Prayer Request

There have been a string of break-ins in our neighborhood recently.

These break-ins have occurred during the day and at night.  In most

of the cases the occupants were home.  In two cases, the intruder

has gone into the bedroom of the occupants while they were sleeping.

Needless to say, we are all on edge.  

Please pray for our safety as we bond as neighbors to keep one

another safe.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Yummy in the Tummy Soup Recipe

Yesterday was a dark, cloudy and sometimes rainy day.

David took off in the afternoon to try to get in 18 holes of golf.

I used my time alone with Bentley to add to my Pinterest boards

and to cook.  

Cooking on a rainy afternoon is a special treat for me.  I turn on 

some music, open up my fridge and pantry and get creative.

It's "me time" that I really enjoy.  While in the fridge, I realized that

I had two remaining leeks from a recipe using leeks from a couple

of days ago.  I didn't want them to go to waste, so potato leek

soup came to mind, or vichyssoise as the French call it, but I will

not be serving mine chilled.

When using leeks, remember to cut off most all of the green part.

As the white bulb becomes a pale green, that's where I chop it off.

I split the remaining portion down the center and open them up a bit

to separate the sections as I run them under cold tap water.   The

layers of the leek can retain a fair amount of sandy soil, so it's

important to remove this so that your soup will not be gritty.

Then I simply slice the leeks.  

The leeks are then sautéed in a combination of olive oil and butter.  Don't

rush this process.  Sprinkle on some Kosher salt to help the leeks "sweat".

After the leeks have become nice and soft, chicken stock,  peeled and 

cubed Yukon gold potatoes are added.  This comes to a boil and is simmered

with a lid on the pot for about 45 minutes.

Cool the soup a bit and add to a blender or use an immersion blender.

Which reminds me, I need one (immersion blender) so that is on

my Christmas list. 

After the soup is nicely blended, I added some cream (I used half and half)

and some buttermilk.  I always have buttermilk in the fridge.  I use it

in so many ways and it gives the soup a bit of a tang.  The complete 

recipe I used for the soup is from Alton Brown and you can find it

HERE

I served the soup in some of my cream soup bowls and sprinkled the

tops with some sliced green onion and some cooked bacon bits.  

By the way, here is a time saving tip.  I like to bake my bacon on a sheet

pan in the oven.  I have started to bake more bacon than I need at a time

and put what I don't need at the moment in a plastic baggy and leave it

in the fridge for use later.  Bacon bits are so yummy in salads and over

baked potatoes, sautéed green beans and more.

So that's it.  A simple, uncomplicated soup that delivers big flavor

and is yummy in the tummy on a cool fall evening.

Metamorphosis Monday

Inspire Me

By the way, Bentley enjoyed a spoonful of this soup, but

mostly he just loved the bacon ;-)

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Time Stands Still At Our House

There is a clock in our house that we never spring forward or fall back.

I purchased this clock a couple of years ago and as I recall, it was in the 

fall and we set the correct time and hung it on the wall.  The clock has

remained at the same standard time for the past two years.  I have no

intention of changing it come next spring, only to have to set it back

the following fall.

I could tell you that it is in protest of daylight savings time.  It's true, 

I hate losing an hour in the spring only to regain the hour the following

fall.  What I especially hate about the time change is the last couple

of weeks before we fall back in November and it is so dark in the 

morning when everyone is rushing to get the day started.  We have to

turn on so many lights to see what we are doing and it is also that

much harder for us to get up out of bed while it's so dark.  I could tell

you that I am a rebel and refuse to adjust to this ridiculous man made

event, however true that is, it's not the whole truth.  The truth is ....

the clock is way up over the top of the bookshelves in the family room and

I either must climb on top of the chairs and attempt the precarious and

somewhat futile attempt at removing the clock from the wall to change the

time, or get out the ladder (much safer and wiser too) and snatch the

clock.  Getting the ladder means going out the back door, going through

the breezeway and into the garage.  Then I have to remove the ladder that

David has hung from one wall (no easy task for me) and then carry the

ladder inside.  I have a shorter ladder that is easier to handle, but it isn't 

tall enough for me to reach the clock.  That being said, I have decided

to be contrary and refuse to conform to daylight savings time in protest.

That's what we call rationalization I do believe, but I like to call

myself a rebel ;-)

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Living In My Own Little World

Sometimes life just becomes too scary.  The coming election has me

worried.  There is truly nothing I can do but vote and pray.  I will just 

have to live with the results if they are not of my choosing.

And sometimes, life brings disappointments.  Things don't always work

out how one hopes or plans.  I know that feeling of disappointment too.

We all do.

Or sometimes things happen that make me feel sad.  

I can manage these times because I slip into my own little world.  I have

a cocoon that is safe and warm and friendly and it is filled with things that

I love.  

It does not matter to me if others don't like the way I have decorated my

little world, because they don't live here ~ I do.

I fill my nooks and crannies with reminders that someone loves me,

and bring coziness into every room.

It's my own little world and I get to share it with the husband I love

and our sweet little dog Bentley.  All of life's worries and problems

can just stay outside because inside we are happy and content.  I hope

you find comfort in your own little world too.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Shorts, Flipflops and Mums

It's been so hot and steamy here.   I went out to set up this vignette in

my yard on the old glider and forgot to spray on some insect repellent 

and within moments I was covered in mosquitos and "noseeums".  

Where is fall?  Certainly not here in South Texas.  Those nasty old

bugs did not deter me from pulling out my vintage thermos, wicker

picnic basket and my Rose Chintz cup and saucer.  Creating a Fall

vignette is about as close to Fall as we get around here.

While watching the Cubs and Indians play the final game of the

World Series last night, I saw something move through the windows

of our family room.  It was a possum!  They visit us from time to time.

Thankfully Bentley was sound asleep in a chair and did not notice.

The game was a nail bitter for some, but I don't bite my nails, I

pace around the house instead.  I could not sit still.  I was so tense.

Then the rains came and the game was delayed.  I hoped that

during the delay, the Cubs would regroup and gather up their spirit

and win for all of their devoted fans ....

AND THEY DID!

It was an answer to a lifelong prayer!  After 108 years, the Cubs

finally broke the curse and won the series.  I am still pinching myself.

There is something so grass roots, so American, so apple pie about

baseball, and today so many fans are celebrating in Chicago and

around the country.  And as for me, I may still be wearing shorts and

flipflops and spraying up with insect repellent, but today is a glorious

day and I could not be happier.

Vintage Charm

Tablescape Thursday

Home Sweet Home

Feathering Your Nest

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley