October Decorating with Streusel-topped Pumpkin Loaf

 

Hello, Dear Friends! Time is moving forward and here 

we are, already in the 10th month of the year, October! 

My favorite time of year. 

What's not to love? 

Crisp fall days filled with golden light. 

Sunflowers

Apples

Cider

Sweaters

Falling leaves

And the first cozy fire.

xx

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

- L.M. Montgomery -

Anne of Green Gables

The days are getting shorter (and definitely cooler)

 and we have finished our 

outdoor projects and moved indoors. 

This was my project for the last few weeks.....

staining the deck rails, inside and out. 

I didn't think I would ever get done, but 

I persisted. Now I won't 

have to do that again for a few years, thank goodness. 

While I worked, I enjoyed listening to the birds calling and twittering, 

the scolding squirrels, the distant droning of small planes 

and lawnmowers, and the sound of the breeze rustling the leaves. 

I was alone with my thoughts.....

This little beauty stopped by one lovely afternoon. 

A female red-shafted Northern Flicker. 

She raised 2 young this year. 

I saw them regularly, as they called to one another

after they flew the nest. Both parents feed the young. 

They have a loud call - "Wacka-wacka", and also 

a single, loud chirp. 

They eat insects, and are the only woodpecker to regularly 

feed off the ground, preferring ants and beetles. 

Yum! 

I was hoping to stain the playhouse, too, 

but ran out of good weather.

 

So I added pumpkin lights and called it a day. 

xx

My sweet Mr. built a door for the closet 

in our loft bedroom. Here he's adding the latch. 

He is also done with the ceiling and trim down below, 

and only has to finish installing the lighting. 

So excited....the next step is furnishing the room 

and adding bookshelves to finish our library/media room.

 

We recently celebrated our wedding anniversary. 

He always brings me roses.

xx

His first gift to me was a pearl ring,

when we were high-school sweethearts.

He saved his salary from his after-school job

 as a gas-station attendant to buy it for me. 

It came in a beautiful, silver, 'oyster' box,

which I still have.

xx

Our first 'date' was a fall hayride sponsored by his 

church youth group. I remember the four, gentle workhorses

hitched to the long buck-board wagon filled with hay-bale seating. 

There were about 25 of us all jammed in together

as we slowly lurched our way along the edge of the farm field

on our way to a bonfire where we roasted marshmallows,

bobbed for apples, had burlap bag races,

 and sang campfire songs in the golden afternoon.

On the way back, the sun had set and he gave me his scarf

 and slipped his arm around me to keep me warm. 

As young as I was, I somehow knew we were meant to be. 

And here we are, nearly five decades later. 

I've been doing a little bit of fall decorating. 

Not a lot, just a touch, here and there. 

I love white pumpkins. 

xx

I like changing out the 'artwork', too. 

Here I have a print of Monet, 'Sunflowers'. 

I found the print at a craft store and put it in 

an old frame that I painted. 

My Hoover 'Kitchen Queen' cupboard 

anchors the end of my simple, country kitchen. 

The files in the basket are favorite recipes ripped from magazines

and collected over the years.  

My pantry cupboard gets a tea-towel update draped over the door. 

A recipe towel. A gift from my sweet Sis-in-law

all the way from New Hampshire. 

I love pumpkin pie even more than apple! 

I could eat a whole pie all by myself if left to my own devices.

*         * 

^

0

Pie for breakfast, pie for lunch, and definitely pie for dessert! 

xx

Another print, called 'Resting Quail'.

Can you see him? 

I found this at a flea-market. 

I always keep an eye out for inexpensive art to use in seasonal decorating. 

This one is a flea-market painting in the powder room. 

I love the pine frame, the fall trees and

the little cabin in the middle of nowhere. 

I miss going to flea-markets.

So many things have changed due to the pandemic. 

We can call this chapter of our lives, 

"Life interrupted - Home as sanctuary." 

xx

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, 

summer an oil painting, 

and autumn a mosaic of them all."

- Stanley Horowitz -

My 1961 Hotpoint anchors the other side of my kitchen. 

Isn't this the cutest pot-holder? 

It's applique. 

Another gift from my sweet sis. 

A little appliance humor :)

Some fall serving plates on display on the country shelf

that my daughter made in wood-working class years ago! 

 So handy for when the urge to bake something hits.

My black pie-bird sits next to my vintage pastry cutter. 

The little drawers hold spices. 

I covered my jam-jar, herb-stash lids with brown paper wrappings.  

xx

A little song I love to sing...when nobody is listening :)

"Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. 

Remember me to the one who lives there. 

She once was a true love of mine....."

- Simon and Garfunkel -

xx

There's nothing better than sharing a little 

Spice Cake with someone you love on a cool, autumn day.

xx 

The weather is so fickle this time of year. 

Mornings are usually beautiful and sunny. 

