Harbingers of Fall

When this guy shows up in Musashi's Garden,

I know it's Fall.

It's the only time he appears at the bird bath!

A big, brash blackbird,
the male Great-tailed Grackle shimmers in iridescent black and purple,
and trails a tail that will make you look twice.

* *

You may recognize this arrangement.
I replaced the old mums with new bronze colored ones this week.
The protea are hanging in.
You can see how they've changed.
They are beginning to dry and change color, but still add a little pizazz to the fall arrangement.
A very good buy at Trader Joe's!

***

The arrival of fall means it's soup, stew and chili time.
I made Pineapple Pork Chili and like all good chili -- it's better the second day.
It is a Better Homes and Gardens recipe.

PINEAPPLE PORK CHILI

Ingredients:

1 pound ground pork or beef

1 16 ounce jar pineapple salsa

1 15 ounce can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 8 ounce can tomato sauce

1 tablespoon chili powder

Pineapple slices (optional)

Directions:

1. in 3-quart saucepan brown pork; drain. Stir in salsa, beans, tomato sauce, and chili powder. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes. Serve with pineapple slices.

Tip:

If you can't find pineapple salsa, use regular salsa and add 1/3 to 1/2 cup crushed pineapple.

Those of you who know me, know that I hardly ever make the recipe the way it is written, so here's how I made Pineapple Pork Chili!

I like onion and garlic, so I cooked some in a little bit of olive oil until the onions were clear and soft.

I did use ground pork.

I found a jar of pineapple salsa at Trader Joe's.

I didn't have red kidney beans so I used pinto beans and I didn't rinse and drain.

I didn't have tomato sauce so I used 1 16 ounce can of diced tomatoes and 1 can of tomato paste.

I used 1 tablespoon of New Mexico red chili powder.

It is yummy! 

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

I'm joining the lovely Judith for Mosaic Monday.

September Days Are Here

...September days are here,

With summer's best of weather,

And autumn's best of cheer.

~Helen Hunt Jackson

Last weekend I put the Autumn wreath on the front door. 

It was an effort to get Autumn to make an appearance.

And guess what?!

It worked!

At least for one day.

Lows in the high 60s and a high today in the low 80s.

It may not sound like much to most of you, but to me, it was bliss!



I made a trip to Trader Joe's and came home with some goodies including these:

Such pretty fall colors!
Mums, Protea and Eucalyptus.
They should last awhile (I hope).
I love Protea and I don't splurge on them too often.

They provided some playtime, too.

The produce bins were full of squash and cooking pumpkins.
I came home with these:

Delicata Squash
Small and cute!
Have any of you tried them?
The sweet girl who checked me out said she'd tried them and they were very good.
She put a little sea salt on them.
I'll let you know what I think.
At one dollar, I couldn't resist!
And, I liked that the label said Product of the USA.

After my trip to TJs I walked into my Village.
Had lunch.
Checked out the 2015 calendars at Half-Price Books and walked home.

Cubs baseball now and then football.

That's it for me.


Today I'm joining the lovely Judith for Mosaic Monday
and The Fabulous Fall Party. 


Wishing YOU well and much joy!

"Delicious Autumn!
My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."
~George Eliot

Musing With Tea

I enjoyed the final days of summer using my shell teapot 

and oversized teacup.

I do admit, it's hard to believe fall has arrived with temps in
the high 80s and let's not mention the humidity!

But, just in case Harvest time has arrived where you live,
here is a little weather lore from the Farmers Almanac.

- If Autumn leaves are slow to fall, a cold winter is in store.

- Onion and apple skins, corn husks, and nutshells are traditional indicators -

the thicker the exterior, the harsher the winter.

- An be sure to notice migrating hawks:

Hawks flying high mean a clear sky.

When they fly low, prepare for a blow.

I'm joining:

And some lovely tea parties:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a lovely cup of tea!

Fall Is Coming!

It is time for Vee's Notecard Party.

Fall is almost here.

Every year I walk around the neighborhood and take photos of the fall decorations.

I couldn't pick just four, so here are my favorite fall photos from years past.

"Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth
seeking the successive autumns."
-   George Eliot

"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. 
So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air.
-  Nathaniel Hawthorne

"No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one Autumnal face."
-   John Donne

"Come said the wind to 

the leaves one day,  Come o're the meadows 

and we will play.  Put on your dresses 

scarlet and gold,  For summer is gone 

and the days grow cold." -  A Children's Song of the 1880's

"I love fall! Fall is exciting.
It's apples and cider.
It's an airborne spider.
It's pumpkins in bins.
It's burrs on dog's chins.
It's wind blowing leaves.
It's chilly red knees.
It's nuts on the ground.
It's a crisp dry sound.
It's green leaves turning
And the smell of them burning.
It's clouds in the sky.
It's fall. That's why...
I love fall."-   Author Unknown

Wishing you well and much joy.

Good Morning!

From Pinterest

The Beauty of Autumn

I'm joining Natasha for Pinning and Singing.

I've really enjoyed finding and pinning the beautiful colors of Autumn.

The beauty you find down here on the Gulf of Mexico is much different. 

So, here are a few of my favorite Autumn Beauty pins.

The first was taken by Mary Beth Jarrosek of Bayfield, Colorado.

Source: flickr.com via Snap on Pinterest

Christine Chitnis, New Hampshire

Source: christinechitnis.com via Snap on Pinterest

Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park, Mackinac, Michigan

Source: midwestliving.com via Snap on Pinterest

Buckshot Landing, Michigan

Source: flickr.com via Snap on Pinterest

Minneapolis, Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway

Source: midwestliving.com via Snap on Pinterest

Woodstock, Vermont

Source: flickr.com via Snap on Pinterest

Sterling, Massachusetts

Source: flickr.com via Snap on Pinterest

Wishing YOU well and a Beauty filled weekend!

Good Morning!

Source: 4shared.com via Snap on Pinterest

Pumpkin-Bean Soup

I found this quick and easy soup recipe on the Better Homes and Gardens web site. 
The color is perfect for fall.

Now that I'm just cooking for one, I'm always on the lookout for quick and easy meals.

I just happened to have all the ingredients at home with a few minor modifications.

Pumpkin-Bean Soup

Ingredients

1     15 oz can pumpkin

1     14 oz can unsweetened coconut milk (I used *lite*)

1     15 oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (I used Navy beans.)

1     14 oz can vegetable broth (I used chicken.)

1     tsp. dried leaf sage, crushed

Salt and ground black pepper (I didn't salt. Figured with all the canned products, I didn't need anymore salt!)

Cracked black peppercorns, optional (I didn't use)

Fresh lime slices, optional (I didn't use)    

Directions   

1. In medium saucepan combine pumpkin, unsweetened coconut milk, beans, broth and sage. Heat through.

2. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with black peppercorns. Drizzle with lime.

Makes 4 servings. 

I thought the soup was very good. Certainly fast and easy. I love bean soups and would add a second can of beans. I'm going to make it again ... for our next cool spell ... (November???!!!).

Wishing YOU well and a tasty bowl of soup!

Is it cool yet?

As you can tell, the sun is shining here.

We set heat records every day and

I'm getting tired of the weather!

So, in an effort to feel cooler,

I finished this little scarecrow.

The little scarecrow was easy to crochet.

He's lots of fun.

The design is by Sheila Leslie for Crochet World/DRG.

I purchased him as a kit from Mary Maxim.

And, NO, I don't feel cooler.

But I am smiling!

Wishing YOU well and joy filled day!

For those who might be interested, I found a pattern for 

a scarecrow online that is very similar to the one I made.

Click here to see the pattern.