I've Done The Taste Testing

October is here.

That means the heat and humidity is coming to an end.

And, Pumpkin everything has taken over.

I walk early each morning 
and noticed one of my favorite neighbors had decorated for fall. 
I call it "subtle elegance"!

Sometimes, even here near the Gulf of Mexico where green is king in Autumn, 
 Mother Nature does her own Autumn decorating.

Pumpkins at home.

The acorn candle is new this year.

I've been drinking Teavana Chai Tea

 from my Autumn mug by Susan Branch.

  Dreaming of cooler days.

I can always depend on Trader Joe's for yummy pumpkin everythings!

Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Petite shortbread cookies with Pumpkin Spice or Yogurt icing.

I'm happy to report that I've done the taste testing for you

and the cookies are yummy.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Amaze Me Monday 

Mosaic Monday

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Home Sweet Home

Willy Nilly Friday

Bobbing For Apples

The week after Harvey's visit,

the Houston Zoo decided to "proceed as scheduled"

with their annual Asante member dinner.

Believe me,

we all needed the break.

A lovely break it was.

Do you remember bobbing for apples?

I do!

It was one of the fun things that happened in the fall.
Well, elephants enjoy bobbing for apples, too!

Miriam is getting ready to toss apples into the pool for
Baylor and Duncan.

And, BOB they did! 

I'm not sure who had the most fun,
the elephants or the folks watching!

It was a lovely evening,
 a wonderful dinner,
fun time with the Asian elephants
and with friends.
A wonderful break from all Harvey wrought.

Back to the real world.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Mosaic Monday

I Will Have Had Enough

I'm sure you've noticed.

Pumpkin Spice is everywhere.

I'm sure by the end of October I will have had enough,
but for right now, Pumpkin Spice is a little thing that I'm enjoying!

Thomas Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice English Muffin
topped with Pumpkin Butter from Trader Joes.
(I'll be eagerly awaiting their cranberry muffin.)
Pumpkin Spice iced latte with Pumpkin cream on top.

Wishing YOU well and much joy this pumpkin season!

Little Things Thursday  

Hints of Change

I went to Whole Foods and look what I found.
A hint that the seasons are changing.
The first pumpkins have arrived.
These are all carving pumpkins.
I guess, here in the tropics, they won't get mushy until they are cut!

*

I found the Dump Cake recipe I was looking for.
Here it is:

Autumn Dump Cake

1 can (29 ounces) pear pieces in light syrup, undrained
1 can (21 ounces) apple pie filling
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 package (doubt 15 ounces) yellow cake mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut into thin slices
1/4 cup caramel topping, warmed

1. Preheat oven to 350F. 
Spray 13x9 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Drain pears, reserving 1/2 cup syrup. 
Spread pears and apple pie filling in prepared pan; 
drizzle with reserved pear syrup. 
Sprinkle with cranberries. 
Top with cake mix, spreading evenly.
Top with butter in single layer, covering cake mix as much as possible.
Drizzle with caramel topping.

3. Bake 40 to 45 minutes 
or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean.
Cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

Makes 12 to 16 servings.

Image from Dump Cakes booklet.

Good with a scoop of ice cream!

*

I always check out the flowers at Whole Foods
and I found some lovely tulips...
in Fall colors!

*

Then I went to Trader Joe's to finish my grocery shopping
and I found more flowers.
I think the iris is near the top of my favorites list.
I just love everything about them.

*

Meanwhile, in Musashi's Garden,
a little anole was shedding his skin.
It's busy around here!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Five On Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Home Sweet Home

Mosaic Monday

SaveSave

It's September!

It's September!

Did you say "Rabbit, Rabbit" the first thing in the morning on September 1?

It's supposed to bring you good luck! 

I'm just hoping it will bring cooler weather.
How about highs in the 80s instead of 90s???!!!!
I'd go for that.

Down came the summer welcome sign from the front door 
and up went the burlap wreath.

It looks nice surrounded by the blue door frame.


I also changed out the flag that flies from the balcony.
The Scarecrow is flying high.




Then I went hunting for the fabric pumpkins.
I'm still looking for some of them,
but it's a good start.





Pumpkin Moonshine is one of my favorite little books by Tasha Tudor
and is always a Fall favorite.






When I'm not looking for fall decorations,
I have my knitting needles going.

I've made four (yes, four) Oblique Kerchief.
It's an easy pattern and the yarn is soft to the touch and easy to work with.

Now I'm working on the Ribbed Collar Bolero.
I have a stash of Lion Brand Homespun and this is an opportunity to use it up.
If I like the finished project, I'll make some more.
I've only "frogged" 4 or 5 times.
It is a simple ribbing, but trying to watch a baseball game
and having three kitties determined to sit on my lap and the knitting
makes dropping stitches very easy!
Knock on wood, but I seem to be moving right along now.

