A bit of fall decorating

I've done very little fall decorating this year.  Life is so busy that I seem to have very little heart for doing anything extra, I guess.  But seasonal decorating makes me happy, so I have taken time to do a little bit of it.

Here are just a few pictures of my hutch and table.  I do apologize for the faded look of these photos, which were taken with my tablet.

This shows the entire middle shelf.  I recently purchased the Autumn in the Country book from  ThriftBooks.com for very little money -- under $4, if I remember right.  It's in great shape.  I bought the Amazing Grace sign from a friend's craft booth in August.  Love it! 

Above are several pieces of my treasured black and white ironstone -- it's Ashworth Brothers Aesthetic Black -- plus a few other fallish odds and ends.

 Two of my favorite fall mugs with my jadeite plates and "Thankful" sign are above, along with a little maple leaf pitcher and green and yellow birds.
 
 I have a faded gold cloth (vintage) in the center of my table with a cream doily and pumpkin spice candle.  A sprig of dried hydrangea from a summer bouquet someone gave me, and the "watercolor" leaf I found at The Wilds of New England in September.

Hope you've enjoyed this simple look at my very simple fall decorating.

Early October Hodgepodge

  Another Wednesday and a new month!  The weeks, and the season, seem to be flying by so fast.  It's time again for the Hodgepodge with Joyce and friends at From This Side of the Pond.  Head on over and get the questions, answer them on your own blog and then on back over to Joyce's to link up! 

Now, for this week's questions ...

1.  Have you ever spent time on a farm? Tell us a little bit about it. 

Oh, yes.  I grew up right next door to my grandparents' farm.   There were cows, lots of cows,  a hired man, and a big red barn with a haymow and a rope swing.  There were vegetable and flower gardens, a big white farmhouse with a screen porch, acres of fields and woods to explore.  And much much more.

The barn nearing completion in 1951

Have you ever grown your own pumpkin? Been on a hayride?

I've grown my own pumpkin!  You all have seen this photo before.  I'm the second from the left.

 I've also been on a hayride, but that was not on a farm.  When we go to fall retreats at The Wilds of New England, a hayride is always a featured activity.  I skipped the hayride at the recent ladies' retreats I went to, but when we go to the couple's retreat Mr. T and I will likely enjoy a hayride together.  The photo below was taken while passing through the orchard on a hayride a year or two ago.

Driven a tractor? Milked a cow?

 I haven't driven a tractor, though I have in years past helped with haying.  Never milked a cow.  My hubby grew up on a small family farm and has done all of the above, of course.
 
2. What's something younger you would like about you now? 

 Going to have to think about this one... Most likely, the fact that I like to bake, write, and go on picnics -- all things that "younger me" enjoyed.

3. What are three things you'd like to do more often? 

1)Take a getaway with my hubby.
2) Find time to do needlework.
3) Go for long walks.

Three things you'd like to do less often?

1) Go to the dentist.
2) Deal with difficult people.
3) Vacuuming.

4. What's on your nachos?

Cheese sauce, I guess.   I almost never eat nachos.

5. What's the most random thing in your purse or wallet? Does it need to stay there?

I'm going to have to check this out.   Okay, it's a miniature cherry pie, maybe an inch and a quarter in diameter, made of resin.  This was an accessory for one of those dolls people make with an air freshener in the base.  I pitched the doll some time ago, but kept the pie as I thought my granddaughter would enjoy adding it to her collection of play food.  Tucked the pie in my purse so I didn't forget to give it to her.  Of course you know I forgot!  That was at least a year ago, I think. 
So no, of course it doesn't need to stay there.  Next time I see Julia, the pie is staying with her.

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

It's decently warm outside today, but freezing cold here in the house.   (We've finally gotten some temps that are more seasonal, but still we resist starting the furnace, relying on the kitchen woodstove.)  I will shortly be going outdoors to work on my Sunday School lesson, and/or my grocery list, in the sunshine.

And so ends another Hodgepodge ... Happy Wednesday, all!  Have a wonderful week!

A picnic by the river

Last Thursday we ended up with a little bit of free time in the late afternoon, so we planned a supper picnic.  It was a chilly evening, but we weren't complaining.  After a September pretty much filled with heat and humidity, this first day of autumnal weather was a pleasant change.

I didn't have time to plan ahead, or I would have brought a warm main dish like chili or even a casserole.  Since there wasn't time for that, I made sandwiches with turkey, provolone cheese, and baby spinach on onion rolls from the supermarket bakery.  With chips and pickles, this was our supper.  Above you see our dessert -- Honeycrisp apple slices (in the plastic bag) and a jar of Carol’s Apple Spice Mix -- that would be the open jar with the spoon in it.  The other jar is cream for the coffee.

