An hour’s delay at the airport, .. with reassurances from the wife of our pilot { who was also flying with us }, another hour { ? } circling over Lethbridge airspace, with plenty of time to consider the condition of the runway back home.. would it be as white as this rose? We had…
♥ Disclaimer: I should mention now that these poems and ramblings of mine are not always a reflection of recent occurrences in my life.. but words that arise from a feeling I “get” from the weather, the mood of the day, I guess, stray thoughts like a dog that wanders. Rest assured that I am…
With this weather languishing in bed with a good cup of something and a snack sounds perfect 
Great poetic post today. xx
You have some good looking children! Love the quinoa dish! And the pecan design of the potato dish is brilliant idea…
Deeply inspiring for autumn thinking, life, photography and eating.
Smidge, loved your poem, and love the Moroccan spiced winter squash & quinoa – and could the photo be any more warmly luscious? (Hint: NO!) And wouldn’t you know it? Even your Thanksgiving sweet potatoes are adorned with flowers! I’m so excited to read the news that Just a Smidgen has been named Calgary’s top blog…any day now! (It was what we all knew all along anyway, but occasionally good news doesn’t spread quickly enough.) Have missed you Smidge and am glad to be back in your sweet company!
Oh boy these recipes look so yummy. Thanks 
Smidge, there is always so much love in your posts and what fabulous photos of your boy and the yam/sweet potato dish sounds heavenly!
Mandy xo
You have such a wonderful way of presenting your dishes. Magnifique!
What wonderfully fall recipes you’ve given us Smidge; and that boy of yours is very photogenic indeed! I love the flavours you’ve combined in the Moroccan dish.
You had us fooled, we all thought you were lounging in bed all day, longing for that lost love
Your poem is stunning my friend and its so nice to spend some time with your son 
Love the recipes and as always everything
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
The photos of your son are just amazing! You can almost sense his personality through them. Just lovely. I hope if I keep practicing, I’ll be able to capture my kiddos just as well. Wonderful recipes. I love fall and winter foods. They are so comforting, warming and full of flavor. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I’m sorry I haven’t been popping in as much. We’ll be back soon and I’ll get caught up. I love your poem too Smidge – beautiful. I always leave your site feeling serene and smiling.
Your poem is very good but I am glad to hear that you are enjoying comfort food for breakfast and that your heart is not crushed. I love the way you have arranged the nuts into flower shapes on the sweet potato dish.
Loving your post – going to have to try out the sweet potato dish – YUM! Have a Beautiful Day:)
Thanks, Sue!
Ahhh.. no rest for the wicked. I’m working from home today:D
Haha.. thanks.. it’s all my genes (just kidding).. maybe the food they eat?? xx
Hahaha.. any day would be perfect, spree!! You’re home!! I’ve missed you.. and I know you’ll have some amazing stories and foodie stuff to share with us!! Gasp, maybe you already have, I’m on my way over to you!! Wait for meeee!
Thank you!
xx Thank you Mandy
Well.. thanks so much Susie!!
Hahahaha.. lounging, well that is non existent for me:D You??
Well.. I will sure let him know:D
Funny, photographing still life/food has made me a better people photographer:) Don’t worry.. catching up is done whenever, right? xx
Well.. it has been crushed, I admit, but in a very distant past
You too!!! I hope you have better weather than us!! More snow and rain here today!! Blech!!
How funny, I have a giant bag of squash that I forgot to cook at Thanksgiving and I was just wondering what the heck to do with it all! And those sweet potatoes sound delicious – definitely a step up from marshmallows on top
Not so much…
Your posts, Barb, aways contain such beautiful photos but none so much as when your subjects are your children. Well done, Barb.
And as if that wouldn’t be enough, you go and give us a bit o’ verse and, get this, 2 recipes! Slow down! I’ve a hard enough time getting out 1 post a week and here you are blogging 4 posts in 1! Worse yet, I enjoyed the verse and want to try both recipes.
I understand that blogging is not a competition but you sure do set the bar awfully high. Do you think you could slack off a bit? Maybe posting an entry with a few typos would be a good way to start.
