I Don't Ever Want It To End

My favorite time of day is about 90 minutes before sunset, especially in autumn! The long shadows move me emotionally. The air is *clean* and colors are brilliant. I don't ever want the day to end. If it's not too cold, I enjoy eating things outdoors like homemade pumpkin soup from a fab pumpkin tureen. Otherwise, a mug of hot cider will do! And, I want firelight either by a fire pit, Chimnea or candles...lots of candles. Do you like early evening? Do you enjoy meals outside in autumn?

 

All I Have To Do Is Dream....

The Everly Brothers came out with a song years ago, *All I Have to do is Dream.*  We have a farm not too far from our lake home that we enjoy driving by in the autumn. The road curves so drivers get several beautiful views from many angles. It gives us plenty of time to dream what it must be like to live on this *piece of heaven* (especially when we drive less than 10 miles per hour)! LOL. Do you have a favorite spot to dream about? Here are some fall leaf decor ideas and the farm. Pottery Barn Leaf decor; DIY Wedding; Leaf-Orange Inspired Walls; Upcycle - Make your own newspaper leaf and the farm!  pssss. coming soon: new photos of our all-white bedroom which is nearly finished. yay!

 

Fox Hunting? Really?

A friend's parents owned a fox hunt-fox run farm. My honey and I were invited to witness a fox run so we drove the 12 hours to experience something new. We weren't going to hunt, just observe.  It was not what I expected. No-sirree-bob. 
We arrived with our host to see 8 other "good ol' boys" sitting around a campfire in their camouflage; their dogs off somewhere barking. They had one of those portable deep fryers going.  I was politely offered a lawn chair and then a fare of bread, coffee, fried chicken, fried potatoes, boiled corn on the cob and fried squirrel...WHAT?  Yes, squirrel. "Wasn't this a FOX hunt?" Then I noticed the old pickup still *fresh* with the day's killing food on the tailgate. My stomach lurched, but not wanting to appear *snooty* I accepted the chicken knowing it had been fried with the filthy rodent squirrel....besides they had rifles nearby.  
It was great chicken and thank the Lord we didn't get sick later. Has anyone eaten squirrel or been on a REAL fox hunt?

I was expecting hunters on horses not hunters with horsepower. I was expected cozy as in the bed, not cozy "campin' far" (camping fire). I pictured a proper English meal, not meal on wheels! "What about the poor foxes?" you may ask.....oh, they were perfectly safe!

 

Autumn and Black Wrought Iron

I am so thankful for life.

I enjoy the rainy, wet sidewalks that reflect the stop lights.

The smell of recent rain makes the air feel clean as you breathe it in.

The chill is invigorating.

The black wrought iron is cold.

My hands find the pockets in my winter white wool coat.

This is the end of the autumn season, in my mind.

Farewell, friend. 

Au revoir, my lovely.

The whisperings of Winter has now won my attention.

--Janean

So what bargains on this Black Friday did you get? Or, did you snuggle down while others shopped?      This photo from Horchow and was the inspiration we used for the walls at the Old Sweetwater Cottage Master.

Monday Night Football

We enjoy Monday night Football on TV. We've been to a couple of pro games, but couldn't see as much as television. We also enjoy a lighter dinner because we KNOW we'll snack during the game. 

Okay, chili isn't exactly light, but it IS Fall-ish.

Okay, so I put sour cream and cheddar cheese on top, but one just bowl for me...usually.

We sometimes put Fretos on top of our chili in place of the sour cream and cheese!

And yeah, we enjoy dill pickle slices in our chili.....if we don't put the other toppings on. woooohooo! Don't knock it until you try it.

Sheesh, I guess it'll be rice cakes for half-time. Yeah, right. What do you put on your chili?

 Oak and Acorn tureens, Williams Sonoma. Napkins, Wal-Mart!

Acorn Muffin Tin

This time of year there are a lot of gatherings. We recently attended a hay ride where everyone brought food to eat around the bonfire.   Most dinners are buffet-style in my circle, so food must be picked up easily with tongs and it must be plenteous. I saw this acorn muffin pan and thought it a great idea for cornbread, banana nut bread or zucchini bread...   It makes 18 at a time.   They cook in no time flat.  And people get a kick out of eating shaped food, don't they?  

Does anyone else think acorns are adorable? Do you have a favorite shaped pan?  And, how about baking them in a delightful vintage Alcazar gas-wood stove??? Be still, my heart!  One day soon, I'll share my *wonderful* experiences cooking on a vintage wood stove for about 45 people!

