DIY Soup Board Centerpiece

I love changing my centerpieces with the seasons but now that the holidays are over it's always a challenge. It's easy to be creative when fall rolls around and I really enjoy adding Thanksgiving and Christmas touches...but what to do in the middle of winter?

Wintery Centerpiece with Easy Sweater Snowballs

We have not had very much snow here in the South this winter so I have decided to add it myself…in the form of sweater snowballs! They add a wintery…but still cozy…touch to my grandmother’s dough bowl. And…they were easy and inexpensive to make!

Pottery Barn Inspired No-Sew Bougainvillea Pillow

Spring is here and it’s time for our no-sew group to share our projects for April! Sooo…in honor of all the pretty weather we have been having here in Georgia, I have created a pillow! Are you surprised? ;-) And once again, I took my inspiration from one of my favorite sources to create this springy bougainvillea motif!

Snowed In: Day Three and Counting...

We have had the snow storm of the decade here in the South…and we are still digging out! I am not going anywhere…nor will I until maybe Saturday! The streets are a solid sheet of ice and nothing is melting! And with temperatures in the teens, that’s not snow anymore…it’s mounds of ice! Sooo…what are we doing?

Here at the Plate Addicts, we are staying warm and cozy by the fire…

…and burning our favorite wintry scented candles! I love this Bath and Body Works scent and can’t put it away, even though it is a little Christmasy! I decided that the snowman salt and pepper shakers could stay out, too…in honor of the snow storm!

And I have been cooking up a storm myself! This is one of my favorite old Weight Watcher recipes for a different spin on chicken pot pie. The recipe is at the end of this post. On the agenda for today…clean and organize! And I have a confession…Christmas has not left the guest room! I have been busy with my grandchildren...so today, I am putting it all away!

I love being warm and cozy inside and the snow is beautiful…for now. But I have a feeling that by Saturday…

…it’s going to feel like a scene out of Groundhog Day! Yikes!

Here's the recipe I promised to share!

Click here for a printable recipe
Weight Watchers ~ Chicken, Cheese and Biscuits
from Confessions of a Plate Addict
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon margarine
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon powdered mustard
¼ teaspoon rubbed sage
1 ½ cups skim milk
1 packet of instant chicken broth (or 1 teaspoon granulated chicken bouillon)
Dash white pepper (I just use black), or to taste
4 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded
8 ounces of skinned and boned cooked chicken, diced
1 cup each of sliced carrots, stemmed sliced mushrooms, and broccoli florets
(The veggies should be cooked ahead.  Sometimes I use green beans or cauliflower instead of broccoli.)
½ cup chopped onion
4 ready-to-bake buttermilk flaky biscuits
( I use the small can of Grands buttermilk and have one biscuit left over.)
Directions:
In a 3 quart saucepan, heat margarine until melted. Sauté the onions and mushrooms in the margarine. Add flour, mustard, and sage and stir. Add milk, stirring constantly. Cook until smooth. Add broth mix and pepper and reduce to low heat and cook until thick…5 or 10 minutes. Add cheese and stir until melted. Add the veggies and chicken and cook until heated through…3 to 5 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 1 ½ quart casserole with non-stick cooking spray and pour chicken mixture into casserole. Carefully separate each biscuit into two layers of dough, making 8 circles: arrange biscuits over chicken mixture in an even layer, overlapping slightly. Bake until biscuits are golden, 7 to 10 minutes.
Makes 4 servings.
This is the old WW, so I only have exchanges, not points. Each serving has 428 calories and counts as 3 protein, 1 bread, 1 ½ veggies, 1 fat, ¼ milk and 35 calories Optional Exchange.
Enjoy!
from Confessions of a Plate Addict
http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com
Click here for a printable recipe

I am joining our own Michael Lee West at Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday! Head on over too see what everyone has cooking!
Thanks so much for dropping by! See you next time! A la prochaine!

My Winter Porch...and...Preparing for Snow!

I am so excited to show you my new winter wreath…a fabulous Goodwill find for only…$5.00! Woo hoo! Can you believe someone gave this beauty away? All the better for me!

It is chock full of wonderful fruit and berries…love that apple slice!

All I had to do was add a burlap ribbon!

And, of course, I had to redo my lanterns to match! I love them! I have been able to keep them on my porch year ‘round by simply changing what I put inside of them! This time, it’s very simple…pinecones and candles tied with raffia…

…sitting on a bed of whole almonds…on sale at Publix for $2.69 for two pounds!...topped with a jaunty burlap scarf!

Here is a look at the completed porch. I like the simple winter starkness…but then I am a winter person.

I love the way everything is so structural…almost architectural…this time of year! The air is so crisp and clean and the sky is so very blue and clear…

…and the trees can now show us the secrets they have been keeping! But I can’t linger outside too long! A big winter storm is heading our way!

We are expecting five inches of snow followed by sleet and ice! Yikes! Like every good Southerner, I have to prepare. I have already been to the grocery store and bought my obligatory bread and milk…and I don’t even like milk! lol I have a stash of new flashlights and plenty of firewood in case we lose power. And my favorite thing…some fun catalogs to check out and my new guide to Paris to read…I’m planning a trip this summer with my 10 year old grandson!