Where did my reply go to? I might be repeating myself, but I did want to thank you for your beautifully written posts, Barb. They always put a warm smile on my face. Loving that quinoa recipe!
Oh wow, that quinoa recipe looks sooooooooo comforting right now. I’ll be needing some of THAT.
Smidge, I love your poem. It’s perfect for me right now. Is there a way for us just to print the poem, like the recipes? I’m sorry if that’s a dumb question :0
Thank you for the recipes and the fabulous photographs too. I’m shocked you have a 19 year old son….he’s such a handsome guy!
Hahaha.. you got your wish.. apparently I left out what to do with the squash in the recipe:D I’m so busy these days.. my blogging is down to maybe twice a week so I try to cram in the recipes or I’ll be so far behind! I’m off to read everyone’s blogs.. my nightly cuppa tea!! Thanks for your kind words, glad you liked my poetry:D
I’d like to say I started young.. but I didn’t:) I didn’t even think about the poems like that.. I’m going to format them, starting with this one and I’ll work my way back. Thanks so much Sarah for an excellent idea:D xx I hope you’re not languishing:) xx
I don’t think so? WordPress has been “acting up”. I updated some formatting errors on earlier posts and it sent them off to Facebook as though they were new. Everyone thought I was really cooking up a storm, lol! Thanks so much for your kind words:) xx
I LOVE that marshmallow recipe! My girlfriend in high school (Joy) used to make it and it was my all time fav! I hope you make some up for us so I can get that recipe:D xx
Your words did make me think of lost loves from a long time ago. So beautifully written and such evocative words, Smidge. And you son is like a GQ model. So lovely to see photos of him. I wonder if he would get along with my Archie. They look like they would be great mates. I love his jumper – so big and thick and heavy looking – we don’t have jumpers like that in Sydney as it just doesn’t get cold enough xx
The Moroccan dish looks so exotic and delicious, not to mention healthful. And I love the design of the pecans on the yam dish. Taking a little time to arrange the pecans in a pleasing pattern adds such pleasure to the plate! It was great to see the photo shoot of your son (handsome fellow). Hmm, wonder if I could persuade mine to do that? Probably some type of bribery would be required
Hope you don’t mind me jumping in here (I know WordPress wants us to respond to other people’s comments, but it somehow feels a bit rude to me, like I’m interrupting someone else’s conversation; at any rate, I may as well finish what I started
Wonderful post overall!
Well I have quietly and peacefully loved your verse and admired the photos of a very handsome young man . . . now to get busy, as that Moroccan quinoa dish is absolutely calling out to be made – and THAT I can do here !
What a handsome son! The Moroccan quinoa sounds fabulous, and of course it’s gorgeous as are all of your dishes!
I don’t think it’s rude at all.. it’s interesting and kind of like a conversation.. closest to “Messenger” on Facebook, lol! I love reading everyone’s blogs. Every day I get to read something new and it definitely influences how my day goes.. and the added bonus.. it almost always gives me ideas for supper:D Have a wonderful week!! xx
Trust me.. I think a video would have been more entertaining than the photos.. the eye-rolling, muttering and frowning that went on was hilarious (at least to me!). I am a strong believer in bribery or whatever it takes!! xx
Your poem as usual is very moving! Have a lovely day
From what I read of Archie.. they would be instant “Bros” (I think that’s what they call it these days!)! If I told him he had a jumper on I would have gotten into even more trouble.. jumpers in Canada are skirts with a little bib top
Thanks!xx
Thanks, Tandy!
I don’t know if this will work.. I’ve made the last two a jpeg.. you could click on the poem/photo and then print?? Let me know if that works:) xx Night!!
Great post Barbara! The poem, your son’s pictures, breakfast, quinoa and yams… I loved it and now I have 2 more fantastic recipes in my list. Thanks for sharing!
It’s always a pleasure reading your posts
This dish looks as cozy as that sweater:) so lovely and bright too x
WOW! What a great post, handsome young man, delicious foods, and beautiful poem… You are amazing dear, Thanks and Love, nia
You have shared so much in this post, Barbara. Lovely! Your poetry is so beautiful and really compliments the mood of the delicious recipes. I am particularly eager to try the quinoa and butternut squash! I love the spice combination! Your son is a photogenic as your daughter!
