Thankful Blessings Part 2

In the past few weeks I've been trying to make some changes.  One of them being my attitude.  Instead of focusing on the have not's in my life or what isn't good I'm counting my blessings.  I have been writing them down in a journal.  At dinner every night we as a family share what we're thankful for too. 

Here's my latest thoughts:  I'm thankful for....

an able body

The other night my hubby and I made a trip to the emergency room, he wasn't seriously hurt but we thought he might have broken his foot.  Anyway, a lot of people in the waiting room and other various things brought to my attention I have a healthy body. 

my warm home (in this weather lately I'm so thankful)

baking in my kitchen with modern technology

not moving again (this time last year was difficult getting settled and decorating for the holidays)

being with my husband (so many military wives and families are separated this time of year, we're so lucky!)

What are you thankful for this week?  I'll be back soon with some new recipes and some inspiring decorating ideas.  Shh...I'm doing mine before Thankgiving this year and breaking my own rule.

Blessings! ~
Carey

Halloween Highlights and a Fall Caving Trip!

Hello Blogging friends!  I wanted to share our trip pictures and Halloween pictures with you.  Our kids were on Fall break last week.  I had to teach class Thursday afternoon so we set off Friday morning for Kentucky.  My husband is an avid caver and he loves being able to get dirty and take the kids places he's been.  Now that they are getting older we can do that.  I think this must be the perk of having a preteen! My daughter has been reading some books about Floyd Collins and it was neat to see her put things together from the book.  We visited Sand Cave, Crystal Cave and explored Flint Ridge then Saturday took a tour at Mammoth.  I highly recommend doing this if you are ever in Kentucky.  You may not want to do it if you have a fear of small places though.  It was fun to spend time together and get dirty.  However, I was very sore!  We only ventured inside two caves Mammoth and Devil's Den.  I crawled about 50 feet in one, not fun!  My son loved it, now he wants to go with Dad all the time.  My daughter not so much. She isn't one for getting dirty and she said she didn't like the small spaces. 

This section of Mammoth is called Fat Man's Misery, it's kinda narrow

Look how dirty we were after coming out, this was Devil's Den, no movie theater lighting in here.

After finishing our tour at Mammoth we headed north for home.  We got home just in time to trick or treat.  There is a time difference in Kentucky than where we live in Indiana so we really had to hurry.

This house is right by our school, I used to walk by it everyday growing up.  Don't you love it?

My little Harry Potter

His archmesis, Bellatrix Lestrange

the all important loot!

Smokey, our cat in his costume

I'll be back soon with some yummy treats!

Blessings to you,

Carey

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

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

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

Mantle Project and More Fall decorating

Good morning, I hope you are all cooling off and feeling more fall like in your area.  I'm loving the weather in Indiana lately! When I attended the Country Living Fair this last weekend I found some galvanized buckets that I had been looking for.  I was inspired by Aunt Ruthie's Mantle.  I sort of combined a few of her looks here.  I bought some raffia and burlap ribbon at Jo Ann's.  My son and I gathered some twigs outside (free!) I love that.  They wanted 7.99 for some at the craft store. I spent a little over 20 dollars on everything.  I still have a ton of raffia left too.  So here is the new look...

 top of my pie safe dough bowl

my dining room table

cute lil' cinnamon pumpkins

the upstairs mantle

I have a few more pictures to share I've been having issues with pictures the loading the last few days.  I have some new recipes and a trip to the apple orchard to share. 

Have a blessed day!

Carey

Fall is Finally Here!

That means a few things my beautiful daughter has a birthday, she is growing up way too fast!  She turned eleven on Monday. We're having some major issues with clothing choices lately.  For the most part she is just choosing things to make her look older.  We have had countless discussions.  She just loves fashion and I think it's fine to encourage her to look her best but she has taken it a bit far.  Any advice...for a soon to be mom of a teen??

showing off her goodies

making a wish

And now for more Fall pictures of my home...

sofa table

little nook

I found this crow at a Fall festival.

My new favorite Creamy Pumpkin candle, if you like bakery smells this one is for you!

Stovetop Doughboard

the little bowl contains a styrofoam pumpkin I sprayed with glue and rolled in spices and I put a little wreath around it all, grapevine pumpkin my DD bought me last year, preserved leaves

my kitchen

my new creamy white pumpkin, Slatkin, QVC

has pumpkin patch scent inside but I can reuse it over and over

Stay tuned for more Fall pictures coming soon!

Have a blessed day!

Carey