The clouds sometimes disappear when the sun comes 

up over the mountains.

 It rarely lasts all day. 

I usually start making all sorts of plans to work outside.....

I'll enjoy the beautiful sunshine streaming in 

while I drink my morning coffee as I make my plans.

Should I pot up those pansies or clean up the back garden? 

But by the time I finish my coffee, 

and get ready to go outside

the clouds inevitably start to move in. 

By afternoon the rain sets in and my outdoor plans are over. 

And so are Kai's. 

We've had quite a bit of wind lately. 

You might be able to tell from all the needles on 

the walkway. 

Looking down from my bedroom window as I tidy the room. 

Kai waits to be let in. 

He forgets that he can just go around the back

and get in through his pet door :)

Fallen leaves on the lawn, seen from the other bedroom window. 

These are from the Russian Ash trees I planted many years ago. 

"Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves,

We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!"

-Humbert Wolfe-

xx

The broom, the rake and the wheelbarrow

 get most of our outdoor time these days. 

I'm waiting for a nice, calm, sunny day to plant my fall bulbs

and winter pansies. 

So in the meantime, I'll have to be content to 

get cozy with a good book. 

And watch the rain and wind from inside the window. 

Can you see my stack of pots waiting patiently under the lilac tree?

This is the book I am reading right now. 

True stories of people sharing their night-time dreams. 

I keep a dream journal and sometimes my dreams have warned me 

and guided me many times in my life. 

Do you listen to your dreams?

Of course, curling up with a good book requires 

tea and a yummy snack - preferably something home-baked :)

I have the perfect recipe...

Streusel-topped Pumpkin Loaf

Preheat oven at 350 degrees. 

Grease and flour a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.

Ingredients

Loaf:

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (home-made recipe follows)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

Topping:

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) softened butter

1/3 cup packed dark-brown sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp pumpkin-pie spice

1/3 cup walnuts, finely chopped

To Prepare:

Loaf:

Mix flour, baking powder, pie spice and salt in small bowl. 

Beat egg and sugar in large bowl. Beat in pumpkin, oil and vanilla

until smooth. Add egg and flour mixture and stir just until 

all moistened and mixed together. Fold in walnuts. 

Spoon into prepared loaf pan. 

Topping:

Mix butter, brown sugar, spice and flour in small bowl until crumbly. 

Stir in walnuts. Sprinkle over batter. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes, 

or until wooden toothpick comes out clean. 

Cool completely and enjoy! 

Pumpkin Pie Spice:

3 tablespoons cinnamon

1-1/2 tablespoon ginger

3/4 teaspoon allspice

3/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon nutmeg

Mix together and store in a pretty jar :)

xx

"Life is short, and it is up to you to make it sweet."

- Sarah Louise Delany -

"I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, 

than be crowded on a velvet cushion."

- Henry David Thoreau -

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

- William Cullen Bryant -

Dear friends, as we continue to be carried along in this tumultuous time

of incredible change, loss, turbulence and uncertainty, 

my thoughts are with you all, and my hope is 

that you are holding steady in the winds of change, 

finding firm footing on the slippery slopes of uncertainty, 

and no matter what, always seeking the high road. 

The view is so much better there. 

xoxo

September Musings with Applesauce Spice Cake

Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that you are looking forward to 

the beauty of autumn as we say goodbye to our summer of discontent. 

Here we are at the top of my mountain road, looking towards the neighboring 

ridge during a very smoke-filled day last week. 

Smoke filled skies

We had a fire break out along the steep grade leading up to our 

plateau, just a few miles away, which burned 4 houses and nearly 1000 acres,

 which kept us on edge for quite a few days until the weather changed

 and helped to bring it under control. 

Hundreds of homes had to be evacuated. 

We now have rain, thank goodness, but my thoughts and prayers remain 

with our neighbors to the south; Oregon and California, as 

they continue to battle the devastating fires 

that have ravaged their states. 

 

The surrounding forest is beginning to reveal its fall beauty. 

It is a bittersweet privilege to witness, when I think of all that has 

been lost to the fires. My heart truly breaks when I think 

of the monumental loss. 

One of my favorite trees along the driveway. 

A magnificent Douglas fir. 

It is probably 60 ft. tall.

What sort of secrets does it whisper to the wind? 

I so love trees. 

When I was a girl, there was a very old Beech tree in 

the little wood behind my house. 

It had one very large branch that grew sideways from its trunk; 

large enough for me to sit comfortably with my back to the trunk  

 and my feet outstretched and low enough, with the old stone wall

beneath it, to reach with a bit of dexterity. 

Whenever I could escape from the responsibility of chores

and caring for my four younger sisters, I would gather 

my sketch pad and pencils, pack a little picnic, (with 

an extra peanut butter sandwich for my loyal dog, Mittens), 

and the two of us would head to the tree. 