Williams-Sonoma does it again.

All His

"Honey, aren't they sweet?" I said as I was snapping the sheep's picture from the car.    "Okay, now pull up a little farther...."     

Then the picturesque silence was broken by the mad barking of a dog charging the fence at us. The sheep's dog; their protector. And excuse me, it's his fence.  

He let us know he didn't appreciate us looking at his pasture, looking at his sheep, and especially taking photos of his sheep.   He didn't like that we were even taking up space on the his road next to his fence in front of his house where his owners lived. Don't even think you can do more than a passing glance of his grass and his trees.   So....we drove on, but not before I got a quick photo of him and his sheep to share on my blog.

Thankful Sunday

It's not bad enough I'm a "sap" for dinnerware, but so is my honey. Now, I am very thankful my honey likes dishes as much as I do, but...we have nine complete sets of dinnerware/china.   Nine.    We'd have more but I (never my honey) have to say "no," when we see plates like these Pheasant salad plates from Pottery Barn.

Last year we bought brown transfer dinnerware plates of wild turkeys to go with our two sets of white dishes for autumn meals. I actually was thinking of getting brown leaf bowls to 'marry' the colors...Argh! I need help.

"Hi. I'm Janean and I am a dish junky....."

However, I read Between Naps on the Porch blog about a dish room!    Okay, so why not put a dish pantry into the barn house plans @ Old Sweetwater?   My honey's eyes lit up.  Yeah, we're pretty hopeless.    Any other dish junkies?

 

I like monogrammed anything...these napkins would look good at the Thanksgiving table. Who out there has a sewing machine that can monogram and embroidery?

Visiting A Historical Town

My honey had talked about Hiawatha, Kansas for years because of their maple trees in autumn. We finally made time to visit during the peak leaf season a few weeks ago.  In fact as you enter, the town sign says, "Welcome to Hiawatha, the city of the beautiful maples."   Did you notice how the maples above form a natural gradient palette?    This little paradise, population 3,000, is filled with historic homes just beginning the renovation process. Here are some photos I hope you  enjoy. The town was named after the poem by Longfellow and the name means "I am looking far away."   Though the trees are barren now, I thought you might like to see what it looked like in all its glory.

The Mercantile

The 115 year old main store welcomes you with the aroma of freshly ground coffee and a cheerful woman in an apron asking if she could get you a mug of coffee or tea...not a Styrofoam cup....a ceramic mug. Nice.

• As you walk on the old plank wooden floors, you notice there's beautiful copper hanging on the tongue and groove ceiling overhead and on several shelves. (photos 1 and 2) Notice the old grates in the ceiling in photo one?
  
• There's a huge selection of gourmet foods, including those from Rothschild Farms, Jake and Amos, Wind and Willow and Olde Westport Spice. Did I say a HUGE selection? Huge.
• It's a kitchen gadget mecca. And here is a wall about 20 feet long crammed with aprons of every description for adults and even a few for children (center photo)
  
• And there is dinnerware from floor to ceiling  - room after room after room. 
• Sure there are fragrant lotions and soaps, cookbooks, teapots and unbelievable tea selections.
• Of course they carry cookware that absolutely makes you drool.  
• But it's the owners, Becky and Chris Glaze that keep CM a favorite of so many. Becky will be found welcoming you, stocking shelves or waiting on customers. Today her daughter who had a half day off from school was helping out. Chris walked in the back door, probably on his way to the next item on his list that needed to be done.
• They don't have online orders yet, but maybe someday. In the meantime, I'll just have to "represent" and shop there!

Sunday Bagles

It's Sunday.

Time to enjoy our world.

Time to enjoy the blessings of God....

Like crisp, fresh air to breathe.

Like brilliant, clear skies.

Like bagels!

I'm offering plain, sesame, Dutch apple raisin and French toast bagels this morning.

Yes, there's plenty of cream cheese.

Yes, there's butter and honey.

The coffee is steamy hot.

The cranberry juice and milk is poured in cold, frosty stemware.

Here's a linen napkin.

Now relax.

Enjoy.

Cake Dean & DeLuca's Way

Dean and DeLuca is a store we are fortunate to have in our metro.
In my humble opinion, it's a gourmet store beyond gourmet stores.
Here is their pumpkin cake.
Under the white chocolate shell is six - count them - six layers of moist vanilla spice cake sandwiching praline buttercream and rich chocolate fudge. Oh my.
At $120, these cakes are not for the financially challenged. 
However, maybe it will inspire you to make your own version...or pay a friend to make you something similar?
Anyone else like D & D?

