This and That

Remember this lovely sand painting?

And these?

A little cleaning, and behold...

 

Definitely worth keeping.

Not the greatest photograph, but these hastily grabbed branches of stunning, gorgeous simplicity have given me so much pleasure this week. 

Pumpkin Dip...Yummers!

Always on the lookout for pumpkin recipes, as I preserve pumpkin puree, I wanted a recipe for a dip I could use with gingersnaps. I'd had it once before at someone's house.  I googled pumpkin dip and ended up with four slightly different ones. I don't know if I'll try the others or not, because the first one I tried is soooo delicious. I found it on a blog called "Closet Cooking". It was fast and easy to prepare. As good as it was right after making it, it was even better the next day. So try to make it a day ahead of serving and refrigerate.  My version is probably a little lighter in color than if you used storebought pumpkin because we grow the green striped long neck pumpkins for canning.

1  8oz. cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1  cup brown sugar
2  cups pumpkin puree
1  tsp cinnamon
1/2  tsp ginger
1/4  tsp cloves
1/4  nutmeg

Beat with mixer until smooth.  Serve with ginger snaps.  (I would think it would be delicious with fruit, too)
Enjoy!!

If I Were A Rich Man....

...daidle deedle daidle, diggah diggah deedle daidle dum.  Boy, did the spell check ever go crazy on that phrase.  Sorry, but certain phrases always lead me into song.  Anyway...

Once in a while we have fun speculating about what we would do if we were fabulously wealthy.  Daughter #1 and I have one venture we dream about.  We would buy and restore wonderful old buildings.  We love to go on drives with no particular destination in mind and you almost always go by a crumbling old house, church, factory, barn, etc...that still retains a hint of it's former self.  We hate seeing these beauties  being lost to time and neglect. 
My husband and I went on a short fall drive yesterday and passed this old church.  I don't know why, but I am always drawn to these structures and would love to stop and explore.  We were speculating about the nature of the building. He thought it was a town hall or community building. I think it was a church/schoolhouse (like Little House On the Prairie)...used as a church on Sundays and school through the week. I'll have to do some researching.
I at least had to grab some pictures.

This charming old church will eventually just die and be lost.  How sad.  If I were a rich man.....

One Project Accomplished

Remember this?

Just using this and adding bits and pieces of supplies I had on hand, I have my fall wreath finished.  

Please look past the faded and peeling door paint...that's to come. But I'm pleased with my wreath, especially since I didn't need to buy anything. Thanks Mom!

And I Was Doing So Well....

...until yesterday.  I went shopping at the "House of Mom".  Mom and Dad cleaned out their attic, and Mom put everything she didn't want in the dining room. The table was full and overflowing onto the floor.  She scheduled a day that all four of us girls (three sisters and our sis-in-law) could come for a morning of choosing what we wanted,  and then she fed us a delicious meal.  
I went with the best of intentions. I wasn't going to bring much home...I'm in the process of purging.  I had adopted the philosophy of bring something in, take something out, and was doing pretty well.  I have several big boxes in another room that are being filled with yardsale and donation items, and I've even thrown things away!!!  Gasp!
Well, I didn't do so well with my resolve yesterday.

The easy stuff first.

Now, who could resist this beauty?  So 80's.  Contents dumped, container washed, and now a useful vase or candle holder. 

I needed a grapevine wreath to make a fall arrangement for the door and one can always use good quality silk greenery for arrangements. Right?

Next, the obvious choice.

Aren't these pretty?  They are sushi plates and small, but will service very well as dessert or bread plates and mix beautifully with my blue and white dishes. I couldn't pass them up, and the price was right.

These next items I have to admit, I really didn't need, and I really don't have room in my overcrowded china cupboard....

 but....they're so pretty!  And they aren't even washed yet.

 
I brought these home, too.  I love birds. The large one is kind of a funky planter and will go on the kitchen windowsill and be filled with the cilantro plant I just bought.  The paper mache ones will be used on a country style pine tree from A.C. Moore that I sometimes put up in the kitchen with the tiny white lights.

I can't even rationalize what's coming next.  I don't have any of this color in my home.  But nobody wanted them.  And I love transfer ware. They needed to go to a good home where their beauty would be appreciated and cared for.  I'll find room.

And this?...

Not my usual taste. Something I would probably never purchase, even though it's vintage tinsel.  But it was Meme Gamby's.   I'll use it somewhere, and love it.
 

I guess I'd better get busy and find some more stuff to get rid of.