It's a soup day

I woke up this morning and it was 46 degrees, the coldest it has been yet. We had been enjoying the most wonderful weather and last evening it changed drastically from 74 to burrsville! I actually had to turn the heat on because I could not do anything with numb hands! It's a day that called for hot soup so I pulled out one of my favorites "Sweet Potato Chowder"...since I still have some sweet potatoes from my garden this was a perfect thing to make. I'd love to share the recipe with you.

Sweet Potato Chowder

(Blue Moon Cookbook) recipe from my dear friend Laura

2 large sweet potatoes

1 leek chopped 1-1 1/2c

1 tbl. white wine

1 carrot chopped

2 1/2 c Milk or cream

2 tbl. butter

1/2 tsp dry mustard

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 1/4c canned creamed corn (1 can)

Boil peeled cubed potatoes in 2 1/2 cups water until tender, about 15 min. Drain and save broth (set aside)

Melt butter in soup at med. heat, add leek, wine, mustard, salt and pepper and saute for 5 min. Add potatoes, broth, carrot, 1/2 can of corn and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 min. 

In blender add 1/2 of the soup and milk until thick and silky. Return to pot and add remaining corn.

Enjoy!

I alter the recipe a bit and use vegetable broth instead of water and I like a little heat so use a little red pepper flakes as well as a smidgen of thyme.  Milk or cream work just the same as well as onions instead of leeks.

A Change is in the Air

 The weather in middle Tennessee has been glorious...warm sunny days with cool nights. These are my kind of days and you surely appreciate them after 3 months of constant heat and high humidity. It also makes me want to cook...I would rather be making jewelry than cooking, but I like to eat too. I have a  pumpkin bread in the oven and will be making sweet potato salad (using my ginormous sweet potatos from my garden). You make a regular potato salad but add a few sweets to it, yummy!

I have finally realized after 5 years of living in the South that you can not keep flowering annuals for long. I have gone the portulaca route and love them! Constant color and I do not have to worry about watering them. Here we are in October and they are still so beautiful!

Knock-Out Roses are another great plant for the south, they bloom constantly from early spring until frost. I love color and what better way to enjoy it in your landscape.

The field in our backyard is changing, autumn in Tennessee has mild colors compared to what I am use to in Massachusetts, but it still is so pretty. The air is crisp and has that beautiful scent you only get in the fall.

Sam has to come and see what I am doing and he loves gazing out at the field just hoping to see something to run after. I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful Sunday!

The Fallen Leaf

 The days go by so fast around here...is it just me or is it everyone else too? The fall is always such a busy time of year. We had a neighborhood yard sale this past weekend, sales were not great but we had such great weather it did not matter. I got to visit with the neighbors and enjoy the fresh air. If you know me I can't just sit still, my hands have to be moving, so with a few tools, copper wire and beads in my lap this is what I accomplished on Friday, "The Fallen Leaf". The turquoise helps the colors in the leaf just pop, I just can't seem to get away from using the blue greens.

 “Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree” .....emily bronte

Falling Leaves

Well, not quite yet here in Tennessee but I am in the mood for Autumn.I would however prefer to keep wearing shorts and flip flops, I think someone shrunk all of my pants this summer....not so good!

Butterflies are everywhere here, you can not drive without hitting them, I have never seen so many in my life! So it seems I can not stop making butterfly pendants, I too am adding to the population! Still etching like a fool, some come out good and others not so, it is what it is. I really like doing it, I think I like the challenge. I just listed lots more etched pieces in my Etsy shop. Here are a few pieces I am fond of.

Sunflower Pendant 

I had a little surgery on my foot today so I better go and put it up, or I will be crying later. How do you like this fur rug? As you can see my baby Morgan is getting quite big

September Splendor

I wanted to share with you all this gorgeous treasury that my friend Leslie of Bei Mondi created on Etsy. The colors and textures are lovely and I am proud to have my Sedona necklace included. It is starting to cool off here in middle Tennessee, last night was a chilly  evening with temps in the 50's, it won't be long and we will be seeing the glowing colors of Autumn.

Just a reminder of my "Love is All you Need" giveaway. You can Enter HERE. The giveaway ends on Sept. 7th.

Have a great day! 

Autumn in Tennessee

Today was a stupendously warm and sunny day! A perfect day actually! The DH and I took a nice walk on the greenway and took in all the warm sun and autumn smells. I just love the sound and smell of the crunching leaves! The greenway is a few miles from our home and goes through the meadows and meanders around the creek. It is a great walk and so pretty.







Yesterday I had my second show and it was great! I was a little apprehensive at first because there was so much jewelry, but only one other real "handcrafted" jewelry booth. I guess the show was more of an upscale bazaar with a lot of company's showing their wares as well. It turned out well for me and I was able to get lots of names for my new newsletter that I have been working all day on! (be sure to sign up!)

I was very pleased with my display, however it is still a work in process. Lots of people are drawn to the antiques I use as displays so that is a big help.

The Big Red Barn

By the big red barn
In the great green field,
There was a pink pig
Who was learning to squeal.

There were horses and sheep and goats and geese--and a jaunty old scarecrow leaning on his hoe. And they all lived together by the big red barn. By Margaret Wise Brown

We had a beautiful Fall day in middle Tennessee, the sky was a gorgeous blue and the foliage just glowed. I could not resist stopping to photograph this barn....it was just calling me. The cows were curious and had to look at the crazy lady taking pictures with her I-phone and then they just ran off. Hope you had a great day too!

Catch me...

Catch me I'm falling...
Here is the finished necklace as promised.
Rich carnelian and lime green czech glass beads go nicely with this new autumn piece. Long copper link chain with oxidized copper links and beads. You can find this on my website
JudithBDesigns.

Catch me I'm falling...

Fall is creeping up on us here in Tennessee...the leaves are changing and weather is cooler and I am forced to wear socks and shoes, no more flip flops! I am now in the spirit of autumn, it took me a while to get here...I hated to see the summer go. I wanted to share with you this copper leaf I made, it will be a pendant for a necklace, I will share the finished product when it is done.
Have a great fall day!

Autumn Sunset

A little something for your fall wardrobe...lots of texture and splashes of color.Autumn Sunset can be found in my new ArtFire shop.