THE DAYS IN OCTOBER...A BIRTHDAY AND FIRST HOMECOMING, FALL FOODS AND DECOR

Hello to all my fall kindred spirits....it's marvelous isn't it?
Simply marvelous...

there is something very special about the month of October...what a gift it is...
the fall weather has arrived and it has definitely renewed our spirits.....
it's actually been SWEATAH WEATHAH...in the great state of Texas! 

Our grandson celebrated his 21st birthday....
he is happy....he's continuing his college education...sharing
an apartment with best friends...and is in love....
remember those fun days?
He is kind, soft spoken, extremely polite and sweet...not to mention HANDSOME!

Luke the Duke looked like a million bucks for his first high school homecoming....
he's loving and enjoying his school days this year...
lots of good friends, sports and social activities and good grades....
makes us all quite happy and grateful

Here are a few fall touches around the house.....

Love, love, love these....Walmart has beautiful and very affordable pillows.....

Mrs. Meyer's autumn scents are soooo good.....

Still working on the Butler's Pantry....

I am going minimal this year....
my front door fall wreath....

Fall florals for the front urns....

This will do for the season....
I decided not to purchase pumpkins or mums this year...a bit pricey....
The darling will be having his second knee replacement surgery
this month, so I am gearing up for at home care....

We spruced up the patio for these marvelous fall days...

I adore seasonal pillows....

This little guy has weathered well for several outdoor seasons...
he's like reconnecting with an old friend....

It was the perfect time to mix up a batch of spiced tea....

Sunday mornings are meant for porch sitting with the
temperature reading 63 degrees...

This is perfect grilling weather....
we smoked some delicious chicken thighs,
and I made a delicious potato salad and asparagus casserole..divine I tell you....

And...absolutely scrumptious homemade apple hand pies...

I am doing a different look for Thanksgiving this year and am
really excited about this....working on the table which I will
show on an upcoming post.......

The family looks forward to the appetizers on Thanksgiving
almost as much as the dinner....
I love finding unique items to add such as this Italian Strawberry Preserves...
beautifully paired with deli cheeses....

It's a blessing to celebrate your days.....
make the most of the season and your family....
Be still, and sit quietly...think of lovely past memories from childhood

We love Lucy....I think she could be Mae Mobley's baby....

LOVE Y'ALL TO BITS....

INA GARTEN'S BANANA BREAD

 It must have been that heavenly aroma that was
wafting through the air that made you stop what you were doing
and take a look at what Estelle's was baking today.....
it did smell heavenly didn't it?
Today, we were baking Ina Garten's recipe
for Banana Bread...
the exact one she used when
owning The Barefoot Contessa.....

I love trying new recipes for the iconic Banana Bread since
they can all taste so very different...this one has become a new favorite!

BANANA BREAD by INA GARTEN
1/2 cup melted unsalted butter
1 ¾ cup flour
1 cup pecans. Chopped
½ cup sugar
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
½ t. salt
¼ t. nutmeg
2 large eggs, beaten
¼ cup sour cream OR buttermilk
½ cup brown sugar
1 t. vanilla
4 ripe bananas

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter one 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.

Whisk together the flour, pecans, granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in a large bowl. Whisk together the eggs, melted butter, buttermilk, brown sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl; stir in the mashed bananas. Fold the banana mixture into the flour mixture until just combined (it's OK if there are some lumps).

Pour the batter into the buttered pan and lightly tap the pan on the counter to evenly distribute the batter. Bake until browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out completely clean, about 1 hour. Let the bread cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.

 You're gonna love this one!

This is Mae's Memorial Garden....it's coming along.....
This is a happy spot in the garden just for our beautiful girl......
Y'all enjoy the weekend!

THE ANTICIPATION OF SPRING and RECIPES THAT MADE THE HIT PARADE

  Spring...... 

Spring is the season for new life and fresh beginnings....
Did you know that spotting a Robin in the yard
is the first sign of Spring...You look around and suddenly
see crocuses blooming through and the cherry blossoms
budding...we can savor brighter and longer days.....

March winds are blowing through...

on a bright and sunny day......

Are you making plans for your garden and Easter celebration?
I do so enjoy this time of year and feel I need a refresh and renewal of sorts....
We have both been rather down and melancholy since we lost our
beautiful Mae...it's different around the house and is going to take
time to become accustom to our new normal....

I was awake at 4 AM...believe it or not.....
and perhaps that proved to be a good thing....
after my first cup of coffee....
I happened to gaze out the front door and saw
the prettiest sunrise.....

and across the greenbelt,
the sun coming up cast the most beautiful
shades of pink behind those stark cottonwood trees.....

I am slowly trying to bring in touches of spring to make
the house breathe again....

