Fall Mantel 2013

Hello, hello!

How are you?  

 

It's such a beautiful sunshiny Fall day here,
and it makes me so happy.

♥♥♥ 
 

I have yet to share my Fall mantel with you, so here goes:
 

 

I think I always love my Fall mantel best

out of all the seasonal changes it goes through.

 Or maybe it's just because I love Fall so much. 

 

Here's a little collage of close-ups:

 

 

I only purchased a few new items for this mantel...

the wooden candle holders from TJ Maxx,

and the lantern from Kirklands.  I can tell that

the lantern is going to become a favorite of mine!

 I'm sure you've already seen the subway

art I made a few years ago. 

 

 

I can't take complete credit for the banner.

I did make it, but it was a template I found online at Yellow Mums.

 Here's another little close-up collage:
 



  

It was an easy banner to make and I really like how it turned out.

 

 

So there you have it.

Another Fall, another mantel.

 

See you soon!

 

Fall Apples tablescape

You know, I love apples.

 

Tart, sweet, crisp apples...especially in the Fall. 

I never feel that an apple tastes as good at any other time

as it does in the fall.

 

When Kathleen of Cuisine Kathleen issued her challenge

this month for the Let's Dish party, it was all about apples. 

I was happy to join in.

 

This was a tablescape that came together effortlessly. 

 

 

 

I started with a plaid tablecloth from Home Goods.

 

 

Then I layered my often-used wicker placemats from Pier 1.

Green dinner plates are Better Homes & Gardens from Walmart.

Gold dishes are from the Oneida Outlet.

Red apple plates are from Christmas Tree Shop. 

Green flatware is Cambridge from Home Goods.

Gold napkins from Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Green felt napkin rings from Crate & Barrel.

Green bubble goblets from Target.

 

 

The centerpiece couldn't be easier.  A potted Kalanchoe gave

me the color I wanted.  I had every intention of popping it

in a pot of some sort, but I liked the brown paper

that the pot was wrapped in, and decided to leave it as is.

 

I added a couple of small pillar candles,

 

 

and I had to add that burlap cutie, too!

 

 

I have to say, that I really love these colors together.

Really.  Love.

 

 

Happy Fall, friends!  

Linking to:

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Pear Crisp

I don't know if I've ever shared this before,

but when we bought our home some 13 years ago,

we were lucky to have inherited a small and very old pear tree. 

 

Now I don't know exactly how old this tree might be,

(our home was built in 1933)

but with every thunderstorm or snowstorm,

I watch from my window, holding my breath,

hoping that the storm doesn't finish this

small tree off once and for all. 

Half of the tree did break off once in a storm,

but it still continues to grow despite that. 

 

Here is our tree, just a few weeks ago, after we harvested the pears.

   

This little cutie gave us a full harvest of pears this year.  You can still

see a few left up top.   These pears were so juicy, I'm telling you,

I could barely cut them up for the recipe below.  They were slipping and

sliding through my fingers. 

 

Ready for the recipe?

 

This recipe comes from The Pioneer Woman.  

 

 

Pear Crisp

 

4-5 whole large pears (Bosc work well, although mine weren't Bosc)

2/3 cup sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

 

Topping Ingredients:

 

1 ½ cup all purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ cup pecans, very finely chopped

1 stick butter, melted

 

Preheat oven to 350°.  Peel, core and dice pears.  Place in a bowl and stir together with 2/3 cups sugar and ¼ teaspoon salt.  Set aside.

 

In a separate bowl, combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans.  Stir together.  Drizzle  melted butter gradually, stirring with a fork as you go along until all is combined.

 

Pour pears into a buttered baking dish, top with crumb topping.

 

Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.  Place pan on top rack of oven for an additional 10 minutes or until topping is golden brown.

 

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.  

 

 

Oh it is soooo good!

I hope you'll give it a try. 

 

What are you planning to bake for Fall? 

 

 

Falling

Just like so many of you, I am falling for Fall...

and loving every minute of it.

 

Never you mind that it's supposed to be
88 degrees & humid

on Tuesday & Wednesday this week,

I'm not listening to a word of it.

I've got my hands over my ears.

La la la la

Did you say something?

♥♥♥
 

Today I am sharing Fall on my dining room hutch.

 

 

 

It's great when I get to use stuff I already have on hand.

 

Now for a little close-up collage.

I enjoy that PicMonkey.

 

I bought those gold candleholders at Michael's about 10 years ago.

So many times I'd thought of getting rid of them.

So many times they've come in handy!  lol 

Just goes to show you, some things you just need

to hold on to.    Good thing I kept these. 

 

 

I love this quote that I found by George Eliot,

it's perfect for how I feel about fall,

and perfect for my chalkboard.

 

 

Have you begun decorating for Fall? 

 

 

 Wishing you a wonderful week,  my friends.

 

Linking to:

 

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life