Fall
11.11.11
Morning
(soon before) Noon
Afternoon
Evening
Night
Girls Afternoon Out
Olivia and I had a Girls Afternoon Out this beautiful fall afternoon. While the boys were at home watching Star Wars and perfecting their lightsaber skills, we were out seeking fall color and eventually found ourselves under a magnificent red maple enjoying pumpkin chocolate chip bread.
We enjoyed sketching some of our fall treasures in our nature notebooks and talking about current events in our lives - like the plot of our current read Johnny Tremain, her fondness of taking violin lessons, our plans for a family Christmas ministry opportunity, and her love of rehearsing for A Christmas Carol. I {heart} moments with just my girl.
Colors of our Weekend
ORANGE, RED, BROWN, and YELLOW
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Not only did our clocks get set back this weekend, also:
I made invitations for a friend's upcoming baby shower.
We enjoyed apple crisp when Michael's parents came for a visit.
I planted 72 daffodil bulbs (with a little help).
Olivia and I had a Girls Afternoon Out enjoying beautiful fall color.
The Last Evening of October
This last evening of October we spent quietly at home together as a family.
Dinner: Pear Gorgonzola Pizza
Dessert: Apple Crumble
Movie: The 1956 version of Around the World in 80 Days
Colors of our Weekend
ORANGE, YELLOW, BROWN, and BLACK
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This weekend we gathered:
Some of our good friends over for an Outdoor Movie Night - complete with popcorn, a fire, s'mores, and caramel apple cider and hot chocolate.
For a sweet friend's 9th birthday party - pop star / karaoke style.
Some sticks to make fall hued God's Eyes.
Outside the majority of time to soak in the fall temperatures, wind, and beautiful weather.
Annual Apple Picking Adventure
Last Friday morning we set out on our Annual Apple Picking Adventure. It was a beautiful day as we walked the rows of Arkansas Black, Stayman Winesap, and Pink Ladys. Unbelievably, we were the only ones in the orchard that day and it was very quiet, for the exception of the creaking of the ladder, the honeybees buzzing by, the occasional thump of an apple hitting the ground, the grass under the wagon wheels, and the conversation amongst ourselves. It was a grand adventure!
Now...what to do with that whole bushel of apples? :)
Colors of our Weekend
RED, ORANGE, GREEN, and PINK
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During our beautiful fall weekend:
We made our annual trip to the apple orchard.
We made our annual trip to the pumpkin patch.
Olivia was presented with her handmade "Tea Party" quilt by Grandmother.
Colors of our Weekend
GREEN, ORANGE, YELLOW, GRAY, and WHITE
We had a full weekend of:
Friday night dinner with some special new friends;
Exploring nature around our yard - a 2-foot wide spider web, a lizard, and grasshopper;
Planting fall mums and a croton;
Ending with sniffles, a fever, and lots of Kleenex.
Sunset Hike
We arrived in Virginia at my mom and dad's on Saturday after a VERY long car ride from Mississippi. Sunday afternoon we decided it would be healthy for all of us to get some fresh mountain air and a little exercise. And let me tell you, we experienced a most incredible hike. We trekked along a portion of the Appalachian Trail during an amazing fall sunset.
Come along with us and inhale the beauty of our Creator.
Don't forget your hiking stick. :)
Then, to top off our amazing sunset hike, God gifted us with a full moon rising, too.
It was truly a lifetime memory made for each of us.
Fall Leaf Crowns
We've created a new fashion this fall around our yard with colors of nature that God has provided to us. All three of my children have been proud to wear their crowns of autumnal leaves and have asked begged to make them on several occasions. Here's how we made them:
I began by very loosely braiding three strands of raffia and then loosely tying it around a child's head.
Next, the kids gathered beautiful fall leaves of various types, sizes, and colors.
Then, they inserted leaves into the holes of the braided crown.
We placed the crown on their head complete with autumnal leaves.
Voilà! My children were adorning fall leaf crowns.
