Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Oh, Fall....


Who doesn't love this season? Seriously! Do you know anyone that doesn't like fall? What's not to like? There are cool days, beautiful leaves, pumpkins, cider (which my kids have discovered and fallen madly in love with), football, chili & cornbread, and pumpkin EVERYTHING. I've decided that everything tastes better with a little pumpkin and cinnamon added. :)

My aunt's birthday is the second of October and I made her that little wreath as a birthday gift. Last summer my mother-in-law (who is quite the crafty lady) cut down grapevine and showed me how to make wreaths out of it. I used one of those wreaths - probably 14" in diameter - and wound some berries (found at Michael's) around it. For the leaves, I sandwiched floral wire between two pieces of fabric and some Heat N Bond and cut a leaf shape out. Easy as (pumpkin) pie. (I couldn't help it).


Have you ever visited the Pioneer Woman's cooking website, Tasty Kitchen? It is GENIUS. I finally scored some pumpkin at the grocery store the other day (they had been out forever) and I was looking for a recipe to use it in when I came across this gem . It is truly one of the best things I've ever baked. In my whole entire life. SO good. It tastes just like my mom's pumpkin roll, but in cookie form, and the little flecks of cinnamon in the icing just make me so happy and cozy. It's the little things, apparently, that do it for me.


My kids (especially Delaney) are very big on seasonal crafts, and now that we're officially homeschoolers, it's a necessary part of our day. So she says. ;) We made some candy corn using the same method as our Valentine hearts, and I strung them along with some candy corn using thick upholstery thread. It took a bit of patience to not break the candy corn, but it wasn't too bad at all. It's a shame no one in this house even likes candy corn. We found pieces for days afterward, in melty little piles, where someone (Finn) had tasted it and spit it out.



I also baked these muffins, which were super tasty, but definitely not as awe-inducing as the pumpkin cookies. They're even better today, at 2 days old.



(My new chalk cloth tablerunner, purchased at the Country Living Fair, from Modern June, who was just as cute and sweet as she could be. You need one too!)





9 comments:

  1. Stephanie,
    Oh, your mantle is so pretty for Fall...I went to a craft show and found the cutest turkey that I know you could make...I will take a picture and send it to you today..
    I hope you like it as much as I did...
    see you soon, Shirley McDaniel

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  2. they have the chalkboard fabric at joanns if anyone is interested. i think they are getting ready for a sale...again.

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  3. I will make those Pumpkin Creme Pies for Kyle and he will fall in love with me all over again. I just know it. Oatmeal Creme Pies are his favorite thing in the world. This is genius.

    Also, can I please move in with you? I can smell your home through the screen and it is DELIGHT.

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  4. Great post!! We'd love to celebrate autumn at your house... and that candy corn decoration?! Amazing!

    E+J

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  5. What lovely things happening in your home ;0
    I think I'm fall'ing in love ;)

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  6. oh yum! I am going to have to try this pumkin cookie recipe! I love all the little things of fall too, I was carving a pumkin yesterday and was loving the smell of it and am eager to roast the seeds.

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  7. The candycorn garland is so creative and festive! And the muffins look delish even if they weren't as good as you had hoped.

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  8. Is there a door on my monitor? Because I seriously want to climb through it and into your beautiful autumn filled home, Stephanie!

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  9. I love your mantle...but the purpose of this comment is to ask you what color blue are your walls? It's the perfect shade, one I've been trying to find but have missed the mark completely on.

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