I Like Thursday # 114 ~ Small Things Make Me Smile

Happy Thursday! 

 This is my progress on my 

 October Halloween Stitch Along @ Pine Needles

Click on this link to find the free daily blocks.

I am happy each morning to wake to this colorful stitch project.

Yesterday's "catch-up" block was the 

Block 25 Pattern ~ Giant Sunflower

I nudged the sunflower over a little and added my little Nutmeg kitty to the block.

Nutmeg has a very sunny disposition so it seemed a good place for her to appear in my cross stitch calendar.

I am waiting for today's block while I type.

I have one more daily block pattern to do and a blank space that was created when I combined two blocks.  I am still deciding what to do with that space which is under the haunted house block.

I am really hoping to have this one stitched and finished on Sunday.

On Sunday we will say goodbye to October. 

It has been an uneven month of change.

The foliage colors are not as bright as some years.

Today is another day of cool gray dampness,

although we are hoping the sun may peek through the clouds before the end of day.

My orange nasturtiums are a bright antidote to the gray.

Mr. Scrapatch brought home this tasty treat from Panera Bread

 the other night after work.

There was also Autumn Squash Soup, but that disappeared before I took a photo. 

Today I am having the cookie with my coffee.

Does anyone have a good copycat recipe for their vergetarian Autumn Squash Soup?

I have tried one I found online before but it did not have the same seasoning.

Today is a soup day ... 

... so I made Corn Chowder for lunch.

Corn Chowder

 

¼ cup olive oil

1/3  cup butter

1 cup chopped onion

½ cup chopped celery

1 and 1/2 cups diced potatoes

water to cover potatoes (1-2 cups)

½  cup flour

3 cups milk

1/2 cup vegetable broth

2 cans niblets or summer crisp corn ( 2 cups of fresh or frozen corn may be substituted)

salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons dried parsley

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

(optional) dash of cayenne or paprika (may also be sprinkled on top when serving)

To prepare:

Add oil and melt margarine in pan. Add finely chopped onion and celery and cook until soft on medium heat, stirring constantly.

 

Add diced potatos and water to cover. Cover pan and turn heat to high and cook potato until soft. Turn down to simmer and check frequently so the water does not boil out and burn the veggies.

 

While potato is cooking, put  1 cup of milk and flour and one can of corn in a blender or food processor and puree.

 

Add the blended milk mixture and the other 2 cups of milk, the veggie broth, the other can of corn and the seasonings to the soup and heat on medium stirring occasionally until thick and hot.

 

Makes 6 - 8 servings. Double for a crowd in large crock pot.

It was warm and yummy!

Mr. Scrapatch will have a bowl when he comes home tonight and will probably

be taking this for lunch to work tomorrow. 

Late Addition:  The sun came out!

YAY!!!!

Linking up today with my thankful friends at 

I Like Thursday Bloggers @ Not Afraid of Color

May you have a Happy Thursday!