Dreaming of home

We woke up this morning to another winter storm.School is cancelled and the snow is everywhere. I know I have said it many times before, but I just cannot get used to the north. I am a southern girl. Sweet tea, monogrammed linens, Lily Pulitzer dresses, Hilton Head in the summer. Full fledged southern girl. And I want to go home. After my husband and I were married in Raleigh NC at the Longview Poe House, we moved to Charleston, SC. We spent our time riding bikes along the banks of the river, spent many lazy weekend mornings walking the battery . And our favorite thing to do on the weekends was to pack a picnic lunch and head on over to Magnolia Gardens . When I think of home I think of azaleas. And MP has these in abundance. We would walk the endless miles of gardens and trails. It is breathtaking. I promise. And in these harsh ,bitter, snowy northeast winters, I dream of my south. Except for the swamps. They are indigenous to SC and I shutter at the thought of the alligators. My husband convinced me , back about 7 years ago, to go on a canoe ride , in the middle of the swamps ,while I was 6 months pregnant. I was crying out there in that swamp.There were alligator eyes looking at me from those muddy waters. I kid you not. I could touch them they were so close. Just sitting there, looking at me. I convinced myself that I was going to be eaten by one of those things and my husband got us back on dry land. Needless to say,I have never been in a canoe since. But we have walked through the swamps. Magnolia Plantation has a wooden path that takes you into the swamps. We love being outside and miss being in the south. So hopefully, with much luck, we will be back home in NC (or maybe even SC) before the years end. Then I can get back to using my southern twang and not being thought of as a hick. And I can entertain in my home as the gracious hostess that I am. Until then, I guess I am going to go outside and make a snowman. Or maybe I will make a cup of hot chocolate and sit by the fire, daydreaming of home. I leave you with a few pictures of Magnolia Gardens. And of the Longview Poe House. Have a good day ,y'all.

Framed Irish Blessings

I really do not  decorate for St.Patrick's Day. Generally I just serve green food for the kids and put them in green shirts. But yesterday I was browsing the dollar section at  Michael's and saw these green frames. I thought I could do something with them for St.Patrick's Day so I bought the last two they had. I came home and printed out a few irish blessings, cut them to fit the frame and glued a small shamrock on the top. I really like how they turned out. Simple . Just what I wanted for the coffee table. You can see more DIY projects over at
                                                       A Soft Place to Land

                                                      Today's Creative Blog

                                                  DIY Showoff Project Parade

Menu Plan Monday

Another week.Another menu plan.Looks like more snow mid week, so I have stocked up on groceries so I do not have to go out. I usually shop for fresh produce twice a week. This week, not so much. A trip to Sam's Club and I am good for the week. No after school activities this week, thank goodness.I have started to incorporate one or two crock pot meals in the weekly  rotation again. Spring sports will be here before you know it and I want to try a few recipes out before I have to be at the practice field everyday! I hope everyone has a blessed week ahead.As always, you can find hundreds of menu plans here at ORGJUNKIE .

Monday - Spicy Shrimp Fettucine

Tuesday - Italian Beef Sandwiches (Crockpot)

Wednesday - Garlic Lime Chicken (we love this chicken)

Thursday - Praline Chicken (Crockpot )

Friday  - Local fish Fry

Saturday - Beef Ravioli with Basil Cream Sauce for hubs and boys. PF Chang's and Casting Crowns Concert for me and my girlfriends

Sunday  - Taco Chicken Lasagna

Chicken Corn Chowder

A few weeks ago I was out shopping with a friend and we started talking about soups. I love soups and could eat it at every meal. She said she had a chicken corn chowder recipe that I would like.Later that day she emailed me this recipe.Now, mind you, I was really hesitant to try it. I am partial to my own recipe and ,at the time , I didn't think that I could find one better. But after looking in the pantry, I had all the ingredients so I decided to make it. Mainly so I could tell my friend that I tried it and not have to lie about it. ( I know, it sounds bad, doesn't it?) Well my friends, I am glad I made it. It was so good. Perfect southwestern flavor .The corn and chicken and cheese combo...yum. I am hooked. And will make it again. (and I will make my recipe again .Mine is just more simple.No bold flavors. Just plain old southern chowder) I sent my friend a thank you note. And told her I was sharing it with you.And I told her she should start a blog. She is an amazing cook.And seamstress.And crafter...