I finally got to my Stitch and Bitch group.
They are a crochet group that meets at a local restaurant twice a month.
Not much bitching, but a whole lot of stitching, laughing and eating going on.
They welcome knitters, too.







Now I'm looking for my little Dump Cake cookbook.
Autumn Dump Cake 
made with pears, apple pie filling, dried cranberries sounds good to me!










Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five on Friday

Mosaic Monday

Home Sweet Home

This and That

It is pumpkin time at Trader Joe's. 

You name it they have it.

Pumpkin Bread Mix

Pumpkin Tortilla Chips

Organic Pumpkin Toaster Pastries

Pumpkin Bagels

*Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli

Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Pumpkin Spice Granola

*Pumpkin Yogurt

Pecan Pumpkin Instant Oatmeal

Pumpkin Cranberry Scone Mix

Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Tea

Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix

*Pumpkin Bar Baking Mix 

*Pumpkin Butter

Pumpkin Waffles

Pumpkin Cheesecake

*Pumpkin Cream Cheese

Pumpkin Seed Brittle

Pumpkin Panettone

Iced Pumpkin Scone Cookies

and on and on.

* These are the "pumpkins" I've tried and I think are very good.

I went in to get the pumpkin yogurt and cream cheese.

I'll enjoy them while I can!

**

I have a new flag for the balcony.
I change them up with each holiday or when I get the urge!

He makes me smile.

***

This is latest look at the afghan.
I've added the tulip, waves and puff rows.




I am trying to follow their suggested colors by using my stash yarn.
I'm delighted to see my stash dwindling.
The more it dwindles ... the more yarn may be in my future!

Mina has to give her seal of approval.
I think each kitty would like an afghan of their own.

****

While I wait for the next section of the afghan to be posted,
I'm working on more cowls for gifts for the coming holidays.
There are a number of birthdays to think about, too.
This is the Papillon Cowl and it does resemble a butterfly.
Fun!





Wishing YOU well and much joy!

I'm joining Mosaic Monday 



and Hookin' On Hump Day.
 

Is It Fall Yet?

Is it fall yet?!

Feels like temperatures over 105 make me dream of fall.

I get emails daily with previews of fall merchandise

and, occasionally, items for Christmas.

You'd think that would cool me off!

My favorite magazine arrived.
That's good!
The Cottage Journal Autumn issue is full of gorgeous photos.

It made me want to go out and find fall!
So, when I went to the grocery early in the morning I came home
with the closest to fall I could find --
Sunflowers.






At least they are the right color
and they look fall-like in one of my favorite pitchers 
that I use as a vase.
It is hand built, heavy and, the most important thing, fall like!

It makes me smile every time I look into the kitchen.
The sunflowers look happy with my roosters.
Fun!

and I guess the random is trying to stay cool!

Wishing YOU well and much joy.
I hope you are staying cool!

I'm joining the Good, the Random and the Fun!

And, the lovely Judith at Mosaic Monday.

Pumpkin Crazy

The world is going pumpkin crazy.

I went to Trader Joe's this morning and the pumpkins have taken over.

There's Pumpkin Spice Coffee

Pumpkin Bread Mix

Pumpkin Pancake and Waffle Mix

Pumpkin Ice Cream

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Mini Pumpkin Pies

Pumpkin Yogurt

Pumpkin Spice Granola

Pumpkin Cream Cheese to go on the

Pumpkin Bagels

Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin Spice Chai

Kennebunkport Brewing Co. Pumpkin Ale

Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli

Pumpkin Butter 

Pumpkin Bread Pudding

Pumpkin Macarons

Pumpkin Cheesecake

and that's just a few of the pumpkin "things".

I found a succulent in a pumpkin ceramic pot that came home with me.

Must be why Pumpkin is the "Pumpking" this time of year!

Then there are the pumpkins on my block.

A big pumpkin and a pumpkin Pooh!

I did find a skeleton among the pumpkins.

It's Pumpkin Crazy time!

I'm joining the lovely Judith for Mosaic Monday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Happy Pumpkin Time!

It Must Be Autumn

There's a storm coming today.

Lots of wind and rain.

Tomorrow fall makes another appearance with

low temps in the high 50s and highs in the low 70s.

Yippee! 

I just have to get through the storms today.

The light wasn't good for picture taking, but I did it anyway.

Most of my decorating for Halloween is done --
I picked up this little kitty and his mouse friend
at an after Halloween sale last year.
I giggle everytime I see him.

He likes to have tea!

Lenox has made a whole set of dishes called Butterfly Meadow.
This is the fritillary butterfly cup and saucer.
I love the little lady bug on the saucer.
Pretty wavy rims on the teacup and the saucer.

Lovely detail on the cup.

It must be Autumn if the Pumpkin Spice Bagels are on the grocery shelves!
I'm going to make a nice cup of green tea.
I don't want my tea to compete with the taste of the bagel.
And then I'm going to settle down to read Autumn by Susan Branch.

I'm joining some tea parties today:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

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