Saturday Critters #633

Ever since it snowed on Sunday, I have barely done anything but take pictures of the birds.

In order to fully appreciate this, 

I must first paint a small picture of how I accomplish this.

I open the window in the back of the house, the one by the bird feeders, and hang out...

camera in hand and snap away.

I never have a plan, a coat, a sweatshirt or gloves.

All I feel is the whipping wind and the snow that it brings through the open window.

It's just me...hanging out the window with a tee shirt on.

Picture painted...I will share some of the hundreds of pictures I have taken.

These were all taken Sunday the 25th while it was snowing.

Male Cardinal

Male House Finch

Yellow Throated Sparrow

Dark Eyed Junco

Female House Finch

Female Downy Woodpecker

Chickadee

Blue Jay

Brown Headed Cowbird

The pictures I took the days following the storm are much better.

I will share those on Monday.

Sharing today's images with Eileen at 

Viewing Nature With Eileen 

for Saturdays Critters

In The Kitchen

 I have written about the making of my 

Potato Soup

so many times here in the past, I just can't bore you once again with all the details.

I will however share this pretty picture of my new soup mugs...

filled with the yummy soup.
If you have somehow missed those posts over the years, you can find one of them here.

I also recently made this, all in one dish... 

Boursin Cheese Baked Pasta

I cut the recipe in half, it's just the two of us.

To the tomatoes and cheese, add whatever italian spices you like. 

EVOO, salt and pepper and fresh garlic to your preference.

Boursin Cheese is the star of the show,

 I added chopped sweet onion in with the tomatoes...

baby spinach...

I only added one cup of cooked pasta,

and it was so creamy and delicious, served with a breadstick on the side.

This recipe has been all over Tic Tok and Instagram, if you have not seen it, you can find it here.

I don't usually make a big breakfast in the morning, I made this the day it snowed.

It is really too much food for me in the morning but it was very yummy.

I always keep fresh vegetables cut up in the refrigerator. 

This Dill Dip from Marzetti is the best for fresh vegetables.

I used these "Oreo Thins" in mint flavor, covered them in melted milk chocolate 

and they were really good.

I decorated the tops with sprinkles for Valentines Day but have no picture to prove it.

They were cute and tasted like the Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies.

The hubs bought me this yummy chocolate cake...

and these 2 blueberry pies because I have been feeling a little blue about not getting out!

We used to get Hostess Blueberry Pies and we never see them anymore.

This earned him several thousand brownie points.

I have some good pictures to share tomorrow, of the birds, playing in the snow!

Casa Oaxaca

 This little restaurant is about a mile from home.

It used to be my favorite place to enjoy both breakfast and lunch.

It was for sale for a long time, it stayed open until they sold it.

I secretly hoped it would not sell, but it did.

The new owners made it a bagel shop, then it transformed to bagels and mexican food.

A weird combo I thought.

- the decor is amazing...I think the food was as well -

As soon as we sat down they brought us warm chips and these dips.

I don't know what they are...I just ate the chips and they were delicious!

The hubs had Chicken Fajitas,

I had steak fajitas.

The platters were sizzling, and it looked better than it tasted.

It was good, but the meat was a little tough and the onions and peppers were still crunchy.

 They serve very authentic mexican...I think we like american/mexican better, if you know what I mean.

Their bagels and breakfast sandwiches are very good.

50 Things Joyfilled People Have In Their Home...

I was recently drawn to a blog post with the title...

 50 Things Joyfilled People Have In Their Homes

I was so curious...it was presented in the form of a list, 

I wondered how many of these things could be found in my home..

"Click Here" to view that list.

I started out really well, my decline came at the end, I ended up with 20 of the 50.

I know I have a joyful home because I am in it all the time and 

everything here brings me a lot of happiness.

I went by the list in the post:

1. Colorful Mugs & Bowls...

2. Soft Throw Blankets...

I made the white blanket on the left, the blueish/brown one is crafted with alpaca fiber.

3. House Plants In Fun Pots...

Paperwhites are almost ready to bloom.

4. A Fun Welcome Sign...

5. A Joy Filled Door Mat...

6. Candles...

7. A Cozy Reading Chair...

8. Fresh Flowers...

9. Decorative Woven Baskets...I made all 3 of these.

10. A Gratitude Journal...

11. Board Games (Puzzles) For A Fun Game Night...

I keep them in the coffee table chest.

12. A Whimsical Wall Clock...

13. A Memory Filled Photo Frame...

14. Soft White Lights...

15. A Cookbook Stand...

16. Colorful Towels & Napkins...

17. Cute Door Hooks For Bags & Jackets...

18. A Fun Calendar...

And if you are lucky enough to have one of these...

19. A Warm Fire...

20. I Added Paperwhites, 

just starting to open...