Sooo…bring on the snow! We are ready! All we have to do now is wait!

Update! We actually had 6 or 7 inches! Woo hoo! Sooo…please allow me to show you my porch again…this time complete with snow! Now that’s what I call a winter porch!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my porch!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Before and After Party on Wednesdays
Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Linda at A la Carte for Junkin' Finds on Fridays
Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!

Our First Christmas Snow!

It finally happened! It started last night and continued into the morning…wonderful, wet flakes of snow! And, as I told you in my last post, it was my first white Christmas ever!

The ice crystals hang like diamond drop earrings from my little Japanese maple…

…and the snow has clustered inside the leaves of the holly, making it look like a snowy rose waiting to bloom!

It’s a wonderful winter wonderland in our little neighborhood…the best kind of metamorphosis!

There will be no lunch on the patio or time on the swing set with the grandchildren today! They are at home, not too far away, enjoying their own first white Christmas!

Of course, the staff each took a turn to check out the snow…

…and opted to stay inside and play by the fire…

…which is where you will find me all day today...enjoying a little quiet time after a very busy week! Won’t you join us for a cappuccino? Now, where’s that Sunday paper? Hope you are enjoying your day!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed seeing our first White Christmas!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday...Anything Goes!
Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday


See you next time! A la prochaine!

My First White Christmas...Ever!

Woo hoo! History is being made tonight! We are having our first white Christmas here in the Atlanta area in 128 years...which, of course, means it's my first white Christmas ever! It started snowing...big, wet snowflakes...just before dark, so this is all I have to show you so far! I can't wait to wake up in the morning and see it! Yes, I know all of you folks up North are not much impressed, but please indulge us Southerners as we enjoy a little taste of what it must be like for you!

I hope you have had a wonderful day...I know I have! I have relished every second of it! I have played with each and every toy with my sweet grandchildren and eaten waaaay too much, so this is just the icing on an already fabulous cake! I'll keep you posted...but in the meantime...
♫ ♪ Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! ♪♫

The Staff Gets Snowed In...Again!

Isabella woke up this morning and peered out the window…Hey, guys…it’s snowing again! That makes four times this winter! Now what are we going to do all day?


Baby Kitty had to see for himself.  Well…we can always watch the birds…except…


…that there aren’t any!  Rats! Hey…wait a minute!


There’s one…sitting on her nest! Oh…wait…that’s just more snow! A snow bird...lol! 


Our CEO Ozzie decided to spend the day cleaning out the file cabinet. Might as well get something done!


Kitty, however, spent the day dreaming about spring…


…and the pot of catnip on the patio! Ahhhh! And so did I…well, except for the part about the catnip.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please join our hostess with the mostest, Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday where I am hoping to get a few glimpses of spring! See you next time! A la prochaine!

A Snow Day...and...A Valentine Wish

Woo hoo! It’s snowing here in Georgia! And it’s looking like we may have around 4 inches here at the Plate Addicts…unbelievable! I opened the back door to take a few pictures and the staff went out one at a time to check it out. Needless to say, no one chose to stay out very long! lol

Here’s a peek at the view from my house! This might not look like much to you folks up North, but this is huge for us in the South!

Isn’t it beautiful? I love the way it collects on the tree branches! And it’s not through snowing yet! Only one problem…my grandson is due any day now! Yikes! Let’s hope he doesn’t decide to arrive tonight!

I also want to wish a Happy Valentines Day to each and every one of you! I hope you have plans for a nice dinner with a handsome fellow!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend! See you next time! A la prochaine!

Metamorphosis Monday...We Have Snow!

Welcome to another Metamorphosis Monday with our hostess with the mostest...Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. Be sure to drop by her blog to see many wonderful before and after posts including her beautiful home!

This is a before and after that I can't take a lot of credit for! Well...maybe the before! This is my patio and backyard as it looks in the summer. That's my grandson's flower garden in the pots in the corner of the patio. He chooses the flowers and takes care of them when he's at my house. I added the tumbled pavers to edge the patio. It's my favorite place to drink my morning coffee in the summer...but...

...this is my patio after we had SNOW today!! OK...I know you snow bunnies are all laughing, but this is a big deal down here in Georgia!!! And this is a LOT of snow for us! It has snowed since late this morning...snowflakes as big as quarters...sometimes half dollars...if you remember those! lol And it has snowed all day long!

Doesn't my birdfeeder look pretty in the snow? Yes, I do see that it is is almost empty. Don't worry...after I took the photo, I filled it up and some cardinals came by immediately! Here are a few more photos...

The Georgia bloggers and friends luncheon is still on. I'm about an hour away and it seems that the snow is not so heavy there. Let's all hope I can get there!! I don't want to miss it so I may have to hire a horse and sleigh! lol I just had to share this. My fellow Southerners will understand! Don't forget to drop by Susan's to see some real before and after projects!!