Surprise Surprise!

I am pumpkin too!

You Are Pumpkin

Realistic and practical, you see the world for how it is. You know what it takes to succeed in life... And you're happy to help others reach their goals.

What Color Orange Are You?

Weekend Ramblings

I feel somewhat productive this weekend after finishing my Martha Stewart glitter pumpkins. I have to say glitter has to be the messiest craft supply on earth! My table cloth is full of it and I think I will be wearing glitter in my hair for the next week. I'm happy with how they turned out and since I used "fake" pumpkins I won't have to make them again next year.


I also finished decorating my fireplace and put some pumpkin spice scented candles on the mantel, I am thinking I need to add a little fall decor to this area too. Ignore the paint samples on the wall; I am still trying to figure out what color to paint the room. I also picked up the cookbook holder to house my favorite magazines and cookbooks. I eventually want to scrapbook my favorite recipes and display the book on this holder.


Last but not least we added a new family member to keep our bird "fluffy" company. The new little green bird has been lovingly named "Chloe" by my daughter. I can't wait for the sound of little "chatter" in the mornings over coffee.


Have a great week!

Come said the wind to
the leaves one day,
Come o're the meadows
and we will play.
Put on your dresses
scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone
and the days grow cold.

Crazy For Pumpkins

I made a trip to Michaels today and don't know how I missed these but while scanning the sales ad I discovered pumpkin scented pinecones! I love the cinnamon Christmas ones and buy them every year! Needless to say I am off to Michaels again this week in search of these! I am just giddy with excitement!


Speaking of pumpkins check out these cool Papier-Mache pumpkins from marthastewart.com. I remember making paper mache crafts when i was kid in school using the same technique.

Love is...

In no particular order these are the things that make me happy; the simple things in life.

I do not need the largest house, the best car or a career to feel successful. Success for me is creating a beautiful and warm home and staying true to the people I love. I think we get too wrapped up in the material world and forget what is truly important. Annmarie my dear friend, I am tagging you to list all the things you love on your blog :)

• The smells of Autumn and the rustling of newly fallen leaves
• An Ocean Breeze
• A cottage by the sea
• The warmth of the sun
• The breeze in your hair
• Fresh baked warm bread
• Pumpkin Pie
• Chocolate
• A garden
• Laughter & meaningful talks with a dear friend
• A morning symphony from a little bird
• Unconditional love from a little lap dog
• Hugs & kisses from the dear little ones that hold your heart strings
• A dragonfly admiring the garden
• A newly bloomed rose
• The first sip from freshly brewed coffee
• Cool cotton sheets
• Fluffy pillows
• A warm bubble bath
• Cozy Pajamas
• A fire in the fireplace on a cool night
• A good book
• Home & garden magazines
• An Audrey Hepburn movie
• Beautiful Fabric
• Yarn & Knitting Needles
• Patterned Paper
• Vintage treasures

The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest. ~Thomas More

TGIF!!!

Oh how I live for Friday! I guess I have become a homebody of late; there is nothing better than reading blogs, chatting with my best friend and drinking a little cup of heaven!





Who knew that I would be able to do my grocery shopping and find my favorite coffee on the coffee aisle! I forgot how wonderful Dunkin Donuts coffee is! There are a few things I miss from home and this was one of them. Now if we could just get Fall a little earlier and a Trader Joes I would be set!

The only thing that would make the coffee better is a piece of fresh baked pumpkin bread. I've had this little book "Gifts from the Kitchen" for quite sometime and it has the most wonderful pumpkin bread recipe in it. I usually make these around the holidays and give them away as gifts.



Here is the recipe:

Hancock Inn Pumpkin Bread

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup oil
3 eggs
2 to 3 cups mashed pumpkin (I use canned)
1 cup chopped nuts (I usually omit because I'm not a big fan of nuts in baked goodies)
1 cup raisins (optional)
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix sugars and oil. Add eggs, mashed pumpkin, nuts and raisins. Sift together flour, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. fold into sugar and oil. Bake in greased loaf pans at 350F for 1 to 1.5 hours until it is brown and tests down in the middle.

