Bringing Fall's Beauty Inside/ Harvest Party

 

Hello, Dear Friends, my favorite season is finally here!

 I've been having fun bringing the beauty inside, 

so come on in and we'll have a cup of hot cider

while we catch up. 

I've missed you!

xx

The sun is shining this morning, splashing sunbeams around 

like bright little pools of happiness. 

We can forget how much we miss the summer roses 

when we have sunflowers, pumpkins, berries and fall leaves! 

My Mother's beautiful basket full of bittersweet was one of her favorites.

Bittersweet is such a perfect description for this time of year. 

A little fall color in the deck planters. 

The metal sign says, "The Cabin". 

The wood box is full. 

Night temperatures are dropping, but we have not had a hard frost yet. 

Some fall gatherings by my blogging desk. 

Dried Yellow Dock is especially nice 

in large containers. 

My large clay urn was a gift from Ramblin' Man 

one year for my birthday. 

He knows the way to a fall gathering woman's heart. 

xx

 I have been so busy the last few weeks that

I haven't opened my computer since my last 

blog post! 

There have been many projects that we have been 

finishing up and I have been in an organizing 

and cleaning mood. 

When that mood strikes, I take advantage of it, 

because it doesn't come all that often. 

*grin*

We celebrated four birthdays in September, 

along with our wedding anniversary,

with two more birthdays this month (including mine). 

And the drought that extended into late 

summer/early fall has kept me so busy 

trying to save all of my precious plantings 

(and many of the wild things). 

I had a very busy schedule of daily watering that 

also had to be mindful because we get our water from a well. 

It was quite an undertaking, but I am happy to report 

that I didn't lose any of my plants

except one young plum at the very top 

of my driveway that I couldn't reach. 

We didn't have any measurable rain for almost 3 months!

Now the weather gods are making up for lost time. 

xx

I have been in a strange state of mind these days, too. 

Lots of anxiety over the health of my family, the state of the country,

and the world at large. 

 I have been trying to focus on things that 

keep my anxiety in check. Gratitude for my home, family and friends, 

  doing things that I love to do, like sewing, reading, gardening, 

cooking, decorating and enjoying the beauty of nature.

And I've stayed away from social media 

until I feel better able to ignore all the crazy

that inevitably seeps in. 

Sometimes it's hard to stay centered.

I'm sure you are all feeling the same.

So anyway, that's where I've been

but I've been away too long. 

xx

A sweet needlework to bring in the season. 

Some fall dishes. 

I found the 'Strawflower' sugar bowl by Kenmark at an antique shop

 and have been searching for more pieces. 

I just love it. 

I don't have an autumn dish set. 

Yet. 

xx

Now I have something new and sweet to collect! 

I turned a too-small embroidered table runner into a window valance. 

My Mother's ceramic candle holder from my childhood.  

Looking out the window I see my children's playhouse.

Once they grew up,  

it was used as a dog house for several precious dogs, and now it is 

a place to store garden tools.

My son, Gabe found this watercolor at a gallery 

in Seattle and gifted it to me. 

Art imitates life. 

xx

I've sewn a few fall pillows. 

I like to collect flea-market art for each season. 

Beautiful gifted flowers

xx

Kai seems to know when I am taking photos. 

He likes to photo-bomb. 

xx

We'll be taking down the umbrellas and canopy 

this week. I will be sad to see them go.

 

My coral impatiens and black-eyed Susan vine are still blooming. 

xx

My tall, hand-crafted hutch opposite the day-bed

has soft woodland hues. 

It was made by someone named 'Bruce' in the early 1960's

which he signed in the back. 

We rented a tiny home in a cherry orchard when we 

moved to Oregon as newlyweds in the 1970's.

This hutch was in the kitchen.  

The landlord gave the hutch to us when we moved 

because we had completely remodeled the little house 

while we lived there. 

My first two children were born there. 

I have lovely memories of that sweet and simple time in our lives. 

I hosted a 'Harvest Party' for some of my favorite 'girls',

now that we are all vaccinated. 

There were seven of us, one a 'birthday girl'.  

Everyone brought a 'dish'

and they were quite creative. 

We also had delicious stuffed mushrooms, 

but I neglected to take a photo

before we gobbled them up. 