 

The Shed

I saw Martha Stewart years ago in her garden shed (on TV).
She was patiently cleaning and repairing her garden tools.
Since then I've decided to enjoy the process of restoring and repairing the tools that served us well throughout the summer and early autumn.
We're going to refurbish our Sweetwater Carriage House into a viable garden shed. It was built about 100 years ago for the Model T Ford (made by Henry Ford 1908-1927). It's sweet, but in dire need of repair.
I'll take before and after photos and post them.
In the meantime, here are a couple of sweet sheds from BH & G.
Do you own a garden shed or have wanted to?

Wood Bucket & Cold Weather

I have a very large copper bucket I use for wood. It's oblong and I got it for a "STEAL" at one of those stores you discover that's all junky. You know the kind where the owners don't even realize what bargains they're offering. Yay!

I bought a lot of fabulous things there.

Then one day we walked in and everything was getting organized.

"Uh-oh," I mumbled, "this isn't looking good. It's getting too....well...cleaned up."  Sure enough with cleaner, more organized merchandise, came larger price tags and less bargains.

The store finally closed.

Do you have a fav store that's all junky, cheap and filled with treasures? Ya don't have to divulge the location. *wink*

By the way, this copper beauty is at Pottery Barn.

The Vase

A large glass vase is the most versatile decor accessory we can have, in my humble opinion. For autumn, fill it with mixed nuts of filberts, pecans, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts and walnuts, which are abundant in the store right now. Or choose one favorite nut, as shown. Pick up colorful leaves and pine cones on your walk. Crabapples look good with a few leaves tucked in. Pebbles or stones are simple, but elegant.

What do you put in your clear vase?

Front Porch

Is this the quint-essential Autumn front porch?

I want to drink hot apple cider when I walk inside of this home, don't you?

The mix of round pumpkins with square bales of hay, flanked with linear corn stalks is no mistake.

It's good design.

Even the flag helps tell the "story" of this home.

Do you decorate your porch, deck or door?

White Pumpkin

For those of us who really, really like white, here is a fresh idea from BH & G.
The stand I can take or leave, but the design they painted on the pumpkin is nice and something different.
Black or brown fall leaves stamped on a white pumpkin may be pretty too.
Has anyone spray painted a pumpkin?
What colors?

Fabulous Orange

"Orange is my signature color," she said, "I LOVE it!"
I could see that.
She was dressed in orange from head to toe.
Ya know what? She looked GOOD in it.

Redheads look great in orange because of their warm skin tones and eye color. Her home (I was told) also had a great deal of orange in it.

Year ago I would have given her a look mixed with pity and humor, but today I think she's cute and quirky. She's who she is.I like that....more than that, I applaud that.Doncha know she's as happy as can be in autumn because her "signature color" is everywhere?
Today I celebrate orange with her. Yay, orange!!!!
Any other orange lovers?

Diving In

Anybody for jumping in a huge pile of leaves?

Chili Recipe

Chili = Autumn.
Here's a new recipe for chili. The prep time is 30 minutes. It takes 2 hours to cook.
Ingredients:
2 pounds ground beef chuck (or whatever ground beef you like)
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
2-3 (15 ounce) cans chili beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can chili beans in spicy sauce
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice (you can put in 2 cans if you're a big tomato fan)
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 large yellow or white onion, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 green chile peppers, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon real bacon bits
4 cubes beef bouillon
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons Tabasco™
1 teaspoon dried basil
Salt & pepper to taste
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon white sugar (yes, white sugar)

Then you'll want to top it with:
Fritos (buy a large bag)
Shredded Cheddar ( I like sharp)
Sour Cream
And....you MUST have dill pickle slices on it. Aw, come on and at least try the dill slices!

1. In large stock pot over medium-high heat, crumble ground chuck & sausage and cook until browned. Drain.
2. Mix in chili beans, spicy chili beans, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Add the onion, celery, bell peppers, chili peppers, bacon bits and bouillon. Season with the next ten ingredients. Stir to blend. Cover and simmer on low heat for at least 2 hours. Stir occasionally.
3. After 2 hours, taste, and adjust salt, pepper, and chili powder if necessary. The longer the chili simmers, the better. Serve or refrigerate for the next day.
4. Top with suggested "goodies."
   

 Let me know if you tried it.