Bundled Up

I didn't put many decorations out this year for the holidays. A little of this and a little of token that, and of course the window candles, de rigeur if you live in a colonial. Since I neglected to put away my steel family in the fall, I made them red mini mufflers. Sorta cute. They may just have to wear them until Spring.

Corn Chowder

This recipe was given to me years ago.

5 slices bacon
1 medium onion thinly sliced and separated into rings
2 medium potatoes, pared and diced 1 1/2cups
1 can of cream-style corn
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
Dash pepper

In large saucepan, cook bacon till crisp. Remove bacon; crumble & set aside. Reserve 3 tbs bacon drippings in saucepan; discard remainder. Add onion slices to saucepan and cook till lightly browned. Add diced potatoes and water; cook over medium heat till potatoes are tender about 10 minutes. Add corn, milk, S&P. Cook until heated through, Pour into warm bowls; top each serving with crumbled bacon and a pat of butter. Serve with crackers.

Serves 4-5

First Snow of the Season

It started as an occasional flake, and soon grew to a light flurry like dandruff scratched by taloned fingers against the leaden sky. Within a few hours the earth had cooled enough for the snow to start to blanket the yard. It continued throughout the day and into the night. I awoke to a marshmallow world. The prediction was for 6 inches and I would say we came in at 5 1/2. It is always lovely the first time.

Wordless Wednesday

Close,

but no cigar.

Coyote

I topped the hill at Brady Farm and slowed down as I always do to take in the view of the valley. It is one of my favorite places; I am a flatlander after all and I do not get big sky often. As I crawled past the fields of Black Angus, barns stuffed with round bales and the white farm house with its enormous kitchen garden; I saw movement in a field. I pulled up and stopped to see a coyote lounging with just its head poking above the waving grass.

I have not heard or seen a coyote in 9 years, since I moved to the mountain. I used to have them when I lived on the farm. They would bring me straight up out of bed in the wee hours of the night with their eerie howling and yipping. Instead of their constant presence, I now have the eerie silence of the deep woods with only the occasional owl hoot to keep me company in the dead of night. I sort of miss them.

Wordless Wednesday

Check out all the Wordless Wednesday photos.

Teensiest Frog I Have Ever Seen

I flipped on the outside light while I was writing last night hoping for some interesting moths. Truth be told I was really hoping for a Luna Moth, they have been reported south of me. When I went out to check what was happening in the darkness, I found a weensy green frog on the deck railing. It was maybe 1/2 inch long, and that may be too generous. That is a begonia leaf in the background. I have no idea what it is. Do you know?