beer cheese soup

Since autumn's arrival

we have returned to our Soup Sunday routine.

Here is our first of the season . . . .

Beer Cheese Soup

3 stalks celery chopped
1 small onion chopped
2 Tbls butter

2 cans cream of celery soup
12 oz beer
15 oz shredded cheddar cheese (4 cups)
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 tsp paprika

croutons (optional)

Pace butter, celery and onion in slow cooker. Cook on high for 2-3 hours stirring occasionally until soft.

Place rest of ingredients in slow cooker except croutons. Cover and cook on high 2 hours stirring occasionally.

Top with croutons before serving.

Leisure House 05

Let me show you the hallway and bathrooms in our Leisure House . . .

A fun little big gecko guides you down the hall to the bedrooms.

Behind these folding doors . . .

the washer and dryer.
Already planning a little makeover
to add some cuteness here.

The guest bath was a chance to continue our beach theme.

Loving the rounded shower curtain bar.

Always good to post some rules.

We had them turn the toilet so that it wasn't
the first thing you see when walking in.

The guest bath is pretty small but big enough.

Next - the master bath.

Same calming colors everywhere.

There is plenty of storage in this bathroom.
Some cupboards are still empty.

Hmmmm . ..
Just noticing there is no pop-of-orange in here.
I'll have to think about that this winter.

Aldi K-cups

I never pay more that 50 cents per K-cup for my Keurig brewer.

This week I found Beaumont Single Serve Coffee Cups 

at Aldi for - $5.79 per 12 pk.

Not the greatest price but within my range.

Both of these varieties passed the morning coffee test .

 Aldi is a grocery store owned by the same company as the trendy Trader Joe's.

They sell quality items for less that our other local grocery stores.

fruit fly bubbles

Recently Jim saw a linked-post on facebook describing a unique way to get rid of fruit flies.

You take a wide mouth jar and fill it 1/2 full with apple cider vinegar. No other vinegar will work. It has to be apple cider vinegar. Add a few drops of dish soap and then add some water until the bubbles reach the rim of the jar.

{image source: suburbanturmoil}

We left the jar on the island near our bowl of apples. The theory is the fruit flies are drawn by the scent of the vinegar, get caught in the bubbles and die.

When the bubbles disappeared we got out our milk frother and recharged the bubbles. We keep frothing our jar during the day. The post said it takes between 24 and 48 hours to get rid of all of them. We’ll see.

three down . . . 

Leisure House 04

Let me show you the master suite in our Leisure House . . .

Our first goal was to find fun bedding.

We saw this at a small shop downtown 

and eventually ordered it on-line from Paul's Fashions.

Next we found matching valances

and lamps that were a perfect fit.

 The white furniture is

beach and cottage all

rolled into one fun look.

{still searching for a bedroom chair as this one is

actually a counter stool from the kitchen)

For the first time ever we have 

an  ensuite bathroom

 How fun is that . . . 

Ready for our return when the north wind doth blow . . . .

{still looking for artwork - it is proving to be quite a challenge}

grand canyon of the east

Over the labor day weekend we visited 

nearby Grand Canyon of the East

with some of our favorite people . . . 

Letchworth State Park

photo credits: Benjamin

It was a busy weekend . . .

lesson learned, lesson forgotten {repost}

Several years ago on September 11th we were at Ground Zero.
I can't find the words to tell you what it was like to be there.








Twelve years ago this very night, going to sleep we didn't see it.
The next day we vowed we'd never forget it.
Until we did.
That was then. This is now.
Lesson learned. Lesson forgotten.

Anniversaries Remind Us How Much We've Forgotten
Neil Cavuto, Your World
I revisit this video every year on September 11th

{I encourage you to listen to it - 02:29}

getting what you ask for

Three years ago I posted this photo . . . 

 These little munchkins are my daughter's
nieces and nephews from Terrace, British Columbia {2010}.
I love this photo.


"I do see a little space left on that skateboard for one more," said I.
Maybe someday?!

Well that someday is now
British Columbia 2013

Here they are visiting Terrace this summer wearing

sweaters that belonged to their papa . . .

One more year in Cambodia and
then we can all live closer together.

fashion forward

I subscribe to about 10 magazines

{really? - too many!}

One is Traditional Home

although it is not a favorite

This month it was all about adding

what we call a pop of orange to each space

Last year while decorating our new Leisure House

we wanted orange to be our little pop of color

Here are some pages from the magazine

I love the bits of orange in each room

I guess we were indeed fashion forward . . .