Carbs and sugar

Let's face it, sometimes we just need those carbs and sugar to get us through the dreary cold long days of winter.  I usually eat healthy but I must admit, I still have my cravings, especially in the winter. 

 

Today was one of those days.  I was in the mood for chocolate cake.  So I baked a chocolate cake with vanilla icing and while it was baking the whole house smelled good.  That alone can make one feel happy!  So I poured myself a cup of coffee and enjoyed every single sweet chocolately bite.

 

Then for dinner I made Stromboli with marinara sauce.  Carbs and cheese, yum!  I added a side salad for good measure. 

 

 

Do you crave carbs and sugar over the winter?  Maybe it has something to do with light and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). 

 

Well, tomorrow is another day.  Maybe I'll do healthy tomorrow.     



 

The fall garden

I wanted to snap a few photos of the garden this week while we still had flowers blooming and bees buzzing.  Sunday the weather changes for us and there will be frost on the pumpkin when we wake up on Monday morning.  

We had a fire in the fireplace this morning to warm up a bit and to take the chill off.  I guess this is what we can expect for November.  Enjoy your day!

Back porch living

Our back porch is like an extra room for us when the weather gets warm.  From spring until Fall we practically live on the back porch.  

Enjoying morning coffee and eating our meals on the porch~ often times breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Reading a good book on the back porch. I just finished "Whistling Past the Graveyard".  If you liked the "The Secret Life of Bees" and "The Help" you will like this book.  

  

Otis in his rocker.  

We love the back porch for many reasons.  Watching the birds, hearing the wind chimes when a soft breeze blows through, and just being close to nature.  So until the weather gets too unbearably hot to be outside, this is probably where you will find us.  

A walk around the neighborhood

I am loving this warm spring weather.  My favorite season.  Everything is fresh and green and there is color everywhere.  It's the perfect time for taking walks.   

Otis loves his walks.  

These bright pink azaleas are in our front yard.  I look forward to seeing them bloom every year.  

Hope you are enjoying this wonderful spring weather.  

Inside things today

Hello, my friends.  Today is one of those "inside days" as the weather has turned cold overnight.  Yesterday it was mild and sunny, today chilly and windy.  Doing "inside things" today, cleaning up a bit, put in a load of laundry and watering my thirsty house plants.

I try to remember to water my plants every week but that doesn't always happen.  I add all-purpose plant food year round, do you?   

 Since Mourning Dove Cottage doesn't have a lot of inside light, I am surprised how well these few plants are doing.  I keep them near different windows in the house.  

My Christmas cactus had beautiful pink flowers this year.  Made me very happy!  

So I'll be doing more inside things today but tomorrow, for sure, I'll be in the garden.  Warmer temps and time to start planting the veggie garden.  

Enjoy your day!  

Is anyone else tired of this crazy winter weather?

Looking out the window right now, the snow is coming down fast and furious.  We've had warnings to stay inside and off the roads because of icy conditions today.  This is North Carolina.  Crazy, crazy weather.  Yes, I know it's crazy everywhere, all over the US.  

So, what do we do while being confined to the house?  

How about sitting by a nice warm fire, reading to your hearts delight.  That's what I've been doing.  Catching up on some old Belva Plain books.  

And drawing in my sketch book.  
These birds will eventually end up on note cards in my etsy shop.  Next comes the paint.    

I hope you're enjoying whatever it is you're doing today!  

And I am wishing and wishing for warmer weather to hurry up and come soon!

Welcome spring

finally...

spring has sprung and we've been basking in the warm sunshine here in the south, temps have reached into the mid 80's this week.  I am hoping the gray days of winter are now over and gone.  

My new red Jolly Clogs came in the mail last week just in time for some spring gardening.  I am loving these new clogs.  The last pair of Jollys I had lasted over ten years.  

So I've been digging in the dirt.  It's always great therapy being in the garden, something I've really been needing lately, since the last few weeks I've been feeling out of sorts...thinking post breast cancer thoughts, I guess, and not very happy, trying to stay positive and letting go of last year.  Maybe it was just the bad weather.  

Things seem better now and sunny days ahead.  Otis and Riley are loving this warm weather too!  

Sunshine, flowers and warm weather 

can do absolute wonders for the soul.