Our Fall Porch at the Cottage

Hello, friends!  

I hope your Monday went well.  Mine was busy, busy, busy at the office.  However, I felt blessed with an extra measure of energy today.  It's almost as if this time of year carries its own special magic for me, spurring me to get things done and kicking off a fresh round of nesting! 

And now, I am eager to share our Fall front porch with you!  

My greatest desire is to keep things SIMPLE this year.  

It has been my recent goal to simplify in many areas of my life.  This has spilled over into seasonal decorating, as well.  With our new paint color, everything looks so different - more vibrant and intense.  The details stand out starkly now, so a little goes a long way.  The purple mums, though still tightly budded at the store, looked full and healthy; so, they made the trip home with me.  The pumpkins are arriving in different colors and sizes, one or two each time we visit the supermarket.  My asparagus ferns are stunning this year, having done so well in the super-sized pots I found at Big Lots this Spring.  We will enjoy them through the first freeze and they provide beautiful greenery and texture as a backdrop for the more autumnal colors!  

~ My Camera ~ 

When I was home for the lunch hour, I popped the battery for my Canon camera onto the charger so I could play with it a bit this evening.  It's not a terribly fancy camera and I am still learning to use it.  (My husband surprised me with it a couple of years ago - and I mean it was a wonderful surprise, totally unexpected!  He took all the pocket change he had saved for the last few years over to the bank and had it counted - coming up with enough to purchase this camera out at Sam's - so generous!)  The model is a PowerShot SX510 HS, and I can transfer images directly from the camera to my tablet via our wifi network!  Imagine that, no pulling the SD card or searching for the USB cable!!!  I am still learning the settings, but I took all these images using the auto setting. 

Something NEW - If you hover over any of the post photos in the blog now, you will notice that I have added the ability to "pin" directly from this page to Pinterest.  
So, by all means, please PIN AWAY!!!

Now, that I have gotten my camera back out, I can't wait for some great lighting so I can get photos of some of our interior Fall decor!  

Now, there are a couple of things you can do for me.  First, I would love to know that you've stopped by - so, leave a comment for me and say "Hello"!  Then follow along with me on social media, by clicking on the following links ~ 

Instagram

Pinterest

Facebook

It's much simpler for me to find moments throughout the day to post on those platforms and you will see me there much more often.  So, I hope you will pop over and take a peek. 

Back soon for another visit on the porch! 

Jane 

Planning for a Fall Weekend....

I don't know about you......but, I am so thankful today was Friday!!!

Of course, I am "on call" for the office all weekend.  This means I have to keep my phone close and schedule all appointments for showings for the next two days.  But, that doesn't dampen my enthusiasm for the weekend one bit.

Eddie Dale is actually off this weekend.  So, I've been sitting here, working on a list of things we need to get done this weekend....

Oh, who am I kidding?!?!? 

I've been sitting here, puttering around on Facebook and Pinterest.  But, I do have in mind some things that need to be accomplished this weekend.

Before I get us all planned out, though, I need to allow some "down time".  Perhaps we can load the pups in the truck and head over to Sonic for a cold drink and some tater tots.  Then wind through some of our favorite neighborhoods and enjoy the pumpkins and mums on porches....maybe even catch a hint of changing color in a tree here or there.....

What do you have on tap for this weekend?  Hopefully, you will enjoy a brief respite from weekend business and enjoy some time just taking it all in......

Autumn Blessings.....

Welcome, November...

Good morning, November!!!

You have arrived sunny, windy and crisp.  With carved pumpkins still sitting on the steps out front, and leaves drifting down to settle on the lawn.  Like a breath of fresh air, you came during the night.

Now my thoughts turn towards nesting; cozying up on chilly evenings with a cup of steaming cider.  Darkness falls before the dinner hour.  The smell of fireplace smoke floats in the air. 

You are my favorite, you know.  My favorite time of the year.  Before the Christmas frenzy starts, when the world pauses to take a look around and reflect on all the Blessings bestowed in the Harvest. 

Stay for a while and let me take it all in.  Soak up the weakening rays of the sun on late afternoons, scuff along in the leaves.  Enjoy time with the Loved Ones. 

Welcome, November......

Jane

Comfort Food and Cooler Weather on the Way.....

I think today was probably Summer's "last hoorah" around here.  The temperature rose up near 90 degrees....but, change is definitely on the way.  It should really start to cool off tomorrow and be down around 40 by the time we get up on Wednesday morning.  Yippee!!!

We got some wonderful rain last weekend, so maybe that moisture combined with the "cold" will help bring about a bit of colorful Autumn foliage.....maybe.....


Oh, how I wish I could look out my front door and see a view like this......

 

Seriously, I would be in Autumn-maniac Heaven!!!