Chicken Corn Chowder
courtesy of Andrea

3 slices Bacon
1 pound Chicken Breasts, Skinless & Boneless, Cut Into Bite-sized Pieces
1 cup Chopped Onion
1 cup Diced Red Bell Pepper
2 cloves Garlic, Minced
1 can (4 Oz. Can) Diced Green Chile
6 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
2 cups Peeled & Diced Russet Potatoes
1 cup Frozen Whole Corn Kernels
1 can (14 Oz. Can) Creamed Corn
½ cups All-purpose Flour
2 cups Skim Milk
1-½ cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Plus More For Garnishing
¼ teaspoons Cayenne Pepper
Salt And Pepper
Chopped Scallions For Garnish


Cook bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and let drain on a piece of paper towel. Set aside.

To the bacon drippings, add chicken, onion, red bell pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add diced green chiles and cook for an additional minute. Add chicken broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Add frozen whole-kernel corn and creamed corn, and stir well.

Pour flour into a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in skim milk. Add the milk mixture to the soup and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens, about 15 minutes. Stir in grated sharp Cheddar cheese and cayenne pepper. Season with salt and pepper.

Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped scallions, grated Cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon.

Menu Plan for the week

Anyone else out there in blogland as weary of the snow as I am? Already we are preparing for a clipper to bring as much as 8 more inches of snow in the next 24 hours.On top of the 2.5 feet already on the ground. Spring cannot get here soon enough.

Monday - PW's Marlboro Man's Favorite Sandwiches
Tuesday - Beef and Broccoli
Wednesday - Fiesta Lasagna
Thursday - Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Friday - Smokey Mountain Chicken
Saturday - Fettucine with Bacon and Cauliflower
Sunday - Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken and Shrimp

To see more great menu ideas, head on over to Menu Plan Monday hosted by orgjunkie . Have a great week everyone,

White Chocolate Coconut Cookies

With Valentine's Day on Sunday I wanted to make up a few batches of goodies for the kids and hubby. I searched and searched for a coconut cookie on google. My husband loves coconut. Anything coconut. I usually make him his favorite coconut macaroons, but this time I wanted to find a coconut cookie. I found this recipe from Donna Hay. I have one of her cookbooks , but have not gotten around to making anything in it yet. Let me tell you, after making these cookies, I am going to read her cookbook tonight.  She has a magazine, but seeing as she is from Australia I do not subscribe. But I do browse her website. You can find it HERE . Her website is amazing, and there are recipes  on it, so you don't have to pay a small fortune for her magazine at your local Barnes & Noble.Which I have been tempted to do in the past. She reminds me of Martha Stewart, which, in my book, is not a bad thing. Back to the cookies. Awesome. They are the exact amount of sweetness. You can taste the coconut and the white chocolate chips. The cookie itself is delicate , but in a good way. The texture is perfect. I highly, highly recommend this cookie . My children do too. They have munched on them all afternoon. I think I am going to have to make another batch before Valentine's Day.  My camera is officially DOA, so I am using my blackberry camera until I can get a new one. So , please, excuse the picture. They do look better in person, I assure you :).

A Snowy Day

Since we have been stuck at home in the cold and snow since last Friday, we have been busy trying to stay occupied. Three of those days were without electricity, so there have been many pictures colored, many stories told and many books read in this house. I went through the boys' books and picked out all of the winter /snow themed books I could find. Seems appropriate to me. I have read all of these books at least a dozen times to the boys over the past 5 days. I am dreaming about them in my sleep. But  it could be worse. I could have let them play video games all weekend. :) Here are some of our favorites:

This is one of my favorite books because of the illustrations. I could look at them all day! The bold colors are amazing and the kids seem to want to look at the pages over and over again.

White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt
When the first flakes fell from the grey sky, the postman and the farmer and the policeman and his wife scurried about doing all the practical things grownups do when a snowstorm comes. But the children laughed and danced, and caught the lacy snowflakes on their tongues.

All the wonder and delight a child feels in a snowfall is caught in the pages of this book -- the frost ferns on the window sill, the snow man in the yard and the mystery and magic of a new white world. Roger Duvoisin's pictures in soft blue half-tones with brilliant splashes of yellow and red emphasize the gaiety and humor as well as the poetic quality of the text.

