Wordless Wednesday

Going out slow.

You know Fall is almost over when the leaves are all dropped. The trees begin to show off more of their branches and more sunlight shines through. You could tell the days are getting shorter, the sun just seems to move faster across the sky. When it rains, just seems more dreary out. I already miss what Fall offered this year. It will always be my favorite time of year.

Handmade Christmas

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Every Thursday till Christmas. I will be linking up to Abbie of Proverbs 31 Living. She will be hosting a Handmade Christmas. I hope to get some new ideas as well as sharing some.

This week will be my Christmas Bark. Very easy and inexpensive recipe. You will need, 1 sleeve of saltine crackers, 1 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 (12oz) bag chocolate chips.



Line a baking sheet with foil. I usually grease down the foil so nothing sticks to it. When that is done, fill the baking sheet with a single layer of saltine crackers. Melt the butter in a pan and add the brown sugar. Cook at medium hit for appox. 3 minutes. Pour over saltine crackers, making sure everything is covered. Pop in a 350 degree oven for 15mins.




When it's done, pull it out and pour your chocolate chips all over the tray. Once they start melting. Start spreading it all around. Making an even coat over it all. At this time, if you'd like to add chop nuts, coconut or sprinkles. Then pop it in the fridge until firm. Takes approx. 1-2 hours.




Then pull it out and start taking it apart. Usually breaks up pretty well. Store in airtight container. Make sure it's fairly cool where you store it. Otherwise, it can melt some.



I usually pack these up in the larger Chinese to go containers and tie the recipe to it. The hardest part about this recipe. Not eating it after it's done.

Enjoy!

Thrifty find

Can you believe it. This is the only piece I found from scouring the markets this pass weekend. The weather was beautiful, warm, sunny. So many vendors selling their wares. I really thought I'd score some great finds. But nope, not this weekend. I found that there was alot of junk. Things weren't cleaned, which I think it would make for better sales for some. Some just leave things in the boxes, which I never mind going though. But how many boxes of junk can you go though??





So while I was walking through the aisles and checking out tables. Came across this, a new sewing box for me. It was in perfect shape. The nice guy and I started talking, he wanted $15 for it. I just wanted to pay it right there. I've been looking for one of these for a while. I just kept looking at it, opening and closing. All along while he was packing up his car. Then finally, he said, "make me an offer. I'm actually packing up now and just want to dump things." Well, I offered $5. And he took it. YEAH! I already cleaned it out and filled it up with my sewing supplies. I just love it.

Have you found any good finds lately?

Wordless Wednesday

Day After.....

We had lots of snacks and lots of treats. The weather was perfect for the kids. You didn't need a jacket, so you seen everyone costume. I always loved to see all the kids costumes. The little kids are the cutest. Carrying their pumpkins filled with candy. The way they look at all the scary costumes and decorations. Approaching everything with caution.

Then you have the ones, running to house to house. You could see each one of them trying to beat the other to the door. Standing at the door, so when it opens. They will be the first one down the stairs to the next. What are they thinking, there might not be any candy left?? After awhile, they got tired and we all stayed together.

Some houses we visited, had no decorations at all. Some had lights all over with blowups. Some were cute, some were scary. But this one house. WOW! This was their front porch. The gentlemen sitting to the left was handing out the candy. None of the kids would go up there. The creepy music was playing, the lights were going. Then you would see someone come out from behind the front curtain. It was just amazing what they did.

Now it's time to pack everything away till next year. I never knew how many things I had. And yet, tomorrow I'll be hitting the stores to see what's left. :) Love those clearance sales after the holidays. Hope you all had a nice Halloween.

Now for the winner of the giveaway..................ABamaMom, thanks to all who entered.

Susan

Halloween Giveaway!

It's been awhile since I've had a giveaway. So what better time to do one is now! Whats in the giveaway?? A doorknob pillow, 2 pumpkins and 1 pin. Plus, to sweeten the deal, I'll throw in a treat bag filled with sweet things. All you have to do is leave me a comment. That's it, simple. And for an extra entry, post the giveaway to your blog. I will leave it open till the witching hour of midnight on Halloween. The winner will be posted on Sunday! Good luck!

Happy Halloween!

susan

changes

The colors have been popping out all over. You know it's Fall. A couple of weeks ago, the leaves weren't even changing. Maybe due to the warm weather we were having. Now with the temps dropping and it raining more. The changes in the leaves seem to be happening faster and faster. The trees are thinning their leaves and soon, nothing will be left on the trees. You know at that point, winter is coming. Brrrr.... don't even want to think about the cold weather. So for now, I'll just enjoy the view.