I hope you enjoy the squash dish.. it was yummy!!
Amazing photos as always Barb! Your son seems very natural in front of the camera — does this mean that no bribery was required? I’m tucking away the yam recipe as it looks like simple delicious fare for fall …which is just the kind I like. Btw, we’re you having troubles with your site last night? Tried to visit several times last night but the screen was blank.
Beautiful photos Barbara and the Quinoa stew looks divine, great dish for autumn
Beautiful – and varied – post! You really covered all the bases with this one…
Oh my goodness! These are just beautiful, Barb! They both printed fine here. Thank you so much for this, wow. They’re perfect!
Great!! I’m glad it worked:D xx
Oh, yum! You make that stew look and sound simply irresistible, Barbara!
I thought this cover photo of your son was from a magazine, what a handsome young man!! I love the sweater he has on. These recipes make me swoon for fall!!
What a good looking and thoughtful young man your son is. He looks like a deep thinker.
Love your recipes, waiting for things to slow down a bit so I can start working with my butternuts.
Smidge what a handsome boy you’ve grown there! I think it’s lovely to have photos like that to look back on. Being 19 (from vague memories) was a bit of an awesome age to be.
What a great round up of fall goodness! You are moving fluidly into people photos. Lovely subjects you have.
Barb, what a gorgeous boy you have! My Big Boy is nearly 20 – it’s such a wonderful time for them! May he have a happy and blessed adulthood! xx
And the same to yours!! It is a wonderful time!!
Beautiful poem. You have this beautiful way with your words, they are so mellow at times yet strong.
What is it with boys not wanting to be photographed?
Gorgeous recipe, gorgeous boy!! Both filled with love.
A little bit of everything wonderful in this post (especially those sweet potatoes…I love sweet potatoes )
With a huge grin, I watched people wander in and then gaze… gob-smacked… where to start… what to choose?
What a bake sale! Looks like a wedding. You really know how to do it right and then some!
I am sad I’m so far away and cannot make a purchase and unwrap it when I get home and enjoy it with a hot cup of tea. What a lovely soup photo too. Your blog is stellar, always.
Wow everything at the cake sale was so very prettily presented.
Thank you! It was pretty impressive! I’ll have to have some tags next year for mine. What talent there is in the baking world!!
Looks like tasty bake sale items and a delicious soup to match!
I know, eh? I thought I’d done enough but, my goodness, these bakers were amazing!
Thank you.. they were yummy, our family picked up and sampled several of the items:)
Looks absolutely fantastic. The baked goods look yummy and the packaging is done so beautifully!!!
Absolutely gorgeous bake sale! Everything looks so tempting
Brie and nutmeg, what a wonderful recipe!
What beautiful packaging and reading the labels just makes me want to try them all It all looks so smart and beautifully enticing.
Beautiful photos, Barb! Thanks SO MUCH for helping out and baking for the bake sale! It was a pleasure meeting you and I hope we can do more Calgary Food Blogger events soon!
You’re so welcome.. borrow them if you wish! It was a lot of fun working there, well, it wasn’t really work, was it:) It was a pleasure meeting you as well!!
Vincci did an unbelievable job with labels, and the bloggers packaged things up so pretty!
It’s a good every day warm soup, that’s for sure!
It sure was, I highly recommend doing this wherever you live!!
ooo the brie!! how can you take an already-heartwarming, lip-smackin’ soup over the top? You just did it! and by a mile, not by a smidge! Really wonderful seeing the sort of turnout you had and knowing where the “dough” is going! xo spree
Wow! Just look at all of the tasty treats! It was a wonderful idea and it sounds like the charity did well, too. A win-win, to be sure. Your soup sounds delicious, Smidge, just like all of the recipes you share. You really do spoil us, you know. Thank you!
OH MY I would love to find myself in front of a bake sale with such beautifully packaged choices !! that’s pretty amazing!!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment.