Buying Mittens by Nankichi Niimi
When a cold winter comes to the forest, a little fox awakens one morning to the magic of a first snow-fall. His romp in the snow is cut short, however, when his cold, wet paws turn peony colored. What he needs, his mother decides, are some woolen mittens the size of his little paws.

So begins an overnight journey into the village where humans live, to buy a pair of mittens and where, along the way, the little fox learns that people are more complicated creatures than he thought.

Buying Mittens is a classic story that has charmed Japanese children for generations. Written by one of Japan's most beloved authors, it has the timeless quality of a folktale that will speak across cultures. Enchanting illustrations illuminate this gentle tale of a mother's tenderness and a child's new discoveries.

*This is one of my favorite books. When Landon was born I was sent a copy of this book by one of my Japanese language instructors in college.I have a love affair with Japan anyway, so this book just makes me smile. Oh, and the kids like it too.

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin


Most children are captivated by snow, but how many go on to make it their lifework? This beautiful biography, winner of the 1999 Caldecott Medal, tells the true story of a Vermont farm boy who was mesmerized by snowflakes. Wilson Bentley was fascinated by the six-sided frozen phenomena, and once he acquired a microscope with a camera, his childhood preoccupation took on a more scientific leaning. Bentley spent his life taking countless exquisite photographs (many that are still used in nature photography today), examining the tiny crystals and their delicate, mathematical structures. Jacqueline Briggs Martin tells this tale with simple, graceful prose that will engage children's imaginations. Edifying and snowflake-scattered sidebars offer more information about Bentley's methods and snowflake science. The artwork of Mary Azarian, whose 19th-century hand-press illustrations decorate the charming Barn Cat, shines once again in Snowflake Bentley, with woodcuts that reveal an appreciation for detail as well as for the man who loved snow. The lovely illustrations and equally fresh text will inspire and comfort youngsters (and grownups too) who wish they could capture snowflakes all year long. (Ages 4 to 8) --Brangien Davis

* I have not read this book as much as I have the other ones. My 6 year old informed me that his teacher read him this book at school and he would prefer me to read ones she doesn't have . Which is a very difficult task because his teacher loves books as much as I do ! :)

Snow by Uri Shulevitz

A touching story about childish hope, grumpy pessimistic grownups, and the wonder of snowfall. Will the snow come? (Oh, please?) In the first scene there is none, but the second has--if you can find it--a single flake. Then there are more--but they melt. And then, finally... joy!

Where Have I Been?

I am sure you are on the edge of your seats wondering where I have been the past few days. The answer is here. At home. With no electricity, no water and nearly 30 inches of snow outside my door. Yes. 30 inches and it is not a typo. Welcome to southwestern Pennsylvania, circa winter 2010. And tomorrow we are expecting another 10-12 inches of snow. We have power back after 4 long, cold days. But still no water. And with an additional foot of snow expected in the next 48 hours, I am not ruling out yet another power outage. On a side note... we are moving back to North Carolina just as soon as we can find employment in the Triangle area. I am done with snow. Here are a few pictures of my husband and kids outside in the snow. Mind you, there was only about 20 inches when these pictures were taken.

Traditional Kitchen

I love this kitchen from Traditional Home Magazine. Of course with a house full of rambunctious boys, the light colors would be dirty and stained in a matter of days. But I can daydream...

My Very First Award!

I have just received my very first blog award here at The Flowering Dogwood! Thanks to Moni over at Life is Sooo Good . I am excited that I have a reader following. Now maybe I will keep up with posting!

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blogging world. I guess that would be me. :) The rules once this award is received are as follows:

1. Post the logo on blog.
2. Pass the award on to 12 fellow bloggers.
3. Link the nominees
4. Let nominees know they have won this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person you received this award from.

That being said I would like to pass on this award to the following bloggers...

1. www.kristi-kikiscorner.blogspot.com 
2.www.rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com
3.www.bystephanielynn.com 
4.www.blessedandbusy.blogspot.com 
5.www.taraintheatl.blogspot.com 
6.www.flightygirl.blogspot.com 
7.www.burlapandblue.blogspot.com 
8.www.partiesandholidays.blogspot.com 
9.www.miraclemama.blogspot.com 
10.www.chickiemommacrafts.blogspot.com 
11.www.tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com 
12.www.townandcountrymom.blogspot.com