Italian Stew

I am a huge fan of crock pots...

I don't know about you all, but I just love being able to throw something in

it in the am and then  8 hours later come back to a finished product!

This particular recipe for Italian Stew comes

from a dear friend of our family

Ingredients::

• 2 1/2 lbs mild Italian sausage
• 1 medium green pepper
• 1 onion
• 2 c of carrots
• 7 c of beef broth
• 1 6oz can of tomato paste
• 4 c tomato juice or pureed stewed tomatoes
• 1 T seasoning salt
• 1 t garlic powder
• 1 t basil
• 1 t oregano
• 1 bag of frozen cheese tortellini

Chop your vegetables

Cook the sausage and then add peppers and onions

and seasoning salt

Drain grease from sausage and vegetables

Combine the rest of the ingredients into the crockpot and add the meat and vegetables

Cook on high for 2 hours and then set on low for remainder of the time

About 30 minutes prior to serving add the frozen tortellini

Top with mozzarella cheese if you desire

Bon appetit!

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

Happy Valentines!

My wonderful day in pictures...

These were some extra special things that made my day:

strawberry truffles from my boss,

chocolate covered strawberries from my coworker,

&

free Jimmy Johns...

Could 

a 

day 

get 

any 

better??

Yes, it can!!

Especially when I am blessed enough 

to have a pretty special, thoughtful man in my life.

Aren't they the most beautiful flowers ever?!?! :)

Roses, Chrysanthemums, & Alstroemerias = Perfect

 I couldn't have had a better day...

Rewind to last Valentines...

Let's just say that I do recant, and this will always be a very special Valentines for me!

I hope you all had as wonderful of a holiday as I did;

Happy Valentines!

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

a month gone by

I have been a horrific blogger as has been pointed out by some sweet friends of mine (you know who you are, ahem!), but living life has just gotten in the way of my posting as often as I would like.  So, before I reach the one month mark of not blogging I thought I should get up a post and let you all know what I have been up to!

Those of you who know me well or who read my blog would be able to list things I regularly blog about and it would be similar to something like this::
(Not in order of importance here...)
1.  Photography
2.  Crafting
3.  Family
4.  Cooking
5.  Reading
6.  Friends
So, I shall try to let you know what all I have done in each of these areas...

Photography:  I do use my camera every day although my work hours do not permit me to get outside and take as many pictures as I would like as it is dark when I get off.  (So, looking forward to spring! Itching to go for a walk and get some nature shots)  I am trying to keep up with a P52 project hosted by my3boybarians, you can view what I have submitted on my photography blog.  I have a few senior portraits that need to be scheduled but we are waiting on either some more snow or the arrival of an early spring...fingers crossed for either soon!

Crafting:  has been limited to
turning my-----

      {Thankful Tree}                                            to                      {Winter Tree}

to...

{Valentine Tree}

Family:  my sisters are both back into the swing of college.  Brooke is finishing up her final semester, which I can hardly believe.  And Lauren is finishing up her first semester.  Lauren also started up a blog, so be sure to follow her over at Seek Ye First...  With school back in session the girls are constantly going separate ways or busy working on projects.  It is nice when we can gather round the living room at the end of the day and discuss and usually laugh about our eventful days...

Cooking::  I  really enjoy making new things that I find on Pinterest.  One thing that I made for a game night at Jack's was Italian skewers.  They were good and I thought them so fun and colorful that I had to take some pictures...after all food makes for great photography subjects! ;)

Reading:  I made a list of books to read in 2012, but unfortunately I have not been able to cross one off yet. These are two of the four I am in the middle of:

Does anyone else read more than one book at once??  I suppose if I just tackled one book at a time, I would finish them in a more timely fashion...

Friends: Liz came to IN, not under the best circumstances, but I was glad for the time we had together.  She was also thoughtful enough to bring back a special bracelet that I have enjoyed taking my turn with...

{Liz, I love you girl and am praying for you!}

Also, this month I have enjoyed spending some more time and getting to know a certain special young man. (Insert large smiley face here...)  Jack hosted a game night and Brooke and I had a great time meeting more of the McDonnell family as well as the Thackers.

I also was glad to have Jack up after we received a significant amount of snow. 

And although it was not good for packing, we still had fun as you can see from our snow covered attire! :)

 {If you notice Jack is more covered in snow, because I have better aim...} ;)

This past weekend I was able to meet a group (and Jack) in Illinois for some ice skating.  I was rather nervous about skating as I have only been twice and the most recent time was 6 1/2 years ago.  However, I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to another opportunity to do it again!

And so concludes my busy month of January.  Hopefully I will blog again before March comes...:)

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.