–B
Wow…what a display!! You don’t normally see so many creatively displayed treats at ordinary bake sales!! You just know this had to be from a group of foodie bloggers!! As always, your photos are so tempting and well done they make me want to sit right down and enjoy your food! Your soup sounds warming delicious!!
Delicious pictures!
I was hoping that I would get to meet you. I even played it in my brain what our conversation would be like! The pictures I took even feature your cookies, so we were in the same place at the same time!
The bake sale was clearly spectacular. Marvelous, marvelous, and I am drooling in an unseemly manner just looking at it all.
That soup! Oh, yes. A wonderful combination. You know, I appreciate bay leaves more every time I make a soup or roast with them. I believe I feel a bout of experimentation with them coming on . . .
They are all so beautifully presented, so much time and effort must have gone into not just the baking but the preparation. Fabulous!
and your soup, perfect for a chilly day, and I love the addition of brie
Oh… I wanted to meet you as well!! How did I not if we were both there?? Maybe I was surrounded by my family:) It was so much fun!! We have to do it again so we can meet!! Xo Barb
I’m so glad to hear it was a success. I don’t think I’d've known what to choose – it’s all so tempting!
How fun and your soup looks absolutely wonderful!!
What a great cause and that must have been a fun day out. I do love how beautifully everyone packaged their goodies. And to arrive home after a long but productive day and have a bowl of yummy soup waiting – that would be the perfect finish.
The goodies look delectable and the packaging is wonderful. I wish I lived closer!
They all look fantastic, absolutely fantastic. Perfect packaging.
Impossible to choose between them all. One of each?
spree.. how do you do that? I love your playful words today.. espec the “dough” metaphor.. Thanks so much xo Smidge
You’re welcome, John. I think this Bake Sale was such a great way to meet other bloggers without a “formal” event and to raise money was, indeed, a wonderful thing.. I felt so lucky to participate!
It was so much fun seeing what other food bloggers baked and brought in! You’re so welcome, Brianna, I really loved your blog post today!!
You’re so right! I was going to wrap them pretty casually then thought better of it.. thank goodness, because everything was so beautiful!
Oh, dear, I think drooling would have been overlooked, though? Who wouldn’t drool, I had to resist the urge to buy one of everything. And Bay Leave… I used to despise them.. and wondered why on earth my mom would put that in our stews. It was like the opposite of finding a foil wrapped coin in a birthday cake! Hahaha, clearly I’ve come a long way!
Beautiful! Wonderful!
Beauitful, Lovely, Delicious,…. admirable too.
This weekend I was talking about this “Calgary Food Blogger Bake Sale” with some of my friends… How made us all so excited and we all wished to be there! Really seems amazing. If I were there probably I would have bought all of them Thank you so much dear Barbara, I am so glad it was a wonderful day for you too. And also Thank you for the recipes too… Your photographs are beautiful again, especially the last ones… Fascinated me your composition.
Have a nice week, with my love, nia
I am so touched by this concept that I am going to try and get something here going!
I’m so glad it went well!!!!
It was so much fun bakig for the event though I clearly did not package my gooedies in the beautiful way the rest did. Cannot wait for the next event
I wish I’d been at that bake sale…everything looks so beautiful and no wonder it was a success! A delicious sounding butternut squash soup and one I’m going to try for sure.
How fun! The soup sounds amazing.
What a fun way to raise money for a cause and showcase the local talents! I’ll have to try your butternut squash soup as that’s simply perfect with the weather we have at the moment.
Everything is so beautifully presented!
Mandy
It was awesome, I think we made over $1,800 without any overhead costs:)
It was so much fun, I also wish I could have been there the whole weekend.. But there’s always next year!
Love it! Doing something you love and helping out a good cause while you’re at it. Perfect combination! ~Ruth
I don’t remember seeing anything that was pretty and yummy looking (and tasting.. oops, yes, I did buy quite a few!) It was fun and I would like to do tags for mine next year! Or soon, I hope!!
Look at all those pretty packages! But you didn’t give us your cookie recipe. Is that because you have already posted it somewhere, or is it coming soon?