But, alas, I live in Central Texas and mesquite and mulberry trees just don't "turn" those beautiful colors.  They simply go from green to brown, with maybe a day or two of mustard thrown in for good measure. 


At any rate, in anticipation of the cooler weather headed our way, I got the ingredients together and had Eddie "dump" a meal in the crockpot this morning.  Chicken Taco Chili......I'm salivating just smelling it waft throughout the house since I arrived back from the office.  I found the recipe online and it's definitely "a keeper"!  (See the original post at SkinnyTaste.com)


If you want to give it a try, here ya go: 

1 onion, chopped

1 16-oz. can black beans

1 16-oz. can kidney beans

1 8-oz. can tomato sauce

10 oz. package frozen corn kernels (I put a little more than this - we like the corn!)

2 14.5-oz. cans diced tomatoes w/chilis (Rotel - we like the spicy stuff)

1 packet taco seasoning (I use reduced sodium variety)

1 Tbsp. cumin

1 Tbsp. chili powder

24 oz. (3-4) boneless skinless chicken breasts

chili peppers, chopped (optional)

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (topping)

 

Combine everything but the chicken and cilantro; stir it all up in the crockpot.  Place chicken breasts on top.  Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours.  Half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred.  Return chicken to the crockpot and mix it all in; let simmer for last half hour.  Top with fresh cilantro.  

 

Also very tasty topped with a dollop of sour cream, some crushed Tostitos and grated cheese.  Friends, this is COMFORT FOOD at its best....and so super simple to make!!!  Doesn't it look yummy???

 

 

Warm hugs.....

Jane

Ghosts of Autumns Past....

My love of "Everything Autumn" came naturally.  I do believe it was fostered by my parents when I was a child.  I have some very special memories that point the way to the beginning of my love affair with Fall.....

In particular, I can remember going for long drives out in the country when I was little.  On Sunday afternoons, my mom and dad would load us up in the car to head out southwest of town, into a little ridge rising out of the earth that is known as Steamboat Mountains.  (Now, I fully acknowledge that these are not really "mountains", more like little foothills.  But, they are a break from the flat lands where Abilene sits perched.)  And, so we would head out for Daddy to "blow the soot" out of the car (translation, give the motor a good run for it's money). 

In the Fall, when the leaves began to change, Mom would arm herself with a small hand saw and when we would get away from town and into the heavier foliage, she would have Daddy pull over to the side of the road and she would take her saw and cut off a few small, low-hanging branches from the oak trees.  These were her favorites ~ just as the leaves were beginning to turn a rusty red.  When we got back home, she would arrange artfully them in an old metal milk can that she had gotten at a local antique store.  She painted and antiqued the milk can a dull colonial red and decoupaged an eagle across the front.  (Did I mention that some of our furniture was the mid-century-popular "Early American"?)  Now, that was really a "Martha Stewart" thing to do before Martha was even a glimmer on the horizon! 

Oak leaves shimmering in the Indian Summer afternoon

(After Thanksgiving, we would head out again and my parents would cut boughs off cedar trees and lug them back into town, where Daddy would carefully wire them onto the wrought iron porch support and then weave our only strand of outdoor lights throughout the greenery for the holidays.  But, that's another story entirely....)

As for Halloween, well, it was a wonderful season at our house.  Oh, we didn't have a whole lot of decorations.  And we sure as heck didn't get to drag them out on the first day of October!  But, we did have paper decorations that Mom would take out a few days prior to October 31st.  One year, my Aunt Dorothy added substantially to our collection with some truly vintage paper decorations, and even some old-fashioned "noisemakers", that my cousins had enjoyed when they were younger.  Most everything came from the "five & dime" store, but we would tape the black and orange tissue paper garland and decorations up around the front porch, or in our front bedroom windows.  Remember these?  We used them year after year.....and I really wish I had them still!

Honeycombed paper pumpkins

A trip to the grocery store yielded a big pumpkin for carving.  Daddy would enlist our help to scoop the seeds and guts out of the pumpkin, but he usually did the carving.  Our only choices were "happy jack-o-lantern" or "scary jack-o-lantern", but he loved making them really snaggle-toothed!

Eddie's interpretation of "happy jack-o-lantern"

I distinctly remember going over to the TG&Y and getting new boxed costumes one year......

This version of the popular clown costume is from 1973.

The earlier costumes, circa mid-1960's, were simpler - only red, blue and yellow - no orange or green what-so-ever!

 They came complete with the little plastic mask, which was difficult to wear for any length of time without sweating your face off!  Mom got Jill and I the cheerful clown costumes ~ and both in a size big enough to wear over our regular clothes in case it was chilly.  For some reason, getting those store-made costume really stands out in my mind.  I must have been about 7 years old, maybe 6, but I still remember the shiny, cheap fabric in yellow, red and blue.  Looking back, we must have looked like miniature Bozo's, but we were so proud! 
 
