Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #13

El Santuario de Chimayo, a popular New Mexico Easter destination
under normal circumstances (image from I Love Santa Fe Homes).

Happy Easter, everyone!  We had some unusually warm weather last week, so for my now semi-monthly trip into town I wore a slightly lightened-up outfit which included vibrant pink and a lightweight cotton vest that I have owned for years but never wore in Georgia for some reason.  Even though we are in for a cold spell over the next few days, I will resist wearing any apparel that makes me think of winter.  If I have to wear layers they will only be in springlike colors!  My necklace of the week is one I made myself many years ago from dark brown carved wooden animal beads:

The animal beads represent horses, bears, coyotes, armadillos,
frogs, and a fish in carved stone.

I am not usually someone who enjoys craft projects, but every once in a while I surprise even myself and take up a task that I normally would not ever consider!  Actually, jewelry-making might be a good project to work on right now since I am forced to be home for days on end anyway.  But enough of that topic - let's take a look at my outfit of the week:

Clockwise from top left: Hanes Women's V-Neck Long Sleeve Tee in Sizzling Pink (similar to my long sleeve mock neck top, which is no longer available in this color); HOT COTTON Leopard Print Vest (similar to mine); Carved Wood African Animal Bead Necklace (similar to mine); No Nonsense Women's Flat Knit Crew Socks in Denim Blue; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust (similar to mine);  L.L. Bean Relaxed Fit Double L Jeans in Stonewashed (similar to mine); H&M Leather Belt in Dark Brown.

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I hope you are all able to celebrate the spring holidays safely in some way.  I have to go into town next week even though it will be sooner than usual because my dog Ruby is going in for surgery - she is having a mass removed from her leg and we are hoping that it is not malignant.  It will be biopsied after removal, so we will know the following week.  Wish Ruby luck, and take care out there!

Ruby as the Easter Bunny in 2015 (I promised her she would never have to
pose again, but I never said I would not repost this image - sorry girl!).

           

Foodie Fridays: Quick Chicken Marsala

I much prefer cooking chicken tenders to whole chicken breasts because they cook much faster, which means they are less likely to dry out.  When I found the Chicken Marsala Sans Mushrooms recipe on the How Sweet Eats blog, I had to try it, especially since I had no mushrooms in the house!  I modified the recipe, making some of my own changes and also using some changes made in a later version of this recipe on the blog.  Next time I think I will add more seasoning to the sauce (salt plus more nutmeg and possibly some of the smoked paprika) because I found it just a bit bland, but otherwise I really enjoyed this fast and easy recipe and I will be making it again.

Quick Chicken Marsala

1/2 C. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
black pepper to taste
1 1/2 lbs. chicken tenders
2 T. olive oil
2 T. butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 C. marsala wine
1 C. chicken stock
minced fresh parsley for garnish

Combine the flour, salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper in a shallow dish.  Heat an oven-safe skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil.

Dredge the chicken tenders lightly in the flour mixture (reserve the flour mixture when done dredging), then brown them on both sides in the skillet, about 2 minutes per side (they will not be cooked through).  Remove the chicken tenders from the pan and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate.

Melt the butter in the skillet.  Add the garlic and nutmeg and cook for about a minute.  Pour in the marsala wine, scraping any browned bits up from the bottom of the pan.  Whisk 2-4 T. of the reserved flour mixture (depending on how thick you like your sauce) into the chicken stock.  Discard any remaining flour.  Add the flour slurry to the pan, whisking constantly, and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring, until the mixture thickens.  Return the chicken tenders to the pan, nestling them into the sauce.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.  Remove from the oven and cool slightly before serving.  Serve over pasta or rice (I used cauliflower rice) and top each serving with the minced parsley.  Serves 4.

