An American Made Weekend

 Hi everybody and Happy Labor Day! I hope you are enjoying this long weekend with family and friends and are staying dry!
First before my mind wanders off....and we all know it will. I wanted to tell you all that I have entered my shop into the Martha Stewart Made in America contest.

On September 7th (my husband's birthday maybe that will bring me luck) is the day the finalists will be announced. You can vote once each day from September 7-24th for your favorite finalist. You can read all about the rules and details here if you would like.

A couple of items I'm thinking of bringing back to my shop.

My signature item in my shop.

 So I am keeping my fingers crossed and probably my eyes as well hoping I make it as one of the finalists. I know I have about as much luck as Frosty does sitting by a campfire but dang it a gal's gotta dream!! Stop here to take a peek at my shop entry...you can even leave me a comment if you'd like. So with a new grand-baby and this contest all on the horizon I am more than on pins and needles. I just love this whole contest idea of honoring and congratulating hard working American small business owners. It really is the backbone of this great country!

For me Labor Day has always been the signal that summer has come to an end. I don't think the old rules still apply...(do they?) but even though I'm still wearing white slacks, capri's and flip flops I am mentally thinking about the fall and all the treats that go along with that word.

A photo from last year. Some of the reds look like fire they were so brilliant!

Fall festivals, comfort food, pumpkins and persimmons. So later this week I will limp down to the basement and start to look for my fall decor. Gosh doesn't the thought of autumn make you feel all warm and cozy,or is it only me? Fall at least for me brings back so many great memories of family and old friends and fattening foods of course.

 I have had five days off and sadly our plans fell apart with hurricane Issac traveling across the Midwest. I think I've shared before how we as a family always come together at Patoka Lake.

From several years ago. We decided to beach the pontoon and take a walk to look for driftwood and shells

The boys were almost too big for this poor tube.

A fun night a few years ago of games and silliness.

It wouldn't have been a total family get together anyway since my youngest son and his wife are expecting their second child any day now, and have been told not to travel very far. Excited isn't the word for it! We are knee deep in the color pink and lavender since we our expecting our first grand-daughter!! We have laughed our selves crazy because we know we have over dosed on girly girl colors, but it's been so much fun.

 So we simply stayed home and did some things we haven't had the time to do. Cleaning should have been one of them but for me it was sewing. I've had so many ideas in my head and never enough quiet time to pull them out. I have almost completed one and hope to have it finished and a pattern put together so I can add it to my shop. I will share it as soon as it is ready.

My youngest grandson has put his seal of approval on this new item. He is so funny and trust me he really does play with my new creations and tells me if it is just dumb (his words haha), and what can I do to make it better.

A fire for the castle entrance and some scary bones, bats and ghosts to make it even better,

Recently he stayed with us and I love to work while he plays.....well I should say try and work because he wants my total attention. But for me the best part is when I get to witness his ability to take "his" felt stuffed toys that I've made and use them with his other toys.....that's the blue ribbon for me!

The photo is a little blurry because I didn't want to spoil the moment of our deep conversation on the swing.

 So it's back to my work room for a while.Then after dinner maybe a ride in our 4 wheeler up to the cemetery that's behind our property, just to check on things. I love to ride around and see how things start to change. I'll take my camera of course, you just never know what you may stumble upon.

A Burst Of Color and Sugar Cookies

        What's not to love about fall! The cooler temps for one thing and the jaw dropping beauty of the trees as they change. It makes my drive into work so much more enjoyable. And believe me when I tell you there aren't many enjoying their drives into work these days. One of our major bridges to Louisville Ky is out of commission. First it was indefinitely, now they believe it will be closed until years end. Makes me wonder just how safe all of our aging bridges are in this country. 

For me, nearly half of my trip to work is in the country so I just sit back and enjoy the process. Each and everyday there are brilliant changes to take your breath away. It is amazing how suddenly they go from just plain ole trees to majestic, brilliant trees bursting with color!
Well okay maybe I'm just easy to please!

I'm always carrying my camera with me this time of year, but rarely am I able to pull over and take a photo of the ones that amaze me the most.......much to my frustration. In the morning as the sun comes up it can make some of these trees look like the are engulfed in flames!

I love the contrast here of the bright orange and the deep burgundy.

 This week I've been web surfing looking for crafts and recipes to make this time of year. I found this cookie idea from one of my favorite blogs to visit, Rosy-Posy she always has great ideas. These Fall Leaf Sugar Cookies are spectacular.

Don't these look great and I think they are simple enough for even me to make. They would be just yummy with a hot cup of tea.

