Halloween Decor and Yummy Treats!

It's that time of year again.  We've been busy here getting ready for costumes and parties.  I put up a few more decorations for Halloween.  Overall, I've paired down my Halloween decorations in favor of more Fall ones.  I take the Halloween things down the day after.  I find myself thinking ahead to Christmas this year.  I am a little sad the weather has been so strange this Fall.  It's either unusually chilly or really warm.  Tuesday we had some wicked storms that came through all of my leaves are down.  Boo...hoo! 

This little ghost collection I've had for awhile.  My kids love the one that lights up the most.  I made it years ago in ceramic class.   I didn't get a picture of it my camera batteries died.  You can probably see it in my other photo albums.  I have to put that and the bat every year.  They love the stuffed squeaky bat! Gotta love kids!

Someone else is ready for Halloween too. It's BOO our dog!

Here's a link to some yummy treats I baked this week.  Double Kissed Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Picky Palate. I love the little Pumpkin spice kisses.  You can find them at Target.  I picked up a few bags and am planning on trying another treat soon. If you can't find these near you butterscotch chips can be substituted. These were very cakey.  If you like cake you'll like these. One of the things I like about her site is she comes up with great shortcuts.  These could be made just by modifying your basic chocolate chip cookie recipe or a mix.  Happy Baking!

Photo courtesy of Jenny at Picky Palate

What are you plans this year? Do you and your family celebrate Halloween? If you do to what extent do you go all out and have the outside of you house looking spooky? Do you trick or treat, pass out goodies, have a Fall Harvest Party? I'd love to hear all about it.




Happy Halloween, enjoy your family

Carey

Spirtual Journey

I've had the most wonderful weekend!  I just had to share with you...it's a little off my normal decorating and recipes topics.  I went on a Walk to Emmaus.  I decided to go after hearing about this experience from my mother-in-law.  The amount of joy I experienced is beyond words.  I have been a Christian all my life.  My Dad was a Methodist minister so this is not a new idea for me.  I spent countless hours attending Sunday school and church services (sometimes twice on Sunday) and vacation Bible school.  My father had three small country churches once place we lived so my mom and I would go with him to at least two services sometimes.  When he passed away it was very difficult, but my mom raised me alone.  We continued attending church and she was the best example of a humble servant that I've every known. However, this was a religion free experience.  We never talked about denominations or our profession.  We only talked about God and how to walk closer with him.  It wasn't about anybody else but our relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Before I attended I thought I had this all figured out....this was no ordinary retreat.  I have a new outlook...feel spirtually alive and nourished.  I am so glad to call myself a princess of the King.  I realized that all the stuff that we fill ourselves up with whether it's a priority list, activities, alcohol or drugs, other people it can't make us whole because he is the one that we need.  He's counting on us...we have to count on him.  We do that through Study, Prayer and Action.  If you have any interest in taking this spirtual walk then I would ask that you check in your area for a walk.  You will need a sponsor too.  This is something that I hope that you would consider.  Here's the link to Emmaus Upperoom.

Have a Blessed Day!
Carey

Halloween Cupcakes

It's been sunny here and feeling like the end of summer rather than Fall.  Basketball practices have started and we're in full swing with activities.  We have visited the orchard a few times and attended fall festivals.  In addition we've been celebrating birthdays!  I'm made some yummy cupcakes and cakes lately.  I got the idea from Picky Palate, she made hers brownies.  I adapted her idea and made cupcakes.  It's super easy, check it out here.  They were a huge hit in my son's class.  Everyone assumed that the bakery made them, kudos for mom!

I used vienna sandwich cookie instead of the Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies she used.  I couldn't find them.

Have a wonderful week!

Carey

Happy Birthday to my Little Boy!

You will always be the apple of my eye!  You stole my heart the day that you looked up at me and said  "Mommy".  I will never stop loving you, Happy Birthday Beautiful, Beautiful Boy!

I love you with all my heart!

Mom

Apple Orchard and my New Apple Sign

I love this lil' long cabin at the orchard.

My daughter picking a granny smith apple

I have been following Lynn's blog for awhile and fell in love with her work.  I had also seen this on Aunt Ruthie's blog and didn't feel like it was something I could recreate so I asked Lynn.  She did an inspired version of the one from her blog.  If you would like to see how she made it she wrote about it on her blog Painting Thyme Needfuls.  It turned out great!  I can't tell you how nice it looks in person.  I just love it, and it fits in perfect for my kitchen.  The rolling pin is a real vintage one too.  

I put it above my pantry in a prominent place in my kitchen, when you walk in my side door which is just about what all our guests do, you see this!

Anyone know how to fix these picture issues for a few weeks now I've not been able to load pictures correctly, ugh... so frustrating.  I've had trouble before and can't remember where you can adjust the settings.

Have a wonderful Fall weekend!

Carey

Harvest Apple Squares

Yummy Harvest Treats

Harvest Time Apple Squares

2 c flour
1 c brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar, divided
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 c walnuts
8 oz. pkg cream cheese
2 Tbsp. milk
1 egg beaten
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 1/2 cup granny smith apples, cored, peeled, and chopped

Combine flour, brown sugar, 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon.  Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; stir in walnuts.  Reserve 2 cups crumb mixture.  Press remaining mixture into greased 13 x 9 baking pan.  Combine cream cheese and milk, mixing until well blended.  Add remaining sugar, egg and vanilla.  Mix well and pour over crust.  Top with apples.  Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Cool before cutting.  Makes one dozen squares. 

This recipe comes from the new Gooseberry Patch cookbook Homemade Harvest. This smells yummy when you're baking and you get that first wiff from the oven, it was delicious too.

Happy Baking!

Carey