Autumn Decorating, Baking and Family

 Hello Dear Friends! 

My favorite season is here! 

It's been a long, hot summer, and I am ready 

for all of the beauty that fall brings. 

We are finally getting cooler weather and some regular rain, 

which has freed up my time considerably, as I am not 

having to spend my days watering my poor, thirsty plants. 

A true labor of love. 

I've managed to keep everything blooming and I know that

these are the last, precious weeks to enjoy them, so I am 

savoring every day. 

With a new season comes a desire for a reset, 

and I have focused on my health, and moving 

indoors to create a cozy atmosphere. 

I've replaced summer roses with warmer, rustic tones on my daybed and 

throughout my kitchen. 

I always start my seasonal decorating here. 

I sewed some new cushion covers to bring in the warmth. 

I also changed the botanical themed artwork. 

My son and his wife had gifted me 

a beautiful calendar last year with gorgeous, 

vintage illustrations.

 

I simply turned the rose botanicals that I already had 

hanging, around to the back, and clipped the 

autumn themed calendar pages to the boards. 

Clip boards would work, too, but I don't have enough. 

I'll be looking for more of those.

xx

I traded summer's dried baby's breath with 

berry sprigs in my vintage vent screens

on either side of the glass door. 

Warm and cozy. 

xx

xx

My vintage hutch fits the mood. 

The gnomes in the fairy garden have been cultivating their pumpkins all summer. :)

Soft, natural colors. 

Nature's gatherings. 

I traded the white ironstone on my shelves for my pottery collection. 

Wooden bowls, cutting boards and utensils add to the rustic vibe. 

I'm always on the look-out for new pieces to add to my collections. 

xx

I love baskets for serving, too. 

They make great wall decorations in the meantime. 

I made these candle jars last year with pressed flowers

from my garden. 

Shortbread cookie molds. 

The Mister's favorite cookie. 

I admit that I don't make them often, 

so, I will have to remedy that! 

My 'Easy-Bake Oven' has been retired over the hot summer, 

but I always look forward to the fall baking season. 

xx

I jump-started things by baking an apple pie for my son's birthday. 

It's his favorite treat. 

He loves the crust, so I make it extra thick. 

xx

I also baked some cinnamon rolls for my daughter's birthday. 

Here's the recipe:

Sissy's Cinnamon Rolls

Dough

2 +1/2 cups buttermilk baking mix

(I used Bisquick)

1/3 cup milk

1 egg

To brush on rolled dough

3/4 cup melted butter, cooled

Filling

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tbsp cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped nuts or raisins (if desired)

2 Tbsp melted butter, cooled

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1-2 tbsp milk

In large bowl, combine dough ingredients using a fork, 

until just combined. 

In medium bowl, combine filling ingredients. 

Set aside. 

Generously flour rolling surface and pat dough 

into a rectangle. Roll to 1/2 inch thickness. 

Pour the 3/4 cup melted butter over dough and 

spread with a pastry brush to edges. 

Sprinkle with sugar filling mixture. 

Roll up dough from long edge. 

Cut into 1+1/2-inch slices. 

Transfer to a well-greased 9x13 inch baking pan 

using a spatula, spaced evenly apart. 

Bake in preheated 375-degree oven for 25 - 30 minutes

until golden. 

Let sit 5 minutes. 

Combine glaze ingredients with whisk and drizzle over top. 

Can you say, "Yum"?

When I was a young wife, the Mister's little sister

used to come by to visit after school and we would make 

these cinnamon rolls together. 

It was our special treat. 

Sweet memories.

xoxoxox

For her birthday, the Mr. made this sweet sign for our daughter's pumpkin patch garden. 

The flowers are painted wood appliques. 

xxxx

I made a coffee cake for my youngest son's birthday, too, 

but I forgot to take a photo. 

xx

We have five Virgo's in the family.

Three of my children, one grandchild and one son-in-law.  

My Mom was a Virgo, too. 

Virgos are hard workers, give attention to detail and never rest

until a job is satisfactorily completed. 

Virgos do not seek easy ways around problems, 

preferring to maintain their integrity. 

Their motto is, "If a job's worth doing, it is worth doing well."

