Baby It's Cold Outside

Not really! Here in Georgia we are having a gorgeous week with lows in the upper 50's and highs in the upper 60's! :)

This is the theme for the window

display that I did for a local

shoppe, Maggie Mae's Tea Room.

Maggie Mae's is located inside

The 1902 Stock Exchange.

They serve a fabulous lunch.

In fact it's my favorite!

The 1902 Stock Exchange also

offers wonderful shopping.

With antiques and uniques,

a great little book store and

a dinner theater.

I feel very honored to be among

the very talented ladies

who decorate the windows of

this exquisite shoppe.

I will be sharing a glimpse at

the other windows soon!

If you're ever in North West Georgia

make a point to stop in Adairsville

and enjoy shopping at

The 1902 Stock Exchange

and lunch at

Maggie Mae's Tea Room!

Blessings,

Nina

Handmade Velvet Pumpkins and Blue Hydrangeas

I fell in love with velvet pumpkins the very first time I ever saw them.

They were these little golden ones

with the plastic stems,

that are displayed on the mantle.

I found these years ago and

I have always wanted

a few more, in

different colors of course!

So a friend of mine, my 

youngest daughter and I

started making them.

They were so beautiful

that we couldn't stop!

We made all colors and sizes!

(Ours have real pumpkin stems!)

I had to keep several of

my favorites,

and my friend was sweet

enough to share a few

that I just had to have to

go with the blue Hydrangeas

another dear friend gave me!

So for my Autumn tablescape

I used the two together and

it is quite beautiful!

I wanted to share before I put

everything away and start

decorating for Christmas.

I hope you all enjoyed them

as much as I have!

Blessings,

Nina

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

May GOD always bless you!

Autumn Farmhouse Porch

It's a beautiful Autumn day here in Georgia.  The sun is shining, but it's cold and windy.

I thought I had better share

my fall decorations before it's too late. 

Thursday Is Thanksgiving

and after that we all

will be moving full force 

into Christmas!

I love Christmas,

but I feel as though

Thanksgiving is rushed

by too quickly.

I think Fall gets shorter and

shorter every year.

There isn't near enough time

to enjoy the beautiful leaves,

or bonfires,

...or football! :)

I did keep deocorating

to a minimal this season.

And used what I already had,

except for the two

fresh pumpkins.

I'm pleased with how everything turned out.

And it does look different from

last year.

I will try to post the Inside

decorations before 

the weekend.

And share what me and my

youngest daughter 

have been into making.

Until then I wish you

Blessings,

Nina

Homemade Zuppa Tuscana

 I love this time of year, the leafs change to such beautiful shades of yellow, gold, orange,          and brown; it's time for bonfires, boots, sweaters and scarves... and soups and stews.

                  I love soups and stews!

 

 One of my favorite soups is Zuppa Tuscana.       

 It is so creamy, full of fresh ingredients and wonderful flavor.

I have yet to find anyone who doesn't love it. So, it is a real crowd pleaser.

I have promised serveral family members and friends that I would share the recipe that I use.

I found it on Pinterest, but I don't know who to give credit to.

I have found that it is best to double the recipe so that you can share or have leftovers for lunch the next day.

I hope you all enjoy!

Blessings,

Nina

Inspired Not To Give Up

   

                I haven't posted since April,

              and I have missed it like crazy!

After a lot of praying, then reading 

a post from Courtney 

on her blog, French Country Cottage,

I feel as though I should continue blogging.

(thank you Courtney!)

Spring and summer were very busy,

but enjoyable,

with my youngest and the

G-babies out of school.

We had loads of fun together...

Tea Parties

Tellus Museum

Bonfire Party

Playing Outside

Going for Walks 

Climbing Trees

Playing Basketball

and Baseball

Picnics

Also...

My two dear friends and I

have united in business and opened

a booth and boutique inside

a wonderful new shoppe in our

little town.

(Posting more about that soon!)

I have taken tons of photos,

and I promise to catch you all up

on everything.

Blessing,

Nina

Good Morning

It's been awhile since my last post

and I do apologize.

I've been very busy, but I promise to

add another post very soon.

Today will be another busy one
and I'm looking forward to it!

There's nothing like starting off

with a great omelet and
a cup of Lipton Chia Tea.

All of those sauteed onions and peppers
were really delicious!

I'm ready to get started...

and I can't wait to share what

I've been up to with you all,

so stay tuned!

Have a very blessed day!

***A Blanket of White***

We woke up Wednesday morning to a beautiful
winter wonderland!

We have 6 1/2 inches of snow here in Georgia!

You may not understand, but 6 1/2 inches is

a lot of snow here in the South.

People make jokes and laugh that the South shuts

down if a snowflake falls...

Well that's why I love the South!

Don't get me wrong, snow is absolutely beautiful,

but I don't like cold weather!

I don't like it when the power goes out or
the water freezes!
I don't like the messiness of the sludge
when the snow melts!

But boy did GOD paint us some beautiful pictures!

And HE blessed us as always, we never lost power
and the water didn't freeze!

(this last pic is one taken of my home by my sweet neighbor!)

I hope you all are having a blessed day!

***

Preparing to Get Snowed In

It started snowing here in Georgia Tuesday evening,
So me and my youngest daughter prepared for

the winter storm the way all Southerners do...

We went to buy milk and bread! lol

I must be like my precious Mama,

because every time I hear snow I get the urge to cook!

A big pot of my homemade chili and

a hot pone of corn bread sounded delicious...and it was!

I had also ran across the recipe for Banana Brownies with
Browned Butter Frosting that sounded mouthwatering,
and I just so happened to have a few bananas that
were too ripe to eat, but perfect for said recipe!

They were very quick and easy to whip up,

and the finished product was so very delicious!

I will definitely be making them again!

So that you can try them I have added the recipe, 

let me know what y'all think.

(I didn't put the walnuts in mine, but would have loved to try them with pecans!)

Courtney Luper

Follow · December 3, 2014 · 

Oh my gosh!!!! These will melt in your mouth!!! So moist and delicious!!!

heart emoticon BANANA BREAD BROWNIES heart emoticon

Ingredients:
1-1/2 c. sugar
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. butter, softened
2 eggs
1-3/4 (3 or 4) ripe bananas, mashed
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)
Brown Butter Frosting:
1/2 c. butter
4 c. powdered sugar
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 tbsp. milk

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375F. Grease and flour 15x10-inch jelly roll pan. For the bars, in a large bowl, beat together sugar, sour cream, butter, and eggs until creamy. Blend in bananas and vanilla extract. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and blend for 1 minute. Stir in walnuts.
2. Spread batter evenly into pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
3. Meanwhile, for frosting, heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Let the butter turn a delicate brown and remove from heat immediately.
4. Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk. Whisk together until smooth (it should be thicker than a glaze but thinner than frosting). Using a spatula, spread the brown butter frosting over the warm bars (the frosting will be easier to spread while the bars are still warm)