Nothing says lovin'...{and Thanksgiving Inspiration}

Like something from the oven...

As the November days grow colder, it's so nice to give your family a homemade tummy warming treat!   After all, pies aren't just for Thanksgiving!

We were all home bound over the weekend with colds, as the rain was pouring down outside and the winds were blowing our giant maple trees in a violent manner that looked as if they might topple over.  With nothing to do, and nowhere to go, I popped in "A Miracle on 34th Street" in the DVD player and headed off to the kitchen to make the guys a special treat...

Homemade Apple Pie

The aromas of nutmeg and cinnamon almost instantly filled the house, 

putting any store-bought candle or infuser to absolute shame!

Mmmmmm!

Too bad no one has invented scratch-and-sniff for computers ;)

My son could hardly wait to sink his teeth into an appley, buttery bite!

Homemade delicious goodness!

This weekend I'll be in the kitchen again...

baking tasty pumpkin concoctions for Thanksgiving :)

Oh and speaking of Thanksgiving -
don't forget to take your turkey's out of the freezer!


If you're looking for some Thanksgiving tablescape inspiration,
Visit some of my previous Thanksgiving posts:


Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Giving Thanks


Table Setting Anxiety

That smile was so worth it! :)

Happy Baking!

back-to-school = apple season

Can it really and truly be the end of August?  Is it really back-to-school time already?!

Sigh...I checked my calendar this morning and realized that preschool orientation for my son is next week!  My baby - going to school!!  Gasp!  Moms out there, help me through this!! I'm trying to be so brave for him (I know he'll love it!) but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't extremely a little nervous!

I should've known it was near - something in the air has changed...the evenings are just a bit chilly...the sky a little more clear.  We've been savoring every last moment of the season, enjoying nightly backyard campfires, toasting marshmallows, making s'mores and stargazing.

It's time to pull out the early fall decor ~ and dig out the recipe books for all of the apple-y delicious recipes!  For what more quintessentially represents back-to-school time and early fall than the apple!

Think I'll bake up an apple pie this week, and try my best to enjoy these last days of summer, and face September as bravely as my little guy :)

September

September is here! 

Time for school buses to reappear as the kiddies head back to the classroom, time for the kickoff of football season, and time to harvest all of that wonderful remaining produce in the garden.

Do:  Visit an apple orchard in your area. 

Why?  Because there are so many delicious varities of apples to try other than just Macintosh and Golden Delicious. Think of all the yummy desserts you can make on chilly evenings like baked apples and apple crisp.  Many orchards have days when you can sample all of the different varities they grow and enjoy a refreshing cup of apple cider while you're at it.  You're supporting local farmers and it's a fun day out for the entire family.

Go:  On a picnic with your family.

Why?  The weather is beautiful in September with cooler temperatures and low humidity (and hopefully less bugs).  It's a great way to spend some quality time together on a weekend and enjoy some fresh air before summer's gone.

Get:  Things to make your home a haven. 

Why? With the daylight growing shorter and chillier temps, your family will be spending more time indoors. Stock up on board games, inspirational fall magazines with tempting new recipes to try, delectable bakery-scented candles to gently fragrance your home, DVDs to watch when everyone's stuck indoors, and ingredients to restock your pantry and cupboards with creamy cocoas, exquisite teas, noodles and spices for soups, and garden herbs to dry.  Don't neglect your linen closet either:  this is the perfect time to take inventory and think about replacing summer bedspreads with cozy, flannel sheets, downy-soft blankets, and thick, down comforters once the cold weather arrives.

Read:  Autumn from the Heart of the Home by Susan Branch

Why?:  It's chock full of charming seasonal illustrations to inspire and delight you, adorable handmade crafts to create, and scrumptious fall recipes to try!

Wishing you all, a warm and wonderful month of September!