I haven't made pancakes in ages....this morning I wanted
to make breakfast.....just because.....
it was FAT TUESDAY....in honor of Mardi GRAS

Are you looking for a new dinner recipe?
This Chicken and Rice casserole was SO GOOD!
I love recipes with few ingredients and easy to prepare...
you will really enjoy this one!

CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT SWEET ENDINGS......

These proved to be top winners in the cooking and baking line up....

Ree Drummond's Top Secret Chocolate Cake...
I did not top this with ganache, instead added whipped cream and berries!

TOP SECRET CHOCOLATE CAKE

This would be a delightful pie to serve at your Easter gathering.....
A light and creamy SOUR CREAM LEMON PIE!

SOUR CREAM LEMON PIE

I will share this darling boy with you..
Granddaughter Abbie posted this photo of
her cat Winston...she is totally in love with him
and that makes me very, very happy....

Otis has taken up napping in the foyer sun puddle....
which was where Mae liked to nap..

I am planning to create a beautiful memorial garden for
our Mae Mobley.....we miss her every single day...
A spring renewal.....that's a true God given gift to us, isn't it!
Thank you for visiting today...hope you found something to take away.....

FOR THE LOVE OF MAE MOBLEY

 This is hard...
it's never a post I wanted to write,
but it's the reality..
Our beloved, most beautiful girl, Mae passed away on February 2, 2023.



Mae and I together, began this blog known as Estelle's.
She has been a huge part of this journey from the beginning
since 2010 when we adopted Mae at 7 weeks old while living in Maine.
She was much of my inspiration and her beauty is captured in
hundreds of photos.

Mae was my daily companion in all aspects of my life....
and also the darling's...

She had a huge presence in our home....every room, every corner....

Mae had been diagnosed with Idiopathic Epilepsy in 2016.
She had been placed on seizure medication which controlled her
seizures shortly after she began her medication.

She was seizure free for the past five years and I knew
our prayers had been answered as I thought she must be cured.
She lived a very happy and contented life...
until the last week of January when out of nowhere,
her seizures returned with a vengeance and became
progressively worse...for her and for us.
The seizures were not responding to the medication.
We  are left with shattered hearts....
My very soul is in pieces and will be for a long time.....
Mae Mobley was two months shy of her thirteenth birthday..



I hope my Mother was there to greet her with open arms
as she entered heaven....I miss you Mae Mae....
my most beautiful and precious girl....
thank you for all you gave me in life....
the happiness and joy you gave to your Papa and me cannot be put into words....

SMALL, INEXPENSIVE WAYS TO BRING FALL INTO YOUR HOME and A WILDLIFE RESCUE

Good Morning Loves......
I am told a few of you are not really in the mood for celebrating the fall season ...how can this be?
Well, today perhaps a few suggestions can put the spirit of the season
in your hearts and you will find some ideas and inspiration in today's post! 

A cute little sign may just remind you of past visits to
a Farmer's Market or pumpkin patch......



Sipping your morning coffee in a cute fall mug
will certainly bring you a bit of joy!



Bring out a seasonal kitchen towel and pretty hand wash to enjoy
while you are busy baking......

An inexpensive baking mix is a marvelous way
to bake something sweet for you and those you love.....

It's even more fun to bake those pumpkin muffins in a 
baking pan with a fall design....

I'll just bet that if you search your cabinets,
you will find a little pumpkin you forgot you had
from years ago....

Freshen up a floral arrangement with beautiful sunflowers....
try using all your favorite colors of the season....

Try an arrangement in a piece of pottery to give that
rustic, farmhouse vibe!

Curl up on the sofa with a new book and a cozy blanket

If you have grandchildren,,,,,,,, bring out
their favorite books to read together when they visit......

I find they love to have a pretty, plush blanket to wrap up in while reading!
This is making memories...what life is all about!

Now...for the heartwarming wildlife rescue.....

When you own a pool, it is not unusual to discover
a little creature of nature who is not really welcome
to take a swim....normally it's a frog...hopefully not a snake,
but that has happened a few times...always check the skimmers...
lo and behold, our son discovered this poor baby who was in
one of the skimmers, holding on for dear life and exhausted!
No telling how long he had been there, but he was found and rescued!
He is just a little baby opossum and must have needed a drink of water...



They placed him safely and comfortably in the cat carrier,
along with some food for the night.....



Our daughter-in-law found a person who rehabs opossums
and here is the little guy recovering nicely and safe,
until he is big enough to be released back to nature.....
she has helped over 200 animals......BLESS HER HEART!

Mae Mobley is as wonderful as ever...she is slowly adjusting to Otis,
who is our houseguest for a while.....

I so hope you found something you loved and will
try in your home....enjoy each day....see y'all next time!