OUR TEXAS WINTER STORM DAYS

We are cold, cold Texans y'all....It is currently 15 degrees
with a wind chill of 6 degrees.
I send you warm wishes and hope you are snuggled up
under the covers, staying warm and well in your corner of the world.
Schools are closed and will be for a few days.
Roads are icy and dangerous....
I am so grateful for a warm home and power to cook
delicious meals for the boys.... 
They were so helpful in storing away the last
of our Christmas decor....
let's take a look at our winter weekend....

Out at the ranch, Miss Elizabeth snapped a few moments of
the sleet and snow outside of her window....

The horses wear their winter blankets and gather in the barn on these days....

She lives way out in the countryside.....

Such a beautiful piece of property that holds so many memories
of marvelous celebrations....

Here at home, Otis loved snuggling under a soft throw....
he does not like winter weather one bit...

Sunday morning was made even more cozy with hot blueberry biscuits....

The sleet was beginning to fall....

Just a bit of snow falling, but extremely cold and icy...

This leaves me yearning for spring and sunshine

Even the birds and squirrels were staying in their nests....

I made a sheet pan dinner of roasted chicken, corn and carrots....

Sunday morning, we had a tiny peek of sun...
then a beautiful snowfall began....

Lucy was on patrol....

The greenbelt is beautiful in winter...

There is no place like home....
remember, spring is sure to follow

LATE SUMMER GARDENING

Good Morning Kindred Spirits.....
As I am aging....
I have actually begun to treasure these last days of summer....
Those afternoons of porch sittin' brings back memories
of my grandmother's house and I feel close to her.... 
We have enjoyed gorgeous weather recently,
with cool breezes and much cooler afternoons...
very surprising for Texas in August....

I love seeing little children ride their bikes past the house....
I love the sounds of the katydids hum throughout the trees....
I hear children splashing and playing in the backyard pools
and lawnmowers whirling....

I love sipping on cold lemonade....
these are slow living days which remind
us to slow down and be mindful in our lives

The Rose of Sharon will soon make way for
mums and pumpkins...



Otis loves to enjoy his outdoor time as he  takes in the sights and sounds
of a summer day....

Just look at these gorgeous summer vegetables...
perfect for making a spicy and fresh guacamole

Late summer lunches often include a light note of veggies...
sweet peppers with chive cream cheese hits the spot...

And, this was the perfect time to use my favorite birthday gift
which my son gifted me..this darling little appetizer
set from the MAGNOLIA Hearth and Hand decor line....
I served club crackers, strawberry jam, cream cheese and pickled jalapenos!

And, you cannot let summer pass by without making
a delicious peach cobbler..
I made this one a bit different by adding apple pie filling

The perfect summer sweet ending....

Take note of shorter days, evening coming earlier,
a leaf falling across the lawn and a slight cool breeze..
a new season is soon to be....

STRAWBERRY CAKE, FRESH VEGETABLE DINNER AND POOLSIDE AFTERNOONS

 

July has come to an end which means
we must begin to set the tone for the entire holiday
season for 2025.
Yes, school begins on August 4th in Atlanta
and August 10th here at home.
I so wish there were three full months
of summer for children like we had growing up,
Young people need this time to just be kids, have fun
and play...
We live simple days at home in our senior years
and have no travels to report on....

I do want to share a Southern Classic recipe with you
which is a delightful homemade Strawberry Cake.....

I have been making this strawberry cake since the early 1970's
and it a long time family favorite, especially for birthdays!
Talk about a taste of summer,. it is light' yet bright with a
burst of strawberry flavor in every bite!

One box strawberry cake mix
one 3 ounce box strawberry jello, using 1/2 the package
3/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup milk
4 eggs
1/2 pint fresh strawberries, nashed

THE FROSTING
1 8 ounce block cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 stick butter, room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1-2 T. milk
1/2 pint strawberries, mashed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix cake mix and all ingredients in mixing bowl
and beat with a hand mixer until blended.
Pour evenly into two prepared round cake pans
Bake for 28 minutes.
Allow to cool before frosting.

I have always used a Strawberry cake mix for my recipe which boosts
the flavor of the berries much more than white cake mix!

One of my all tine favorite summer lunches is
chicken salad on a toasted croissant with butter lettuce
and a side salad of crisp lettuce with peaches and cherry tomatoes
sprinkled with a lemon herb vinaigrette!

I love, love, love having a pot of fresh green beans
and sliced golden potatoes on the stove in the afternoon.
This reminds me so much of my childhood from both
my Mother's kitchen as well as my grandmothers!

A delightful summer dinner with squash casserole,
beef rice and mushroom casserole, green beans
and Texas Toast!

SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS

Otis loves an afternoon of pool play...
his favorite thing recently is to JUMP~~~

What a baby....

We have celebrated family birthdays this summer,
beginning with Luke turning 17!



The Atlanta family headed to South Carolina for four
days of the National Track Meet....
I simply cannot believe he only has two more years of high school...

A fun July birthday party with our son at his home, grilling burgers
and spending time with our grandchildren!

The darling and I celebrated our birthdays together
as they are one week apart...
we no longer have candles that tell our age.....



The weather tells us today will feel like 107 degrees....
I plan on making a good Gumbo this weekend...
I am also spending time purging some of my
collections, like cookbooks, linens and seasonal decor..
Hope y'all have a good week!

FAMILY DINER NIGHT

 HELLO  LOVES....
it's Saturday and a family dinner party has been planned
here at Estelle's and on the menu for the gathering is
a spicy Cajun Jambalaya and Banana Pudding....
so we have a full day of preparation underway...

I wanted the tablesetting to be colorful, yet casual

I decided on Banana Pudding since it's one of my son's favorites.....
the kind with pudding mix, sour cream and cool whip...

Done..now it can just chill in the fridge until we are ready for
this creamy and delicious sweet ending....

Now, believe it or not....
this is my very first attempt at making a good jambalaya...
it is quite a process....
lots of veggies , along with roasted chicken, andouille and fresh shrimp

And, my darling little Lucy was keeping me company
as I was pretending to be a chef in the kitchen....
I started the homemade stock before the chopping of all the
vegetables was underway....
I allowed the vegetables to simmer most of the day
in my favorite stockpot in order for all the herbs
and spices to marry and become deeper and richer in flavor....

I kept the appetizers light in order for everyone
to enjoy the aroma and come to the table hungry

Cajun Jambalaya is a little of alot of ingredients....
peppers, onions, okra, tomatoes, celery, garlic and lots of spices....
it was often called a peasant soup.....little bit of everything...

and now for happy faces.....family..
cocktails and conversations.....

Often times. you mix the rice into the soup,
but I prefer serving the soup OVER the rice.....
and it was HUGE hit....
people went back for seconds....
oh yes, served with hot french bread!

It was a cold, rainy evening and this was the perfect dinner
to enjoy a family gathering....

Normally,  I would serve a Bread Pudding,
but this dessert was a cool and creamy option....

Our sweet Otis enjoyed a bit of french bread....
It's a good thing to bring family together
in order to catch up and enjoy good food and pleasant conversation...
y'all have a good week...