Autumn Mantle

 

I've put a little glow into my mantle for Autumn.  It's especially nice to have the warm glow of amber lights when darkness falls so early.  The metal leaf garland was purchased long ago in Long Grove and has become one of my favorite decorations.  A basket full of white pumpkins, and a couple of hurricanes with scented candles, a garland of bittersweet.  On the hearth the canvas pumpkins I made last year.


 

The machine quilted wall hanging is simply tacked to the wall.

 

Speaking of leaves, in Better Homes and Gardens, (October issue, chock full of autumn goodness) an article called "Pick your pleasure" (page16)  there was a code to get a free app.  It's called Leafsnap.  It IDs the species of the tree when you snap a photo of a leaf.  How COOL is that?!  There is even a game that tests your knowledge.   This is so me, I am all about...wait for it...LEAVES! (That was for Kristen;-)

 

Wishing you a cozy, amber hued Autumn day my friends.

Weekend Update

 

If you're thinking, oh my, Penny's taken up drinking...you are wrong.  While cleaning my kitchen I came across this vial of vanilla beans I bought while in NY.  I also "found" this bottle of vodka.  Really, it is from my sons.  A "experiment" in drinking I'm sure... (My sons are grown men, I just like to think in my Pollyanna way;-) Anyway, I put the two together and am making my own vanilla.  It's so simple...

 

First of all I paid a couple of bucks for two vanilla beans.  Bargain, locally they are $8 to 10.

 

You slit the vanilla beans up the middle, and I cut them in half so they would fit under the vodka.
There was just over a cup left in the bottle. Then, just drop them in!

 

A bird's eye view into the bottle.  Now I just  have to wait 2 months!  Just in time for Thanksgiving baking.
If you can't borrow vodka from your sons as I have, the cheaper the vodka the better.  I'll let you know
how it turned out.


 

I baked this cake I found on pinterest.  Pumpkin Coffee Cake.  You can find the recipe here, on Pretty Good Food.  It is really delicious, and very easy to make. 

Remember the crate I got from the produce guy at the local grocery?  I tried to fill it with flowers, pumpkins and gourds, but the leaves looked the best.  It needs something...  Maybe.a stencil of some sort.  What do you think?

I'm going to take some photos this morning of the fall decorating I've been doing, that is if I can beat the storm headed our way for today.  Have a great day my friends, thanks so very much for stopping by.

Late Summer Beauty

We visited the beautiful Northwind Perennial Farm for a little walk about.  This is the second time we've visited...the last was on a Sunday when a event was taking place.  This time we had it all to ourselves, except of course,  for the three pups that kept us company.  It's a wonderful place to visit, with a surprise at every turn.  They won't be open much longer, for the season is quickly coming to a close.

I used copyrighted music that is now owned by SME, whoever they are...When I PURCHASED the CD, remember back in the old days, it was A Winter's Solstice #5 by Windham Hill, and the name of the song is Light and Song by William Ackerman.  These compilations are my very favorite music for the season, and have been since the first Winter Solstice came out 20 years ago.  Check them out!

Have a great weekend my friends.

Signs of Autumn

 

We harvested our little crop of pumpkins...

 

They filled a mini basket, and got a wash and dry from small excited hands...

 

The hostas are blooming, a beautiful show to end the season.

 

The hydrangea blooms blush from the cool evenings.

 

Autumn pillows start to appear... 



That night was the turning point in the season.
We had gone to bed in summer,
and awoke in autumn;
for summer passes into autumn in some imaginable
point of time,
like the turning of a leaf.
-Henry David Thoreau

I'm up to my ears with sweet children...Little Bird and her baby Bug are sweet and happy.  Children are balm for my heart.  Such joy, such sweetness and a tub of love to boot!  Have a great day my friends.

Caramel Corn Favors

 

What beautiful fall weather we are having here in Chicagoland.  This is my time to craft, sew, bake, decorate and make caramel corn.  I needed a few favors for my dear Em's birthday party.  I had everything at home to make these cute favor bags filled with delicious caramel corn, just like Mom used to make for us when we were kids.  I saw all four of my brothers, and not one of them remembered Mom making this...asking my familiar question...
Are we from the same family?
Here's the recipe...

One cup of butter
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup karo syrup (So far what's not to like)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 quarts popped corn
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan,
add everything except the baking soda and vanilla
bring to a boil stirring constantly
boil without stirring for 5 minutes (medium heat)
Remove from heat and add the soda and vanilla
(this makes it foam up)
pour on popped corn spread on
a parchment lined baking pan
bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour
stir every 15 minutes
cool and then enjoy

 

I stamped some paper sandwich bags with this bird stamp.  I know I saw bags stamped this way on Pinerest, but I couldn't find it when I looked.  Why would I pin something I liked, right?
I am not always firing on all cylinders.
Hey, who's peeking out from under my supplies...
Another project, WIP.
The StazOn ink is the only one that
 will work on the slick surface of the bags.
(BTW, I bought mine in NY, but
Whole Foods might carry them here.)

 

A hole punch, some butchers twine, and some reinforcers
 for the hole is all you need, to close up these bags


 

Everyone at Em's party loved the caramel corn.

 

Someone asked, "Beside all the butter,
what other bad things for you are in this?"

I said, "LOTS."  With only one cup or so per package,
no one will be in sugar shock...
Just hide the bowl of leftovers!!! ;-)
Enjoy this beautiful day my friends!