           

This 'n That Thursdays: Easy Easter Centerpieces

My Easter table from 2017

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic my plans for a transitional move to New Mexico have been put on hold.  We were going to move all of our belongings in three gradual phases.  I completed the first phase last October, when I moved just enough of our furnishings to make our Santa Fe house livable. I was supposed to move more of our things at the end of March, but had to cancel my travel plans thanks to the pandemic.  Now we have no idea when we can restart our moving plans.  Unfortunately, most of my tableware and holiday décor are still in Georgia, so I have not been able to decorate or create table settings for the holidays (our dining room furniture is still in Georgia as well, so I have had to make do with a smaller table that used to be my desk!).

Even though I am not decorating for the holidays right now, I decided I could still collect ideas for future use when we finally do get completely moved.  Today's post is a collection of easy Easter centerpiece ideas that I hope to use in the future:

From Two Sisters Crafting

From Katie Brown Home Workshop

From McCormick Image Gallery

From Dream Home Decorating

From Amazing Interior Design

From Warm Cozy Home
(for a different look, use tiny succulents instead of flowers)

From Inside the Brick House

And finally, I think this one is my favorite (because what could be easier than pretty little Easter cakes on a plate?):

From 1-800-FLOWERS

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Pretty much everyone has probably had to make drastic changes to their usual Easter/Passover traditions.  I hope all of you can still find some way to celebrate, and maybe even come up with new ideas for future holidays.  Even though I am on my own this year and will not be decorating, I did get some hot cross buns and the ingredients for a spring frittata so that I can at least treat myself to an Easter brunch (I also purchased a Lindt Gold Bunny, because for me it just would not be Easter without a chocolate bunny).  Here's hoping we can all go back to gathering with family again next year!  And now, here is my annual link to my favorite Easter YouTube video:

             

Wish List Wednesdays: Joules Dalmatian Footwear from In the Company of Dogs

I am sure you all know by now that I am a Dalmatian lover, so it should be no surprise that I am coveting the Joules Dalmatian footwear currently available from In the Company of Dogs.  The Joules Dalmatian-Print Mid-Calf Welly Boots shown above are currently on sale (reduced from $79.95 to $59.99).  I particularly like the Dalmatian-spotted inside lining!

I am really in need of some short waterproof boots, and the Joules Dalmatian-Print Yellow Wellibob Boots would be perfect.  They are also currently on sale (reduced from $69.95 to $49.99) and have the same fun Dalmatian-spotting inside lining as the taller boots.

Summer will be here before you know it, and the Joules Dalmatian Red Flip-Flops ($24.95) would be my choice for casual warm weather footwear.

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If you are looking for more dog-themed apparel, check out the other options available from In the Company of Dogs.  My order has already been placed, and I am looking forward to wearing my new Dalmatian-themed footwear!
             

Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #12

Signs of spring are very subtle here in New Mexico, but they are
beginning to make an appearance!

Milder spring temperatures are slowly but surely making their way to our part of New Mexico, which means that I am wearing fewer layers when I dress for any trips into town.  I am cutting back my shopping for essentials to just once every two weeks, so my only trip into town last week was to the post office.  Nevertheless, I still wanted to look halfway decent, so I included one of my many necklaces as an accessory, even though I was the only one who got to see it!  My necklace for the week is one I bought a few years ago at a silent auction fundraiser for the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, an event which my husband and I attended every year to help support this beautiful horticultural treasure:

I wore this accessory with a casual outfit of black mock-neck long-sleeve tee and faded denim jeans. Many women prefer dark wash jeans, but I consider my color combination a classic and actually do not care for very dark blue jeans (this shade is too close to navy, which does not flatter my coloring).  The addition of the color turquoise may be unexpected, but I just could not resist this bright note to celebrate spring!  Here is the outfit I wore:

Clockwise from top left: L.L. Bean Women's Long-Sleeve Interlock Mock-Turtleneck in Black (similar to mine, which is no longer available in black); Elizabeth Locke 31" 19kt Yellow Gold Turquoise Bead and Small Link Necklace (no longer available, similar to my much less expensive necklace); L.L. Bean Women's Trail Model Fleece Vest in Teal Green Heather (no longer available); MediPEDS Crew Socks in Black; Dr. Scholl's Women's Wide Width Marci Gel-Pac Zippered Loafers in Black (no longer available); AGOLDE Mid Rise Loose Fit Jeans in Affair (similar to mine); Madewell Braided Leather Belt in Black (similar to mine).