This is the before picture of the dining area in the kitchen. Cranberry, I love cranberry. I've had cranberry for the last 7, can never get tire of cranberry. It;s just one color I absolutely love. It just made a statement when you walked into the room. Then after thinking about it. It's not that large of a room. Maybe we need to lighten it up a bit and give it the illusion of a larger room. So after thinking about it. Went out and picked out a color. Dh was nice enough to paint it for me.

Orange Slice! What a change. Lighter, brighter, big difference. I love it. I just have to pick out a contrasting color for the other side of the kitchen. But for now, I'm really going to enjoy this view. This room, is probably my favorite room in the house. Cant wait to get it done.

Off to finish decorating the house. It was decided, we will be having guests on Halloween! That is going to mean, apple bobbing, smores and a whole lot more. I'm also feeling a giveaway....maybe for Halloween???

Enjoy your day!

Susan

Swaps received

I received this wonderful Fall package from Ngarie for the Fall Swap at Morning Glories and Moonflowers.
She sent me a wonderful scarf and a set of dish towels. Loved the colors she picked out. And some Halloween decor.

This was my first foodie swap over at Cookie Crumbs . So glad I joined, I received a wonderful package from Anne, never did see if she had a blog. She sent me some wonderful things, dips, soup mix, sauce and some homemade pickles. Which my husband is almost done with. They were good!

This swap, I received from Deb . The swap was Heidi's Homemade Halloween swap. The package that she sent me was wonderful. An apron, which is my first! With witches and beautiful laces around it. It's beautiful.

And the bag. Which is my first also in the swap world. The patchwork and colors, that you used. Gorgeous! Already carting it around with me to my crochet classes. Had alot of comments on it Deb! You did a great job.

Thank you all to my swap partners, I sure hope you enjoyed my package as much as I did yours.

Have a great day!

Susan

Wordless Wednesday

Have a wonderful day!

Wordless Wednesday

Comfort food

BEEF BRISKET

1 pkg of onion soup mix
1 pkg of brown gravy mix
2 cloves of garlic chopped

2-3 tbls olive oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a bowl, combine all the ingredients above. Make a paste, not to wet. If you need more
oil, add some more a bit at a time. Prepare you brisket to be wrapped in foil.
Spread paste on top of whole brisket.
Wrap into a pouch. Make sure it's wrapped good where no steam leaks.
Bake for one hour at 425 degrees. Then reduce your oven temperature to 350 degrees.
Bake for 2 more hours, depending on the size of you brisket. If it its a larger than
normal brisket, add another hour.

Open the pouch carefully, the steam will be hot.

The meat will fall apart. Our favorite is to serve this over mashed potatoes, but

you could also use rice, noodles, anything really.

It's delicious.

October is here....

Fall is finally making an appearance. The crisp cool air has been here and I think it's here to stay. Goodbye summer weather, I will miss you. Pack those summer things away. Time to pull out those sweaters and jackets. That's what I'll be doing today. Pulling out the warmer clothes to go through and pulling out the Fall decorations. Scarecrows, pumpkins, here I come! Great day to just stay home and bake.

Have a wonderful day!

Susan

Pumpkin Time!

Pick out your fabric. Cut in any size rectangular shape. The bigger the piece, the bigger the pumpkin.

Sew down the sides, stitch one end, do the stitch part with heavy thread.

stuff and stitch up the other end,

now you must take twine and go through the pumpkin, in one end, out the other. This is easier to do with a crochet hook. Make 4 sections. Tie a knot close to the center. Hot glue a stem (tree branch) and some leaves.

Happy Fall!

Made the wreath with some of my stash. My stash consists of items I've purchased along the years. You know, the items that you buy on clearance. It's such a good deal, you cant pass up. Knowing your not going to use it right away, but it's on sale. And even though when you get home and put it right away, just because you don't want your dh to see it. The next time you do come across it. Is when your having a garage sale. lol

The wreath didn't cost me a penny. I had everything I needed to throw it together. I really have to start going though my stash to see what else I have. It's like getting something new all over again.

While out shopping today, there were a few sales around. Stopped to check things out. Score, plant stand. $1.00! With a new coat of paint, it'll look brand new. Cant wait to clean it up.

