Ordinary October Days...♥

Hello Friends! Happy Friday! ♥

October is in full bloom here this week.  I had a quiet week working at home, but at least I had a nice view!  We started with rain early on, but once that cleared and the sun came out, I was treated to some nice colors outside my window. 

This is my favorite time for this view.  A close second would only be when the river is frozen and all the trees are frosted with snow and ice.  I know that sounds horrible to some, but it's really quite pretty.  It will be a marshmallow world soon enough.  For now, it's Fall I love and I'll enjoy the days for as long as I can.  I still have to get some pumpkins and prepare for Halloween next week. Next week?! Wow, that came fast, didn't it? 

The mornings are actually very chilly now.  I have an old cardigan sweater that I wrap up in as I shuffle off to the coffee pot first thing.  While the house is heating up and the coffee is warming me up, I take a peek outside and see what's happening.  It's a little more golden than it was yesterday.  

So what's new???   

This week I've been reading What Alice Forgot for my book club.  It's wonderful! Have you read it? A few months ago I started a book club with three of my friends. Our kids grew up together and now that they're not in school together anymore we miss each other! We all love to read so it's a great way to get together every month, eat snacks, and catch up. OH and talk about books.  We take turns hosting and picking the books. It's been fun! 

I also started a little cross stitch project that I've been working on in the evenings.  I went to Michaels and picked up something beginner level to get me started. It's a learning curve but I love it.  I'm settling into cozy season and it's helping my stress levels go way down. 

And I've found it to be slightly addicting : ) 

Last week my friend Jen and her family were visiting from out of state.  We've known each other since first grade! She only comes back this way a few times a year, so when we see each other, we really make it count. 

We had the best time catching up over a long breakfast, which turned into an afternoon of talking and laughing for hours. 

It was a great day that was so good for my soul ♥

My Dad is feeling very good this week! He's the best he's been in months (thank you God!) and I'm so happy about that.  We've got all his meds and diet on the right track and it's really showing.  I'm really hopeful for a better holiday season this year. He'll be able to enjoy it more.  We're hosting Thanksgiving again and I already said he's carving the turkey.  We miss my mom so much and it's still so unbelievable that she's gone.  With the holidays approaching it's especially difficult, so I'm trying my best to stay positive and give my Dad (and me) things to look forward to, probably to an annoying degree :) 

  I know he's sad, but somehow life goes on.  

This weekend Rob and I have a coffee date Saturday morning (something I look forward to all week).  Something about us...we are coffee shop people! We are happiest in the morning having coffee and pastries at our favorite local spot. Then we go for a long drive, listen to music, and talk. We prefer that than going out to dinner on the weekends.  I'd rather cook (or get take out...wink, wink...) and stay in and watch a movie on a Saturday night.  Especially when it's cold out and I can snuggle up in my pj's and cozy blankets, with no place to go ♥

John has a band rehearsal here tonight, so the house will be full of music. My Dad actually loves this the most because it's very entertaining! (and thankfully it's good music!) Saturday he's going to a Haunted House (John, not my Dad! lol) which is a tradition he's been doing for years with his friends.  The place is scary! There are live people dressed up that wander around the parking lot....to get the scary vibes going I guess.  I got chased to my car one year dropping him off and haven't been back since. That was enough for me.    

 On Sunday we'll go to church and then I plan on a nice walk and some fall baking while the rest of the house watches football.  Sounds good to me! ♥

What are you up to? 

And that's about all the excitement there is around here, my friends.  Just ordinary October days.  Today I have applesauce in the crockpot (checked that off my list!) and I really want to make soup for dinner.  Who doesn't love soup and sandwiches on a Friday night? Hopefully not my family because that's what we're having! 

Have a wonderful weekend friend!  Stay cozy and enjoy the little things!  ♥

Hello October ♥

Hello Beautiful October and Happy Friday! ♥

As I type this post I'm listing to a playlist on YouTube titled "Halloween 1945 Nostalgic Vintage Music Playlist for Autum Vibes".  It's so cozy and perfect and I'm linking it HERE for you so you can listen too!  The vintage Halloween images are just as wonderful as the music and it makes me really wish Halloween was still like that.  