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Once the COVID-19 pandemic is under control I hope to visit the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, which is currently closed, and hopefully my husband and I can help to support this public garden as well.  In the meantime, I will be enjoying nature closer to home, and I hope all of you out there get opportunities to do the same.  Take care, everyone!

From Santa Fe Botanical Garden

             

This 'n That Thursdays: Life in the Time of COVID-19

Meet the enemy - the COVID-19 virus magnified
(from Cedars Sinai)

Our nation is in the grip of a very serious pandemic, and we must all do what we can to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.  We can do this, everyone, as long as we are careful and try to follow all of the recommendations as well as we can.  Here is how my little New Mexico family is adhering to the rules:

Please do try to at least look happy about this, girls!

1) Sheltering in place: We are lucky that our home in Santa Fe is located in a remote rural area.  I only go into town once a week for essentials, and I am going to try to decrease that to once every two weeks.  The rest of the time I am at home, but I can go out on to our property any time, and I can still walk my dogs on our road twice daily.  It is quite easy to practice the second recommendation:

I think my girls take this recommendation to extremes -
they are way more than 6 feet away from me and each other!

2) Social distancing (approximately 6 feet apart): We rarely encounter our neighbors when we walk, but when we do it is not hard to practice social distancing.  This is a very important rule to follow for humans, but one that my girls do not understand at all - except when it comes to me!  They gladly run right up to any other humans and their dogs, but prefer to wander as far away from me as I will let them!

Ruby kindly agreed to pose despite not really caring for this procedure.

3) Frequent paw hand washing: I do this diligently, especially after my weekly trip to town, but the junior members of the family are not enthusiastic about this rule.  Luckily they do not go into town or otherwise expose their extremities to virus-infected environments!

Patient resignation from Ruby as she tolerated posing for a rule
that does not even apply to her.

4) Work from home: This rule does not really apply to us, but we do whole-heartedly endorse this recommendation because it does apply to my family members in other states.  I wish my doctor brother could do this as well, but he must go to his workplace, so I hope that PPE supplies for those putting themselves at risk become more readily available as soon as possible.

Madison posed for this one, even though she vastly prefers close personal
contact (is that a touch of disgusted disbelief I see in those eyes?).

5) Keep in touch virtually with loved ones: Even though we must distance ourselves socially, we can still keep in touch and support one another via phone calls and texts, plus a vast array of social media and other internet connections (my husband is a recent convert to Zoom, and I suppose I should check it out).

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Recently I found the first spring blooms on our property.  Our weather is now much milder, and spring is definitely in the air!  Even though it looks as though the sheltering in place recommendation here in New Mexico will be extended until the end of April, the girls and I are happy to comply.  We will enjoy our first spring here and wait patiently in hopes that all of the rules we are asked to follow will help to bring COVID-19 under control.  Stay safe and healthy, everyone, and stay optimistic that we will come through this and get back to a more normal world sooner rather than later.
             

Wish List Wednesdays: DIY Miniature Greenhouse Kit from Signals

Are you desperately searching for a fun activity to occupy your time during these days of sheltering in place?  The DIY Miniature Greenhouse Kit ($39.95) from Signals may be just what you are looking for!  Tiny little details make the assembly of this kit truly delightful - just look at those miniature plants, tools, furniture, etc., that adorn this model inside and out.  With patience and perseverance this 7x8x7-inch structure can be assembled in about 20 hours (I am not sure why, but two CR2032 batteries are needed but not included to finish this project).  And once you are done there are ten other miniature structures available for assembly as well!  Right now I am also eyeing the miniature bookstore and the miniature coffee shop - which one is your favorite?