Makes 2 large loaves.

All Things Autumn

I've been so busy lately it's been hard to even think of what to blog.

Then as I was talking to my dearest friend she reminded me there is still beauty in the world such as Autumn. This is what makes me miss home the most; the crispness of the air, the colorful symphony of leaves, warm cider and the smell of pumpkin spice. I guess the Northeast is starting to feel a little bit of Fall weather and as the kids head back to school what I would give to have it blow our way. It will be quite some time before Fall finds it way to Texas but oh how I love it and I am devoting today's blog to all things Autumn.





You can't feel the nostalgia without the smell of fallen leaves, a freshly carved pumpkin, cider simmering on the stove or a pumpkin pie in the oven. Thank goodness for Yankee Candle for recreating those wonderful smells! I noticed the other day my tart canister is pretty low and its getting time to stock up. I checked out Yankee Candle and they have new fall scents out. Some of them are Autumn Woods, Cider Web, Fall Festival, Frosted Pumpkin, and Pomegranate Cider.


My favorites that I usually buy are Spiced Pumpkin, Autumn Wreath and Harvest. I can almost smell them as I type!




Autumn always feels cozy and I love all of the warm colors. Check out these ideas I found.





I can definitely picture myself sitting here enjoying a nice glass of wine.






And no Autumn day would be complete without a good hearty soup! I was searching for recipes and stumbled upon this one. The name alone peaked my curiosity and looks delicious. Best of all it's vegetarian!

EMERALD BUDDHA SOUP This vegan stew is speckled with barley and beans and fragranced with flavors from the spice trade. Top it with mint pesto made from 1 cup fresh mint pureed (in the food processor or blender) with 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and garlic, or use purchased pesto. 2/3 cup dried pinto and/or kidney beans 1 tsp. salt 2 cups chopped onions 1 Tbsp. olive oil 5 cups vegetable stock or broth 2/3 cup French green lentils, rinsed and drained 2/3 cup pearl barley 1 Tbsp. minced garlic (6 cloves) 1/2 tsp. ground turmeric 1/8 tsp. ground cumin 1 15-oz. can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained 1 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper 4 cups baby spinach (or 1/2 of a 10-oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well-drained) Pesto (optional) (see intro, above) 1. Rinse and drain pinto beans. Place in a large saucepan with 4 cups water. Cover and let stand overnight. (Or, bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand 1 hour.) Drain and rinse beans. Add 4 cups fresh water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Add 1 teaspoon salt and cook 30 minutes more. 2. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven cook onions in hot oil until golden. Add stock, lentils, barley, garlic, turmeric, and cumin. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Stir in garbanzo beans, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Cover; cook 30 minutes more. 3. Stir cooked pinto bean mixture into lentil mixture. Cool slightly. Add spinach at last moment to just wilt. Add additional water, if necessary, to desired consistency. Serve with pesto, if desired. Makes 8 servings. MAKE-AHEAD DIRECTIONS: Make the soup up to 3 days ahead, leaving out the spinach until ready to serve. Cook and stir over low heat until heated through. Stir in spinach.

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting
and autumn a mosaic of them all.
- Stanley Horowitz

Crazy, Crazy Life

Does life ever slow down? I'm beginning to think not! I can't remember the last time I blogged but it feels like I have been running non-stop the last few weeks with no relief in sight. After a rainy summer it finally stopped and boy did it get hot! The last few days have been triple digits with heat indexes near 120! Mother nature can bring the rain back now and I won't complain!

My husband was working in the yard on Saturday; the dragonflies were enjoying the weather and playing with each other in mid air. He managed to capture these amazing images.



When i was a child I used to love to go to the library; in fact I still do. I am a self proclaimed bookaholic if there is such a thing. I don't read as much as I used to but I love to buy a good book every once in awhile. Here are a few books I will be checking out on the next trip to Borders.