I loved those quiet hours in the dappled sunshine, 

listening to the birds and the rustling of the leaves 

in the breeze. I don't know whatever happened 

to my beloved sketchbook, but I do remember 

the feeling of being one with nature, 

and the peace that brought to my soul. 

I knew even then, that I would never be happy 

if I could not be close to nature. 

Even when my Ramblin' Man and I were high-school 

sweethearts, our favorite dates were picnics at local and state parks

( he loved my home-baked 

sugar cookies from my Grandmother's recipe book)

where he would pick me wildflowers to bring home as remembrance. 

xx

"Those who want happiness must stoop to find it;

it is a flower that grows in every vale."

- William Blake -

Walking in the fallen leaves with my faithful companions. 

We had the Grandboys and their parents over to pick blackberries

and stay for dinner in the last few weeks. 

We had a bumper crop this year. 

I have the happiest of news! 

We have a new baby Grandson - a boy, 

with fine black hair and big blue eyes 

 just like his Mother, my daughter, Jennie. 

She never thought she would have a child, 

so he is a lovely and blessed gift

for her and husband, Steve. 

Check out the side by side of little Jack next to his Mother 

at the same age. Jack is on the right. 

xx

That makes five little Grandson's under the age of five! 

Five little blessings. 

xoxo

These are the last of the roses, I think. 

There is nothing as sweetly melancholy than the last September rose. 

The sun has a softness on late September afternoons. 

 

It's lovely to sit under the canopy and enjoy these gentle, sun-dappled, 

golden days. Soon we will have to pack it all up and store it away

until next year.

My little dog, Kai, loves to photo-bomb :) 

My 'flower bed' with some fall blooms. 

Lantana.

Black-eyed Susan vine. 

A pileated woodpecker paid a visit to the maple tree right 

beside the deck one morning. These are very large

woodpeckers, a little larger than a crow. They have 

a very loud call, which sounds rather like maniacal 

laughter!

He was very busy, moving quickly up the trunk of the tree. 

Here you can see his outstretched wing. 

They hammer loudly with their impressive bills. 

I would not want to be on the business end of one of these! 

The tree has a heavy crop of winged nuts this year. 

The squirrels love these. 

Slanted beams of sunlight on a late September afternoon. 

This is my favorite time of year. 

The busy chores of gardening are winding down, 

the air is so much cooler, 

and it is finally sweater weather! 

I wilt in the heat :)

I've been gathering on my walks during these mellow fall days. 

The tall ones in the bottle are allium from the garden. 

Dried pods and seed-heads are so sculptural and interesting up close. 

Some things can be gathered only with the heart. 

xoxo

My Mother stitched the sweet needlework when I was a child. 

My crochet basket is filling up once again, 

now that the days have grown shorter. 

Christmas is right around the corner. 

I sewed some new pillows for my settee'. 

The check pillows were made from homespun. 

The long pillow is feed-sack. 

The crochet pillow was made from a vintage placemat. 

I crocheted the little sachet and filled it with lavender. 

xx

"Creativity is harnessing universality and making it flow

through your eyes...The greatest happiness in life

is to be truly and consistently creative."

- Peter Koestenbaum -

I sewed the berry-basket  

wall-hanging years ago for my Mom. 

Now it remains with me. 

When I pulled it out of the drawer, 

it still had the faint scent of her kitchen. 

It's hard to believe my Mom has been gone almost 10 years now. 

My Dad has been gone 9. 

They lived down at the end of the lane in their hand-built 

cottage for 30 years. 

It was so comforting to know they were there, so close by,

as we built our home and raised our four children.

I had many, many cups of tea and sympathy, and the occasional glass of wine

on my dear little visits in her country French kitchen.  

I can't bring myself to walk down there

anymore. Their home was vandalized and destroyed 

after their death. 

It absolutely broke my heart. 

Someone has bought the property and lives in 

the apt. in the barn, but the house has never been restored.

You can't predict or control what happens in life, 

and sometimes only the memories remain.

Memories are like photographs.  

The secret to happiness lies in how you edit them.

 

I have found a new favorite recipe:

APPLESAUCE-SPICE CAKE

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup applesauce

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup softened butter

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup golden raisins

Powdered sugar. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch square baking pan.

Mix all ingredients except raisins together in large bowl.

Add raisins. 

Bake 30 minutes or until wooden toothpick

 inserted in middle comes out clean. 

Cool on rack. 

 

Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

xoxo

Enjoy!!

" A mind always employed is always happy.

This is the true secret, the grand recipe for felicity."

- Thomas Jefferson - 

"Simply seek happiness and you are not likely to find it. 

Seek to create and love without regard to your happiness

and you are likely to be happy much of the time."

- M. Scott Peck -

"As I grow older I realize that the only pleasure I have

in anything is to share it with someone else."

- Eleanor Roosevelt -

Take care, Dear Friends. 

We are all in this together. 

xoxo