Chrysanthemums and Pumpkins

 There is nothing that says fall more then Chrysanthemums and Pumpkins.

Does pumpkin carving count as a craft? We haven't carved in years, but this year we decided to get together with family and re-invent a family tradition. My pumpkin is above. I just took an oak leaf, traced it on paper, enlarged it in the copier and traced it on the pumpkin. I had grander ideas for this project, but it got late and started sounding to complicated.

This little owl Mandy carved. He was a template from a kit bought at the grocery store. Didn't she do a wonderful job? Since we didn't carve out the insides, do you think our pumpkins will last longer?

 This has been a fabulous mum year. In years past we have had trouble with our mums making it through the winter, but this year all of them can back beautifully!

 I didn't realize we had so many colors.

 

And our little Kerri, posing with our pumpkins!

 

Have a wonderful fall weekend Friends!

Applesauce Time!

It is apple season!

Is there anything better then fresh, homemade, warm from the stove applesauce?! Well, maybe warm cinnamon rolls, but applesauce is certainly much healthier for you.

Have you ever made Homemade Applesauce? It is so simple. Easy as 1- 2-3!

1. Peel, core and chop your apples. It is always fun to use an old fashioned apple peeler, but these apples were too soft to use that method.

2. Put your apples in a saucepan with a little water (about 1/2 cup) and cook on medium heat.

This variety of apple made excellent apple sauce! It cooked down smooth in 20 minutes. I think they were 'Snow' apples. They were from my Grandma's very old tree and so no one is quite sure.

3. After it has cooked down to the consistency you like, add sugar and cinnamon. It all depends on how sweet you like your sauce and how much you like cinnamon. We like ours on the tart side and love cinnamon! I used about 1/3 cup sugar and 3 teaspoons cinnamon.

 

Enjoy your homemade fall treat!

A VERY BIG Oak Leaf!

 I found this leaf in the park!!

 

 Isn't  it HUGE! This is the biggest leaf I have ever seen. 

 

Here it is with a ruler next to it. 13 inches long! We found some big acorns in the park too!  hmm I wonder if that means something.....a long winter or cold winter..... maybe?

Fall Leaves and Trees

Don't you love all the fall colors! These pictures are from the park we walk our dog in every day! 
It is so pretty there in the fall!

These are the trees on the side of our house. They get a red-orange, here they are just starting to turn! 

   

I just took these pictures today on our walk, as we came home I heard some rustling in a tree that we were just walking under and I turned around and took a picture! 

That's So Corny!

What could be better than a few ears of lovely corn to start your autumn decoration? Scatter them on the table for your Thanksgiving feast or hang them in a group on your door, here they look so comfortable in my basket by the door. The best part is that they won't get old and moldy.

  It started when I saw a few cloth ears of corn at the local craft store. They were made out of different patterns of fabric but I liked this upholstry fabric that was just the right texture, only it was brown and tan. I lightly brushed yellow acrylic paint on the fabric, I didn't care if it was blotchy in places, going for a very organic look.
 

In keeping with the organic style, and also very easy, I didn't use any kind of pattern for the corn, each and every ear that grows is different anyway. I just cut each piece freehand and machine sewed as I went along, leaving the top open for turning and stuffing. I did use a stronger waxed thread, mostly because I wanted to use it up and also it was a little heavier for the fabric.

Leftover quilt batting was cut into strips for the stuffing, it was a great way to use up those pieces trimmed from the edges of quilts. I turned the top edge to the inside and did a quick running stitch to close it up, it left a small hole, perfect for inserting the raffia for the top.

 After wrapping the raffia in loops around my four fingers, I stuffed one end in the corn top, then I poked my needled through the raffia, securing it to the fabric on the other side. I went back and forth with the needle through the raffia about eight times so it wouldn't pull out.

Then I clipped the top of the raffia so it would feather out, and crunched it in my hands to create a texture.

 

 

Ready for a feast!