 Harvest Apple Cider

8 whole cloves

2 or 3 small cinnamon sticks

1 tea bag

3 inch slice of dried orange peel

4 cups apple cider

4 cups pineapple juice

Place spices, tea bag and orange peel in a square

of cheesecloth and tie in a bundle. 

Place remaining ingredients in a 3 qt. slow cooker

and add spice bundle. 

Cover and cook on low 2 hrs. 

I put fun stickers on the glassware.

xx 

We also had cider beer and I made a big batch of white Sangria. 

The Sangria was a big hit and it turned out delicious. 

Apple, Pear and Rosemary Sangria Blanco

2 Fugi apples (or your favorite), cored and thinly sliced

2 Bartlett pears, cored and thinly sliced

2 cups apple cider

1 (750-mi) bottle dry white wine

3 sprigs fresh rosemary

1 (750-mi) bottle dry white sparkling wine, chilled

1/2 cup cranberries

In a large pitcher, combine apple and pear slices, apple cider, wine,

and rosemary. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up 

to 2 days. 

Stir in the sparkling wine and cranberries just before serving. 

Makes 8-10 servings

I doubled the recipe, let it steep for 2 days, and served it in a large glass decanter.

xx 

I used my vintage ironing board as an extra serving table. 

It usually resides in my sewing room. 

I made 'Toadstool' cupcakes with white chocolate chips 

turned upside down, and donut hole 'acorns' dipped in melted 

chocolate chips and chocolate sprinkles with pretzel stick stems. 

Everyone loved those and took several home. 

Chicken pot pies made in muffin cups 

were delicious and so easy to make. 

I prepared the filling the night before. 

Here's the recipe:

I doubled it for the party. 

Mini Chicken Pot Pies

serves 8

1 package (10 oz) frozen mixed vegetables, cooked. 

(I used peas and carrots)

1 dozen tiny golden potatoes, cooked, peeled and diced.

1 cup cooked, diced chicken.

1 small can (10 and 1/2 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup. 

(I used the kind with herbs)

1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning if desired. 

1 can (16.3 oz.) refrigerated Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers Original Biscuits.

(8 count)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. 

Lightly grease 8 regular-sized muffin cups

In medium bowl combine vegetables, chicken, seasoning and soup; mix well. 

Press each biscuit into a 5 or 6 inch round with the heel of your hand. 

Firmly press each round into a greased muffin cup forming a 3/4 in. rim. 

Spoon about 1/3 cup chicken mixture into each.

Pull edges of dough over filling toward center. 

Pleat and pinch dough gently to hold in place. 

Bake 25 - 30 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown. 

Cool one minute and remove from pan. 

Yum!  

 I served it with an Autumn salad made with baby greens, 

sliced pear, candied walnuts, dried cranberries

 and red onion. I forgot to add the gorgonzola cheese crumbles. 

There's always something forgotten in the rush of things.

It was tasty just the same. 

(Dip the pear slices in bottled lemon juice to keep from browning) 

I used store-bought raspberry-walnut vinaigrette for the dressing.

xx  

We had a wonderful time. 

It's always sad to say goodbye, 

but we get to keep all of the sweet memories. 

One of the projects Ramblin' Man worked on this summer

was replacing the old picket fence with this nice rail fence. 

It has wire fencing attached to keep a certain little white dog 

close to home. xx

He also fixed the walkway stairs. 

A critter had tunneled it's way under, 

lifting some of the pavers, which 

made it hazardous to negotiate. 

He filled underneath with gravel to prevent

future tunnels. 

My son, Dustin helped limb up some of the low-hanging 

branches earlier this spring. Now we have a 

much clearer sight-line! 

Dustin helped build the walkway

his senior year of high school. 

The projects never end, but they are 

always labors of love. 

xx

Next time I will show you the finished library room that 

we have been working on for a year! 

It's finally done! 

xx

I know that my blog feed has been interrupted 

and doesn't update on many of your sites. 

Please try unfollowing me and then re-following to see if that works. 

You can always just type 'Beatrice Euphemie' in your search engine and it will come up.

xx 

Please take care, dear friends. 

Life is precious. 

xx