A Gathering

We had a little pumpkin carving get-together with the family the other night. I made pumpkin soup, which was soooo yummy!!!

I roasted all the seeds, after Ashleigh cleaned them all up! I toss them with some butter, Worcestershire sauce, and some Johnny's seasoning salt. Last year I had so many that I froze them in Ziploc bags to eat throughout the year.

The competitive side comes out in everyone!

 Brady's pumpkin was so detailed that he didn't get it finished until much later, and I forgot to get a picture :(

Normally I'm busy separating the guts from the seeds and I never carve a pumpkin, but this year I saw a pattern I really liked so I got busy!! I rather enjoyed myself !

The night before, we went on a little outing with Ashleigh and Brady, up into Canada, to a haunted corn maze.

Ashleigh's always breaking the rules !

I love this picture of the two of them !

They were really, really scared !

There were a lot of teenagers there that night and this group was more than willing to pose for me.

Brian and I were so impressed with all of them ~ no hoodlums or shenanigans ~ just really good kids out having fun !

 Now it's Halloween evening and I'm home alone with candy ! I never have any trick ~ or ~ treater's but I need to be prepared ! I cleaned out all my pumpkins and am roasting all the seeds. Think I'll settle down on the sofa and watch a good movie !

Happy  Halloween !!!

Autumn...My Favorite Season

It's my favorite time of year ! Fall is here and putting on a glorious show!

Brian and I are getting ready for our annual fall driving trip and we are so excited! Heading to the mountains of Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. I'm so looking forward to the gorgeous scenery, the chilly weather, and if we're lucky, some snow!!!

The garden is finished and tilled under. I've been drying kale chips, making apple cider and apple pies to freeze. Soups are bubbling on the stove and bread has been baking in the oven. My mouth is watering !

So here's a little fall decor to get you in the mood, if that hasn't already happened !

 I had a great time making sweater pumpkins this year ! My dear friend, Deb Kennedy , has been making these for a few years now and I learned from her. So easy and so much fun ! I got a little carried away with them!

I know you don't see real pumpkins that are brown, but they sure are pretty made out of sweaters!

My sweet friend, Lynda, made these cute caramel apples for my birthday. Love them !

My favorite little truck. This was my honey's when he was a boy ! I can just see him playing in the dirt as a little boy, making roads and having a grand old time !

The pumpkins were bountiful this year ~

Perhaps the carving party will be reinstated !

Happy Fall !

And the Tradition Continues~

Pie Party 2012  is over and done with, but the memories linger forever! I am so blessed to count these lovely ladies as my friends. We do our annual Farm Chick trip together and also Lynda's annual pie party. You can see our previous parties here and here, and also here. Lynda was made to host parties as she is the very best!!!

As usual, the table setting was divine! Those little gingham napkins and the lovely gift awaiting each of us!

A gloriously set table~

And the dearest of friends~Karen, Lynda and Terry.

There was a delicious sausage, potato soup, homemade rolls and a wonderful salad...not many leftovers!

There is much laughter...and a few tears, as our hearts are always sharing~

Miss Terry brought me a lovely, little gift~

The most adorable Hallmark ornament ever made!

Can't wait to put it on my tree! Still dreaming about the full sized addition!

We played a rousing game of Autumn Pictionary!

Isn't Lynda adorable?!!!

Karen was the winner and went home with a lovely prize!

As we do every year, we all brought pie...isn't this just the best party idea?! Terry and I thought alike and brought Rustic Apple pies...I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe from her cookbook. Terry's had a little "accident" on the way in, but tasted delicious. Karen made a fabulous Blackberry Pie, and Lynda made a "to die for" Butterscotch Meringue Pie, Everything was so YUMMY!! We all share and take home some of everyone else's pies.

 We all worked on our traditional fall stitcherie's that Lynda put together, but I forgot to take a picture of that. Instead I took one of what Lynda is working on now. Isn't it cute? I want to make it too! 

Thank you Lynda, for bringing us together once again. This is such a fun tradition...one we look forward too all year!

I'm so thankful for dear friends!
Happy Thanksgiving!