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Autumn Starts NOW! with an Apple Dip Recipe

It’s no secret just how much I adore Autumn! My home is decorated in Fall colors year round, my dishes are a pattern named October, my favorite candles are Baked Apple Pie and Caramel Apple, my favorite potpourri is Punkie Cinnamon, my idea of a dream vacation is to see the changing of the colors in the Northeast United States, and I am thrilled that today signals the return of Pumpkin Spice to my local Starbucks menu!

With the unseasonably cooler temperatures (I actually sat outside last night with a blanket over me!), I cannot help but start celebrating early the beginning of my favorite time of year ~ Autumn as it spills over into early Winter.

Breathe deep…can you smell the crispness in the air?

Look far…do you see that hint of yellowing in the treetops?

Listen closely…there is a tune in its beginning measures that puts a smile on my lips like no other season can!
I am so thankful God created such beauty in such simple things!
And to kick off the festivities, I’m making this incredibly simple…
Caramel Apple Dip
8 oz cream cheese
1 cup brown sugar or sucanat
1 tsp vanilla
Mix thoroughly and take your apples for a dip! (shown here in my October dishes!)

Also, go check out my blogger friend, Georgiann! She’s having a Giveaway to celebrate her blogiversary at her Garden Gate blog and it reminds me of AUTUMN!!!
Be on the lookout for more Autumn posts from me cuz, you guessed it, I LOVE this time of year!!! (lol)

You Need One of These!

I saw these years ago, but never purchased one until recently (and only because a friend of mine had one and I could see first hand how they worked because I am a big baby when it comes to trying something new!)

Let me tell you what! This product is AWESOME!

Apparently, it was designed by a dad who’s child almost choked to death. He wanted a way to allow baby to enjoy table foods without the fear of choking.

We picked ours up at WalMart in the baby section a few weeks ago since Micah still doesn’t have the luxary of teeth (I have rather late teethers). Micah just loves it! We put all sorts of food in there for him and he just sucks away on it.

“They” call it a Fresh Food Feeder, but around here it is known as the Sucky Thing or Micah’s Chewy. (We’re real refined, huh?)

It is great to have along when we go out to eat or to a friend’s house. Just the other day we took it to a minor league baseball game (a family outing for Ty’s job) and Micah was able to enjoy a hamburger right along with the rest of us!

Speaking of that baseball game, the players were so nice to our kiddos. Each of my “littles” were given a game ball! They were thrilled!


It was worth the unbelievable humidity, my dislike of baseball, and the Jimmy Buffet theme night to see the excitement on their faces.

Some Days are Just Like That

I cannot believe it is only 3:30 pm. Time is surely standing still. My day has been full of one child after another needing some sort of discipline. In fact, *I* may have been the one in the most dire need of discipline!

Both of Micah’s naps have been interrupted by another child’s screaming outbursts. The guinea pig food and bedding has been vacuumed up 3 times. My 8 year old keeps telling me I’m not helping her as I stand right beside her explaining and explaining her school work until I’m pretty sure I might pass out. My 11 year old is upset by a family decision that has been made that appears to rain on his parade. And I am on sensory overload.
Mama seriously needs a weekend. Actually, I think we ALL need a weekend!

Alka-seltzer take me away!

(No real reason for this post other than to say just how very thankful I am the Lord created a day for rest!)

My Favorite Biscuits

Many years ago, I found myself longing to learn the all-but-forgotten domestic arts. I would read Christian novels set in the “olden days” with the hopes of gleaning information on baking and keeping house that seemed to no longer be available to my generation. I endlessly bothered anyone and everyone who made jelly or pickled okra or knew how to make soap, begging them to teach me. (By the way, I’m still good at begging others to teach me things.) But one item of information I longed to know remained ellusive.

How to make the perfect biscuit.

I wanted something with whole wheat flour in it that wouldn’t double as a rock once out of the oven. I wanted a nice and fluffy texture with a melt-in-your-mouth taste. Yet, no recipe I tried seemed to fit this bill. Then, I ran across this recipe…

Sky High Biscuits
2 c. white flour

1 c. whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp sugar
4 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 c. cold butter
1 egg
1 c. milk
In a bowl, combine first 6 ingredients. Cut in butter until crumbly. Combine egg and milk; stir into crumb mixture just until moistened. Turn onto a floured surface; knead 10-15 times. Roll out to 1″ thickness; cut with a 2 1/2″ biscuit cutter (or a glass). Place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.
yields 1 dozen melt-in-your-mouth biscuits

Micah Squared & The Dog Days of Summer

Growing up there were a lot of Amy’s. It ranked right up there with Jennifer for all time popular name at my high school. A good friend of mine just happened to share my name and because we happened to be involved in many of the same classes and activities throughout our high school years, we were often called Amy Squared by our friends. (as in Amy2)

Fast-forward…Some friends of ours have a little boy named Micah who is 5 months older than our Micah. So, now we have Micah Squared! Aren’t they just the sweetest?!


We’ve been getting together nearly every Sunday after church with Micah and his family. A few weekends ago, we went to our lake cabin (I use the term “lake” loosely…”mud puddle” might be a better description!)

We worshipped and sang songs, made homemade ice cream and grilled out, and talked and laughed all weekend long.
Oh, and the men (and the dog) took a nap!


And finally, one last picture I just had to share! My older children take piano lessons from Lynnette’s son, Jared. Recently, while my children plunked away, Lynnette clicked away with her camera. Here’s a really sweet picture of Micah she shared with me! (Look at those eyes!)

So, what did YOU do this summer?

Thrift Store Finds!

Friday was Ty’s Granny’s 82nd birthday (you’ll remember her from the Whole Wheat Bread post) For her birthday, we went thrift store shopping! And boy, did I find some treasures!!!

Gurkee sandals $.50
(I own a natural pair of these in a different style and LOVE THEM!)

soft-soled boy shoes $.50
(hey, Aunt Kris! Tell Elia I finally found some!)


baby food grinder $2.00
(this looks as if it has never been used! Great size to keep in my diaper bag when I either forget to pack food or want to give Micah something from the table)
butter dish $1.50
(maybe this will deter little fingers from playing in the butter)

teapot $1.50
(because I want to have more tea parties with my girls)

coffee cups 5/$2.00
(sometimes you just need a coffee cup that makes you smile)


A new shirt for me and an awesome tie-dye for Micah as well! $1.50 total

and

2 shirts for friends…no pics of these because I’ve already given them away. One was purple (my favorite color!) and beaded, the other was a print and style that just looked like a friend’s daughter (isn’t that funny how we start to associate certain things with certain people?)
There were other finds as well (all things I really NEEDED…at least that’s what I tell myself! lol), but these were the ones that really topped my list!
I wonder if I can get by with going again this Friday??? ;o)