One year, about 1970, we hosted a Halloween party in our backyard and invited friends!  Mom cut little pumpkin invitations out of orange construction paper and Daddy did the printing.  We passed them out to our friends at church and school.  Before dark on Halloween, everyone came, in costume, to the back yard, the clothesline festooned with orange and black crepe paper and hanging decorations.  We bobbed for apples and had popcorn balls. 

Bobbing for apples!

We had 3-legged races; we dropped clothespins in bottles; we raced with dry pinto beans balanced on butter knives; and we even had relay races where we had to bust balloons by sitting on them.  I will never forget that party ~ as long as I live.  It didn't really cost any money; the food, decorations and games were very simple.  But, it was so much fun!  It was all over when darkness fell and everyone's parents picked them up and took them home for trick-or-treating in their neighborhood.

Gosh, the memories just pile up and press me to bring them forward ~ take them out and reflect on them.  And, obviously, many of them revolve around this time of the year.  That is probably why Autumn is just about my favorite season. 

Do your memories come flooding back this time of year?  Is it the time of year when all the senses seem to kick in and contribute to a sense of nostalgia when you get a whiff of a candle burning the inside of the pumpkin, or feel the crisp chill of an Autumn evening, or hear the dry rustle of tissue paper decorations?  What brings it all back for you???

Feeling Fabulously Fall-ish....

Jane

Freshening Up Out Front....and Welcome to Fall!!!

Once in a while, Life seems to pick up the pace and race by so swiftly!  That seems to be the case with September.  Wasn't it the beginning of the month just yesterday.......and here we are, finishing out this page on the calendar in a dead rush.

I had grand intentions for September.  And many of the ideas I had for projects around the house got trampled in the race to the get through the month.  Traditionally, I have my porch - and the inside of the house, for that matter - dressed for Fall before the middle of the month.  There have been many years when I took care of changing out decor for the season during the Labor Day weekend.  But, it just seemed I couldn't get to it this year....

Finally, though, this past Sunday, Eddie got a day off and the weather was wonderful.  Yes, it got a bit warm, but there was lots of sunshine and a delightful cooling breeze.  We worked together to get the front yard mowed, edged and cleaned up.  Then he dug up that monkey grass that filled part of the contoured bed along the front of the house.  Yea!!!  I had been dreaming of that monkey grass going away for a long time!  Adios!!!

Grubby from working in the yard, we headed out to Lowes and prowled through the garden section.  Admittedly, it was pretty picked over.  But, what they did have was mostly marked down to half price!  So, I grabbed more mums, a couple of new Indian Hawthorne shrubs to replace some dead bushes we had just dug up, and even some ornamental grasses.  To top it all off, several bags of mulch.  And, as we were headed to the check-out, I spied a nearly empty bin of fantastical pumpkins! 

And we were off!  We planted, swept, laid the soaker hose out.....and, voila!  We have a freshly landscaped bed along the front of our little cottage!  I'm loving it!!!

The yellow mums are blooming out nicely....

These purple ones on the clearance table seem a bit bashful, but they're getting there....

Don't you just love the texture of this ornamental grass?

I was inspired to get the front porch set up for Fall!  Still some tweaking to do, but at least it's a start!

So, now I can enjoy Fall on Janie's Porch for another year.  Stop by for a visit.  We'll head out and pick up some more pumpkins while you're here!!!

Enjoy the Blessings of Autumn, my Friends!!!

Jane

Welcome, AUTUMN!!!

It is officially the first day of Autumn....however, you sure wouldn't know it by looking around my house!!!

Remember how the Porch looked by this date last year???

On Janie's Porch - September, 2010

This year, the Porch still wears her Summer wreath (and a heavy coating of West Texas red dirt).  Eight "unpotted" mums from the nursery sit lined up along the edge of the steps, patiently waiting for me to get them transplanted into the planter box and ground. 
 
My welcoming scarecrow is simply a ghost in the storage shed out back, waiting to be sprung from behind the lawn tools.

Inside the house, it's not much better.  Not one pumpkin sits on display yet.

In Janie's House, September, 2011

Despite the lack of Autumn decor, I am feeling a bit more in the Fall Mood.  The morning dawned cool and crisp here today.  A front from the north blew in during the night and the weather was well-beyond-fabulous. 

I'm inspired to get my rear in gear and get everything decked out this weekend (if work and other such responsibilities will just cooperate....).  After all, this is my most favorite time of the year!

I know this is true for many of you.  Something about those days of Indian Summer feels so idyllic and....perfect.  And the decorating, well....it's right up there with the Christmas decorating at our house. 

