Pumkins, HUGE Pumpkins

We went to Sam's Club for the usual bulk necessities like 36 rolls of T.P., 3 gallon-sized bottles of  chlorine bleach (ya know I'm a sucker for laundry products), and 50 pounds of meat...
Well, maybe not 50 pounds.
Okay five or six pounds!
Our cart was full ("buggy" if you're in the south).
We had yummy things like multi-color bell peppers, organic spinach, four large bags of chips.
Yeah. Four LARGE bags. My other half has a weakness for them.
My honey: "You have to buy two at a time. It's the way they're sold. Two-fers."
I narrow my eyes.
My honey continues, "At the check-out they'll make me go back, so I'm just saving us time and aggravation..."
He wins.
Anyway, we're heading to the check-out, when on the way we see boxes of pumpkins.
Not your average pumpkins.
These were on steriods.
We slowed down just to stare.
A number of people were gathering to see these splendid pumpkins.
I looked at my honey and reading my mind he said, "We'd have to ask two Sam's employees to come home with us and unload that thing."
"Yeah, you're right," I agreed.
Just then a young man walked up beside us to the next check-out carrying a mammoth pumpkin on his shoulder to take home.
"Or...we'd have to be in our twenties again." I continued.
We both smiled and winked, and paid for our chips.
Any giant pumkin lovers?

Autumn Home

This is a great Autumn home to me.
The color of the stucco is a bold choice, but it works.
The shutters are rustic
The stone wall just cries for a pumkin or two to sit at its base.
Would you be willing to live in a home this color?

Heirloom Sunflowers

Last year we grew sunflowers from heirloom seeds. We had the idea of harvesting the sunflower seeds; roasting them & enjoying the fruit of our labor.
The sunflowers thrived.
They grew to 8 feet tall. In fact, they had to be supported with twine and stakes. They were "scary big."
As summer gave way to Autumn, their huge heads drooped heavily with seeds.
Every week or so we'd check.
No mature seeds....
Well, that's not exactly correct. No mature seeds for US. The birds were having a feast! I guess they were eating the seeds before we got up b/c I didn't see any winged friends helping themselves or I would have made a scare crow or place tin pie pans around to scare the little "moochers!" This year we bought our sunflowers seeds & I have a greater appreciation for the farmers.

Glorious Leaves

Leaves! Glorious leaves...
Reds, yellows, oranges, browns excite our senses.
Do you ever wonder if other animals enjoy the color?
Last autumn my honey & I went to a historic district where there was an ancient maple in the town center.
Its branches were huge - maybe 20 feet; in every direction, but bent low to the ground -- like a tent!
We stood under it for a long time, and I'm telling you, it was magnificent.
As we strolled out, we met a sweet, elderly man sitting on a park bench.
Autumn leaves brought us together with this living historian...
Glorious autumn leaves!

Growing Pumkins

On a whim, we grew pumpkins last year.
It started when we went to a place where they sell only heirloom seeds and plants.
We didn't get the scary HUGE pumpkins, nor the ones that you can make pies from. These were strictly for fun. And they were.
It was interesting to see them start from a beautiful flower and turn into large, round, orange orbs.
There's something so satisfying about walking out your back door and picking your pumpkin right off the ground under the shade of the sunflowers.
We wanted to hang a sign that says, "We actually GREW these...ourselves!"
Do you buy your pumpkins at the store, pick them from a pumpkin patch or grow them?

Pumpkin and Gourd Candles

Crate and Barrel have these pumpkin and gourd candles.
TOO cute, right?
You should be able to click onto this photo to go there.
I always think about the quote in reference to life being short, so burn the fancy candles!
Wooohoooo!
Well, I'm off to buy more candles because I've burned nearly all of mine and enjoyed every minute.

Farmers Market

It's Saturday & time for shopping at the Farmers Market.
The flowers and produce are brilliant and beautiful.
Shoppers are excited and have renewed energy because it's Autumn.
There's a trio playing music somewhere in the background.
The smell of fresh produce is intoxicating.
In this crazy economy you can find fair prices here.
It's good to meet those who grew the food that will grace your table.
I just discovered there is a an organic farmers market here. Actually, it's been open for 17 years.
They offer fresh picked, locally grown produce, natural specialty meats, honey, edible flowers, herbs, grains, artisan breads and pies, eggs, fresh brewed "fair trade" coffee and more. YUM.
I know where I'm going next Saturday....
They also offer organic hand-made bar soaps and body care items, hand made cards, wood crafts, and candles.
Yep, it's on the top of my list with a heart next to it.
Anyone else enjoy farmers markets?

