arriving when it should. I look forward to spring cleaning (really!) and clearing the cobwebs from my home and my head.  And although we won't be heading anywhere exciting as a family this March break, I do have an upcoming trip to Utah to look forward to!

Last June when we shot Stephanie Nielson's family at Smeeks (in Arizona), we did not get the opportunity to meet her. While we filled her children and their friends with generous doses of sugar, she lay in a hospital bed battling a painful recovery from yet another major surgery. When she emailed me, fretting like only a mother does about whether her children had their hair combed and if we needed anything and how sad she was that she was missing out on the experience, I wrote back and reassured her that she would be front and center at the next one...that Matthew had big plans for her for the next (this summer's) issue. And here we are: this March we will head to Provo and photograph Stephanie and her sisters (yes, Courtney, too!) for a very special entertaining feature. And I cannot tell you what it means to me to finally be able to meet her, give her a hug and tell her just how much she inspires me everyday with her spirit, courage and determination to regain  and redefine her life. My words will be nothing she hasn't heard before, but it means so very much to me to be able to say them. Can you believe she is skiing again??

Oh, and you can bet I will need to step up my wardrobe in anticipation of meeting the uber stylish Stephanie and sisters! Three more weeks and I'll be there...I can't wait! And fingers crossed, when I return it should be nice enough to hook up the porch swing for those April days when it is not raining!

Excitement in the wings...

 

I don't know about you, but I have been kind of buried under a snowbank the last few months. Yes, the snow is ridiculously high, but the days, too, have seemed  brutally long despite nightfall arriving just as we finish up dinner. So what have I been up to? Well, I have finished writing 144 pages of a gardening magazine (Container Gardening 2011) and gained experience writing everything from the table of contents to the final page. To be honest, I don't think I will even so much as read a plant tag this summer. Full sun, partial shade...I don't care. The magazine, however, is gorgeous and is certainly leagues above any gardening magazine I have laid eyes on! Of course, Matthew Mead shot and produced every story; so how can you go wrong?

The other day, I went for a walk with a good friend and we both felt a spring in our step as the sun shone stronger than it has in months. I could feel its warmth lift me out of the winter doldrums and we chatted about spring fashions and the return of brighter days with nightfall arriving when it should. I look forward to spring cleaning (really!) and clearing the cobwebs from my home and my head.  And although we won't be heading anywhere exciting as a family this March break, I do have an upcoming trip to Utah to look forward to!

Last June when we shot Stephanie Nielson's family at Smeeks (in Arizona), we did not get the opportunity to meet her. While we filled her children and their friends with generous doses of sugar, she lay in a hospital bed battling a painful recovery from yet another major surgery. When she emailed me, fretting like only a mother does about whether her children had their hair combed and if we needed anything and how sad she was that she was missing out on the experience, I wrote back and reassured her that she would be front and center at the next one...that Matthew had big plans for her for the next (this summer's) issue. And here we are: this March we will head to Provo and photograph Stephanie and her sisters (yes, Courtney, too!) for a very special entertaining feature. And I cannot tell you what it means to me to finally be able to meet her, give her a hug and tell her just how much she inspires me everyday with her spirit, courage and determination to regain  and redefine her life. My words will be nothing she hasn't heard before, but it means so very much to me to be able to say them. Can you believe she is skiing again??

Oh, and you can bet I will need to step up my wardrobe in anticipation of meeting the uber stylish Stephanie and sisters! Three more weeks and I'll be there...I can't wait! And fingers crossed, when I return it should be nice enough to hook up the porch swing for those April days when it is not raining!

Slip Slidin' Away...

 Life is so much more fun when you're a child. 

I didn't have the courage to go down that hill even once.

I am officially stodgy.

I really am...

Isn't my baby pretty?

 Her friends are pretty cute, too!

Saw a pretty funny (and fitting!) sign outside a church yesterday. 

It read, "Whoever is praying to God for snow, please stop!!"

Amen to that. 

The snowbanks at the end of my driveway are too tall for me to see over.

Are you jealous?

Does anyone else feel like they're living out the movie, Groundhog Day?

I just finished writing an entire gardening magazine. I am going out to our "big mall" to celebrate.

Sophie needs new gloves. She wore out her other ones.

Snow, much?

Slip Slidin' Away...

 Life is so much more fun when you're a child. 