So, how far have you gotten this year?  Bet you're ahead of me!!!

Blessings,

Janie 

Scenes from a Stroll

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you know how much I LOVE my daily walks!!!

Yesterday was one of those absolutely fantastic Autumn days here in Texas!  It was a little cool, but clear and sunny....the sky a stunning shade of blue. 

 
I waited until mid-afternoon to go on my walk through the neighborhood.  Long sleeves felt good, even that late in the day.  The exercise was invigorating and the views were awesome!  Quite a few of the houses around us are all decked out for the Fall season.

Thank goodness I finally remembered to grab my camera on the way out the door, so I could snap a few pictures and share some of my favorites with you!

 

 

 

 

It's hard to believe that we have almost reached the end of October and Halloween!  I've really enjoyed the decorations and displays I see on my walks, but find myself looking forward to seeing what goes up for (dare I say it already?!?!) -  Christmas. 

There.....it's out.  Just think, this time next month we'll be right there in the swing of decorating for Christmas!!!  I'm breaking into a sweat just thinking about it.  I know it helps to plan ahead and get organized, but I think I will just focus on getting through Halloween and Thanksgiving right now.  How about you?  Maybe we can think on this a bit more later....LOL. 

Hoping your weekend is off to a great start!

~Jane~

Signs of the Season....

The weather here is definitely speaking the language of "FALL" the last few days. 

This weekend has absolutely been the best!!!  A beautiful, mild and sunny Indian Summer day yesterday.....today dawning particularly cool, cloudy and crisp.  (My morning walk required long pants and a sweat jacket, zipped to the top....but, it felt wonderful to push myself to break a sweat in the milder temperature!)

A few signs that AUTUMN has really and truly arrived...

Pumpkin Spice Latte (low-fat, hold the cream, please) at Starbucks!  Yep, I indulged.....

can you say "OMG, Yummalicious!"?!?!?

And when I went to the grocery store for a few things, I couldn't resist these....after all, I am a confessed "punkin-holic", remember???

 

The mums around my front porch have gone blooming mad! 

 Not to be outdone, this lantana is making a strong showing with beautiful shades of red and orange....

And, while my allergies are giving me Major Fits (and I should be buying stock in Kleenex and Benadryl), I am totally enjoying this time of the year!!! 

I'm plotting and planning on prepping The Porch for Halloween....so, stay tuned for that in the coming days....

Are you enjoying the change in the seasons?  What plans do you have up your sleeve to celebrate this harvest time of the year? 

Catch ya later....

Jane

Confessions of a Punkin'-holic....

My name is Jane.....and I am.....a Punkin'-holic!

Yep, you heard me right.  I am obsessed with all things PUMPKIN!

That's probably why Autumn is my favorite season ~ I can let my addiction 'all hang out" and fit right in. 

You see, I love everything about pumpkins....from the color....

to the feel ~ especially the sorta bumpy ones....

to the "thunk" they make when you thump 'em!

I love 'em big and lopsided....

and tiny and perfect.

I love 'em carved....

or whole.

Glass ones....

Wooden ones....

Tin pumpkins.....

~  they need not even be orange.

By the way, I adore these little pumpkin snacks.  Yeah, I know - they're kinda gross looking, but they really taste Yum-a-licious!

You know, the first time Eddie and I shopped together for pumpkins, I had to give him the crash course in selecting the perfect one.  You see, he didn't know about "stemmage".  And it's all about "stemmage" ~ trust me!  The stem needs to be long and intact ~ the more gnarly, the better. 

 

If you can find one with these little tendril-thingies still intact, you have hit the jackpot!

I've been known to pile up to a dozen pumpkins on my front porch for the months of October and November, allowing Eddie to carve only three or four of my least favorites for Halloween.

(Like this one he did in 2008 to celebrate Texas Tech's victory over University of Texas.  Guns up!!!) 

 

On one occasion, I even pulled over on a deserted country highway and dashed into an already-harvested pumpkin field - in the snow - to rescue a couple of left-over, perfectly good pumpkins that got left behind!  (Okay, I know, that probably wasn't smart - or legal - but they were freezing out there!!!)

I'm already cruising the aisles of the produce department of WalMart and the grocery store, waiting for this year's pumpkins to make their appearance.  I know they're coming.... and soon.  Why just this week, I saw a trio of them at the Farmers' Market, so they must be headed this way! 

Oh, hurry, hurry, all you Precious Punkins'....I just wanna bring you home with me! 

Whew!  You know, I feel better already, having made this confession!

Will be meeting up here on a regular basis throughout the season, so if you're ready to take that step....

and admit your love of this amazing orange vegetable, in all its splendor and glory....

you are more than Welcome to do so! 

Hugs, 

Jane