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.

Lately.....

What I've been up to:

Craftiness........

Bleaching bottle brush trees really does work!  Ivory trees are so much prettier!

Now I need to decide if I'll dye them or add small bulbs.

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The booth.......

I added that fun vintage cardigan this week.  And put both booths on sale!

Local friends, stop by Relics for 10% off both spaces!  Cute vintage sweaters included!!!

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Hanging with my family..........

I like those people.

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Saying good-bye....

I visited my Grampy's house one last time before it sells.

Moving on is tough.  So many memories took place between those walls.  In those fields.

And I'm sentimental to a fault.

Letting go doesn't really help to put closure on losing someone so precious.

Or maybe it will.

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Cheering myself up........

 

elbow patch sweater  // jacket

With online shopping.

I've been longing for an elbow patch sweater.  And I couldn't resist the online Gap sale.

Then there's that jacket.  Those sleeves.

And there was no standing in line, freezing to death, or tackling involved.

That's my kinda Black Friday.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

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

Recently....

You might have been able to find me:

Purchasing vintage ice skates.........

Because there's this pin I want to recreate.

Which also requires a sled.

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Decorating for Christmas........

Only a little though.  The tree doesn't even have ornaments yet.

Swear.

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Getting a free sled......

From my mother-in-law!

The mister slid down hills on this baby when he was a youngster.

#sentimental

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Shooing Gizmo from the laundry room.....

So naughty.

But that face.

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Surprised by the contents of this desk.........

Week old grapes.

"Being saved for a snack."

More like......fermenting.

Only one blue folder didn't make it out alive.

And then everybody cleaned out their desks.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

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

 

For the love of scarves...

Etsy love round two!!!!

Last week I showcased two beautiful infinity scarves from Ooh Baby Designs.

This week I'm back at it with two more!

Scarf one.........a neutral plaid........

I love black and brown together. 

This tan scarf had a little black line running through it so I couldn't resist pairing it with ivory skinnies and a black top..........and my favorite boots ever.

But I did promise to prove that I had other shoes to wear last week.

So on to scarf two (and new boots).......

This flannel scarf was screaming to be paired with a sweater.  And since I was volunteering at Relics Christmas Open House, I figured I should dress the part.  I was able to wrap this scarf three times for a closer fit, which was very cozy......

A little plaid flannel with reindeer?  I think yes.

Too soon??

As in, too soon for all of the Christmas things?

Like my tree that I dug out of storage today?

Well....

If it's wrong I don't want to be right.

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*A huge thank you to Sarah Carter Photography for capturing these images!  She started out as my wedding photographer........and is now one of my best buds.  Her work is outstanding.  And she's just a neat gal. 

*Another huge thanks goes to Ooh Baby Designs for sending these gorgeous scarves to style this and last week!  Treat yourself to one of her scarves!  Her prices are great......as is the quality of her work!

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Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, 
 Rolled up Pretty, Two Thirty-Five Designs and

Plaid Infinity Scarves (Etsy love)

Once upon a time, there was a girl and an Etsy shop.  The Etsy shop, Ooh Baby Designs, was home to beautiful infinity scarves at great prices.  The girl bought a scarf and was very happy. 

Then a magical thing happened.  The girl won another scarf from that shop in a giveaway!  She was beside herself with excitement.

But the excitement grew even bigger when she saw the shop was starting a new line.

A line of plaid infinity scarves in many different colors.  The best new fall trend.

The shop sent her a few to style.....

The first scarf was a great traditional plaid. 

She loved it.  The quality was excellent.

The next scarf was amazing for a different reason.  It was flannel!!!!

 
It was soft and cozy on that chilly fall day.

She knew the scarves would be perfect for the coming winter months and she couldn't wait to style the other scarves she'd been sent.
 
She also knew that speaking in third person was plain weird.  So she decided to style the other scarves in a future post.

Where she'd try to branch out and prove she had more than just her favorite riding boots to wear.   

Annnd where she would not speak in third person.

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, 
 Rolled up Pretty, Two Thirty-Five Designs and

 

Thrifting Frenzy

Things I couldn't leave the thrift without......

Turquoise Shiny Brites, not way ancient, but vintage enough, always come home with me.

Always.

So do wool plaid blankets..........

Obsessed with all things plaid.

And obsessed with ridiculous vintage cardigans.......

Are those rams?  Reindeer?  Moose?

Who cares!?  I'm wearing the heck out of it.

Too bad I won't be able to wear the heck outta this.......

It's a child's size 12.  Vintage Lee jackets fetch pretty good prices on ebay though!

And finally, I love all things Westclox.......

This works and actually keeps time!!! 

The mister says it's a fire hazard though.

Fire hazard shmire hazard.

Linking up with Sir Thrift-a-lot, A Living Space, Rolled Up Pretty,

    The Cottage Market, Magpie Monday, Apron Thrift Girl annnnnddd

Diary of a Laundry Room (continued)

At the end of July we scheduled our last big overhaul.

The laundry room.......

It needed an update in a big way!  And updated it was......

There was just one project left to do.

I wanted my dad to make some shelving to go above the counter we had installed.  Dad is the shelving king.  He made and installed my kitchen shelves a few years ago, so I knew I could save some cash if I had pa do this instead of our contractor.

Yesterday was the big day!  Pa came over and worked his magic....

Now all I have to do is stage those babies!

You know this hoarder has plenty of vintage tchotchkes tucked away to put on those shelves!

And that's the best part.

The staging.  Not necessarily the hoarding.

Although that has its benefits.

Thrifting Frenzy

Some thrifting for me............some thrifting for the booth.

I'll definitely be keeping this vintage tartan Pendleton scarf...........

 And I don't know who Gene is, but I think he's pretty great..........

Gene even signed it.

I think it's the sunglasses that reeled me in.

Tribal/geometric prints reel me in too.....

This baby is already in the booth.

It took great pains for me to part with it.

And this afghan was even harder to let go of.......

I even snatched it out of the booth when I went to leave.

Then I got halfway to my car and talked myself out of it.

I'll probably dream about it tonight.

Linking up with Sir Thrift-a-lot, A Living Space, Rolled Up Pretty,

    The Cottage Market, Magpie Monday, Apron Thrift Girl annnnnddd