Personal Post Monday - Thanksgiving Bliss

So we were able to travel back to Southern California for a delightful Thanksgiving with family and friends.  Even though the trip is a bit long it is well worth it to see those we love and hold so dear.  A lot went on while we were there - dinner with friends, family pictures, family dinner out and more - but none more fun than the Thanksgiving celebration.  We had it at my daughter Heidi's home and it was wonderful. The tables were really lovely with wooden box centerpieces filled with all sort of natural beauty.

There were a total of four tables set up to accommodate everyone and each was perfect!

Each place had a special place setting with Indian corn (but a really yummy kind) and little chalkboard name plates.

 There was food....

 

 and more food ... and even more food - but I couldn't take all the pictures as the people were already digging in!

 

Here's the table for the boys -

 and one for the girls -

It was such a nice day - full of all of the blessings of the season.  Only downer for the day was that the Packers lost - but hopefully they'll turn that around next game.  Hope you all had a great day too!  Thanks for allowing me a little personal share time.  ~Maureen

Fall Decor - with a couple cute projects

So the beginning of November I took down Halloween and put up my Fall/Thanksgiving decorations.  A lot of things carry over which is nice - but this wreath is a new addition.  We made the wreath and the cute little inside hanging scarecrow at the Fall 2015 Stamp Camp.  It has other hanging decorations so it can be used all year - I'll try to remember to show as I change them out.  The flowers and most of the parts of the scarecrow were cut out on the Big Shot and many of the layers were embossed with embossing folders.

I used the same fall leaves but took out the Halloween picks and turned around the jar that said Happy Halloween - so now it just looks like fall.  Then through in a cute Thanksgiving candle and Pilgrim bear.

Took away some Halloween stuff and put out this adorable cross-stitch Thanksgiving picture - made by my former sister-in-law.  The adorable birdhouse stayed - as it works - that was made my my downline, Maria!

Here's a close-up of the scarecrow - although a little blurry when I zoomed in.

And here is where I put the wreath.  The witch hat from last month is gone and this beautiful fall flower arrangement is there in it's place.  Took the three pumpkins that said Trick or Treat and turned them around so they are just now 'fally' - Really love how this looks in my entrance.

If you want to see how it looked for October to compare click on THIS POST.  See you soon - have a great day!  ~Maureen

Man how time flies!! - Personal Post Monday with an APPLE CRISP recipe!

Okay - so an entire week flew by and here it is Monday and time for a personal post.  I was going to post about our Wisconsin trip - but I haven't even uploaded those pictures yet - so instead you get Halloween - lol!!  But be sure to go to the end of this post for an amazing Apple Crisp recipe - it is my FAV!!

So here are pictures of my grand kids on Halloween night - it's the first Halloween ever that I think we have not spent with at least some of them :(  But my girls were sure to send me pictures -

Paisley, Prince and Zamarah as Minions!

Kamili as Bat Girl and Makai as Wonder Woman!

Zavian as Captain America and Kyan as Iron Man!

Here's the entire crew lined up and ready to hit the streets for CANDY!

So - I had apples in the fridge that I had purchased before our trip and they needed to be used - so I decided to make Apple Crisp.  Hubby loves anything with apples - but this recipe is so simple and soooo delish!  I used my Pampered Chef Apple Peeler-Corer-Slicer - which makes prep so quick!

 

Here's a picture of the pan  - this makes a small cake pan full - this pan was 7" x 11" and is what I used the recipe below for. If you are using a regular size cake pan - you'd probably want to half it again or even double it. You can fill the pan to the very top, as it cooks down some as it bakes.

And I meant to show this ala-mode picture before I started eating it - but my appetite got the better of me :)

I also took the peelings - a cup of water and some cinnamon and simmered it on the stove - it make the entire house smell amazing and I was able to do it again the next day with the same pot of peelings before having to throw them.  Such a warm, cozy feeling in the house when you do this.

So finally - here is the recipe - please let me know if you try it and what you think.  I like it best when it is still warm out of the oven with vanilla ice cream.  But it is good cold too!  Not that it lasts long around here.  Enjoy - and stop back soon!  ~Maureen

Apple Crisp - YUMMY!

5-6 big apples (I'm biased towards Granny Smith, but Granny Smith and Honeycrisp mixed are great too.)

