Cooking Thursday: Chicken and Dumplings & some Happy October Fall Finds

 

Hello my Peeps~

Happy October!! 👻🍁🎃🧡

The best month of them all in my opinion. Since Autumn is my favorite season - In my humble opinion, I don't think it gets any better than the northwoods in October. Folks come from all over to travel up our north shore along Lake Superior because it's just so beautiful.😍  

I love the beautiful trees, the weather, soft sweaters, cozy hot drinks, long walks, geese honking, the smell of woodsmoke outside, first evenings in front of the fireplace, heartier meals, fun movies, curling up under a fuzzy blanket, and all the magic that October brings. 

Right now it's sunny and in the 60's and the trees and bay are all shimmering in the breeze. A little pile of leaves is already forming under one of the trees. 

And here are a few pics from our walk a few nights ago:

And it's so fun to see kiddos get excited that it's the month of this:

And since we're talking about Autumn cozy I thought I would share this yummy comforting chicken and dumplings I made the other night. 

I found the recipe in a 50+ Best Soups magazine from a few years ago. I have made a few really good soups from it and I always jot down my notes about them after I make them so I know how I want to tweak for next time. 

I followed the recipe except I didn't have dried rosemary - so I used fresh I still had from my garden. And besides salt and pepper...I seasoned everything with a bit of garlic powder and onion powder. I let my slow cook a little longer than 5 hours because I wanted the potatoes even softer (I think I cut them a little too big). So I layered the veggies, then put the seasoned chicken thigh pieces on top. Poured the broth mixture over all and let it cook.

This is how it looked when it was ready for me to add the dumplings and I added in 1/2 c. of frozen peas I had thawed a little:

 I didn't have bisquick mix so I made my own by sifting 1 cup of flour into a bowl and adding in 1&1/2 tsp of baking powder and 1/4 tsp of salt. I then took 1 Tbsp of butter and blended that into the flour mixture with my pastry blender until it was all blended in. I did add some seasoning to the mixture too (some garlic & onion powder and a little Italian seasoning). And then mixed in some milk. 

Then I dropped the dumplings by rounded tablespoons onto the hot broth:

I covered them and let them cook about 1/2 hour until they were soft and pillowy and a toothpick pushed in the center came out clean.

Here is the recipe. Such perfect comforting Fall food!! I definitely recommend it and Matt & I both said we'd definitely have it again. 

I don't have an exciting craft update this week. I have progressed more on my second embroidery project - but I thought I would wait until I have more done before I show an update again. And I have started the cute diamond art coasters (see prior Thursday post) - but again, I want to wait until more are complete. So instead I thought I'd show you a few other fun items I found for Fall at Trader Joe's that I had shipped to our home (through amazon - since our closest TJ's is 3 hours away):

You already saw my absolute favorite - this pumpkin spice bark

But I also got this harvest pasta sauce that came highly rated. It's made with pumpkin and butternut squash. I think I'm going to add meatballs or ground beef or turkey that I saute with onion and zucchini and then have it over pasta. 

And I have to say these little pumpkin spice yogurt covered shortbread cookies are really good too! Counting every calorie when I indulge but they are very worth it. Great with a mug of tea!

How is October beginning where you are? Are there any fun activities or foods you're looking forward to? Or maybe something new you plan to try? 

Love the time we share here together always my Friends. Have a great weekend! 

xoxo

Wednesday Wonder: Closet Notes from the Bay

 

Hello dear Friends!

I know in my prior post I talked about another blogging friend talking about her desire to know where some of us gals find clothes we like at this season of life.

I thought I would share some of my favorites and I hope you will share with me some of yours too! I think as we age we don't worry about trends the way we might have when we were younger. But I don't think it means that we still don't love clothing...I just think we know ourselves better now. I think now I look for things that flatter, but are comfortable. Also quality dependable clothing that will last. But I think the top thing I look for is that it feels like ME. :) 

When Matt and I are out shopping... or I am with a gf or my Mom - I find it interesting that sometimes if I find something and hold it up they will say, 'oh that looks like you' So I must have found my style in this season. I think I'm drawn to color more than I was when I was young. Yet, I still love blacks and earth tones too. I like clothing that helps my short stature. I have shrunk to about 5'2" now. So I often shop where I can find petites. I also don't have much torso either and I'm busty. 🙈 So for things like pajama sets - I may need a smaller size for my bottoms but need bigger for the tops. So that's often my challenge. 