I am already checking new recipes. I cannot eat it all by myself so Bake Sales are my kind of diet
Hi Barb! I wished I could have met you at the bake sale! Your cookies look terrific! I heard it was a bit of crowd right from the morning! Also, thanks for posting some pictures from the bake sale. By the time I got back there everything nearly sold out!
Beautiful blog….
[...] I didn’t get any pictures but a fellow food blogger, Barb from Just a Smidgen took some photos from the bake sale (doesn’t she have such an inspiring blog?). I went back to the bake sale later in the day [...]
Sounds like a success all the way around! Glad to hear it!
$1900.. not a bad haul for baking:)
Wow those home made goodies look almost too good to eat !
I’m so glad you took some pictures Barb. I brought my camera on Sunday, but by then everything was gone! It was so much fun taking part but I also wish I had put more effort into my packaging, my last minute thoughts consisted of “hey! Here’s some plates! Here’s some saran wrap! Done.”
I hope I get the pleasure of meeting you at the next event.
“8 + 5 is… 12… no, 13! Aaargh!” I love how this happens at the most inopportune times; it’s as though my mind has a little hiccup if it senses it is “under attack”. Oh, it doesn’t take much to rattle it. Just put me on the spot and ask me to introduce you to a…
WOW! What a name, I can’t pronounce I loved it dear Smidgen, seems, it should be tasted! Thank you, with my love, nia
Call it whatever you like. I look at it and say “YUM!”
Maths and I were never the best of friends either! I too love learning new words and kinda get ratty if I have gone a week without doing a crossword puzzle.
Double thumbs up on your Se-pulchritudinous acorn squash!
Have a super weekend.
Mandy
I saw your title in my reader and had to click immediately over to find out what it meant! Great word and great squash! (And math is not my friend either!)
This looks supercalifragilicisoutousedelisous. That is the biggest word I know and misspelled. I suck at math too, darn. Anyway, love that shot of the filling. YUM.
My brain does the very same hiccup as yours! And the feeling is SO like standing in front of the class, red-faced, dry-mouthed, trying to recall what you know you should know, and not long ago you DID! Love your writing and I want your squash!
What a fantabulicious word, “sepulchritude”! La Femme Fatale indeed. And the dish is oh-so-dishy that it truly deserves the moniker. I can smell and taste it with my eyes!
Seems it’s not terribly uncommon for super-creative persons to struggle with the seeming rigidity of basic mathematics. My personal suspicion is that part of the reason that gifted *musicians* often do well with math is that they intuit the higher forms of it earlier and more quickly and so pass through the structural strictures more readily. I can’t prove it, but it makes a math wuss like me feel better to believe it anyway! So wonderful that you chose to teach in order to help others overcome such things!
[Written to you from my personal sepulchre. Cheers!]
You gotta love a good new word. And I love how it then seems to crop up in many places and I just apparently hadn’t noticed it before! Though, I must admit, I can’t see “Sepulchritudinous” showing up too often! It’s a great word – thanks for sharing! And for the recipe, too – I am generaly not a fan of squash…but that sounds like something I might actually enjoy…and try! Hmm…the question is, am I brave enough?!!!
That’s a sad story about your schooling but here’s something sadder – I did all my grades, even repeated a grade so can’t claim any loss of education yet I still failed math! It’s just one of those ugly subjects. But your squash meal looks very delicious.
Haha, I don’t think I would either, it helped I’d heard it on the radio…
Well said:) Yum sums up a lot of the cooking I see on everyone’s blogs:) Particularly yours!
Thanks Mandy, I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well…
Hmmm, seems to be a pattern here. Perhaps creative people have focused their talent somewhere other than math:)
Hey, I was thinking of adding that word to my blog. I think everyone thought that word was just the best! Thanks so much!
You are soooo right! And we remember 5 minutes later after the conversation has long since passed us by:) Thanks!!
I knew I could count on you to make a connection:) Love the “La Femme Fatale”, that’s exactly right! I do think gifted musicians do well, the math question was posed by my music theory teacher… I think he must find me hopeless:) But I will not surrender!!
I had never heard it before which is why it stuck in my mind:) I’m sure you would love the filling if not the squash!
Oh my, I think you must have had less than stellar teachers then:) You are so talented in so many other ways… I love your blog!