The great news is that the following day when they found that their leaves were dried out, they simply pulled out the old ones and inserted new ones--creating a completely new masterpiece and type of crown. J
Example #1
Example #2
Example #3
Example #4
Pumpkin Pie Milkshake
Two years ago when I featured It's the Great Pumpkin Recipe Week here on Chasing Fireflies, I shared a few pumpkin or "faux pumpkin" recipes. This past weekend after roasting my first "faux pumpkins" of the season here in Mississippi I created a new pumpkin recipe--a Pumpkin Pie Milkshake--after inspiration from the classic autumnal dessert.
If you like pumpkin pie and if you like milkshakes, you'll be sure to like this.
Pumpkin Pie Milkshake
2 cups vanilla ice cream
1/3 cup "faux pumpkin" or canned pumpkin
1/4 cup milk or half-and-half
2 tablespoons maple syrup (optional)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
sprinkle of cloves
sprinkle of nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
2-3 crushed gingersnaps
white chocolate shavings
Place ice cream, pumpkin, milk, maple syrup, spices, and vanilla in blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Pour into two tall glasses and garnish with crushed gingersnaps, white chocolate shavings, and a straw. Enjoy!
The kids had great fun helping put all the ingredients in the blender and then tasting and slurping every last bit.
Fall Faces on Friday
After a beautiful stroll Friday afternoon we enjoyed making fall faces with our finds.
HAVE A HAPPY WEEKEND!!!
Pumpkin Picking
This year has brought many new experiences to our family. Going to a farm and picking pumpkins from the patch is the latest. We were able to pick-our-own pumpkins in the patch, cut the stem, and carry them out ourselves. I loved being able to be a part of the picking process and being on the farm.
Michael chose a medium size green and orange pumpkin, Olivia an oval-shaped orange one, Isaac a deep dark green, Joshua a small sugar pie just his size, and I chose a green one with lots and lots of bumps. I have always liked and appreciated "different" pumpkins.
Over the River and Through the Woods . . .
Over the river
And through the woods
To Grandmother's house we go . . .
We have enjoyed Thanksgiving with my Mom and Dad in Virginia this year.
Here are some scenes and happenings from our day:
"Tom" the Turkey who has been around since my Dad was a youngster and "Scarecrow" who has been around since I was a youngster
Scrumptious breakfast of Pumpkin Waffles
Making Turkey Art from leftover coffee and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Listening to a recording of my grandmother singing a thanksgiving song that she learned as a youngster
Making a Thanksgiving Tree full of ornaments showing what we each are thankful for
A lunch of delicious Thanksgiving staples
Family picture after lunch
Watching a "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and eating popcorn while the men watch football
Pumpkin Flower Arrangements
Yesterday I shared about the Thanksgiving gifts Olivia presented to her teachers. Here are the instructions.
To make pumpkin flower arrangements:
1. Buy small miniature size pumpkins for flower base and container. I bought these cute tiger pumpkins at Wal-Mart for 1¢ a piece.
2. Buy a beautiful assortment of different sized and colored fall flowers. The variety will add interest.
3. Being neat, cut out a portion of the top of the pumpkin and stem for a piece of oasis floral foam to be inserted.
4. Scoop out the seeds and membranes.
5. Soak a piece of oasis floral foam until it is well saturated.
6. Cut a piece of the oasis to fit the center cut of the pumpkin. Oasis floral foam is very easy to work with and cuts like butter.
7. Begin poking flowers into the oasis. I began with a large lily and filled the gaps with smaller mums. I cut flowers at different heights to add interest and variety.
8. Take a step back to insure there are not any bare areas that could use a flower.
9. Make a card with a cute thanksgiving sticker attached that says "Happy Thanksgiving" or
"Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful you're my teacher."
10. You may want to punch a hole on the side of the card, insert raffia, and tie around one of the stems.
12. Finally, present the arrangement to a person you are THANKFUL for.
Olivia's teachers were thrilled to receive their arrangements and I was pleased with the way they turned out. I bought 12 pumpkins for 12¢ and 2 bunches of flowers for $19. I already had floral oasis, orange cardstock, Thanksgiving stickers, and raffia on hand. In the end the final cost was $19.12 ÷ 12 = $1.59 each.
