Category: autumn

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Bring It…

Ok, so it’s November 5th and you would think that nippy weather and snow would be almost expected by now—even welcomed by some of us right? Well, of course, right.

But here’s the snafu–this picture was taken 3 weeks ago on a random snowy day, 1 day–wedged right in between weeks of 70 degree days, then, and ever since. In fact, it’s getting kinda creepy how warm it is right now. We’re in the Rocky Mountain for Pete’s sake! It’s November and I’m still wearing sandals and haven’t even put on my coat yet…not once.

Where’s the “Jack Frost nipping at your nose” thing that should be going on?!

How can we possibly get into the holiday spirit when it’s sunny and warm out there? Mother Nature–what are you thinking? You are confusing us all. Sheesh.

I speak for the snow lover’s of the world when I say, “We’re being robbed, and something MUST be done!”

Therefore, we will be out back all day, chanting for real, true, November weather to replace this ridiculous May stuff. Yes, I said chanting.

You are welcome to join us.

Bring your own cymbals.

Oh, and don’t tell my mom…chanting gives her the heebee jeebies.

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Mini Caramel Apples

One of the lovely things about this Halloween-ish time of year, is that glorious treats like molasses cookies and candy corn are everywhere–well, at our house anyway–which is just how it should be in a well ordered kingdom {ahem}.

Being surrounded by little people–as we are, creates a particular challenge when making caramel apples–because they are just too big for the short folk to manage. Slicing them helps, of course, but still–I can’t bear the waste…it pains my tender, caramel-apple-loving soul.

So look what we’ve discovered on the pages of Disney’s Family Fun magazine—Mini Caramel Apples–and zero percent blasphemous waste!! Wa-flogging-hoo!

This is simple stuff here too. You’ll need butterscotch chips, sucker sticks, sprinkles, a good melon baller…

and of course—apples. You, my darlings, are going to love this.

Scoop the apple into tons of teeny, tiny little balls. This was so fun and you can actually get quite a few out of one apple–which is what I did.

Break the sucker sticks in half and poke them in the skin side of the apple. I made a tiny cut in the peel with a paring knife first so that the sticks went in easier.

Melt the butterscotch chips over medium heat and dip the apples in. You can roll them around and cover more of the green–

but I kinda liked how it looked with this much color showing. Do whatever floats your boat–it’ll be fine.

Before they set, dip the bottoms in your favorite sprinkles, toffee, or chopped nuts….

and let them set in the tiny paper cups–if you want. Now just try to tell me these bite-sized sweeties aren’t the cutest thing you’ve ever seen…go ahead try.  I triple dog dare you.

See? You can’t.

I told you.

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T-Shirt Yarn Pumpkins

Remember the fabuloso “yarn” we made a few weeks back out of old T-shirts? Well, I’m happy to report that all that old stuff was given new life. Seems only fitting that if something is going to come back from the “dead” as it were–they should do it close to Halloween…

and reappear as a couple of sweet pumpkins–don’t you think?

I used the pumpkin pattern found at Planet June from a couple of years back. Of course, to work with this stuff–you’ll need a bigger hook than is suggested in the yarn pattern. The H hook felt the most comfortable to me, but you’ll have to mess with it.

Seriously, I do hope you’ll try playing with this fun stuff, because there is just something cool and spooky about bringing something back to life.

Beats Frankenstein any day.

heh.

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Sweet Pumpkin Babies

To look at these–you might be fooled as to what they used to be in their former life–you know, before they became the cutest little pumpkins on earth. Brace yourself…

Take a handful of Circus Peanuts–can you believe it?—and a couple of small green gumdrops….

then, cut the peanuts in half with a pair of scissors. Trim the sugar coating off the gumdrops–and keep all the pieces, just set them aside.

Slice a piece of the sticky gumdrop and “glue” two peanuts, bottoms sides together with it in the middle. Then, roll the little blobs in the palms of your hands until they are more rounded. Shape them into pumpkins–it’s easy because they are soft and pliable.

Fold a tiny slice of the sugary part of the gumdrop in half to make a stem. Stick it on the top in one of the creases. I actually scored these dudes by pressing a tooth pick down the sides for that real “pumpkin-type” look.

And there you have it–

the sweetest little Pumpkin Babies you’ve ever seen!

In case you need a synopsis of the process–here you go. Happy pumpkin-ing my friends.

So glad you’re here!

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The Chef and the Surgeon

Back when we were pups–my dear friend Mary Jo and I decided to go Trick or Treating…you know, take the little kids out so they’d be sure to have some mature, adult supervision.

Ah, yes. What humanitarians we were. ALWAYS thinking of the welfare of others…small children…old people…woodland creatures…pet rocks.

{sigh}

Ok…ok.

So, there were a couple of guys up the street and we figured why waste a good excuse to drop by and say a nice, casual, breathy, impromptu, “HIiiiii.”

The kids did make a pretty great smoke screen though.

heh, heh.

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