I didn't have the courage to go down that hill even once.

I am officially stodgy.

I really am...

Isn't my baby pretty?

 Her friends are pretty cute, too!

Saw a pretty funny (and fitting!) sign outside a church yesterday. 

It read, "Whoever is praying to God for snow, please stop!!"

Amen to that. 

The snowbanks at the end of my driveway are too tall for me to see over.

Are you jealous?

Does anyone else feel like they're living out the movie, Groundhog Day?

I just finished writing an entire gardening magazine. I am going out to our "big mall" to celebrate.

Sophie needs new gloves. She wore out her other ones.

Snow, much?

Pretty Snow - lots of it! and Greek Chicken...

Yesterday we woke up to another snow day! I guess wearing our pajamas inside out really works - we never see this much snow on LI. But we've been getting hit weekly. So this is what it looked like out my door yesterday morning. So pretty when everything is covered in white fluff!

So, the fire was lit and my husband worked at home all day. I also worked on some new shelves for the shop and the kids (and dog) had a great time in the snow all day. Well, all except for the oldest one - she spent the day in her pjs studying.

We ended the day with a great recipe from Rachel Ray - Lazy Baked Greek Chicken and my own creamy tomato orzo.

Recipe Link  


Click on the link to go directly to the recipe. You might need to click the print button to see the steps since the show hasn't aired yet (as of today).

As far as the orzo, I don't use a recipe but I can tell you I sauteed some sliced scallions in a little olive oil, added a can of diced tomatoes with the juice and cooked for about 8 minutes - until the tomatoes break down nicely. Then I added about 1 cup of heavy cream and simmered for a few more minutes and toss with cooked orzo. Right before serving, I added some crumbled feta.  A delicious creamy side dish!

Pretty Snow - lots of it! and Greek Chicken...

Yesterday we woke up to another snow day! I guess wearing our pajamas inside out really works - we never see this much snow on LI. But we've been getting hit weekly. So this is what it looked like out my door yesterday morning. So pretty when everything is covered in white fluff!

So, the fire was lit and my husband worked at home all day. I also worked on some new shelves for the shop and the kids (and dog) had a great time in the snow all day. Well, all except for the oldest one - she spent the day in her pjs studying.

We ended the day with a great recipe from Rachel Ray - Lazy Baked Greek Chicken and my own creamy tomato orzo.

Recipe Link  


Click on the link to go directly to the recipe. You might need to click the print button to see the steps since the show hasn't aired yet (as of today).

As far as the orzo, I don't use a recipe but I can tell you I sauteed some sliced scallions in a little olive oil, added a can of diced tomatoes with the juice and cooked for about 8 minutes - until the tomatoes break down nicely. Then I added about 1 cup of heavy cream and simmered for a few more minutes and toss with cooked orzo. Right before serving, I added some crumbled feta.  A delicious creamy side dish!

Baby's Breath Love

Not long ago, I would take all of the baby's breath out of the rose bouquets my husband would bring home - and throw it away!
Now, I just love this delicate flower.
After all the Christmas was put away, I needed something. And I think baby's breath is the perfect flower for all seasons...reminds me of snow, in a way.
And its beautiful in the spring and summer too.
It's just what my home needed to get through the rest of the dreary winter.
And it's inexpensive too, look for some in your supermarket.

This post is participating in the following link parties.

French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday

Cindy's Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday

Baby's Breath Love

Not long ago, I would take all of the baby's breath out of the rose bouquets my husband would bring home - and throw it away!
Now, I just love this delicate flower.
After all the Christmas was put away, I needed something. And I think baby's breath is the perfect flower for all seasons...reminds me of snow, in a way.
And its beautiful in the spring and summer too.
It's just what my home needed to get through the rest of the dreary winter.
And it's inexpensive too, look for some in your supermarket.

This post is participating in the following link parties.

French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday

Cindy's Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday

Happy New Year to You!

Just wanted to wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!
I love the New Year...
a time to reorganize...
set new goals...
rethink priorities.

Especially while the kids are out enjoying the snow and I can think for a minute!

Enjoy your celebrations!!!

Happy New Year to You!

Just wanted to wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!
I love the New Year...
a time to reorganize...
set new goals...
rethink priorities.

Especially while the kids are out enjoying the snow and I can think for a minute!

Enjoy your celebrations!!!