Saturday, October 17, 2009

A Cold Autumn Day



There's no place better to be than home on a cold blustery day! There's no room in my house that's as cozy in the fall as my kitchen since it's always the warmest place to be! It's also usually the best smelling room in my home as there's bound to be something good in the oven, stove top or the crockpot!




It was 40 degrees when we woke up today! Just a few days ago I had to turn on the AC it was so hot. We have our first freeze warning for tomorrow so I went outside this morning and brought in some chilies and basil to dry in my dehydrator and some other veggies to use up this week.




It's kind of early for us to have a freeze so I left a few things in the garden and I'll just cover them. We might only get one night of freezing temps and then it could be back to warm weather.






My reliable Mr. Coffee Dehydrator that I've had for about 20 years!



Taco Soup simmering in the crockpot for dinner tonight. I think I'll make some cornbread with that. Here's the recipe I use Southern Food Taco Soup. So I have the oven on, the dehydrator and the crockpot!




My very very cute "Home" pillow from Kathy at Kathy's Cottage is on my kitchen window seat. Isn't the red polka dot door just the sweetest thing! She has an Etsy shop but you have to be quick! Kathy's creations go fast!You can click on the picture to enlarge it and see all the cute details Kathy added.





I made a plum blackberry crisp for afternoon coffee. Yummy! I had half a bag of frozen blackberries from our bushes left and added that to 6 plums. I made the topping using juice and olive oil this time instead of butter (gotta watch my cholesterol apparently it's creeping up every year). It turned out really good! I don't have a recipe - I just threw things together and hoped for the best!





Those bowls are from the fabulous Country Living Collection at K Mart. So much cute stuff! I bought a few things which I'll share next week.


Well, I think I'm going to snuggle under some covers and watch my Netflix DVD "Little Dorrit" now. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!






63 comments:

Terri Steffes said...

I am at our school carnival! The night is crisp and perfect for our fall event.

The taco soup looks amazing and I so love cornbread! How about a sprinkling of shredded cheddar in that bowl, too!

Lady Katherine said...

Soups on and looks great, cold here too. Love the pillows the bowls are too cute! Just wanted to say goodbye before I go to surgery and off the blogging scene. I'll check my emails, and comments. Probably want be able to type for a while. Have fun this fall and Christmas.

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

Your supper sounds so good, Manuela.

They've predicted 32 for us tonight. We have our first sunshine in awhile and enjoying it, so much.

I love that pillow!!

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't mind wiling away the hours in your kitchen either! I bought the rooster salad plates from the Country Living collections. Too cute!

Jane

Julie Harward said...

The plum-blackberry crisp sound cheek-puckering good! I love Taco soup too, easy and always good...YI love the little pillow..SO cute. Hope you're having a fun weekend, keep warm..it was about 25 here this morning and 70 this afternoon..Fall certainly knows how to shake things up! Come say hi any time :D

Brenda Pruitt said...

Everything always looks great at your house, and so does the food! I wanted to tell you that when I see that you've posted on my sidebar, I get this feeling of anticipation because I know you're going to inspire me in some way! And you always, always do!
Brenda

winnie said...

You are a lucky girl, we still have summer days here in Portugal. it´s very hot it´s not normal for this time of the year. I wanted to be colder, to start baking and cooking.

cindy@cottageinstincts said...

Wow...I feel all snuggly inside just reading about all the touches you've made. I dug out my crockpot recipes this afternoon because this cold snap has really gotten me into the mood to cook soups and stews, and of course to smell them all day :o)
peace.

Anonymous said...

What a cozy day at your house! Makes me want to do the same. It is cold and rainy, time to just be.

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Sounds like a perfect Saturday, Manuela! Your kitchen looks so pretty, it looks like a nice place to spend time even if there is nothing simmering!

Mary Ann said...

I have been drooling over the Country Living dishes ever since I just happened to pop into Kmart a few weeks ago and saw them. They are so pretty! I liked them all, although I am always partial to red. Actually the whole Country Living collection is lovely.

It's been a cozy day here, too!

Ally's Corner said...

I've been organizing and cleaning today what else can you do when it's old outside.
We are having Taco soup on Monday.

Stay warm!!

Ally

terricheney said...

Hi,
I think I'm a first time commenter here but I've been following your blog for a few months now. Love love love your decorations and such. I think I'm right that you're in Atlanta. I live southwest of you in Georgia. I told hubby I can't believe we had the AC on two day ago and today we've got the heat on! I think autumn was yesterday, lol. You know that in between day we had.

Tamara said...

What a perfect post for a crisp fall day - thanks for all the great ideas - that soup and cornbread sound so good! Wish I was there smelling all of the yummy smells brewing in your home and I LOVE that pillow!

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Love those bowls! Cute!

I also love what the stitchery on your wall says!

We are cold and rainy here in PA. I am headed for my cozy flannel sheets soon!

Unknown said...

Hi Manuela, I'm wishing I could drop by for some soup and dessert! Hope you're having a fabulous weekend. I'm in LOVE with that little pillow, off to the Etsy shop I go!