Some of my favorite places to go shopping are Maurices and JCPenney (my Mom loves JCPenney so we go there often and I have luck there because they have petites). I have found some jeans and things at American Eagle and Madewell as well. Online I love Coldwater Creek for nicer pieces. They are pricier but made well and last forever! So many of my dresses and skirts are from there. I also sometimes have luck on Amazon (not as consistent) And I shop used items through Thred Up - as I've shared about that company before. Sometimes I have luck through some catalogs I still get - like Chadwicks and LLBean. And I have recently enjoyed some of Pioneer Woman's clothing I have mostly found on QVC.

Oh, and I often have luck finding athletic wear at Dicks or Kohls (for working out, pickleball, golf etc).  

I pulled a few things from my closet and took a few photos with some of the outfits I've worn more recently to share with you:

I thought I'd share these 2 together because of the jeans - I found them at Coldwater Creek. I love that site/catalog for their dressier things I often wear for church and hospice work. But they have cute casual things too and almost everything is in petite as well. The top I'm wearing in the top photo was from Chadwicks. I think the coat was from Maurices years ago. And the t-shirt in the bottom pic is from Maurices. They have so many fun t-shirts. And the handbag is Vera Bradley (one of my faves) - the accessories help make the outfit too sometimes, right? 😉

 I also love yoga pants and leggings and I have the best luck finding those at Maurices, Chadwicks, JCPenney, and Coldwater Creek. And I love having a cute phone case for the seasons. And as you know I enjoy playing with nail polish colors too. Lol Again, all about the accessories! 

Pioneer Woman recently came out with a new line for Fall and it was on QVC and I got this cute Autumn jacket (love the stitching detail and that she always has floral things), and this pretty sweater that is so soft! 

This sweater was from PW's line a few years ago and I matched it with a cute orange vest I found at Coldwater Creek.

This dress is from Coldwater Creek (love the Fall leaves) and the blouse is from Coldwater creek but I found it on Thred Up for 1/4 of the cost! 

These are pretty soft short sleeve sweaters (good for layering when it's not too cold yet). I pair them with a favorite brown skirt or my tan cargo pants, or black dress pants.

This pretty 🍁 sweater I got at Maurices a few years ago and I don't remember where the vest is from? But where I live in the northwoods vests are kind of a staple. There are so many times when it's chilly but we don't need the big parka yet. Lol So layering with a vest and good mittens or gloves is just right. 

I have a favorite jean jacket I often wear over everything - but I love other cute little jackets - like this lovely corduroy one. I love the big buttons too. I love to wear a skirt or dress but then add a more casual coat to make it a little less "serious" of an outfit. Add some tall boots and it's a perfect Fall outfit in my opinion! The dress is from Coldwater Creek (as usual 😂) 

I don't think we age out of enjoying clothes - we just get better at knowing what we like. 💗

I'd love to know what are some of your favorites and where you have the most luck?? 

Also, please pray for me - the bathroom renovation is completely underway!! It's been going well so far (thank goodness) and they may even finish in a week and 1/2 or so! Yay!! I will keep you posted. 

under our tile was old pink tile (the original part of the house was built in 1939)

I always love and treasure your time here Friends. 

Blessings always. 

xoxo

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hi there Blogland family! 

Happy end of September to you. Can you believe October is only days away?? I love it because in my opinion it's the best month of the year. :) Where I live in the northwoods - I don't think the world gets any prettier than up here in October. 

Did you have a nice relaxing weekend? We had a busy one, but fun. We hung out with our friends the C's for a fun night Friday. We mini golfed, went out for dinner, and then came here and had a fire on the deck and then played cards into the wee hours. A perfect Autumn night. 🧡 

And then Saturday night we had my Brother (Steven) and SIL (Jill) over - along with my Dad and Uncle - to celebrate Steven's birthday and to be a send off to my Dad and step Mom as they head back to AZ soon. My step Mom wasn't feel well, though, so she wasn't able to come. But we had a lovely dinner and played cards and visited. 

