More Snow

The Upstate of South Carolina got more snow that started early Monday morning. When it was all over Greenville got between 7 to 8 inches and maybe more in certain areas. I had to leave for work around 5.00AM and the snow was still coming down--it was so pretty to see. Husband thought I was crazy taking pictures outside so early in the morning!

I can never remember getting snow within weeks apart(Greenville had a White Christmas). To tell you the truth, I do hope this is the end for the snow. Yes, it is nice to have snow but when you have to go to work early in the morning it can become a problem-the roads and walking in the slippery stuff is no fun for me. I am looking forward to Spring and Summer!

Have a great week-end!

Best
Tracy :)



Taken from my front porch



Another front porch picture

Let it snow!





Husband's truck



Taken at work and as you can see we got a lot more
snow than we did on Christmas Day(see post from
28 of December)



Wordless Wednesday

Ribollita

To warm you up on a cold winter's day--this is the soup for you.

 Let me share some of the history on this great soup.

Ribollita is a Tuscan Soup which means "reboiled"
The origins are peasant and is made from leftovers(bread and vegetables) from the previous day.
I have also read, if you let the soup soak in the flavors over night-it will be much better the next day.

Information is taken from Wikipedia.


Ingredients: 4 Celery Stalks
                  1 Large Onion
                  1Medium Potato
                  2 Large Garlic Cloves --I used more-love garlic
                  Diced Tomatoes (14 oz) --I use Pomi Chopped Tomatoes
                  White Beans (14 oz)--I used two cans of cannellini beans
                  Worcestershire Sauce
                  3 Cups Of Water
                  2 Chicken Bouillon Cubes --Chicken Stock is good to use--bouillon cubes
                  are to salty for me
                  A Few Drops Tabasco
                  4Tbsp Of Oil
                  Bread
                  Parsley
                  Pepper/Salt

Peel, chop and slice your carrots. Grate the garlic, but reserve 1/2 a grated clove. Dice the onions. Peel, wash and cube the potato. Rinse the white beans.
Heat 2 tbsp oil and cook the vegetables for 5 minutes. Add the potato cubes. Pour in 3 cups of water, the diced tomatoes and season with tabasco, worcestershire sauce and two crumbled up chicken bouillon cubes.

Mix it up, bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.

Mix the remaining garlic with 2 tbsp oil, pepper,salt and dried parsley.

Slice the bread, brush the garlic oil on top and grill the bread until crispy. Chop a handful of parsley. Add the white beans to the soup and half the parsley and season the soup with pepper/salt. Simmer the soup for 10 more minutes. Stir in the remaining parsley and place one bread slice in the bowl and serve the rest on the side.

Enjoy!                Recipe taken from kayotickitchen.com

Tracy :)  

Ribollita

                                  
                                                           

                         

Looking Forward to A Great Year

I do not believe in resolutions, but I have made some promises to myself for this coming year. My family and I have been blessed so much and I feel it is time to give back--so this year my daughter has asked if she could go to a soup kitchen and help out. It is so hard to understand hunger in America and for it to be in your community has been a shock for my daughter. At her young age she understand children are eating one meal a day and going to bed hungry.

My weight loss is going great--40 pounds(the last forty are the hardest to lose--why??) to go and this coming 19 April will be my one year anniversary. I am hoping, I will find out more about plastic surgery at this Dr's appointment!  My life has changed so much and I am still learning how to accept complements and letting go of my oversize clothes. I feel, I need the big clothes for protection--I did throw away an old gown and had tears in my eyes--I felt like, I was throwing myself away.

I am walking more and even on my breaks at work, I will go out and walk around the hospital. I love to walk, because it's my think time and I am a person who does a lot of thinking. One thing I do truly look forward to this year is taking my daughter on a trip--"the mom and daughter trip."  We have been talking about this for almost one year and seeing her on an airplane for the first time will be a joy.

I do hope your New Year will be one that brings you much joy and remember "everyone has a story and feelings."

 I leave you with a thought that has left me thinking: "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
     J.K. Rowling

Best
Tracy:)

  
                                                                                                                

Hope






       

 

                                                         

New Year 2011

  I wish everyone a blessed and happy Near Year.
    May all your dreams and wishes come true!

Best
Tracy :)

                                          

        

The Map Monster

The newest member of my family has arrived and it is the map monster. He came all the way from Denmark and I think he is the cutest thing! I love the heart on the front and the bottom is sooo cute(look at that heart).

I read a great blog called moments of perfect clarity and Julie shares her creativity in so many ways. She loves to paint, knit, sew, did an art journal last year and her creativity also comes out in her cooking. Julie also shares a cooking blog with Beth and yes-I have tried some of the recipes and they are wonderful!

I consider, Julie a friend--and I believe you can have friends without meeting them face to face. I have made friends all over the world and have learned so much from different blogs, that's why I love to blog! Julie did a post on this and I agree with her.  One of my dreams is to attend blog camp, Julie has the camp at her home or it has been in other parts of Europe (England and Berlin).

Now, back to the Map Monster--daughter and I are thinking of names and cannot come up with one. He is a male that has done more traveling than myself and has been through heck with the postal service-- he had to go through having an x-ray (it was marked on the envelope). If you would like to help with the naming of this special monster, please leave me a comment or e-mail me and I will share your thoughts on a future post.

Have the day of your choice!
Tracy :)

Map Monster

Cute Bottom

White Christmas

The last time the Upstate of South Carolina had a White Christmas was in 1963(I always  knew that was a good year :).  We always get the nasty ice, but this winter wonderland was beautiful snow. I left for work Sunday morning and the snow was still coming down, but around 12.00 it all came to an end. I hope the next White Christmas will not wait another 47 years!

Have the week of your choice.

Best

Tracy :)

The Start

The End

Snow Tree

Ice Cicles

Daughter's Foot Print

Walk Way At Work

Snow Boy And Snow Girl

Looking Out My Window At Work