My husband loves baked chicken. “What would you like for dinner?” Baked chicken. Nearly every time. He loves the crispy skin which tastes like fried chicken. I use bone in/skin on chicken breasts. Rub with olive oil S&P and pop into the oven at 350℉ for an hour. But what to go with it? Oooh! I know! Crispy baked potato fries – they were as gorgeous as they were delicious. Here’s how:
Continue reading “Crispy Oven Fries & Oven Baked Chicken!”
We’ve had a few cool days/cool evenings – and that prompted us to find a recipe that was more fitting for this time of year. We have had four+ months of grilled food and salads. Now is the time for wonderful homemade soups and recipes that actually utilize the stove/oven. Woohoo!
Continue reading “Recipe Reminder: 15 Bean Soup!”
The butterflies are plentiful right now. Around certain plants they were swarming at this local nursery/design shop. They have gorgeous plants and flowers and the butterflies really gravitated towards some of them. To the point they were all around my head, ha ha. Just looking out of our windows I’m see so many, all different colors – just beautiful!
Continue reading “Plentiful Butterflies…”
Emily Giffin. I have never read this author so I wasn’t sure what to expect. First of all, I love the cover. How important is a book cover to you? Do you feel it should reflect the story within the pages? Or does it not matter to you? My personal opinion is that it matters a lot. From something I read I’m not sure the author gets a say (not sure if this is true). I enjoyed this book, which I read recently, here’s my review…
Continue reading “Book Suggestion – The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin!”
Homemade granola is a heavenly treat. If you’ve never had it now’s your chance to whip a batch together, share with friends, or freeze for later. I put it in Ball canning jars and it stays fresh until it’s gone (about a week?) – pictured I have my lunch: plain Greek yogurt with fresh blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and mango with a sprinkle of granola (and sometimes a few dark chocolate chips, like maybe 7) – whoa! A power meal that keeps me full for a long time!
Continue reading “Homemade Granola with Coconut & Walnuts!”
For over a week now we’ve seen so many images/videos coming out of the areas of the country that have been devastated by Hurricane Helene. So many of you have donated time, effort, monetarily and with much needed supplies. Groups of pilots (airplane and helicopter), seasoned hikers going into tough terrain, everyday folks doing the unthinkable to help their neighbors or total strangers…
Continue reading “Thoughts regarding Hurricane Helene…”
We have a neighborhood Barr Owl that gets around. He’s busy and always on watch. He demands presence – he isn’t the sweet little “hootie” that we rescued years ago and rushed to the Birds of Prey to save after we found him in our backyard leaning against the fence. This guy is a bit more territorial…
Continue reading “Our Neighborhood “Hootie”!”
I specifically mentioned Western North Carolina in a past post because we know several people who live in Waynesville, NC. There are so many areas that need disaster relief and basic necessities like food, water and gas after Hurricane Helene. If you can, pick one great place (or many!) and make a donation. I’m trying to find places where the money goes to the people and not to a corporation. Donate however you can, whether it be time, money, supplies, etc. the choice is yours.
Continue reading “Hurricane Helene Relief for NC, SC, TN, GA, FL…”
I like to keep recipes on the healthier side at least a majority of the time, it’s why I’m such a big fan of Eating Well’s recipes. They are over the top good and in most cases they’re quick to put together. This recipe makes four servings, so I usually freeze two meatloaves that are partially baked, then either only make 1/2 the potatoes and green beans OR I use the leftover veggies for a different meal.
Continue reading “Mini Meatloaves with Green Beans and Potatoes!”
Almost all of us have witnessed the endless images of destruction from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Helene. Helene came onshore as a Category 4 hurricane near Cape Fear, FL on September 26, 2024 – a few short days ago. From there the devastation continued through Georgia, South Carolina and Western North Carolina… In Charleston, Helene passed as a tropical storm from quite a distance away, but the wind effects felt stronger and lasted longer than some hurricanes in recent memory.
Continue reading “Western North Carolina – Thoughts on Helene…”
Fall hit and the temps in Charleston rose. Hmmm. I think they’re supposed to drop a few degrees over the coming days, here’s hoping! Whether it’s a tad warm or not, you can still feel the fall vibe in the air. The sun has shifted dramatically. Sun that used to pour into the kitchen windows while making dinner now doesn’t come close. I love the subtle changes and I notice each one.
Continue reading “Fall Is Upon Us…”
Can you imagine this gorgeous home (especially if you were situated on the water or any other heavenly place with a view!) – This house packs so much punch for its square footage. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t small (matter of fact, to us, it’s large, we live in a smaller older home). I love the lines of this house, the porches, windows, etc. How dreamy to have a fireplace (indoor/outdoor) outside! To me, that would be the ultimate.
Continue reading “The Longleaf Cottage House Plan by Lake and Land Studio!”
The Nightingale is a book that is so difficult to put down. It’s hard to concentrate on little else while you’re reading it. I recommend you give in and fully immerse yourself in Kristin Hannah’s story. The story of brave women and men, happenings during World War II and the situations you wonder how a human can endure for such a long period. There is love and light, darkness and pain but there is also intense hope and strength of women doing their part to save (and comfort) others. Please, do yourself a favor and read this book.
Continue reading “A Book To Read – The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah!”
I love that paintings can be like a snapshot in time. Akin to a photo but with more imagination and feeling. You can feel the wonder, the water, the joy at being on the beach and in the water – or is it a miserably hot day and some are seeking refuge in the cool water? I don’t know anything about this painting – I love to find scoop… Can you guess the artist? #letmeknow
Continue reading “Guess the Artist #37 | Detroit Institute of Arts”
First. Day. Of. Fall! How exciting is this? To me, it’s the best of the best. Fall is my favorite season by far, I love knowing the weather will turn crisper, less humid, I love knowing the leaves change (at least in some places, like where I took this photo). We don’t have a lot of color change here in Charleston. A few trees do change, and that is always exciting to see.
Continue reading “Happy 1st Day of Fall, Y’all!”
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