My only-ever music theory teacher is my conductor husband and he lets me get away with spouting totally ignorant bilge because he’s such a silly sucker for me. So I promise I’ll NEVER offer you MT advice and info! But I’m proud of you for not surrendering, and I’ll ALWAYS be happy to cheer you on!!!
Word lover that I am, I don’t believe I’ve ever thought of combining words and cooking the way you do.
As for the 8 + 5 of your first sentence, you probably (judging from what you say about your arithmetical challenges) didn’t realize that 5 and 8 are consecutive Fibonacci numbers. And what, you may ask, are Fibonacci numbers? You can get an idea at:
http://www.maths.surrey.ac.uk/hosted-sites/R.Knott/Fibonacci/fibnat.html
Any math lover will tell you that the Fibonacci numbers are fun-damental.
I have never seen stuffed acorn squash look so incredible. Il ove the pomegranate along with all the lovely dried fruit – so unique! I’m having a ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ moment.
That said – LOL@ your Rudebarb, and we saw the ghosts in the povitica! Almost made me feel better about not getting the coily swirls
What a lovely pair you must make… music+art=love:)
Yes, that was a Rudebarb day, hope you’re feeling better, Lisa:)
Why, thanks for the awesome Fibonacciest of links:) My music theory instructor was the one who posed the dreaded math question when discussing white and black keys in an octave. AND… he is a Fibonacci fan as well. In fact he introduced me to that concept at my first lesson and now I understand why! So.. thanks!
Good for your music theory teacher! I wonder if he ever stopped to think that music is a tribute to the Muses, and that a museum is a place dedicated to them too? Amusing, isn’t it?
I’ll bet he has, but I hadn’t! Amusing and wonderful!
I love language in general, and have a fascination with words myself – as English is not my first language, I will refrain from trying to pronounce your cool word, but will have to find a way to see if my beloved husband knows its meaning.
I wonder if there’s a site where you can type a word and hear how it’s pronounced correctly?
by the way, awesome recipe, sepulchrr….. and allt
Various online dictionaries let you click to hear the pronunciation of a word, including:
http://www.macmillandictionary.com
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary
http://www.yourdictionary.com
http://www.wordsmyth.net
http://dictionary.reference.com/
Hahaha, my word expert (Steve above) has found a few site for you/us:) I pronunciation websites are a great idea!
This look super tasty – even is I don’t have a hope in hell in pronouncing it. Maybe I will just call is ‘acorn stuffed yummyness’.
Maths and I are not friends and haven’t been since I was about 11 years old. It all went down hill after that. Give me a lovely big word though any day.
Now sepulchritudinous definitely takes the word for the day.
AWESOME! Thanks so much!
Amazing what we can learn from food blogging….
Hahaha, too funny!
Well, at least I’m not alone in this:P Thanks!
I have now bought all of the ingredients…and I’ll let you know how it goes!
Ok, I made it! Had to change a few things as I couldn’t find pomegranate or asian chile sauce, and I didn’t realize I was out of white wine. So I used water, dried currants and skipped the chile sauce entirely. I LOVED it!!! It covers up the flavor of the squash!!!! Thanks for the recipe, and I myself will eat it and feel good about myself as I do so.
Have a great Sunday!!
Thanksgiving Dinner arrives today… and with it my prodigal hockey player. I can’t wait to hear the door slam followed by a boisterous hello and a hug… it’s been far too long. I think that as long as I continue to make turkeys, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pies my kids will never stray too far…
This looks delicious! Perfect on a Fall day.
What an interesting combination. This looks and sounds totally delicious! Thanks for sharing this deliciously warming bowl of soup
This looks great. Happy Thanksgiving!
It was delicious… thanks:)
Well, thanks! I still don’t understand why we can’t all share the same Thanksgiving?
Sounds delicious! I’m confused as well about why we aren’t synchronized on the Thanksgiving thing . . . oh, I should probably not get started on all of the inexplicables . . . but I wish you and yours a very happy and delectable Thanksgiving! With hugs, of course.
Yummy!! I love the addition of the apple….I bet it tastes delicious! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving dinner.