Perfectionist and headstrong, it is best not to criticize or argue

with Virgo, but to help facilitate and guide them along less 

pressured paths, as they are hard enough on themselves. 

xx

The living room already has a natural fall aura. 

A favorite little owl. 

The wooden box holds emergency candles. 

My Mom's owl from the 1960's. 

It's pretty at night with a candle in it. 

Fallen nests and gathered feathers. 

The orange and black feather is from 

the Northern Flicker. 

Fall artwork and gatherings. 

Lavender sachets

My grandson, Gavin gathered the acorns last summer. 

The framed photo is of my son, Dustin and wife, Jen. 

They hiked up into the mountains last fall. 

A cozy place to curl up and watch a movie, do a little needlework or read a book. 

I've got my projects and reading list ready. 

xx

A favorite genre - nature memoirs.

I especially love local authors. 

I find vintage copies in used bookstores.  

xx

Does laundry ever end? 

xx

Powder room vignette. 

My favorite little pottery vase. 

*****

More Fall Gatherings

If I get time, I would like to make a wreath. 

It's on the list...

It's been a busy summer just trying to keep up with all the many 

family events, the mister's many projects, the house and gardens, 

and some health issues that have resolved themselves 

in a positive way. 

It's always worrisome when you  

have to wait for test results,

 and even though you try not to, 

you imagine the worst. 

I now have a renewed determination 

to enjoy each day and cherish my loved ones 

and dear friends. 

xx 

Here are some scenes from a recent country drive...

The local pumpkin patch. 

Early fall color. 

My 10-year-old, eldest grandson spent a few days with us

before school started 

and we made some Army barracks and hangars out of cardboard 

boxes painted with chalk paint for his collection of toy soldiers. 

He even fashioned helicopter landing pads on the hangar roofs.

xx

We met up with his cousins (and my daughter and son-in-law)

for a stop at the local ice-cream parlor and 

then a walk across the new pedestrian bridge 

built with donated funds to complete the foothills trail. 

The goal is to have a trail from Puget Sound to Mt. Rainier. 

This is a very fast-moving river. 

It is very dangerous, especially in winter 

when we get lots of rain and in early spring

when the snow melts in the mountains. 

Daughter Heather with her Dad.

xx 

This is diverted water from the river 

that feeds a large lake further downstream. 

There is a dam upstream and this 'flume'

works as a safety valve when water levels 

get too high for the dam. 

Looking across from the pedestrian bridge, you can see the 

road bridge, which is currently shut down for repairs 

due to a semi-truck that was too tall damaging most all of the upper girders! 

It's been a difficult situation, as 22,000 people use the bridge every day, 

and the detour takes 45 minutes to an hour. 

It's not due to open for quite a while. 

To make matters worse, there are several more bridges undergoing repairs

in the alternate routes. 

People are stepping up with ride-shares and transport vans that 

can be accessed by walking across the pedestrian bridge to reach them. 

Love that.

We are a state with many bridges, as our mountain ranges feed large river 

systems that must be navigated.  

 

xx

We've attended a couple of my grandson's football games. 

My daughter's 3 little boys are all on the same football team

this year. 

This is the beautiful home field. 

They even have cheerleaders! 

So cute!

It's so fun to watch them play! 

They are the maroon and gold. 

The Hornets! 

My son-in-law is one of the coaches. 

'Defense'

My daughter is one of the snack moms and helps organize

scheduling and fundraising. 

It's a family affair! 

xx

There's always a big crowd cheering them on. 

And they are very enthusiastic, too! 

There're even food trucks for snacks! 

Sports are a big deal in our little town. 

xx

This cute yellow plane flew over several times, 

taking in the action! 

So fun. 

xx

Mt. Rainier sunrise with layered mist. 

Moon with pink glow. 

xx

I want to thank you, my friends, for your dear, sweet visits

and lovely friendship. 

It's so wonderful to have found kinship of such kind, 

compassionate and caring people 

in a world that sometimes seems anything but. 

xoxo

" To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people

and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation 

of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to

appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the 

world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch

or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life

has breathed easier because you have lived. 

This is to have succeeded."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson -

xx

"He who is not contented with what he has, would not

be contented with what he would like to have."

- Socrates -

xx

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song

above hoarded gold, it would be a 

merrier world."

- J.R.R. Tolkien -