Maybe somewhere it is...:) 

Speaking of Autumn vibes, they have arrived! I can feel the shift in the air and I'm loving it.  

This morning was 50 degrees, which is the coldest it's been in a while.  I felt it when I stepped out of the house to run to the post office at 8:15am. I had to grab a fleece and zip it up over my PJ's. 

 Funny thing about me is, my level of standard of what's "acceptable" to look like in public has drastically changed since I turned 50.  If it's a quick errand, and it's early morning...anything goes.  

But anyway...back to what's important :) 

Last weekend we went apple picking (a Fall tradition with friends) so my house is now full of apples galore!  Since it's been cold and gloomy today (and I say that with nothing but love and happiness in my heart) I decided it's comfort food night so we're having breakfast dinner...something I do often this time of year. I'll make Susan Branch's German Pancake and add apples and cinnamon to it. It's one of my favorite comfort recipes. 

I did a video and blog post with the recipe a while back.  Here's the link.  It's super easy if you feel like comfort food tonight!  

We had a beautiful day to pick apples! We went to an orchard that I'd never been to before.  We usually go to a little farm.  This was a much bigger place and what was shocking to me was we had to purchase tickets and get wristbands, theme park style.  Because of that, the experience lost some of its charm for me.  I guess I just prefer the smaller places.  It was still lovely, don't get me wrong.  It's just amazing to me how things change.  

Me and John, my friend Julie, and her two boys Sean and Michael.  John's known them since kindergarten. We've been doing this every fall for years and years! ♥

I tried a corn maze for the first (and last) time.  I won't tell you how long it took me to get out of this thing! Its the stuff horror movies are made of.  

Regardless of that trauma, I got what I went for.  The mother load! ♥

My Dad's birthday is Sunday and I've promised him an apple pie.  I also want to make apple sauce. 

I remember once in the Fall a few years ago I was visiting my friend BJ and her daughter Madison had made homemade applesauce in a crockpot.  We had gone for a walk on a chilly afternoon in her neighborhood and we when got home we had a bowl of Madison's homemade applesauce.  It was like Autumn in a bowl!  It was delicious and made me so happy.  That's such a nice little memory for me and ever since I make applesauce every October (her recipe of course!).  

Side note: that same weekend BJ made us pumpkin spice lattes in the crockpot and that's when I knew we'd be friends for life ♥

Meanwhile, we're settling into October very nicely.  I'm still on leaf watch.  No major color changes yet, but it's coming.  The birds, squirrels, and chipmunks have been very busy.  They are getting ready.  

As for me, I've gone into nesting mode.  I decided I want to take up some kind of sewing or needlepoint so I'm off to Michaels or Hobby Lobby find a project. My mother always sewed and did craft projects on cold dark nights while drinking tea. I love the idea doing something with myself besides doom scrolling on my phone. Something I've been doing too much of lately.  I would rather make something and be creative while listening to an audiobook.  

Doesn't that sound cozy? ♥  

I can never resist a supermarket bouquet of autumn flowers!  These were calling my name, so I brought them home today.  The colors are everything right now ♥  

Soup has officially been added into the meal rotation again. 

 I LOVE having soup for lunch this time of year.  I like to make a big batch on Sundays and then we have it all week long.  

Minestrone is my favorite! 

Have you tried this tea yet?  

It reminds of those cinnamon candies we had as kids, except better.  

It's been my afternoon treat lately, with a cookie or piece of dark chocolate. 

Yum ♥

...And speaking of my Dad, many of you ask for him which I appreciate so much.  I realized I haven't shared that many photos of him lately.  I took this picture yesterday when we came home from an appointment. He's feeling and looking very well these days.  On Sunday he'll be 86 and yes, he still has all his hair! 

