Autumn colors... basking in the warm fall sun

Crab apples, pears and papery evening primrose pods gathered from my back yard...

Balloons leftover from my son's birthday...

Yesterday we had a snow storm...and it sure was beautiful! This morning was only 25* so the warming sun and the highlighted hues of Autumn were a very welcome splash of color...

 :)

Free Pretty Things for You vintage images...DIY cupcake wrap tutorial link

Hello and Happy Tuesday! This wonderful and clever link from Free Pretty Things for You,  popped up in my inbox and I just had to share : )
                                                                            Hope you have a great day!

cupcake wrapper tutorial

elegant pumpkin, beautiful pumpkin, yummy pumpkin

I'm in that pumpkin kind of mood...
There is something so appealing about pumpkins. From a design point of view; the different shapes, sizes colors and funky textures. Then from a foodie perspective there is the taste, oh the taste and the different ways to use pumpkin in the kitchen...whether it is savory or sweet, its up to you.
I didn't even touch on pumpkin carving...

I have found a few delicious and delightful ways to use pumpkins this season...enjoy!



                         Katie Grace Designs mason-jar-pumpkin-trifle  tutorial

                                          ozma of odds paper-pumpkin
You will fin the most delightful tutorial on how she made all this scrumptious whimsy on her blog... 

My recipe for:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Brownies

Cream until Fluffy…

1 C. butter

1 C sugar

1 C brown sugar

1 egg

2 tsp. Vanilla

Combine separately…

2 C flour

1 tsp. Baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. nutmeg

15 oz. canned or freshly cooked pumpkin

2 C chocolate chips

Alternately add dry ingredients and pumpkin to the butter mix. Stir in chocolate chips.

Spread dough into greased 9X13” pan. Bake at 350* about 40 minutes.

Slice when cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar to serve.

caramel corn popcorn balls

   Yesterday my hubby suggested that the boys might like to make popcorn balls...and I thought it would be a fun Fall activity to do so I checked for recipes and checked my pantry and discovered that I lacked corn syrup to make the traditional recipe. I love to experiment with cooking and I had a recipe I thought I could play around with...so I substituted honey in the recipe and I think it turned out yummy!

              STICKY CARAMEL CORN POPCORN BALLS

3/4 c honey
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 water
1 tsp. salt
2 tbl. real butter
1 tsp. vanilla


Combine the sugars, salt, honey and water in heavy bottom saucepan. Place over med-low heat, stirring until mixture boils. 

Add butter and stir until mixture begins to thicken. Cook until the firm ball stage or until the mixture holds together when dropped into cold water. Add vanilla and stir.

 Pour over freshly popped popcorn and form into balls with buttered hands.

I think next time I make this recipe I might use it for caramel corn and add peanuts and other add-ins for a "Cracker Jack" like effect...can't wait to try it out :0)

a friend in need ...a friend in deed or is that indeed ??!

http://www.facebook.com/amber.heagerty

It seems that lately every time I want to sit down at the computer and have a little "me" time, I am interrupted by something, or one of the kids needs my attention...admittedly I often times like a little distraction, but when I am wanting to have a little time to put my thoughts together I like to be left to my own...So hopefully with no further ado, I can finally post what I had planned sharing a few days ago...
First hit my Facebook link above to watch the turtle video that I posted on my FB page... I think it's less than 2 min. long and then come right back~I'll wait for you... OK, are you back?

As I posted that amazing video, I wondered at how often I was like the turtle who was there to lend a helping hand (or in this case a flipper LOL) to her friend and give her a push...
On the other hand, I asked myself how many times I ended up like the turtle on her back that needed the help of a friend , who sometimes gets herself into a jam and can't find the proper way out of it on her own...and who needed that little push from a kind friend to get back on her feet.
I truly strive to be the type of person who more often is the one who offers to help than the one who is stranded and needs the help...
As I continued to watch  and wonder at the simplicity yet the magnitude of such a simple act of helping a friend in need...it reminded me of "pay it forward"...I just love that idea!!!
Here's to having a great day... Wishing you well!

I have been working on my new Etsy shoppe and hope to have that up and running soon...I will give you updates and keep you posted.