APPLE CRANBERRY CRISP

 
Well Kindred Spirits....
our most beautiful season of Autumn is passing so very quickly...
there have been a few cool, crisp days however, most of
us have experienced unseasonably warm weather....
the yards are filled with pumpkins and mums which
is so heartwarming to see....

The Texas State Fair has come and gone....
Halloween was a delightful evening for those
precious Trick Or Treaters..
and now our thoughts must turn toward the
Thanksgiving gathering........

I will always remember the times when my parents would travel over to Dothan
for Thanksgiving...they made it so very special and festive...
after our late afternoon feast, we walked through the neighborhood
and felt so grateful for such a delightful day....it became tradition.....

My focus is on the food I will be serving for the holidays
and today features the stars of Autumn...APPLES AND CRANBERRIES!
Their colors are warm, cheerful and naturally beautiful....
As October gives way to November,
apples bring their sweetness, while the cranberries add
the perfect touch of tartness and ruby red colors
They make a beautiful combination in our Autumn kitchens.....

The aroma of a fresh Apple Cranberry Crisp, hot and bubbly from the oven,
brought everyone into the kitchen...it proved to be absolutely scrumptious!

3 cups of apples, sliced, peels left on

1 bag of fresh cranberries

1/2 cup plus 2 T. flour, divided

1 cup sugar

3 packages of Cinnamon Spice instant oatmeal

3/4 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 stick of melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mic apples and cranberries with 2 T, FLOUR until coated.
Tip-use of zip lock bag for best results.
Add sugar, and combine until evenly coated.
Pour fruit into a greased baking dish, 9 x 11 inch.
In a mixing bowl, mix oatmeal, remaining flour, pecans, brown sugar
and butter until you have crumbles. Spoon evenly over the fruit.
Bake for 45 minutes.

Lovely served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

This reminds us that some of the loveliest pleasures of fall

can be found in the simplest of things.....

HALLOWEEN FUN AND THANK YOU OCTOBER

Hello Kindred Spirits....
we are back from our fabulous visit to Atlanta
and boy did we pack days of fun into our visit....
dinners, dining out, cocktails, a visit to
Greenville, SC and a delightful stay
at the Grand Bohemian Lodge and attending
the Leanne Morgan event....

There is nothing better than a mother-daughter getaway

Lucy celebrated NATION CAT DAY!

We cast our votes in the early election  time and are looking
forward to celebrating HALLOWEEN.....

They are predicting a bit of a rainy day for Saturday

We have enjoyed the lighted Jack O' Lantern this month

Wishing you all a fun and safe HALLOWEEN evening.....

CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS WITH ORDER

In the month of October, we marvel at the porches decorated
with pumpkins, colorful mums and scarecrows in the gardens....



The lawns are filling with fallen leaves and it is nature
in all it's glory of colors....
there are football games on Friday nights, cozy throws
draped over the sofa and soup simmering away on the stove...



The sun in the afternoons is still warm enough to enjoy,
yet we welcome the crispness of the air as it reminds
us that the seasons are changing...

we are dreaming of Turkey and Dressing
and family gathering at home for the November holiday....

It is the kind of day that makes you grateful for the little things:

 a warm home, a favorite meal, a beautiful view through the window,

and the simple pleasure of watching October unfold.

Which brings me to the question of the day..
when do you begin the festivities of the Christmas season?
Some skip right into putting up the tree and stringing the lights
overlooking both HALLOWEEN AND THANKSGIVING.....
No, not me...I was raised to revel in the joy of each special holiday...
Why rush through this special time of the year....

Perhaps, you may relate to the reasons why
Christmas appears beginning after we turn the calendar to December....

 You love the seasons in their proper order. October has its own beauty:
 autumn leaves, pumpkins, warm colors, harvest decorations,
and the anticipation of Thanksgiving.
You may want to enjoy those things before moving on to Christmas.

 You value tradition.

Christmas may feel more meaningful when it arrives at the appropriate time,

rather than becoming a two- or three-month-long event.

 You dislike feeling pressured.
When Christmas decorations, music, and shopping appear in October,
 it can feel as though you're being hurried into a holiday you aren't ready for.

You enjoy the atmosphere of autumn.

If you appreciate the coziness of fall,

seeing Christmas take over can feel as

though autumn is being cut short.

You prefer moderation.

 When a celebration seems to start earlier every year,
it can feel excessive rather than joyful.
What is the tradition in your home?

AUTUMN TABLESCAPE...MY ALL TIME FAVORITE

It is a fact....I started out with no idea what
I envisioned for the farmhouse table....
I could not come up with the colorstory,
the dinnerware I wanted to use or the linens....
I went from hither to yon on thinking about this.... 
I know,,,it's the kind of thing I think about
when I want to challenge my design creativity.....