YUM again 
Thanks, Shira!
We sure did, thanks!!
Happy Thanksgiving! This is very interesting combination for me too, but seems delicious, Thank you, with my love, nia
I absolutely love Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday and I love preparing all the food. This looks wonderful and I hope your holiday was, too. Have a great week.
Thanks, Nia!
It will be fun to see the US Thanksgiving posts later on:)
mmmmmmm looks delicious… love the title too; Autumn Roasted Butternut Squash Pear Sou…fab! Your website is great- Ill check in often
This recipe looks wonderful. I love fall and this will definitely be a recipe for my comfort food’s for fall file! Can’t wait to try it!
by Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen
Welcome back and what a combo! Yummy and beautiful
Beautiful photographs, flowers and recipes but these snowy chairs fascinated me much more
Thank you dear, love, nia
Welcome back! The first photo took my breath away, seriously!
good to have you back, cocooning (what a beautiful word…) and giving us so much beauty!
Ahhh, at least you got to escape for a little bit Smidge! I hope you had a lovely time relaxing and soaking up some sun. Where did you go? Your pics looked so pretty. These recipes sound delicious too- I happen to love spaghetti squash (I stuff mine with sausage, spinach, tomato sauce & fresh mozz!) Enjoy your week
xx E
PS- Did you get the recipe I sent you?
Beautiful photos! The roses, of course, but also the snow. In its own way it really is a beautiful sight and for you, it’s home! Glad you traveled well and had a good time. Thank you for never neglecting to share some recipes. Hope you ease back into the rigors of home and don’t feel the need to jump into too much too quickly. Savor the remaining essence of time away.
Gorgeous roses! Can’t wait for spring.
Beautiful Post – loving your captures! I recently went to Hawaii and coming back to Winter still is a little cruel:( Hang in there – Happy Tuesday
Beautiful photos! What a yummy recipe
Welcome back! Those all look delicious.
Winter can be so beautiful (especially if viewed from afar, over a computer screen). My BF told me about Calgary’s latest blizzard; let’s just say she is so not amused. I think she would feel better, though, if she had any of your recipes to take her mind off the view outside the window!
Ah, the inescapable reality of Canadian winters… oh well, spring will come one day for us Smidge in the meantime, it sounds like you’ve had some wonderful escapes of your own…these dips look lovely. I’m really liking the idea of the shaved almond on the cheese dip – just enough to give a crunchy bite to each dip
. The spaghetti squash look so yummy and satisfying… perfect for snow weather indeed.
Flower pics are beautiful, Barb. Your back yard looks like my back yard, and it’ll be a long while before we see blossoms back there too. Going to have to try that cheese dip!
Paul
Happy landings, Smidge!
It’s probably not a welcome sight in your backyard but that snow looks magical to me from all the way down here in Australia! Thanks for sharing your friends’ dips. I especially like the sound of the cheesy dip.
those dips sound very tempting indeed
The images of your garden covered in snow are stunning. To me (from sunny Sydney) it looks beautiful. However, I can well imagine that by this time in the season you are very ready to see green grass and sit out at that little table and chairs enjoying a drink with the sun on your back. I hope Spring arrives swiftly xx
Gorgeous flowers and beautiful snow scenes. Those dips looks delicious and are so easy to make, must save for future. Have a spaghetti squash in storage waiting to be used.
I do remember that spaghetti squash! And now I remember I need to make it. Love your pictures as always Smidge!
Welcome back! What a beautiful post. Love the colours of flowers. The snow looks gorgeous.
And the food is incredible!
Welcome home
Or jump in an ocean to swim:)
It is magical *sigh, but not when I’m in an airplane;) xx
We do need to be patient in Canada, don’t we?
Haha.. that’s right, we are definitely “not amused”
Thanks!
I will!
I sure did! I can’t wait to try it.. right after my cleanse:P
Awwe, you’re my biggest photography fan, Sally:)
Welcome back Smidge, sending some warm Hong Kong breezes your way. I think that pesky little ground hound was wrong again. 3 great warm up dishes and looking forward to giving those a go.