Tomorrow I have my yearly flea market. Going to pack up the car tonight. This way I could just jump in and go in the morning. Hoping for a warm day. And hoping to bring less boxes home then what I went with. I have a pot of turkey soup on the stove. Soup weather is here! Going to finish getting ready for tomorrow and have a bowl of soup. Enjoy the rest of your Friday.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Susan

Wordless Wednesday

You could hear a pin drop

With the kids getting off earlier to school in the mornings. The house seems so quiet and still. No TV on, no computer or xbox running. Gosh, I'm able to get things done and everything stays clean until dinner time. I love school days! Now, if I could only get the boys to make their beds before they leave, it would really be a perfect day. :)

Have a wonderful day!
Susan

Welcome September!

What a great month September is. Besides with school starting, September is also the month that I was born. I'll be a big 45 this year. To me, it's only a number. Not a year getting older. I think I get better with age. More smarter, more wiser, more experience as each year goes by. With whoever I meet or with the friends I have in my life. I'm always learning something. This year, I plan on doing something for myself. I always say I'm going to, but never do. For this month I have some goals. One is to join WW again. I do so well in the beginning then I fizz out. You know, when you lose those pounds. Then you see something you want to snack on and know you cant have it. You tell yourself, it's okay, I'll be good after this one time. Right. Bad habits are hard to break. This time, I plan on sticking with it. Going to change the way I take care of myself. Want to excerise more. Even if it means taking Murphy for those extra walks. Which I know he wont mind. I want to take some classes. Maybe a pottery class or maybe some painting classes. Something that I will enjoy doing. Maybe join a bookclub or even start one. I also have alot to change in the house. Need some color updating, new curtains. Just a fresh look.

So with that in mind. I sure hope I find my battery charger for my camera. Which I will be starting my Fall cleaning tomorrow. I am determined to find that charger! Would really like to take some before and after shots. Keep track of the things I want to change. 45 doesn't look that bad. It's going to be a good year.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!
Susan

Wash out!

Our camping weekend was a bust. We were suppose to leave on Thursday morning. But with the rain reports. Which they really didn't confirm then that it was going to be bad. We decided not to go. Good thing. The rain and storms we had. Couldn't imagine myself out there in the rain, especially in a tent. They say it's going to clear up this afternoon. So we unpacked everything and put it away, don't know if we'll be able to go again this year. With all the items I bought for the trip. We are just going to have a cookout tonight. Went to the store and bought some crab legs and shrimp. The camping place where we were going, had seafood feast weekend. We'll just have it home.

Have a wonderful day and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Susan

MMMM!

Now here is something different. I always stick with the same old salad dressing. Oil and vinegar, Ranch, Thousand Island. Very rarely go out of the box. Plus, I don't like to spend and end up not liking it and it goes to waste. I had a coupon for $2.00 and it was on sale for $1.67. Figured, I'd give it a try. Boy, was I happy and surprised. The Asian Toasted Sesame is a keeper. The taste is out of this world and not very overpowering. Very different. I couldn't get enough salad. Tonight I will be using it as a marinade for some chicken. This is something that I will keep in my pantry, love it!

Have a great day!
Susan

Finally came to update things here. Really need to find the time to get on the computer. With the kids home for summer, there is just not enough time in the day. Plus, by the time night rolls around, I'm wiped. I just want to hit that pillow and sleep.

We've been doing alot of day trips. Last week, we finally tried camping. Dh has been after me for years to try it. And after seeing how much a room would be for a week, I figured why not. We invested in a rather large tent. Have to say, it wasn't that bad. Had nice weather and we had a great time. Such a good time, we came home and booked another trip at the end of the month. With my luck, it'll rain the whole time. That I'm sure will be an experience.

Would love to post some pictures, but haven't found my battery charger. Been taking some on disposable cameras. Now I need to get them turned into disks. I know when I do that, I will find my charger, let's hope!

To start getting back into things. I joined a couple of swaps. A Fall swap with Morning Glories and Moonflowers. And a Kiddie Halloween Swap with Polka Dot Moon. My 10 yr old is going to love to be involved in his own swap. He loves to get my packages, wait till he gets his own.

I'm off to get my day started. Have some major cleaning and laundry to catch up on. Plus, need to start getting my work station cleaned. It's just a mess with piles of papers and things to go through. Do you have an place in your home that things just pile up? Or am I the only one. ;)

Have a wonderful day!
Susan