Moore Minutes said...

Oh! That little pillow is adorable!! I'm going to check out her creations. Also, that soup looks delicious!!! Wow. I would love to have a bowl. :)

Anonymous said...

Manuela {Oh how I love that name}:)
I too am a lover of Toile~ I adore that heart pillow, the details are sweet!
Your post made me feel like "nesting"
Have a great weekend!

Sue said...

Hi Manuela....it looks like I brought the cold weather back from Jersey with me!! I'm not prepared to turn the heat on yet...like you said we needed the air conditioning not too many days ago...and it's crock pot season....don't you love cooking in one...I use mine a few times a week...I love it...those bowls you found at K-Mart are adorable....they have closed all the K-Marts by us, where is there one? Have a great rest of the weekend....Oh, and I have a very similiar pillow that I won from Kathy...it is just too cute....Sue

Beth said...

Your taco soup looks delicious! I made a some in my crockpot last week. I sprinkle mine w/cheese and then sour cream....YUMMY!

What's up w/this cold weather?! Brr! I had to break down and turn the heat on today. I love fall, but HATE cold. Winter is not my favorite time of year. So depressing.

GlorV1 said...

Those dishes I like and the crisp. What I mean is that I always like everything you show us but today I like the idea of going to Kmart to see about those dishes. I have so many already, what do I do with what I have? Thanks for sharing. Have a great Sunday.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I could have used some warm soup today! Cold and rainy and we rented a uhaul and moved my studio stuff to the new house in the cold rain...

I just received one of Kathy's pillows too! Just did a post. We have such similar tastes!!
xo
Penny

Adrienne said...

Wish I could smell your kitchen! I'm sure it was wonderful. I copied the recipe and plan to make it soon. I love Kathy's work and you're so blessed to have such a darling place to display it. Thanks for sharing your day with us. ~Adrienne~

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for posting your Taco Soup recipe. I am allergic to sulfates, which garlic and onion are the biggest offenders. And ... try finding a good recipe that doesn't have either of those. So excited to have something tasty new to try!

It's chilly over here in West Georgia too! Great sleeping weather... Destiny

Anonymous said...

Hi Manuela! Oh, I love the looks of that delicious soup! The weather was in the 70s today and we were just thrilled! Oh, that precious little pillow - I saw one at Penny's house too!
I just love coming to visit!
be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

Sandra said...

Wow, I would have loved being at your home today, we were sweating it out with record breaking temps in AZ. Love your blog, it is so inspiring to me. My teenage daughter and I loved Little Dorrit, enjoy your weekend.

Camille said...

Hi Manuela ~

Once again it's been a treat to visit here...so beautiful! Good for you to be doing all that baking and cooking and preserving!

Enjoy your family times!

Blessings,
Camille

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I think I'm going to come live in your kitchen. It looks and sounds so inviting. laurie

Mimi Sue said...

I wanted that pillow but it sold so fast. I'm glad it was you who got one. I've been dehydrating apples this week. My house smells like fall. I'll be visiting KMart this week for some of their cute things. Mimi

Unknown said...

I am heading to Kmart. lol... mishelle

Anna said...

Your photos are really beautiful.I love your hearthed home pillow!!A kiss from Italy.Anna.

sheila from life @ #17 said...

I waffled back & forth about the bowls! I think security probably thought I was tryin' to figure out how to abscond with them without paying! :)

did you get the rooster plates too?

M.L. @ The House of Whimsy said...

Lots of warm and happy goin' on over here. And that little pillow is just about the happiest thing I've seen in a long time. I'm off to go check out her link. Thanks for sharing. : )
Happy Fall,
M.L.

julie - eab designs said...

Wish I were there to watch Little Dorrit with you! It's cold and rainy here and I've been using my crock pot quite a lot lately too, along with our muffin tins!

Kathleen Grace said...

Manuela, your kitchen looks like the placve to be! I love all the beautiful touches, the little embroidered sign is wonderful! I will have to whip one up for my own wall! I am so glad that one of my pillows gets to sit in your happy home, I just wish I were on the window seat beside it, with abowl of soup and a plate of that blackberry/plum cobbler:>)

Anonymous said...

Wow you have been so busy on a cold Fall day! So many yummy things going on in your kitchen :-)

Julie said...

I know its so cold, I don't know if I'm going to make it this winter. But your taco soup looks very good and I love corn bread!
That is such a cute pillow I'm going over to take a look!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Your kitchen sounds like a cozy place to be on a cold day. Don't know what it got down to last night, but it was 38 when I got up. That soup looks so good.

Christina said...

I'm lovin the cold weather. I look forward to our summers being over before they even start.

We had taco soup and southern cornbread for supper on Friday night. It was delish and it is very filling.

Love your little home pillow and the little crossstitched saying is wonderful. Love the saying.

Here's to a cozy weekend. I'll be watching "Bleak House" while snuggling on the couch. Do you use netflix watch instantly? If so, have you seen BBC's North & South (civil war)

*Ulrike* said...

