California Gets Her Kind of Snow!

Looking straight up from our driveway~
love this beautiful walnut tree.

Our next door neighbor's front yard

Yesterday I went outside to walk to the mailbox. I had my phone and ended up being out there for quite some time. I love this beautiful season, it just makes my heart sing. Everything is so crisp and beautiful and the brilliant colors ease the gloominess of gray days. The following are some photos of a few of the days during the season that I have been collecting to share with you.



This tree is on the property across the road from us that was at one time owned by Jim's grandparents. It was long before we lived here and that has been 33 years. I wonder if this tree was standing in their front yard when Jim's Dad was a boy?

Found on the old homestead on the
side yard of what was their home.

The yard across the street from theirs and near ours.

The Chinese Elm that shades part of our home

And covers everything with "snow" leaves.
Stepping outside the door is very crunchy!

Our Back Porch

Our side yard

The path to the Man Shed out in
the backyard on this dark gray day.

The canopy that hugs our roof right now~coziness!

Looking down on the family room
from the upper part of the yard.

It has been snowing leaves around here.
Our kind of snow for sure!

And today I am thankful for all our blessings!
It is a beautiful fall day
And we are all so blessed!

Endless Pumpkin Possibilities

Beautiful Sunflowers are a treat aren't they?
But it is about the pumpkins at this time of year!

This photo just made me feel so happy
~Pumpkins can be Beautiful!~

The truth is I'd rather decorate with pumpkins than eat them. Some pumpkin recipes I do enjoy but I adore they way they look, almost always. Give me some pumpkins and gourdes and I am happy when Autumn rolls around. I am enchanted with most colors but these, these are my favorites and have been for way too long. New England probably sealed my fate on that forever.

Even though this is exactly like our silver van,
I promise this is not ours!
When I saw this I really had a good laugh.
Who needs this many pumpkins from the pumpkin farm?

Oh, I want this in our front yard!

Pumpkins are so much fun and versatile.
Here are a few of the things I think are great about them...

Topping my list is decorating with them as I mentioned!

Look what Cindy did and check
out her others by clicking here.
flickr
I like this one too. I think one year
I will bedazzle some fake
pumpkins by painting them black
and embellishing with jewels!

This one is my favorite~Be Still my beating ♥

My favorite pumpkin in my collection
so far, this year it is in our kitchen.
This is my year around art work
above my desk in my office.
Love....Love it.
Dining Room Centerpiece

Halloween Night Dinner

One pumpkin hallowed out and cleaned, remove seeds, string etc.
One cup instant rice plus needed water
1 lb hamburger, garlic, bell pepper, onions, salt and pepper to taste
(this is kind of a do your own thing mixture depending on what your kids like.)
1 can of cream of chicken or mushroom soup plus a little H2O
Add veggies if desired

Poke hole in lid of pumpkin. Grease outside of pumpkin and place in a roasting pan. Cover stem with foil. Fill pumpkin and bake at 350 degrees for 1-2 hours until pumpkin scoops out easily like potatoes. Good for the little goblins before they go out Trick or Treating on a cold dark night.

Gramma Jo's Pumpkin Bread Recipe
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 2/3 cups flour
1/4 Teasoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 eggs well beaten
1/2 vegetable oil
1/2 cup water
1 cup cooked, mashed pumpkin non-spiced OK
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add in wet ingredients and blend well. Pour batter into greased and floured pans. Either 2- 7 inch pans or 3 or 4 mini loaf pans or muffin tins. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. (Adjust baking time according to size of pans.) Cool 5 minutes in pans and then remove to a cooling rack. Recipe can be doubled or tripled and freezes nicely wrapped in foil.

Follow your favorite recipe ( I go to Costco!)

And my all time personal favorite
~get away coach with a handsome prince!

flickr*

Changing It Up For Autumn

The Back Porch
Where All Good Friends Enter!
(I don't think we even have a key to our front door.)

The only thing I bought this year...The Black Crows

Pears, not really Fall-ish I guess, I just like them!

Do You like my witch's broom?
What is Halloween without a black cat?

The Dining Room Mantel

I did some bowls of this kind of thing~
not too big on Halloween perse!

I do have a few things in that
department for the kids though!

A few little things added in the bathroom for fun!
This guy look a little "Carnival" for our Italian Bath.
If I was really clever I'd make him a little black mask!

This little guy needed a tiny pumpkin
and probably some clothes!
This hangs on the pillar between
the two big windows over the tub.

An Acorn for the soaking tub tray.

~Safe Halloween Candy~
You eat it...you die, it's glass!

The cheapo Pumpkins we spray painted copper!

Fun fake candy and acorns!

I have these on an antique marble top chest
in our bedroom. They are ceramic leaves.

Pumpkins on the hearth in the dining room.

Hall tree in the backdoor entry way.
~Would love to have you come by~
It's not spooky, I promise!