Farewell Fall, Hello Winter!

Hello friends!  Happy November!  I've missed you!   It's bitterly cold here today.  The wind gusts are fierce; blowing snow around and causing it to look and feel more like winter than autumn! 

Indeed, fall is a fleeting season.  Its duration brief and short-lived.  The calendar claims fall will be here for at least another month, but one peek outside my window will tell you that the season is far behind us now.  

Our first substantial snowfall arrived this past Friday.  Outside, everything was covered in white - the cars, streets, rooftops, lawns and trees.  

Farewell October!

Goodbye pretty pumpkins...

Cheerio, glorious foliage...

So long, late blooming roses!

Welcome November....

Hello, bare branches and trees...

Hi-ya, Mr. Snowman...

Greetings snow-covered crabapples! 

 The seasons change just as they always have and always will.  Fall has turned to winter.  It's snowing fast and heavy outside.  We are expecting 20 cm of snow overnight!  The fire in our wood burning stove is keeping us warm on this stormy "winter" eve.  It just might be a snow day tomorrow!   I hope that no matter you are, you are smiling and you are warm and cozy!

Goodnight! 

"November comes and November goes, 

with the last red berries and the first white snows.

With night coming early, and dawn coming late, 

and ice in the bucket and frost by the gate.

The fires burn and the kettles sing, 

and earth sinks to rest until next spring."

- Clyde Watson -

This Week's Simple Pleasures...

Isn't it funny how the simplest things often matter the most?  For instance...

Spotting this female Pine Grosbeak in my crabapple tree on Tuesday.  There are actually two.  Can you find the other one?

Enjoying this pretty flower arrangement every day of this week

Waking up to this magical scene outside my front door yesterday

Appreciating all the splendor of winter, while keeping warm and cozy indoors

Cuddling with my sweet Buddy, who adds so much love and happiness to my world

Preparing a simple, but special lunch just for me 

In case, you're wondering, it's a tuna and cheddar cheese melt

What simple pleasures have you enjoyed this week?  

My Week in Pictures

Mixed green salad with avocado, eggs and sweet onion vinaigrette 

Chicken pot pie 

Baked eggs with kale and pepperoni

A backyard visit from finches on a cold, but sunny winter day

Love, love, love my plain oatmeal with sliced bananas, sprinkled with cinnamon

Yesterday evening...the snow storm begins...

Nothing like chili on a cold, stormy night (topped with cheddar, sour cream, green onion and cilantro)

...and a cozy, bright fire to warm up the night.

A peek out the front door this morning...

and a view of our backyard from our upstairs window

It continues to snow as I write this post.  It's a snow day for us and that means NO SCHOOL!  The girls are still sleeping.  I don't know how they can sleep through the noise of the snow-blowers in our neighborhood.  

Is it snowing where you are?  I know many parts of Canada and the USA are experiencing or expecting winter storms today and tomorrow.  I hope that no matter where you are you are, you are warm and cozy.  Happy Friday...have a safe and happy weekend!

A Sublime November Morning!

Welcome!  Do come in, won't you?  I am so happy to see you here again! 

I don't usually do a blog post on two consecutive days, but I felt an incredible urge to share these photos I took this morning.  I couldn't wait till tomorrow.  I wanted you to see them now!

Last night, while I was in bed, I could hear the freezing rain bashing against the window panes in my room.  The forecast called for freezing rain and strong winds for most of the night.  When I woke up, I peeked outside the front door and it looked as if our car had been dipped in ice!  I had to warm it up for a good, long while before I could drive the girls to school. 

BUT now the rain had stopped, the sky was blue, and the sun was shining!

Can you see the tiny icicles that formed underneath the window? 

And the deep blue sky peeking from above?

The icicles are gone now; the sun has melted them away.

This is our crab apple tree in the backyard.  I love how the crab apples look with the ice melting in the sun's warmth.  Drip-drip-drip

One of our backyard bird houses

Lastly, I'd like to share with you a photo of our dinner table last evening...

On the table, you can see the crispy chicken I made last night.  I roasted it the same way I did in my previous post.  You can also see a dish of mashed sweet potatoes.  They turned out so delicious, that I just had to share my recipe with you.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

4  medium sweet potatoes (washed, and ends removed)

2 tablespoons of butter

2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup

pinch of salt

sprinkle of cinnamon

Wash and pat dry sweet potatoes.  Cut off ends, instead of piercing with a fork.  It's just easier that way.  Wrap each sweet potato in aluminum foil and place on a cookie sheet.  I roasted mine in a preheated 350 degree F oven (while roasting the chicken) for 1 hour.  Remove the potatoes when you can easily pierce them with a fork and they are nice and soft. 

Unwrap the foil and carefully peel the skins off.  Put the potatoes in a large bowl and mash them with a potato masher.  Add butter and maple syrup.  Stir to incorporate.  Add a pinch of salt and a sprinkle of cinnamon (to taste).  I like mine with just a touch of cinnamon.  Stir with a large wooden spoon.  Place the mashed potatoes in an oven safe dish.  Cover with aluminum foil and keep warm until you are ready to serve them.  

I hope you enjoyed reading this post.  I wish you all a wonderful Wednesday!   And to my American friends celebrating tomorrow - Happy Thanksgiving!!  Love you all! xoxo