This weekend Rob has promised me a coffee date, which I am very much looking forward to.  Sunday we are taking my Dad out to dinner and sometime in between I plan on doing some housework, reading my book, and hopefully going for a nice walk.  Is it too soon to start watching Hallmark Christmas movies? Well, not for me but I think I'll watch some Fall themed ones first.  Nothing too heavy, and the cornier the better. Oh heck, maybe I'll just have a Meg Ryan fest : )  

Have a great October weekend my friends.  We only get 4 of them so lets enjoy them! ♥

Byeeee! ♥

xoox 

Dear October, you're so pretty ♥

 

Today was such a beautiful day I had to take a few pictures around the yard to document it.  

This is why I love October so much.  

Lovely days like this ♥

Xx

An ordinary October day ♥

 

Good Afternoon, Friends! ♥

As I'm writing this it's that bewitching time between 3 and 5 pm. If I laid down right now I could most definitely take a nap, but I'm not going to let myself do that.  Not today : ) 

My workday is winding down and I'm starting to think about supper.  I just made a quick batch of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies which are cooling on the stove.  They smell amazing and I'll share the recipe tomorrow. It was sunny and cool today and really felt like an October day.  I had my pumpkin spice candle burning all day while I worked, and it reminded me of my mom ♥

John is getting over a cold and is currently on the couch wrapped in a blanket.  Unfortunately, the change in seasons (although I love it) always brings sickness. He's the first victim. Fingers crossed the rest of us don't get it! (I've got my Lysol ready:) 

I was planning on making pork chops for dinner tonight, but I changed my mind and decided on BREAKFAST.  It feels like a comfort food night.  I'm going to make pancakes, sausages, and fruit salad. 

Have a wonderful evening friends.  I'm off to steal a cookie and put my feet up for a few minutes before I make dinner. 

Happy Friday Eve! 

xo

I went apple picking ♥

Hello Friends! ♥

I hope you all had a nice weekend!  It was beautiful here on Saturday.  It was the FALL day I have been waiting for. It was a long week and I was hoping for a nice sunny day because we had plans to go apple picking.  I couldn't wait to get outside in the fresh air and experience autumn.  I talk a lot about it and look at pretty pictures, but it's never real to me until I actually go out and feel it. 

 Well, I finally felt it : ) 

Before I tell you about that I have to show my new sweatshirt....  

I picked this up at Kohls over the summer when it was a thousand degrees out and cold weather felt like it would never get here.  It's been tucked safely in my drawer since July until this weekend when she made her debut.  I love it and have a feeling people will be sick of seeing it because I'll be living in it.  

It says "Stay Cozy"... don't mind if I do ♥

Anyway, back to Saturday....

It was lovely and so many apples!!!! 

I was in apple heaven! : ) 

My friend Julie and I filled our bags while John and Julie's 2 boys, Sean and Michael, helped.  This has been an annual tradition for us since John and Sean were in first grade.  We look forward to it every year.  I used to have to pick John up to reach the high ones...now he gets them for me!  

It really was a perfect sunny day, which made it even better.  In past years we've gone when it's still warm (and sometimes humid) and it's just not the same.  Luck was on our side this time.  

I love being outside with the smell of apples in the air and the beautiful foliage as a backdrop.

It's why I love fall.  

My head goes to all the pies and desserts I'll make with these ♥

After our bags were full, we headed over to the farm stand.  I managed to grab some mums and a pumpkin to take home too.  I really wanted apple cider donuts, but the line was too long. It was crazy!

 Now I'll be on a mission to find them elsewhere : ) 

My loot! ♥

Before we left that morning I had put a pot roast in the crock pot.  I was so glad I did because I didn't have to worry about cooking dinner when we got home.  It was all done! 

Honestly, aren't crockpots the best?! I've had mine for 26 years and it's still going strong! 

I could literally smell my dinner bubbling away from outside.  How nice that was because I was pretty tired when I got home.  

On Sunday I made Susan Branch's cranberry apple crisp.  It's my favorite apple crisp recipe.  The only change I made was I used honey crisp apples instead of granny smith because that's what I picked.  Crisps are the best because you can eat them hot or cold.....for dessert or breakfast! 

