October

 

Hello, my friends! October is such a beautiful month, and if you are 

wondering where I have been, I have been trying to enjoy every last 

moment before the rain and the cold sets in! 

xoxo

I have been very busy doing some fall planting and decorating, 

watching the grandkids play football (and also the Seahawks), 

and doing a little bit of fall baking, which I will share with you. 

And now that the sun is lower in the sky, those little sunbeams

coming through the windows illuminate all the dusty little corners

that have accumulated over the summer, which has inspired me to

 do some deep cleaning and organizing. 

We've taken down the umbrellas, put away the cushions, and packed 

away the canopy,

but the beauty of fall makes up for the sorrow of saying goodbye 

to summer's sweet pleasures. 

This gorgeous shrub (sweet spire) was a gift a few years ago

from my son, Dustin and wife, Jen for my birthday. 

It has fragrant, white, 'bottle brush' flowers 

in spring, and lovely colors in fall. 

 

I couldn't pass by these charming little faces 

at the plant nursery. 

They had to come home with me. 

They have a delicate, sweet scent, too. 

xx 

My wildflower pots of herb Robert, turn pretty 

fall colors. 

They seeded themselves here, and who am I to refuse 

their determination? They require very little and give back 

 so much, with tiny pink flowers in spring and brilliant red leaves in fall. 

The canopy that was here, is packed away, along with all the comfy seating, 

but I've created a private little spot for some morning coffee

and a bit of journaling on sunny days. 

I've tried to capture some of fall's beauty inside with a few little 

touches here and there. 

You might recognize most everything from years past, 

but I did add the two little mushrooms this year. 

xx

And these velvet 'pumpkins'. 

This mossy green is my favorite color lately. 

I have a theory about color choices, at least for me. 

When the world at large is happy and full of hope, 

I gravitate towards bright, happy colors. 

When things are somber, earthy, grounding colors 

are my choice. 

xx

Black cat sachets that I

made a couple of years ago. 

Meow! 

I made these sunflower sachets, too. 

A little squeeze will release the scent. 

The old hutch has all the autumn hues. 

The ceramic houses are candle holders. 

My brown bottle collection looks pretty in the sunshine. 

Old Clorox bottles in the laundry room. 

The tea-towel on my pantry was a gift from Sis-in-law, Terry. x

Morning sunshine. 

I've had the old crock for many years. 

It's actually lined with tin and has a screw on lid

that serves as a bowl. 

An early version of a thermos. 

The embroidered napkins and orb were gifts from daughter, Heather. 

The bird was from Sis-in-law, Donna. 

xx

I bought the wreath for my front door, 

but discovered that the birds were pulling off the fake 'berries'.

Hopefully the little birdies suffered no ill effects! 

Where the 'magic' happens. 

I baked some 'Pumpkin Bars', 

and they were delicious! 

I served them to my family and they all loved them. 

Here's the recipe:

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese/Butter Frosting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Bake 20 - 25 minutes

Grease (or use nonstick cooking spray) a 13x9 inch baking pan

For Cake:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin 

3/4 cup canola oil

2 eggs

2 tablespoons molasses

Combine flours, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, 

salt, ginger and nutmeg in medium bowl. 

Whisk pumpkin, oil, eggs and molasses in large bowl until 

well blended. Add flour mixture, stir until blended. 

Spread batter in prepared pan. 

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center

comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. 

For Frosting:

4 ounces softened cream cheese

1/2 cup (one stick) softened butter

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate chips or sprinkles (if desired)

Beat cream cheese and butter together with electric mixer at medium speed 

until creamy. Add powdered sugar and beat at low speed until blended. 

Add milk and vanilla and beat again at medium speed 

for 2 to 3 minutes until frosting is light and fluffy. 

Spread frosting on cooled cake and top with chocolate chips or sprinkles.

Cut into 16 bars. 

Refrigerate after serving. 

These freeze well, also. 

To freeze, cover bars with waxed paper to preserve frosting

before sealing in plastic wrap. 

Enjoy! 

Wooden jack-o-lanterns. 

My Mom's ceramic owl from the 1960's. 

This owl traveled many miles 

over the years, 

from my childhood in New England. 

It must have meant a lot to my mom. 

A gift from my father. 

xx

It holds a candle inside. 

I don't have many things from my parents, 

but the few things I do have, 

I really treasure. 

Little ghost sachets made with old lace. 

Gothic mantel

Books I've had in my library. 

 I found these at a library book sale many years ago. 

My Father's lineage from Scotland goes back to the 1600's 

in Salem, Massachusetts. 

0 0

-

0

Entry table (an old treadle sewing machine cabinet).

The bowl holding acorns was made by my son, Gabe

in elementary school. 

This tiny 'painting' is actually a thank-you card from 

daughter, Jennie, years ago when I hosted a birthday party for her. 

xx

Back then we never imagined we would actually stay 

in Tuscany at a village like this. 

Actual vintage magazine cover illustrated by my favorite 

illustrator, Jesse Wilcox Smith, which I found at a flea market. 

Notice the date - Nov. 1929. 

The stock market crashed on October 29th, 1929. 

The innocence of this publication published right before the crash

is a testament to how quickly life can change.

Some views outside my door. 

The driveway covered in needles. 

What happens when the wind blows! 

Kai, my sweet little companion. 

He is 12 years old now. 

We are both growing old together. 

xx

A golden carpet. 

Some spooky scenes along the driveway. 

(Bigfoot is a metal sculpture gifted to us from son, Dustin)

The grand-boy's fort. 

Misty mountains. 

xx

A few views of this beautiful season, here in the Pacific Northwest. 

Next time I will take you for a country drive. 

Now that the days are growing shorter and the weather starts to change, 

I will have more time to visit with you, my sweet friends. 

Enjoy this beautiful, spooky season! 

xx

" I loved Autumn, the one season of the year that God 

seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it."

- Lee Maynard -

 

"Listen! The wind is rising; the air is wild with leaves. We have had

our summer evenings, now for October eves!"

- Humbert Wolfe -

" Autumn... The year's last, loveliest smile."

- John Howard Bryant -