Bounty

It's Friday and time to plan the Saturday visit to the local Farmers Markets!
We have Amish farmers in our area who bring beautiful, organic fruit, veggies and home-baked goods. Yum! Here's a squash recipe I hope you enjoy. This is for three acorn squashes or about 3 1/2 pounds. Preheat oven 400 degrees F.

Ingredients:
3 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbs. water
1/4 cup fresh orange juice

2 Tbs. finely chopped orange zest

1/4 cup maple syrup
(optional) 2 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme
1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries

Cut the ends off squash, then cut crosswise into 1/2 inch thick slices. Cut seeds out (can use a biscuit cutter). Place squash rings in a large bowl and season generously with sea salt & pepper. Toss with 2 Tbs. of the melted butter. Arrange the squash rings in a large ovenproof sauté pan.In a small bowl, whisk together the 1/4 cup water, orange juice and zest. Pour over the squash rings. Set the pan over medium-high heat, cover and cook until the squash rings are almost tender when pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk remaining 1 Tbs. melted butter, 1 Tbs. water, maple syrup, (opt) chopped thyme and cranberries. Pour over squash.
Bake uncovered, until squash rings are tender when pierced with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes.
Serves 8. Williams-Sonoma Kitchen.

Bravura Fall

Before the 16th century, harvest was the term usually used to refer to the season, Autumn.
As more people gradually moved from working the land to living in towns and learned to read and write, the word harvest lost its reference to the time of year.
No matter what you call it, it's beautiful in my opinion.
Okay, a little off the subject, but does anyone else watch "Man Versus Food?" He makes me SOOOOO hungry!
Here's a simple, fast, tasty Autumn sandwich recipe.

Roast Beef Sandwich with Horseradish

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons prepared white horseradish (mix together)
• Garlic to taste if the roast beef does not have garlic
  

• 1 12-inch section French-bread baguette, halved lengthwise
• 8 ounces thinly sliced roast beef
• 2 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced
• 1 large bunch arugula or spinach leaves
• Onion - Vidalia is best - cut in rings. Tip: if you're going to heat the sandwich, go ahead and saute the onion so it will be caramelized.
• Optional favorite cheese, such as Monterey Jack, Swiss, Muenster...and heat until melted on sandwich.
  

If heating the sandwich, add the mayo blend and tomatoes just before eating. Also, toasting the bread is nice.

Whisk mayonnaise & horseradish (and opt. garlic) together in small bowl.

Construct sandwich with roast beef, optional cheese, onions and greens. Season with sea salt and pepper to taste. Heat until cheese melts (in microwave, oven or in a skillet). Add tomato and mayo blend. Cut into 4 pieces and serve.

Mum = Autumn

Mums = Autumn to me.
Here in the mid-west, mums spring up everywhere.
My honey (husband) and I go out and buy several of them to plant.
We enjoy the beautiful fall colors mums come in -- pumpkin orange, "turning-leaf yellow," "campfire red," rust....
There's a few on the front porch.
A few on the deck and one for the kitchen table.
That just about has it.
Ya know, I've never put mums anywhere like the bedroom or bath?

Vogue Knitting

I heart this wrap!
Can't you almost feel the crunchy leaves under your feet and the taste of sweet apple cider?
It's a free Vogue knitting pattern.
You can visit the site by clicking onto the photo.
Of course, a truly organized knitter would have whipped this up during the sultry months of July and August.
Me? I knitted socks. What?
Okay, I only knitted two pair....well....almost done with the last sock.
I'm off to knit a few more rounds so I can start on this wrap.....or another sock.

It's Sunday

It's Sunday
Time to worship.
Time to rest....maybe take a drive?
Time to breathe deeply.
Time to be thankful.
Time to refocus and renew for the coming days.
What's your favorite Sunday activity?

Trees

Recognize these?
They're all over the ground on the way to the lake by our home.
Locust tree pods.
Black Locust trees are native to the Ozarks in Missouri and the southern Appalachians.
Seeing these on the ground is a remind Autumn is under way!
Yay!

Pumpkin and Candles

I'm getting all ready for Autumn.
Trees are turning early this year.
The temperatures have been cooler all summer.
Saw this idea at Better Homes & Garden.
It's simple, and and inexpensive.
It would be sweet to have those little decorative pumpkin-looking gourds with a votive in each of them too.
I like the white pumpkins too!

Breakfast

Sit down and let me fill your cup with fresh brewed coffee.
Let's peel an orange and talk about the approaching autumn.
We'll make a list of "must do" things like taking the scarecrow from the attic and buying fresh apple cider.
Tell me what you want to accomplish before the cool weather turns COLD [in North America].
Give me a list of things to stop and enjoy during this beautiful time of year.
Need a refill?