The kids are having a Halloween party this year so I hope to make these to take with me. Oh wouldn't these be beautiful on Thanksgiving Day too. Sometimes you fill up too much with the meal that a slice of pie for dessert is just to much.....but one of these sugar cookies would be just enough.

Years and years ago I hosted an afternoon luncheon with some girlfriends and it was in the fall. I decided to try something I had seen in a Victoria magazine. It was grilled bread slices served along with a salad. The bread was cut in shapes of leaves using a cookie cutter. Then you just grilled them like you would grill a cheese sandwich. They came out a golden brown and were a great touch with a salad instead of crackers or croutons.

My husband's field camera set up down at the creek has captured lots of critters.

A good shot of maybe one or two years old. We are really enjoying this camera!

Say cheese ladies!

We're pretty sure this is a fox,one of my favorites.I wish I could get a good shot of an owl too!

 Well I think it's time to take a hike down to my one and only pitiful persimmon tree,and try and grab me a treat before the deer get them all.......again!

A Rainy Cool Fall Day

I've been working on a post about my trip when I saw this dessert idea on another wonderful blog. Be Different Act Normal. I love this blog! The name simply cracks me up,and it is always full of wonderful ideas.

So I know I'm repeating myself,but I love cooking in canning jars,still not sure why but I do. So this is perfect for Halloween for my little ghouls and goblins! And I have Ooodles of new jars just waiting for me.The boys start talking Halloween the minute September rolls around.....well to be honest we all do. 
We all really enjoy dressing up even if we're not having a party. We just dress up and walk with the kids as they trick or treat.This year I've been told they will be hosting a party and my oldest grandson plans on having many of his fellow theater friends there. That will be a hoot because theater kids love nothing better than to wear a costume,makeup and play a ghoulish role!

This is a school full of wonderful theater talent.That's why Showtime aired a documentary about them.

Several of his friends have just come from Scotland where they preformed E.A. Poe...Into the Mind of Madness. They have been lucky(and talented) enough to have been invited to Scotland for the last several years. This play is very dark and very spooky to say the least.....so these kids should have no problem falling back into character. Floyd Central and New Albany High School is loaded with so much talent. It makes me sad that the theater teachers from both schools are retiring this year. I hope it doesn't change things too drastically.
You may remember a while back I talked about the documentary called Guys and Divas that aired on Showtime. It's about three of our local high schools theater department. Check it out there's a clip at the link above on You Tube.

Today is a rainy dreary, stay in my sweats and read kind of day. So I am loving all of these new on line magazines. I just discovered another fabulous one called Styled.

The photo's are absolutely beautiful. I sat for so long just drooling over figs. The crazy thing is I've never tasted one before,but now I know I must have one.

A dear sweet blog friend Kai from Celebrating Christmas Year Round mentioned just the other day that they are her favorite. So figs are my shopping list!Question....do you eat them as is or do they need prepping in some way?
My persimmons are just about ready to fall. So soon I will need to take a hike down to the creek and just hope I beat the deer to them. This time of year as the leaves change color and it begins to get cooler,my taste buds scream for, apple cider,butternut squash,baked pears,persimmon pudding,and my boys all time favorite pumpkin roll.....ahhh fall comfort food, yummy!!

The last of our butternut squash from our garden.

 So this dessert went to the top of my list. Lattice Cider Cookie Tops. Pie dough as a cookie now that is a Genius idea....probably only new to me....but still GENIUS!!

I first found it on a blog called More Design Please. That's what led me to discover Styled the on-line magazine. Oh I just had a thought I wonder if this would work on top of my canning jars with apple pie inside....then baked in the oven with these sweet cookies on top! Genius idea!!

Oh I hate to have to get dress and go to the grocery...on such a dreary rainy day but sadly my taste buds have taken control of me.

I've heard it said that people have been seen at Walmart ( People of Walmart) in their house slippers and pajama pants,and even worse....hummm so I may just go as is.....sweats and slippers!We need a drive through grocery for days like this. Genius idea!

Since I have a new hair color,some copper/red added to my way too light....natural blond (ha ha)no one may recognize me.........That reminds me of a funny moment this week.
Patrick my 16yr old grandson passed me on the road a few days ago while driving in Drivers Ed class. He told his mom he had seen my new hair color. I asked him why he didn't honk and he said he couldn't because he was with his drivers ed teacher.....I thought, oh that's true,Duh! You see there's still a lot of blond in my hair! But he went on to say that I looked mean and grouchy.Well aren't kids just too sweet? It's such fun to age in front of them,they never fail to point out a wrinkle or a gray hair,or a memory loss!! Sadly I explained that's just how I look as I drive, and I guess no amount of hair dye will change it.... But it does serve me well at Halloween should I dress as a wicked witch.You have to flaunt what you have....moohaha!!! =)