Since it was so chilly, hot decaf coffee was definitely in order.  I filled an insulated carafe with it and brought along a little jar filled with half-and-half cream, feeling quite like Gladys Taber as I did so.  Remember how she and Jill would set out for a picnic spot with a thermos of coffee to accompany their al fresco meal?  I would imagine there was a little jar of cream involved too, though I can't remember for sure.  It's been ages since I've read one of her books, a situation I need to remedy soon!

My hubby had been up in this area on a work-related errand earlier in the week, and found this nice day use area in the White Mountain National Forest.  He determined we needed to have a picnic here as soon as time allowed.  So time allowed, and we did!

I liked the look of the river as seen  through these pretty red leaves.  

We were in bear country!  Wonder if those snapping twigs we heard could have been a bear?

The little dirt road just curves back onto the state road.  There's a little path there to the right, but it just follows along the river a little way and then fades out into the woods.

The sun was fading fast.

There was a little bit of fall color here. 

Longtime readers will remember how Mr. T and I used to have a picnic by the river every Wednesday night!  A different river, and many years ago.  It was so nice to enjoy supper at a riverside picnic table again.

October goals

 A new month!  I for one cannot believe how quickly September passed by.  Here are my goals for October:

* Work on Colossians Bible study in my quiet time †
* Memorize at least 4 Bible verses and review some older ones.
* Add 4 pages to my "What Do I Know About My God?" Scripture notebook
* Continue new study for Sunday School -- A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus
* Exercise or walk at least 20 times.
* Get to bed by 9:30 pm each night. 
* Limit sugar and red meat.
* Drink enough water each day.
* Drink kombucha each day.
* Keep up with Flylady's missions in homemaking zones of the week.
* Post in this blog most weekdays if possible
* Post regularly in my Christmas blog
* Continue working on several UFO craft projects
* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and work on crafting any handmade ones
* Declutter filing cabinets and bookshelves
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able
* Clean church and set up for potluck meal
* Sort out and declutter my dad's house; work on estate
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating
* Attend a couples' retreat with my husband
* Meet up with cousins for a Sunday evening
* Take a three-day getaway up north with my husband
* Continue upholding my husband as he continues on with our church's pastoral search

 † I'll resume my informal study of Come Before Winter, by Charles Swindoll, probably in November or possibly December, depending on how my study of Colossians goes.

OCTOBER'S HEALTHY HABITS:  Drink enough water/exercise/eat healthfully/drink kombucha

WORD for 2017: Stewardship
   🍁  🍂  🍁  🍂  🍁  🍂  🍁  🍂  🍁  🍂  🍁  🍂  🍁  
 And here is how September went:

* Continue with daily Scripture journaling for my quiet time -- done!
* Memorize at least 4 Bible verses and review some older ones - done!
* Add 4 pages to my "What Do I Know About My God?" Scripture notebook -- not done -- my daily Scripture journaling replaced it this month.
* Continue new study for Sunday School -- A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus - done!
* Exercise or walk at least 20 times -- done!
* Get to bed by 9:30 pm each night -- not done consistently, but I was in bed by 10 most nights.
* Limit sugar and red meat -- did great with meat, not so well with sugar -- but there's definitely been an improvement there.
* Drink enough water each day -- not done
* Drink kombucha each day -- missed a few days.
* Keep up with Flylady's missions in homemaking zones of the week -- not done consistently, but I plod on.
* Post in this blog most weekdays if possible -- did pretty well with this
* Post regularly in my Christmas blog -- only managed a few posts in September
* Continue working on several UFO craft projects -- not done
* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and work on crafting any handmade ones - done!
* Declutter filing cabinets and bookshelves -- not done
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family - done!
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able -- haven't done much of that this month; it has been the other way around!
* Clean church and set up for potluck meal - done!
* Sort out and declutter my dad's house; work on estate-- work is ongoing with all of this
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating - done!
* Attend 2 ladies' retreats - done!
* Continue upholding my husband as he continues on with our church's pastoral search - done!

SEPTEMBER'S HEALTHY HABITS:  Drink enough water/exercise/eat healthfully/drink kombucha

WORD for 2017: Stewardship

I am certainly hoping for a much more productive October!🍁

And from the September archives, Part 2

Just a handful more (okay, maybe two handfuls) of posts from the September archives.  I couldn't resist ...

From 2010, this Roasted Squash Medley is so delicious!  I plan on making this again very soon!

Photo from Taste of Home

I think I've shared this one before, but the Fall tea wallet, from 2011, is my own spin on someone else's design (link shared in post) and is such a fun project, I had to share again.  If you need a little gift for someone this fall, make one of these and fill it with fall-flavored teabags!