We also worked to clean out one of our spare bathrooms...as they are here renovating since first thing this morning. Yay!! And last night I zoomed with my gf's as we are planning a trip to NY together in the Spring! We wanted to do a trip for turning 50...but covid and life threw a wrench in some things - so now into our almost mid 50's we are making it happen. 

And amongst all this busy we got the Fall decorations up outside and the trees are changing more color every day. As Anne of GG once said, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers" 😍🍁🧡 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

 

coffee and a piece of 100 calorie apple cider banana bread (mixes I shared about in a prior post)

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

errands, hopefully get my car back soon (it ended up it was leaking transmission fluid as I must have run over something that damaged it), no pickleball this week because the gym is being used for an event (bummer), going to work on home projects while I'm trapped with the pets on one side of the house while they renovate the bathroom, maybe hanging with my Mom one day, dinner with a girlfriend, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

My blogger friend Danielle had asked about where us women of a certain age find clothes they like. I shared some of my faves with her in a response on her blog. But I'm thinking of doing a post in the future with some pics of some of my favorite kinds of clothes are where I find them. I love the thought of our middle aged woman community helping each other out. 😊

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

gabbing with my girlfriend's and laughing until we cry :)

CURRENTLY READING

Currently reading the 2nd little novel of the Emma M. Lion journals by Beth Brower and have a new book lined up when that is done. Also spending lots of time on crafting :) I am so in love with embroidery and I shared an update on my current projects the prior post. 

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

Big Brother, Jeopardy,  Best Medicine, Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, Youtube things, Fall movies I want to watch, Halloween Baking Championship

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - PW's BBQ meatballs, roasted sweet potatoes, green beans

TUESDAY - chicken and dumpling stew

WEDNESDAY - leftovers

THURSDAY - Asian style green beans and soup dumplings

FRIDAY - spaghetti hot dish, steamed veggies

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

embroidery project, watercolor painting, diamond art

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

Or maybe coming on Halloween season you want to invite the spiders in??! 😉🕸🕷

 

FROM THE CAMERA:

a perfect Autumn night with the C's including a fire out on the deck and the moon was hiding behind the clouds here...but it would peek out and be so bright and pretty

Got our Fall decorations outside and put away summer - although we will probably pick up some pumpkins to carve and some mums in the next few weeks🎃

Matt smoked a salmon on the traeger for our family get together and the boys (my Dad, Bro & Uncle) were all thrilled! Lol I made gluten-free apple crisp with ice cream for my Bro's bday dessert (he has a gluten allergy). And gatherings are always the time to put out fun appetizers, right? Our main meal was pizza from my Bro's favorite local place. And also not pictured is spinach dip with veggies, and apple cider I had simmering on the stove with brown sugar, cinnamon sticks and orange slices with cloves pushed into them floating on top. I love we're into cozy Autumn flavors now. 😋

goat cheese with hot honey drizzle, blackberries and parmesan flatbread crackers

we don't have a Trader Joe's close by so I ordered this online....OMG, SOOOO GOOD!!

and it's the perfect time to get out the cute Fall dishes to use :) 

The sun was streaming into the upstairs tv room so lovely Saturday afternoon...and Ruby was posing so pretty, that I had to grab a photo. 

This is my usual perch - in the recliner with my lap table (see leaning against the side table) on my lap.  The green container holds my current embroidery project. So I recline and relax and embroider as we watch tv. Notice pretty Fall color out the window 😍

And Autumn touches here and there in our bedroom.

I love this Madonna. My former MIL (that passed from Alzheimers) used to collect them and gave me this one. 

Getting awfully pretty in our backyard and on the bay. 🍁

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear, especially everything going on in the middle east right now. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and shootings or violence.  For anyone sick, suffering, in pain, fear, loneliness etc ... that God bring them comfort and peace. 

For the Lord's love and peace to fill all ❤️'s.

For Christ's Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere and help the world find its way to loving our neighbors as ourselves. 🙏🏻

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

Wishing you an amazing week (& beautiful October) ahead. 

I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.