Oh my goodness! I was just at KMart today, but never went over to that aisle! You can bet I will, because I thought those bowls were so cute! Your pillows are sooo cute too. Our weather here is going to be quite cold too, predicting frost. I ran around gathering pots together and covering them up until I have the time to settle them in for winter. Oh so much to do, and this has been a crazy year.

Salmagundi said...

You always inspire me! I've always wanted a dehydrator - it looks like a great and easy way to preserve. Also, thanks for the heads up about the goodies at K-Mart. Just wish it wasn't a 45 mile drive, but I'll get there. Have a great week. Sally

Amy {The Red Chair Blog} said...

Your kitchen sounds so cozy! It's cold here in NC too.

Thanks for your sweet birthday wishes for my daughter.

Jennifer said...

We spent our cold autumn day freezing in the drizzle at a band competition! Your post was just the ticket to start warming me back up! :) Everything looks so delicious and warm, and your home is so welcoming. Autumn days are such the perfect time for doing the things you love indoors.

Happy Fall Manuela!

xo, Jennifer

Andrea @ Big Creek Cottage said...

Manuela...can I move in with you?

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Yum Taco Soup sounds wonderful. I might have to make that tomorrow. We are supposed to be getting a big storm coming in. And what a cute pillow. It is darling. I also am loving that polka dot plate you have hanging up. I am a sucker for anything with polka dots.

XOXO
Jen

Gabrielle Mader said...

that blackberry crisp sounds yummy,,what time should I be over? those bowls are cute too.

Angie said...

That soup looks so good! I am in love with those toile bowls and have got to get to Kmart this week to get me some!

LuLu said...

Your soup looks delicious... what a cozy weekend you had,
LuLu

Anonymous said...

new to your blog --- Soup is the BEST during really cold days.. Here in northern Utah is raining which I am sure will be snow come morning -- not ready for cold days... but always ready for soup .... I think I'll make some of that good old stand by chicken soup. Kristeen. The Gough Inn kandgough@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

new to your blog --- Soup is the BEST during really cold days.. Here in northern Utah is raining which I am sure will be snow come morning -- not ready for cold days... but always ready for soup .... I think I'll make some of that good old stand by chicken soup. Kristeen. The Gough Inn kandgough@gmail.com

Nancy said...

Blackberry Crisp - I'd love to have some. My sister and I used to pick blackberries in South Georgia from the fence rows after we shook the bushes with a stick to scare away the snakes. Then my aunt made us a blackberry cobbler. Delicious!

I had taco soup for the first time on my visit to San Diego this summer. Pretty good!

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

I just love your pillows and the other great finds, thanks for sharing this great post! Cindy

Jen @ Halo Headaches said...

I love your blog. This is my first time commenting, but I've been reading a while. Your posts are always so insightful and interesting, but also so warm. Your house just gives a feeling of warmth, even through a blog. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas.

Anonymous said...

I sure hope our K-Mart gets in the Country Living dishes soon. The housewares section looks very sad right about now. I loved the Martha Stewart light green pyrex selection they had for years. They used to even have the green glass glasses. Now it seems they only have a small amount of anything and nothing countryish. Around here there are so few places to buy housewares and pretties for our homes. Thankyou for the pictures of your home. I have gathered so many ideas from your blog. You sure some up with the best ideas! Unlike many shows and books, your ideas don't cost a fortune to do either ! :) Yes here it is turning cooler and it is back to stews and pies in the oven time too! Then again the next day might be very hot! :) Jody

Shilo said...

Mmm...we love Taco soup at our house too! :)
I love the double stacked plates! I don't think I would have thought of that! You always add just that extra little touch..I think that's why we love your style!
Hope you are having a great week!
Shilo

TheRoosterChick said...

Luv those dishes. Looks like I'm gonna have to make a trip to Kmart very soon. I've got a toile Country Living quilt that will mix in perfectly with them.

Brooke said...

Nothing says autumn like soup in the crock pot. Except maybe cozy, sweet pillows in the window.

Looks great! (Bet it smells great too!)

marmielu said...

What a nice post, Manuela. Sounds like your weather is just the opposite of ours this week. We were freezing up until yesterday, and now it's in the 70's! No AC yet, thank goodness.
Mary Lou

Nadine said...

Hello, I'm new to your blog, may I ask what colour paint is on your walls? It's such a cheery apple green colour! Do you by any chance remember the exact name and who it's by?

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

Nadine, you didn't give an email addy so I'll answer you here. The paint is Benjamin Moore and I think it's Pear Green but I'm not sure.

Manuela

Nadine said...

Hi Manuela! Thank you so much for answering my question. I will definitely have a look for it! Thanks again!

Lynn said...

I just wanted to pop in and say hi. I've been poking around your blog here and love it! You have such cute, charming touches throughout your home :) Thanks for sharing.

Lorrie said...

Hi Manuela,

You're the winner of the felted wool pillow - email me at lorrieorr at gmail.com with your address and I'll send it right off!

Lorrie