Moments of home, puppy, and good food this WINTER

 Winter calls us home.  Instead of opening our arms to the world, we pull and tuck everything in...towards us.  Intimacy is a breath away.   We draw down the shades, gather the blankets up to our chins, and hug hot drinks close to our souls.  We embrace the stillness for just a minute while nature sleeps.  The layer of cold causes us to create warmth within the walls of the place we each call home.

An "after holiday" family dinner at our home sweet home

My parents playing with yo yo's after dinner.  

Oh yes.

A peek-a-boo out our bedroom window

Our home adorned for the season

Winter is the perfect time to bring life inside!

And what is life without good food?  I am a five -senses girl!  I take it all in, especially the gift of taste.

Here is a sample of some of our wintery meals, from left to right: candied bacon brussel sprouts, creamy mushroom soup, one pot Mexican bake, black bean quinoa, roasted pears, veggie quesadillas.

 Girls' late night party snacks...

One pan Mexican quinoa

This mushroom garlic quinoa is SO GOOD, one of my favorites!

This winter salad sends ALL of the cozy winter scents into the air!  Cinnamon, oranges, cranberries.  Perfection.  In saucepan cook a bag of cranberries over med heat. Stir in a 1/3 cup orange juice, a zip or two of mountain dew if desired, and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Add orange zest, cinnamon stick, and some tangerines. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until flavors are combined. Enjoy!

My favorite chicken noodle soup 

with homemade honey wheat bread.

For all of your sick days.

And another Feel Better Remedy: Dissolve a white peppermint into boiling water. Stir in honey and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Stuffed butternut squash for a wintery dinner!  

All things fresh.

Wintertime dessert!  

Roasted pears with brown sugar sauce

White chicken chili soup

mine is a variation of this one

I prepare my chicken differently and change some seasonings...

Oh yes, we have a puppy!  Three boys need a dog and we finally found a solution for allergies.  Basil is the star of our home now.

Our winter pup

We store his giant bone in the BBQ grill.

I think he figured it out.

Weekend truck rides!

Many cozy moments...

knitting projects

devotionals 

baths of course

blankets, boys, board games

...and puppy.

His and hers hot drinks

date morning!

I hope you had a lot of 

"welcome home"

moments this winter!

Seasons are my favorite.

This is know. 

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This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, Nifty Thrifty,  Made by You Monday, Met Monday,  HOMEWORK: Be Inspired, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, Works for Me Wednesday, Organize and Decorate Everything, Transformation Thursday, Tablescape Thursday, Strut Your Stuff, 36th Ave, Foodie Friday, I'm Lovin It, Friday Flair, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up, Six Sisters Saturday