Snow Days (via Instagram)

It's not even officially winter yet.  And yet the snow day count has risen to four.

You know how I feel about snow days.

Love.

But wow.  Four already?!  (Good-bye summer.)

Anyway, I make good use of my time off.

I take way too many pictures of Gizmo in order to capture the perfect one.......

It was his first snow!  And he loves it.

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I bake......

And eat.

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I build fires.........

The first one of the season needs to be documented.  Especially when the tree is up and school closings are scrolling across the bottom of the t.v.

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I huddle in front of the fire with my pups.........

They love it too.

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And I take time to watch the snow fall.....

It really is magical this time of year.

Now to begin snow day number four........

Cookies, cleaning, and reading await.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday, Friday Favorites, and Insta-Friday.

White Chicken Chili

Southwest Missouri was hit with some winter weather this last week.  And I got my first snow day of the school year!  Yippppeeeee!!!!

There's something about a snow day that makes me want to cook.  Specifically, warm comfort food. Like soup!

A favorite around here is white chicken chili.

I first tried this at a school food day and begged for the recipe.  It's been on rotation at home ever since.

WHITE CHICKEN CHILI
(via Andrea Prevo and her old Methodist Cookbook)

2 1/2 cups of cooked, shredded chicken

2 (15 oz.) cans of Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained

1 (14 oz.) can of chicken broth

2 (4 oz.) cans of chopped green chilies

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 cup of sour cream

1/2 cups of whipping cream

shredded cheese

tortilla chips

In a large pot, add shredded chicken, beans (drained and rinsed), broth, green chilies and seasonings.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes.  Stir in sour cream and whipping cream until well blended.  Simmer for about five more minutes, stirring often.  Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, and serve with a side of tortilla chips!  Makes about 6 servings  (depending on serving size).

*I've even frozen the soup before........it's thaws perfectly!!!

*I've adapted this recipe from the original just a tad.  See the original HERE (in a photo).

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Perfect for those cold winter nights.

And speaking of cold winter nights, I'm looking at my second snow day tomorrow!!!!!

I feel some baking come on......

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Linking up with:   The Chicken Chick and....

Christmas on the Porch

A few weeks ago, I purchased some vintage ice skates.

(They happened to be my size.  But they wouldn't be for skating.)

That same weekend, my mother in law gave me a sled that belonged to the mister's grandparents.  A sled he'd spent plenty of time on back in the day.

(But it would no longer be for sledding.)

I had plans for these two things.  Front porch plans.........

After a trip to a local nursery for the berry bush, a stop at Ace Hardware for the rosemary, and some fun finds at Dollar General for the ribbon and bells, I was able to get my craftiness on.

I won't tell you how long it took me to position the skates and tie the perfect bow.

And it's a good thing I hoard.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have two matching crocks to put the plants in.