Fall In The Foyer

I quickly threw together a little vignette in the foyer Sunday afternoon when I was on a cleaning spree. A while back our handy man friend made me some log slices (I think that's what they're called) and when I was vacuuming in the sun room I found one under the loveseat!

I took some book bundles I made and placed them on the "log" and topped the books with some faux pumpkins that I painted last year. It needed a little something else so I grabbed my large round cutting board from the kitchen and placed it behind everything....and called it a day!

 

 I love my oversized cutting board that I ordered from Decor Steals

 

Last year I spray painted a bunch of Dollar Tree pumpkins white since I couldn't find any baby boo pumpkins and this was the next best thing (and they last a lot longer too)!

 I'm also working on a little porch project that I'll share with ya'll soon.....

The weather here is simply gorgeous....not much humidity during the day and down in the 40's at night!   How's the weather in your "neck of the woods"?

Happy Anniversary To Us!

This Sunday, October 12th, will mark our 11th anniversary. If you had told me that I would be where I am today about 15 years ago, I would have looked at you like you were crazy. Without going into a lot of detail, I had a very messy, ugly divorce in 1996. I worked for a very successful divorce attorney and while my divorce turned out financially to my benefit, emotionally I was a total wreck. But that was then, and this is now!

If you would like to read my "love story" and how we met and came to be, you can read about it  here.   Our marriage has sometimes been a wild ride but I know my husband was a God send and I thank God for him every single day of my life. We had beach pictures made just prior to our wedding in Fairhope, Alabama. My two children and their spouses were included as it was a very intimate affair.

Here is one of my favorite photos from that day:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Oh, and did I mention I am 12 years older than he is?!   That really bothered me at first, but no one thinks there is that much of an age difference between us....I tell him I married him so he can take care of me in my old age!

We have a big weekend planned (not really)!  Lots of football watching and maybe we'll sneak off for a special dinner.    We plan on taking a little get away in the near future as we always do around this time of year.

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend....and War Eagle!

Spiced Apple Cider and Chicken Tortilla Soup

The weather here is perfect! Finally some fall temps here in the South. All my windows are raised up and I actually had to close a few since it got too cold for me! This morning my husband put together our new fire pit and I want to sit outside and enjoy it tonight while watching the Auburn-LSU game but I don't think my husband will go for it....he likes the comfort of his chair and the big TV in the den. As soon as we have our first "cold snap" (all your north of the Mason-Dixon line can stop laughing) I make my first batch of spiced cider. A few years ago we took the "big kids" and grandkids to Calloway Gardens for the Fantasy of Lights Show.

 (source)

 (source)

 
We stayed at The Lodge (can't recommend that place enough) and they served the most delicious spiced cider in a silver urn in the lobby all day and night. When I got home I tried my hand at copying that recipe and came up with one that is a winner! Few ingredients and easy to make in the crock pot. I'm sipping on my first cup right now! 

HOT SPICED CIDER

• 1/2 gallon apple cider (the original recipe called for 1 gallon but I have a small crock pot and since it’s just the two of us, I didn’t need to make a huge amount)
• 1 cup brown sugar, or more to taste (I used about 2 cups since I like my cider sweet!)
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 orange slice

Pour apple cider in crock pot.    Add sugar and stir.    Put the cloves in a tea ball and add to pot.    Layer the cinnamon sticks and orange slices on top.    Cover and simmer on high, stirring occasionally.    Once hot, turn on low to keep warm.    

 One of my all time favorite things to have in the winter is Chicken Tortilla Soup.   I'm sure there are many ways to make it but I like this recipe as it is easy and soooo good!

 

Chicken Tortilla Soup

• 6-8 chicken tenders
• 1 can Rotel tomatoes (undrained)
  
• 1 can corn
  
• 1 can cream style corn* (undrained)
  
• chicken stock
  
• 1 block Velveeta Mexican cheese (cut into cubes)
  

Cook chicken until tender.     After cooking, cool and then chop in blender.      Put chopped chicken and Velveeta cheese in large pot, add chicken stock and cook until the cheese is completely melted.  (I used almost one box of chicken stock).    Then add in the can of corn and Rotel tomatoes.  
Use the same method if cooking in crockpot….just remember to add the cream style corn just prior to serving!    Of course, if you use the crockpot, you don’t have to pre-cook your chicken.
Enjoy!

 

 I always serve my soup in this pretty little tureen I found a few years ago in a flea market...I think I paid around $12 for it!

 

Here's a tablescape from last year. 

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!