That cheese dip looks amazing, it gives you a smile even with that cold weather
*You* stay warm, sweet Barbara! Our tiny splashes of snow are loooong since gone and the temperature is threatening to switch to full-on spring very soon. I send you virtual warmth in a cyber-hug or ten, as that’s all I can do unless I can tempt you to come and visit in toastier Texas. Meanwhile, it sounds like your friends have taught you very well how to warm from the inside!! Glad you’re safely home, even if it *is* a bit chilly.
xoxo
Ohh my gosh that guac and that spaghetti squash!! Welcome home to the snow, the photos are sure gorgeous, but I will pass on the snow at my house! Glad to hear you made it home safely!
You come back bearing such tasty gifts! A dip made with 2 cheeses and mayo, full fat no less! Pass the crackers, please. A tasty guacamole. You wouldn’t mind passing me some of those chips, too, please. Oh My Gorgonzola! It’s spaghetti squash. Don’t you dare touch my entrée! I’ll move to it, thank you very much!
As much as we all missed you, if we can expect gifts like these when you return home, may I suggest you start planning another trip? You should get away as soon as possible.
Isn’t winter grand….makes us appreciate all the more ‘spring’…Diane
All the recipes look delicous and worth the try! Thank you so much for sharing them! Maybe I’ll have to grow my own spaghetti squash since I can’t seem to find them here in Finland. We too have been making plans for the garden…but it will be a while…we are still in the heart of winter!
That’s insane snow! Weather’s just cranked up to 90F here in Singapore (up from our “cool” weather season of 85F haha
Those dips sure look cosy and warming in that cold !
That’s a full post! Fabulous flower pics, but I’m glad that you’ve got the snow and not us. I’m tired of cold:)
“the vivid color of friendships rediscovered” — ah, that warmed me all the way down to my toes today.
How cozy and wintry. I miss snow in my back yard.
Great photos, lovely colors Barb! I was looking for a guacamole recipe without fresh onions. This one seems like a winner. Thanks!
Such beautiful flowers and not one, but three great recipes. If it has cheese or avocado in it I’m automatically won over!
So glad you got to see friends and are home safely.
We’re done with snow round here and today was the first day this year I didnt have my scarf on in the office!
Cheese and flowers… I LOVE this post
. I love this dip and those flowers just remind me that spring is coming 
. Now all I have to do is get throught this snow storm today
Oh my, that is a lot of snow. We are expecting double digit temperatures on the weekend, I can hardly wait to open the windows and not have to wear boots! Spring really can’t come soon enough for me, Barbara. The flowers are simply gorgeous. I’m loving that first dip recipe, sounds like a keeper for sure!
I’m so ready for spring even though your photos are beautiful. I’m ready to walk my dogs without being bundled up like a cocoon.
What perfect recipes though for a cold winters day. Anything with cheese I love but the squash especially looks delicious!
That all looks so warming and delicious – welcome home, Smidge! xx
Your eyes feasted on some lovely color Smidge (!!) and you were kind enough to bring some home to share with us winter-weary boot-clad friends. Winter’s nearly done (or perhaps it’s just us nearly done with winter) but in any case, these little escapes go such a long ways towards getting us through! Welcome home friend! So glad you got away! Won’t be long before you’re filling those pots with color of your own! xx
Your posts are so densely packed with info, images, and beauty. I would make 6 posts out of your 1. You have crazy talent
Our “Snowquester” was nothing compared to what you came home to. Can’t wait for spring, fresh veggies and berries, and cute sundresses though
The beauty of your words and your lovely pictures have warmed my heart and soul, my lovely friend. Thank you.
Now that is what I call a spaghetti squash. Love that image!
I just love the chairs with the snow on them, their black outlines against the snow. Picture perfect. Lovely to have you back x
That wreath is fantastic. Thanks for helping us celebrate the hopeful onset of Spring with style, Barbara.
Must have missed the post – new blog looking so good – but I wouldn’t expect anything else from.
Sorry, to read that you have been stranded on an airport.
Your flowers photos are so beautiful .. delicate! Love the yellow/orange poppy.
Like the idea about spaghetti squash – have to have a closer look.
Hope you’re safe back home, by now.