From 2013, a fun repurposing project was making my own padded mailers.  This was such an easy and enjoyable project.  Older kids could do it, too.

And from 2014, From the Hand of the Master Artist tells the story of a unique leaf I found. 

Saturday spiritual sustenance was a post from 2015 and might encourage you any day that you might have a longer amount of time available to spend with the Lord.

A wonderful weekend tells the story of 2015's ladies' retreat.  Retreats are always a highlight of my fall ... such a blessing!

 And that's it!  Hope you'll find a post you enjoy among this mix!

From the September archives, Part 1

Better late than never!  I'm finally taking time to highlight some posts from the Kitchen Table archives from past Septembers.  In no particular order, here goes ...

Apple Crisp Pizza, from 2015 (and probably other years as well) is one of those recipes I must make every fall.  I'm planning to make one tomorrow, in fact, for a get-together with friends.

Photo from Taste of Home

Could you please repeat the question?, from 2007, is a somewhat humorous account of a political "poll" I supposedly participated in.

Delightful graphic from Little Birdie Blessings

 2 Favorite Freezer Recipes  

This is a post from 2005 and shares two of my favorite recipes to stash in the freezer for the busy holiday season ahead. 

 A fun fall getaway
 is from 2008 and tells all about a wonderful getaway to the far north of our state.

 Praising God
 This is a wonderful thought for your quiet time.  From 2008.

Graphic from Baptist Bible Hour

 Little library tote
 

I posted about these little totes (made from dish towels!) in 2009.  Since then I've made many.  A fun little sewing project!

Fall flower lights

These lights were a project I did with my granddaughter in 2010, and most years I bring them out in the fall. 

Hope you find some recipes or ideas that are new to you!

I found loads of great ideas in September's archives, so watch for another installment tomorrow.

September 27 Hodgepodge

Gorgeous autumnal graphic from Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

Another Wednesday!  Truly, the weeks fly by so fast.  So it's time again for the Hodgepodge with Joyce and friends at From This Side of the Pond.  Head on over and get the questions, answer them on your own blog and then on back over to Joyce's to link up!  Now, for this week's questions ...

1. What pets did you have while growing up? Tell us a little something about them.

Just one, a dog, and she wasn't really my pet.   She was technically my brother's dog; if memory serves, a combination of husky, German shepherd, and wolf.  I was unable to find a picture of her here at my home, though I know there's one at my dad's.   We all loved her, but it was our dad she really bonded with, riding in the passenger side of his work truck and surveying the view with the air of a queen in a motorcade.

2. What is one thing you absolutely must accomplish today?

Soaking my husband's work clothes.  He's a logger and his work clothes become absolutely filthy. I pre-wash them in hot water, soap, and Simple Green on the heavy duty cycle.  Then I soak them for a couple of days, again starting with hot water and the same cleaners.  Then I spin that out and wash on the heavy duty cycle again.  They never get completely clean.  Too many oils and fluids get on them.

3. Where were you ten years ago? What were you doing there?

Not sure of the exact dates, but ten years ago this fall, I was in Florida!  We went by train to visit friends and ended up being surprised by our youngest daughter and her 1-year-old.  If you are interested, I blogged about it here: What I did on my vacation.

4. September 26th is National Dumpling Day. Did you celebrate? 
 
No, I had no idea there was a National Dumpling Day and may not have celebrated it had I known.

Apple dumpling, xiao long bao (steamed Chinese dumpling), chicken and dumplings, pirogi, matzoh balls, or gnocchi...which dumpling on this list would be your dumpling of choice? Have you ever made homemade dumplings of any kind?

Yes, I have put homemade dumplings on top of beef stew and chicken stew.   Not for a long time, though.  We do enjoy pierogies, but seldom have them.  From that list, I'm pretty sure an apple dumpling would be my favorite.

5. 'There are two kinds of adventurers: those who go truly hoping to find an adventure and those who go secretly hoping they don't.' William Trogdon

So which kind are you?

Hmmm.  Good question.   A little bit of both, I guess.  I don't mind adventures, but I'm not overly adventurous.  I like visiting new places but I usually prefer to know where I'm going.  And I never like to do anything too risky.

Balanced Rock, Castleford, Idaho

Dierkes Lake in Idaho (yes, that splash was made by someone jumping off that cliff.  Certainly not me.  But one of my people.)

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Our weather this month has been downright odd.  Someone commented at church that it seems as if  August and September had switched places.  So true ... we needed a fire in the kitchen woodstove in late August, and now September is warm (make that hot) and humid.  95º yesterday!

So ends another Hodgepodge.  Happy Wednesday, everyone!