Lil Punkin Found a Home

I found a pretty good home for my new little pumpkin I showed you all yesterday.

It's part of a little fall vignette on the "dead zone" on the kitchen counter.  This little area gets changed up a lot throughout the year.

Lil punkin is sharing a spot on a wooden fall tray with a few other goodies.  

Cute gobbler candle holder.

Showed you that framed phrase a while ago.  Still enjoying it. 

The one thing I especially want to share with you is the book you see there.  The book's author is quilt designer Lynette Jensen.  I was first introduced to Lynette Jensen and her design line known as Thimbleberries, over a dozen years when I was a more avid quilter and worked at a quilt shop.  She's a designer of quilt patterns and fabrics, and has authored many quilting books as well as the little gem above.

As you can see from the book's table of contents above, you're guided through the fall months at her home where she shares her autumnal decorating style using her fabulous quilts, vintage pieces and natural elements from her gardens.

It's a gorgeous book, offering tons of eye-candy for fall inspiration.

I wish I could share every page of this book with you now, but you really should see it person.  Amazon has the book for $10.99 through independent sellers.  It would make a fantastic gift for the person who loves to decorate for fall.

While I was at Amazon researching the availability of Autumn Accents, I saw Lynette's book, Finishing Touches for Christmas is still available.  I think I may have to purchase that one.  

Frankly, I'm shocked I don't already own it!

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A Little Pumpkin Facelift

Picked up this cute wood-look resin pumpkin at Walgreens the other day.

Nice as is, but it was a little chipped here and there.

Instead of touching up the chips, I decided to give a little facelift by changing it's color altogether.

I really like it.  

A new coat of paint topped with a coat of glaze gives it a nice, new look.  

I used a thin brown Sharpie to get into the letters to make the words stand out more.  

Think it might need a little raffia tie around the stem.

Today I'm going start unearthing some Christmas stored down in the basement.  

That's going to be a job!

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Early Bloomer

In the usual tradition of sharing Christmas Cactus, my plants were given to me by my Mother from a huge plant she's had forever.  She took some divisions from that plant and potted up a couple for me.

Last year, the first year I had them, they bloomed early as well.  They were in full bloom at Thanksgiving.  That wasn't so bad.

This year, as you can see, they're full of buds and they're going to be popping with blooms before Thanksgiving I'm sure.  In the summer months, I keep them outside on the deck where they get about 5 to 6 hours of light every day.  Once the temps start to drop, I move them into my garden window in the kitchen where they receive about 3 or 4 hours of morning light.

After a little a research, it would seem all sorts of variables must be in play to get them to bloom at Christmas.  Much like the poinsettia, water, light, humidity, all in the right amounts are needed at certain times of the year to ensure blooms at Christmas.  

Perhaps when they're done blooming this year, I'll take the necessary steps to ensure they bloom for the time of year intended ~ Christmas.  But for now, I'm going to enjoy the gorgeous blooms this plant provides.

If you'd like to learn more about Christmas Cactus, I found a website devoted to this plant. 

Christmas Cactus

The Complete Guide

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A Tasty Afternoon Treat

A seasonal favorite.

Fresh apple cider (of course the cider I shared yesterday) and spiced wafters.

Icey cold milk would be wonderful too.

Sweetzels Spiced Wafers to be exact.  

And they're only available from August through November.

You see, there is some controversy in these parts on which company produces the best spiced wafer.  Some swear by Sweetzels, self-proclaimed as Philly's original ginger snap since 1910, and is manufactured in a suburb of Philly.

While others owe allegiance to Ivins.  

According to this blogger, who actually conducted his own side-by-side taste test, Ivins is produced in Minnesota, but uses Philadelphia molasses.

I've had both, and I do prefer Sweetzels.  And they're quite affordable at $1.99 a box.  

The only thing that could make this snack a little over the top would be a yummy, sweet, creamy pumpkin dip to dunk these cookies into.  But that wouldn't be a good idea for me.  Gotta watch that kind of stuff these days since having to cut back my workouts due to this blasted back injury.  

I should mention I did not eat that entire plate of cookies, nor drink that tall glass of cider.  I had one cookie and poured all but a gulp of the cider back into the container ;o)

In addition to dipping ginger snaps into pumpkin dip, there's a few other yumalicious things you can do to jazz them up.  Like, making ice cream sandwiches with them or topping them with
melted white chocolate.  

mmmmmmm . . . . 

Photo from "Let the Feasty Begin"

Photo from "Let the Feasy Begin"

 That's what Debra from Let The Feasty Begin did.

And this blogger also created some ice cream ginger snap cookies, below, and included his positive review of Sweetzels brand.

Photo from "Endless Summer"

Sweetzels might not be available where you live, but if you'd like to try them, you can order them online from the Pennsylvania General Store.  But ya better hurry!  They won't be around much longer.

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