No judgement here :)

This one even looks good before you bake it...♥

Even better after...so yummy!!!  I've been picking on this non stop. 

It's starting to get darker earlier now and we've put our heat on for the first time already.  

The coziness is setting in and I can feel myself going into nesting mode.

I really love this time of year ♥ 

Have a wonderful week everyone! ♥

I'm going to try to start to post here daily!  Yup, you heard it right.  I might only be a quick little thought or snapshot of something I find pretty or interesting that day, but I'm going to see if I can do it.  Fingers crossed! See you tomorrow...xo 

Cozy October! ♥

 Hello Lovely Friends! ♥

As I type this post I am cozy warm in my home office.  It's raining today so it's a bit gloomy and I have little pumpkin lights strung over the window.  It's giving the room a warm orange glow that I am really enjoying. In case you hadn't figured it out already, I am a lighting person.  I love twinkle lights and little lamps and mood lighting.  Anything resembling candle light (or actual candle light) I'm here for.  I detest bright lighting and I recently saw on YouTube that you can actually paint your lightbulbs to create a softer glow.  Whose doing this?  Have you ever heard of such a thing? I hadn't but you better believe I'm going to try it : )  

This weekend I took an hour to myself and pulled out all of my warm sweaters and pajamas and socks.  I fluffed them all up and brought them to the front of my drawers.  I folded and put away anything resembling summer until next year.  It's cozy time now.  Sweater weather has arrived.  I put an extra blanket on the bed and made a mental note that it's time for me to get new slippers.  Holiday ones perhaps.  I like to get mine at the Hallmark Store.  They have so many cute ones.  And I live in slippers.  Cardigans and slippers. 

Two of my favorite things ♥

These colors make me so happy : )

♥

I just made myself a steaming cup of Earl Gray Tea.  You all know how much of a coffee girl I am, but in the afternoons and evenings I do love a hot cup of tea.  Especially this time of year.  Lately I've been obsessed with it.  I love all kinds of tea but my favorite is Earl Gray.  I like it with milk and sugar or a little bit of honey.  So good.  There is one pumpkin muffin left and I'm saving it for Rob so I just grabbed two biscottis from the panty to dunk in my tea.  I'm also a dunker.  I live on the edge :)  

Thank you so much to everyone that reached out to me about my mom.  She's doing ok.  She has a nurse, physical therapist, and occupational therapist.  It was slow getting started, but now they come here to the house a few times a week (each!).  She's being well looked after, that's for sure.  It's definitely a slow process but she's improving.  I'm just glad she's home and is able to recover and be comfortable in her own house with all of us around her.  Yesterday I brought out the storage bin with all her Halloween decorations. She pointed to where she wanted the stuff to go and I put it there.  It was fun and really make all of us feel good and festive.  Things like that are really important. 

 I think so anyway.  She does too. 

♥

Isn't this cute? She painted it a long time ago : ) 

♥

And that's where I am today friends.  I just finished working for the day and it's almost time to start dinner.  I'm roasting chicken thighs and potatoes tonight which will make the kitchen smell like heaven.  Last time I made this it was a big hit so hopefully this time it comes out just as good! : ) 

  **update - this was last night and it came out YUMMY!**

I'm going to finish my tea first and see what's on QVC.  I love QVC btw!  I've been watching it for years.  For some reason it's a comfort to me.  My favorites are the cooking shows (I love David : ).  I get the best gift ideas from watching the hosts and I find it just plain entertaining.  I can remember my mother and I watching Joan Rivers Jewelry I was a teenager. In fact I still have some of the jewelry, which is quite pretty.  I just came across it when I cleaned out my jewelry box last month.  I'm keeping it all for sentimental reasons ♥

Have a wonderful Tuesday, friends!  Wednesday I'm going with Rob to a doctors appointment and I'm hoping to get a breakfast (or at least a coffee : ) out of it.  Haha! And then on Friday John is going with his friends to a Haunted House.  That should be interesting!  Me personally, I hate haunted houses! I get freaked out in the parking lot! Lol : ) 

Happy Tuesday, Friends! Stay cozy! xoxo