HOME

"Dear God,
Protect our going out and coming in;
Let us share the hospitality of this home with all who visit us, that those who enter here may know Your love and peace." ~ Author Unknown


Hello dear friends and welcome to my HOME~

Hope your week is going well. I have had such a busy week so far and I was concerned I wasn't going to get my post up in time. To be honest, I wasn't even sure what I was going to share this week.
You see, Monday I had company and yesterday, appointments, so my time has been very limited. But I did find something to share which I hope you will enjoy.

Before I get to my own share today, I would like to feature the most viewed post from last week's party as well as the three posts which caught my eye.

Diane @ Cozy Canadian Cottage had the most views on her post about Abandoned houses. Once majestic homes now stand just waiting for some tender loving care. One's imagination is ignited by ideas when you take a peek into their once splendid interiors.  Can't you just imagine this room brought back to its original spendor?





This post caught my eye when Linda @ More Fun less Laundry shared a winter white setting in front of a beautiful window filled with sparkly snowflakes. Her table is set with white flowers and beautiful china. It really is gorgeous! Beauty and whimsy together is just my cup of tea.


 

Penny @ Penny's Vintage Home has been doing some decorating with white paint. Her lovely mirror and cabinets which house her collection of milk glass have received a wonderful new facelift and they look stunning!

And Jeannie @ The French Hen's Nest shared her wonderful doll house which she has painted and filled with darling pieces of miniature furniture. This is every little girl's dream and I, for one, could move right in!



Thank you friends for all your wonderful posts last week and I look forward to what all of you will have to share with us this week.


When it's cold outside, I often crave a spicy Chili and so today I thought I would share my Chili recipe. This recipe is of my own making and I usually add the ingredients from out of my head rather than follow a recipe. I have done my best to print out the ingredients for you.

Chili

Brown 1 lb lean ground beef and drain off fat. Add 1 chopped onion, 1/2 cup chopped green pepper, 1 T. minced garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. {I usually leave out the salt}

Add 1 medium or large can of red kidney beans
1 large -28 oz. can of Hunts Tomato sauce
1 large -28 oz. can of diced tomatoes
1 can of drained mushrooms or you may use 1 cup of fresh mushrooms.
Cook until onion, peppers, and if you're using fresh mushrooms, are tender. You can cook this on top of the stove or in the microwave for ten minutes. I usually do mine in the microwave.

Then add a sprinkle of chili peppers to taste
1 bay leaf
1 T. chili powder
1/2 T. oregano
Continue cooking on top of stove at low to medium heat for about forty-five minutes. If you cook it in the microwave like I do, cook for about twenty minutes and stir every few minutes.

As you can see by the collage, I have served it three different ways.




I serve it poured over rice with a tossed salad and garlic bread on the side, which is the way my hubby likes it.
I also serve it in a bowl with shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream on top. And once in a while I add 1 cup of cooked macaroni to it and sprinkle cheese on top.

If I have some leftovers, I often heat it up and serve it with nachos and sour cream. Enjoy! My kids love my Chili! Hope you do too!


Thank you for coming to my HOME today and I hope you have enjoyed your visit. If you have something HOME related please link up below and I will come and visit you. Enjoy your day everyone.



As a courtesy, please link back to me so that your visitors may find their way here to visit with all my lovely participants.

I am joining the following parties as well~

Home and Garden Thursday
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Cottage Style Linky Party~ http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/
Tutorials Tips and Tidbits ~ http://www.stonegableblog.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Open House~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/



Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Tea Time Tuesday

"To my way of thinking,
there is not a more perfect day
for tea with a friend
than when it is cold
and rainy on the outside
and there is a hot, blazing
fire on the inside." ~ Teatime Anytime ~
A book collection From The Clever Factory

Welcome to another tea time, ladies~

I am so happy with the nice turn-out we had last week! You are all so sweet and really made my Tea Time Tuesday celebration a huge success. Some of you really went out of your way to make it special and I appreciate you all so very much. You shared special quotes about friendship, baked special treats, and shared special  pieces of china that you knew I would love. Thank you!

Before I serve our tea today, I want to share a photo from a post last week as it was created just for me. It was a little out of the ordinary and in celebration of Tea Time Tuesday's 3rd Birthday.

Isn't this pretty? I'm sure you will all agree! Thank you Johanna @  Silber-Rosen for creating this gorgeous china rose just for the occasion. If any of you missed her post then please do stop by and visit her.  

"Where there is tea, there is love.
Where there is tea, there is hospital-i-tea." ~ Unknown


We are in the dead of winter now and we have been having a  stretch of very cold weather. Jack Frost has etched his way upon  the window panes but inside, I have the fire burning so it's nice and cozy.

In the grocery stores, I am happy to find perky tulips. They lend a touch of springtime to any room. So, today I have set my tea on the table near the fireplace with some creamy white tulips and a simple tea. Why not curl up on the sofa and I will pour you a nice cuppa tea.

A pretty white teapot is wearing a garland of flowers....

"Usefulness is not impaired by imperfection. You can drink from a chipped cup." Greta Nagel


A beautiful Colclough teacup made in England. Some of the gold has been worn from the handle. Someone obviously enjoyed sipping tea from her. I wonder what parties she has been to!

Filled with Lady Grey tea, she sits ....

.....with her companion, a Windsor teacup to pick up on the romantic feel.

Both teacups are a soft pink with white and lots of gilding. I love both of these sets but I really enjoy seeing the rose in the bottom of the Windsor cup. It's something pretty to look at while sipping my  tea. I think both teacups are romantic dressed in their pink and white and gold.

Hubby and I had friends in for tea and I had made some tasty mincemeat tarts.  Would you like to try one? So good!

Speaking of romance, Valentines Day is coming up and I am going to be hosting a Valentines Tea to celebrate it. It is only two weeks away so on February 11th, please join me for another special tea. I find this time of year I am inside more and a themed tea is fun to look forward to.
This year, I thought I would have a Tea of Hearts, or shades of pink or red. 
What do you think? Would you like to join me for a Valentines Tea? If you cannot do hearts, pink or red, then just share what you love. I will be happy to just have your company!

I am always delighted when you stop by. If you have something tea related or coffee in a pretty mug, please link up below. Have a beautiful day everyone.

"How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand."~ Psalms139: 17-18


I am joining the following parties as well~

Heart and Home ~ http://angelwingsandapronstrings.blogspot.com/
A Return to Loveliness ~ http://adelightsomelife.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday ~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Tuesday Cuppa Tea~ http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/
Friends Sharing Tea ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Cottage Style Linky Party~ http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/



Sharing from my heart~ Sandi