1/4 cup lemon juice and 1/4 cup water mixed

ground cinnamon  

TOPPING -

1 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 stick cold butter sliced into about 8 pats

Peel your apples, and slice them into a buttered casserole dish or cake pan. 

Pour the lemon juice mixture over apples.

Generously sprinkle cinnamon on top - use as much or little as you wish - I love cinnamon - so mine were covered pretty well.

Combine flour, brown sugar and butter into a pretty bowl with your fingers till crumbly. You could also use a pastry cutter for this - but I like using my fingers for this step.

Pour crumbles evenly over the top of apples. 

Put in the oven at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until nice and golden brown. 

EAT AND ENJOY!!

Personal Post Monday - Retirement Life

So - whoever said retirement life was go to slow done - I am questioning that lately :)  But in a good way.  Between keeping house, unpacking, organizing, starting my Stamping business back up here, supporting my downline in a couple different states, keeping up with my personal card making, working in the garden, canning, pickling, crocheting, cooking, traveling, reading, business networking ......well, you get the picture.  My "to do" list actually seems longer than it ever did before - but now it is mostly fun choices - and that makes all the difference. 

So, it is fall - the weather is cooler, we're starting to pull out plants we no longer want, trimming back some we will keep but have become unruly, and reaping the final harvest from our garden.  Yesterday I decided the lavender I had hung to dry was ready - so we pulled out the bunches and I started stripping the stems. 

It smells so wonderful and from the 6 bunches I dried I got this much.  Next year will dry much more and a little earlier, as I think I got it after it's peak.  But this is all new to me so I am happy with the results.

There is enough here to fill six of these little sachets, and then I'll add a little peppermint and lavender essential oils and place them in our clothes closets and linen closets.  They will absorb moisture in the air, lend a nice fragrance to keep clothes and linens from smelling musty, and the peppermint keeps moths and bugs away.

I've got to say - busy or not - I am enjoying this retirement life!!  Hope you all get to enjoy yours someday too!!  But I'm really learning to live in the minute - none of us our promised tomorrow - so we need to be happy in the here and now.  Here's to a life filled with blessings!  See you soon!  ~Maureen

Personal Post Monday - Fall decorating

So this last week we pulled out all my Halloween/Fall boxes and went through them.  We sorted and got rid of a bunch of stuff - but kept plenty to start decorating the house with some fall colors.  Fall is my favorite time of year and I love all the goldens and oranges and red and yellows of the season.  So we have fall decorations with some Halloween goodies to boot - enjoy!!

The wand tucked in was made by my daughter Heidi, The vinyl on the vase was from when SU carried that line, and the little birdhouse is all decorated with paper and made by my downline, Maria.

Candles - I love candles!! having them out on my coffee table just makes me happy!

Here is what I have burning on my kitchen island - it is an orange and spice candle and smells so good.

Here's our fireplace mantel - Frankie was made in a previous year's stamp camp, as was the framed art to the right, more candles, and this adorable little haunted house with a spinning ghost on the top.

This is what greets you at my front door.  I have a big witch's broom (that I have not unpacked yet :) but I hope to prop that just behind the green plant and add a few more pumpkins and mums.

This is in my front entry - the vinyl again is from when SU sold it.  The witch's hat - well that's in the current Holiday Mini catalog!!

and just in case you'd like to make one, and live in the local Prescott, AZ area - I'm having a class where we'll be doing these on Saturday, Oct. 3 - let me know if you'd like to join us!

The shadow box above we made at a stamp camp at Heidi's last year or the year before.  I added our paper spider webs to the front this year to give it a bit more dimension.

These are just two happy Halloween guys I have hanging around :)  The wine banner is also all Stampin' Up!

The picture above was given to me as a gift by a former Secret Sister - looks like I need to straighten that ribbon.

And I put a couple little Jack O Lanterns on the shelf by our family pictures.

This pretty spray with a cute little scarecrow peeking out, welcomes you at our front, and another at our back, doors.

Once October is over I'll take down the Halloween stuff and add in some more fall/Thanksgiving items.  It's a work in progress but so fun.  Puts me in the mood for warm sweaters, hot cider, fires in the fireplace and a good book.  See you all soon!  ~Maureen
Here is the order info on the witch's hat - click picture to order your kit!

Witching Décor Project Kit

$22.00

Witches' Night Photopolymer Stamp Set

$26.00