fALL is ALmOST heRE!!!

Well, Im back from our little vacation and Im glad to say that it looks like summer is coming to an end. The leaves are trying to change around here, nothing bright yet, but they are falling and getting crunchy. Its almost time to start taking strolls down the road and smelling FALL. Its suppose to be in the 40s tomorrow morning and Im lookiing forward to some coffee and Maple Cookies. The plan was to bake some zuchinni cupcakes or bread today, but when I went to get FARM FRESH EGGS, they were all out, so Ill try again in the morning.

I cant say that this blog as any certain direction today, just lots of pretty things to look at and think about. I mean , seriously, can you believe it??? FALL is peaking at us just around the corner.....teasing us with  cooler nights, cool breezes and falling leaves. The heat and humidity have given way to a calmer warmth.With these changes I want to clean, nest and BAKE. I was so excited yesterday at the mailbox when I seen the new Country Living "HALLOWEEN" issue waiting on me. The above picture was in there, I thought that was a very clever way to use a fireplace that being used for heat and it seems much more safe.

A few things that are on my mind today are crafting and baking/cooking. I mentioned in my last post that I wanted to do a FALL RECIPE SWAP PARTY. This will be toward the end of September. Then, while, looking at the pretty FALL things on the web I decided I should have a "HALLOWEEN COOKIE SWAP PARTY", this will be in October. I will try to get the details up by next week on both.

 Well, last but not least I have a project and the link for you. I did this project a few years back and LOVED it. Admitedly, its an extremely messy project, but well worth it.GLITTERED PUMPKINS, theres nothing like them. You can find the directions for the project HERE on MARTHA STEWART'S site. The project calls for extra fine glitter, but I used regular and it worked just fine. I love brown and gold glittered pumpkins next to a strand of warm glowing lights or candles......they are so pretty! HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

hALlowEen AND HaRVEst tiME rECIPes

I cant wait till all the Halloween movies come back out, not the horror movies, not the scary stuff....the fun Disney and Hallmark movies that run in October. I watched The Good Witch this weekend and it really got me in the mood for Halloween....not sure why because we dont celebrate much then, but I do love the specials on the History channel. Last year I watched one about Halloween and one about Thanksgiving, they were very interesting and got me in the holiday spirit. From the first time those foiled pumpkins appeared in Country Living magazine I was in love with them...I cant wait for PUMPKINS!!!
I love black crows, all year long...not sure why, but I do. I wish we could decorate the front porch this year, but I doubt it will be a priority......so Ill just dream about it here.

Look at those caramel apples.......Ive ALWAYS wanted to try and make them, but always run out of time in the end. I cant wait for the dreary, cool, crisp days to come. I admit I love and NEED sunshine, but its time for a change....the sun is too hot right now!
I was watching The Good Witches Garden Saturday night and on the movie they were eating chili and suddenly I had a craving for it, so the next day we went and picked up stuff for it, came home and put it all in the crock pot and by last night my craving was fulfilled. It was so good. I love chili in the fall and winter and since I could put it in the crock pot I didnt have to worry about heating up the kitchen. Its raining here today so Im gonna clean the kitchen and bake and PRETEND its fall outside.


I pulled out my fall magazines and one of them was Land O Lakes Harvest Baking. I keep thumbing through it and looking at all the recipes I want to make. I picked up the stuff to make WALNUT BANANA BREAD (you can find the recipe by clicking on the link) , A recipe I found in this magazine, I cant wait to make it this week. Was going to make it today, but dh wanted a cake, he rarely eats cake and he may not even eat much more than a few pieces of this one before hes done for another 6 months.....how can men do that??? The pic above is the banana bread. Cant wait!