A is for Apples and Autumn too

If you live in New England, then you know this is apple picking season - or, to be truthful, the end of apple picking season! It seems like I have been busy every weekend with soccer, family commitments, and who knows what!  Sure, we've talked about it, but something always stopped us from going.  Excuses mainly.  "Isn't it going to rain today"  "You know I've got a school project to do."  Or, the dreaded, "Do we have to go today, Mom?   They really aren't babies anymore...sigh.  Even my attempts to entice the boys through their stomachs have fallen flat.  "But boys, think about apple pie, apple pie oatmeal, caramel apples and...."   "Can't go today Mom."  Obviously appeals to adolescent appetites just don't work anymore.


   Just when I thought I'd have to give up my dream -- or worse yet, go apple picking alone, is that even allowed?-- my eldest daughter asked "Hey Mama, can we go apple picking this weekend?"  Hurray!  So, yeah, at long last, this is apple picking weekend! And hopefully, our local apple orchard, still has some sweet red apples left on those trees cuz  I have plenty of things to do with those crispy  fruits!


We are going to the Big Apple this weekend!

 This is the place to go apple picking in Wrentham... they have great ice cream too!

Apples as works of art...

If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange those apples then we will still each have an apple.  But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.

- George Bernard Shaw

But what can we do with all those apples you ask?  Great question!  

1.  Make Hot mulled apple cider  (in the crock pot!!) to wash down some yummy treats!

 Get the recipe at tastykitchen.com/

2. Amazing Apple Cider Doughnuts!

Recipe at smittenkitchen.com/

3.  Caramel Apple Parfait

cindab.com/blog

4. Healthy Snack: Oven baked Apple Chips

at cindab.com/blog

5.  Tiny, Twiggy, Caramel Apples at allysonbakerdesign.blogspot.com

6.  Homemade Applesauce with a twist at familyfeedbag.com

7.  Apple Pie Oatmeal - this is so delicious and easy to make too!  Also from familyfeedbag.com

8.  Fried Apple Rings with Cinnamon Sugar Dip at howto-simplify.com

9.  Mini Apple Pies from piesbyhannah.tumblr.com

10.  Saved the best for last: Candy Apple Pie!  Get the info at doughmesstic.net

The kids can bob for apples... or

you could decorate your nest!

place in a basket, a vase, or in a bowl with candles

or circle a punch bowl.

make apple garlands or stack in pyramids

or just put them in a bowl ....

Or, if you are ambitious create a beautiful fall arrangement with crabapples from thethegreengardengate.blogspot.com

So many things to love about Autumn...

Hope you have a great weekend!

xoxo,

Millie

Photo Credits:
cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com/ 
good-times.webshots.com/
arquitetura-pessoal.tumblr.com/
flicker.com
browndresswithwhitedots.tumblr.com/
pinterest.com
tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com
thatssomichelle.blogspot.com/
stylemepretty.com
google.com  
marthastewart.com
etsy.com

photos-by-chiie.livejournal.com/
desdemventana.blogspot.com
isleofview-facesoflove.tumblr.com/

Let the Autumn Decorating Begin!

theamericanlegacy.tumblr.com

Okay, so if my yard looked like this --covered in bright golden hued leaves --I wouldn't need  to do any decorating since nothing compares to Mother Nature's perfection.  Alas, in this neck of the woods, we are still a few weeks away from such majestic colors,  So what's a thoroughly obsessed decorating nut like myself to do in the meantime?  Fake it,of course!  The malls and shops have stacked the bales of hay, and scattered pumpkins, chrysanthemums and scarecrows in front of the cornstalks tied with autumn colored ribbons since July, I think! And, many of my neighbors' homes are bedecked in similar fashion as well.  I want to do something a bit different this year however, and thought I'd share with you some inspirations I've been looking at and collecting on Pinterest.

marthastewart.com

countryliving.com

midwestliving.com

thegrowersdaughter.blogspot.com

I'm obsessed with barns and to me nothing says fall harvest more than a barn and a tractor.  It's also the only explanation I could come up with for placing this pretty photo here!! :)

raisinglailey.tumblr.com

Ornamental kale is wonderful to use in your fall decorating and comes in so many varieties to spice up your decor.

delilahdevine.blogspot.com

This ruffled kale is purplicious!

willowispandrea.blogspot.com

Martha decoratively combined ruffled kale with flowers to bring the season's splendor inside...

thegrowersdaughter.blogspot.com

Why not throw some in your window boxes along a purple aster to get some fall color?

myhomeideas.com

Or, how about some mini-white pumpkins along with assorted chrysantheums?

myhomeideas.com

This room screams autumn doesn't it?

southernlivinghouseplans.com

I love the use of rusty orange toss pillows and throw to bring some autumn cheer in this neutral space below. The glow of the fire reflected on the gleaming hardwood floors....the bittersweet berries in the terracotta urns and the mini white pumpkins lined-up by size on the mantel all combine to create a stunning ambience.  

ysvoice.tumblr.com/

I know this is wedding decor, but why not borrow a few ideas for your next autumn soiree?

www.thebestweddingdecorations.com/

Leave it to Martha to come up with such a stunning centerpiece!

marthastewart.com

Homemade onion soup screams autumn to me.  It makes me think of  sitting by the warm glow of the fireplace enjoying this soup with a crusty baguette, a spinach salad, and a great big glass of vino.  I love cooking in the fall it just seems so cozy, and nurturing after summer grilling, don't you think so?

 

thecurvycarrot.com

 Go to the link above for this oh-so-easy recipe and enjoy your own autumn meal with your family tonight.  If it's still warm enough where you live why not dine outside?  Isn't this pergola space with a fireplace inviting?  Wouldn't you just love to sit by this fireplace...

google.com

crumpledenvelope.tumblr.com

Have a terrific day today!

xoxo,

Millie