Aaaaa CHOOOoooooo!

"Ho-Ho-Ho, Merry Christmas"
14x11 oil on linen

Yup, I have a COLD, a head cold.  Thank you The Hubby!  I guess too much kissing.  

Yesterday we went to an open house in which an appetizer was requested to bring.  I was going to make a sandwich kind of thing but realized I had used up my bread for another party this weekend and I JUST COULD NOT go to the store again, at least for a few days.  Soooo, to the fridge and pantry I went digging around for ideas.  What I came up with was cream cheese, sour cream, black beans, Rotel tomatoes, canned corn and cheddar cheese.  I softened the cream cheese and drained the beans and corn, not the tomatoes and mixed it all together.  I didn't have taco seasoning but added cilantro and cumin.  I didn't have any tortilla chips but had pita chips which worked fine as it was heavy dip.  After I mixed it all up I put it a baking dish (a deep pie dish) and put it in the oven at 350 degrees for about 20-30 minutes till hot.  I was a HUGE hit!  Not all was eaten so I brought about a fourth of it home.  

Tonight for dinner, in between trying to swallow on a sore throat and sneezing I thought about making The Hubby take me out but I just didn't feel like getting out again.  I don't really feel bad, which is good.  I had chicken tenders thawing in the fridge and some egg noodles of which I was going to make some chicken and noodles but needed a PIZAZZ and thought of that leftover dip.  I added the dip and man oh man sooooo good!  Kind of a creamy spicy chicken and noodles.  

Mr. Santa up there I painted today at the office.  

I Apologize

I must apologize for not reading and commenting on some of my favorite blogs as of late but my life has been such a whirlwind the only time I read anything is at bedtime lately or listen to a book in the car, much less sit down and read blog posts.  I miss my friends but it is what it is.  Life is barrelling along for me and I don't even have time for my creative side that NEEDS to come out.  I have got to find some time to just stop and express myself.  So this quick note is to apologize to one and all and Please don't give up on me.  I will be back, I promise...don't leave me.  Carla

Time For Me

I'm sitting here this fine spring morning listening to the girl and her beau playing an instrumental piece that she wrote and it is perfect for the morning.  It's called Neither Here.  I'm contemplative this morning.  Sometimes when I listen to a really good book in the car, it makes me want to write.  I start thinking of all kinds of stories real or imaginative, it's when the writer wants to take hold and this music inspires me more.  I've still been dealing with a bit of winter depression even though the weekend helped me tremendously to get out of the dark hole.  (I'm listening to Barbara Kingsolver's, Flight Behavior.)  Anyway, today is a vote day and I will get out and do that, later.  This morning, when I finish here I want to paint.  I love to put paint to canvas in the morning hours.  It is the most creative time for me at home and this morning I will open the window and let the spring indoors with some wonderful soft classical music and Afton's aka Sangster - Neither Here on a repeat.  I need to be inspired to create some stuff.  I hope everyone has a fabulous day.  I will!