Here's the thing...
creating a fall tablescape is a wonderful way to
bring the warmth and beauty of autumn into our homes...
I did know that this was the final piece I wanted
to complete for the season...and I
wanted to wait until the first day of October to work on it....
So, when I think of October, which is my all time favorite month
of the year, I think of the woods in fall....the smells, 
the rich colors, the smells of woodsmoke in the wind...
and it captured my image right then and there....

I had my colorstory......
I added a few new pieces to ones I already owned....
I wanted wam colors, a blend of textures and an organic theme....

Here is a design tip~begin with a beautiful tablecloth or runner in warm, earthy tones,
then layer in natural textures—wood, woven baskets, linen napkins, and ceramic dishes.
 Add the colors of the season with deep blues, warm browns, rust, amber, and muted gold.

For the centerpiece, I wanted natural elements with
beautiful pumpkins, dried leaves, pinecones and seasonal branches...

I like to tuck in a few candles for a seasonal glow and scent...
one being vintage brass

Rather than making everything perfectly symmetrical,
 let the arrangement feel natural and collected
—as though you brought little treasures from an autumn walk to the indoors.


Finish each place setting with a folded linen napkin, a sprig of greenery or dried foliage, and

As always, I add an heirloom piece from my grandmother....
For this vignette, I chose to add a vintage bud vase
from Roseville Pottery....
this is called the Snowberry Blue Budvase, created in 1947.
Roseville Pottery was established in Roseville, Ohio
and operated from 1890 until 1954.

I also wanted to incorporate Toile and my few pieces of 
black and white transferware....

I came across some lovely toile plates to serve as a charger plate
which coordinated with this pattern beautifully.....

And, added a stunning cake stand by Janine Graff....

 The result should feel warm, welcoming, and a little bit nostalgic—
a table that invites everyone to linger over a delicious fall meal and
enjoy the simple pleasures of the season.

PAMPERED CHEF BANANA BREAD

 Hello Kindred Spirits...

our days are becoming cooler and it's been

rather enjoyable sitting outdoors in the afternoon....

I love watching the children walk home from school which

is all contained within the neighborhood...

and it's safe.....

I love seeing the school bus drive by and wonder if

everyone had a good day..

I find it rather sad, that these days, there are no books in school...

the teachings are all on line and managed through an APP...

The older I become, the more I think fondly of the times

in which I grew up.....thankful for these memories....

I have a friend who's family tradition is to cook all their favorite holiday foods
as they gather on Christmas Eve.
Each family member prepared their favorite recipe and her father makes
the Banana Bread which was featured by the Pampered Chef!
That is a version I had yet to try, so today was the day....

I decided it was time to add fairy lights to the mantel as the night
comes a bit earlier these days and I absolutely love it....
it's just stunning and feels so festive!

This is fall break over in Atlanta so the family
is off visiting college campuses for potential
higher education....hard to believe it's time for that,
but it's so exciting!

Lucille is such a girly girl.....a little precious.....
she loves finding sun puddles in the afternoon
and takes a nap in the warmth....

This creates a beautiful quick bread,,,,,would make a lovely
gift to share with family and friends during the holidays

PAMPERED CHEF BANANA BREAD

I am planning the fall garden and am planting something new to me....
while down in Austin, I noticed the most beautiful shrubs with yellow
blossoms which were mixed with pink Lantana....
I fell in love.....

Texas Yellow Bell Bush Trumpet Flower

So, we are still decorating, still making each day special,
still tending to the garden, and so grateful for it all!

AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON

There are memories of fall that I hold dear.....
the days were cool enough for wool skirts and cardigans...
the neighbors were out raking leaves and
Mother's vegetable soup was simmering on the stovetop...
the yearly debut of the Wizard of Oz was coming
and all seemed right with the world.....

An ordinary October day has a quiet kind of beauty



The day can move at an unhurried pace....
simple things add charm

My thoughts can turn toward planning our

Thanksgiving gathering....

I can spend time planning on the appetizers

and the tablesetting

Fall baking is pure comfort food...
making pumpkin cinnamon rolls from a loaf

of frozen bread dough....

Tollhouse cookies are freshly baked and placed on a fall platter

 Spice Cake with PUMPKIN and the muffins are drawing you

toward the aroma found in the kitchen...

Jack O' Lanterns are carved and being put
on display, along with mums and scarecrows as
we prepare for Halloween....

Suddenly you see, that the quiet beauty of Autumn is all around you....