Fall on the Porch

November 3, 2024November 4, 2024 ~ amykins100 ~ 3 Comments

What a beautiful fall we are having in Annapolis. Clear, warm (almost hot!) days with chillier evenings made for a fire-pit or cozy sweater. Halloween has come and gone and with that October is a wrap. Where is the time going? I love the fall and I am in no hurry for the festive holiday season. Let’s give Thanksgiving it’s time and space.

One place I always enjoy during the beautiful fall is our porch. Come on up, there is always room for one more.

Metamorphosis

Apple, Apples, Apples

October 27, 2024October 29, 2024 ~ amykins100 ~ 1 Comment

Two weekends ago we spent a lovely weekend picking apples. It is such a fun activity, until you realized you picked apples for an entire year! You get creative and look for a few fast shortcuts. This air fryer baked apple recipe fits the bill. Easy, fast and delicious.

Usual Cast of Characters

Baked Apples

3 Apples Gala, Honeycrisp or Pink Lady work great

1 tablespoon Unsalted Butter Melted

½ Tsp Cinnamon

Honey Oat Topping

½ Cup Old Fashioned Oats

1 ½ tablespoon Unsalted Butter Melted

1 tablespoon Honey

2 teaspoon All Purpose Flour

½ teaspoon Cinnamon

1 Pinch Nutmeg

1 Pinch Sea Salt

½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract

INSTRUCTIONS

Begin by preheating your air fryer. While the air fryer is preheating, prepare the apples and topping. Add all the topping ingredients to a small prep bowl and stir to combine. Make sure to distribute the honey well so all the oats are coated. Set aside.
Combine the melted butter and cinnamon in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.

Slice the apple in half through the core. Use a knife or spoon to remove the seeds and core from the center of each apple half. Be carful not to cut too deep and break the apple. Brush each apple half with the melted butter combination.

Spray the basket of your preheated air fryer with cooking spray and carefully place each apple in. Depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to cook in several batches. Close the lid and press START, then AIR CRISP and set the TEMP to 350 degrees F using the arrows. Next, set the TIME to 15 Minutes then press START.

After 15 minutes check the apples, they should be soft and the oat topping should be browned. Once they are finished remove the apples with tongs and enjoy warm with additional honey, vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Enjoy!

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Wonderful Wednesday.. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Funtastic Friday. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations creative muster

Chill in the Air

October 20, 2024October 27, 2024 ~ amykins100 ~ 6 Comments

Last week I started my car to warm it up before I left for school. All of a sudden fall was in the air. You could feel it, smell it, hear it and taste it. Somehow summer gave way to crisp fall. Summer fought a good battle but eventually it gave in. I love fall. It was so nice to put on a sweater, enjoy some fresh picked apples and hear and feel the heater click on in the middle of the night. I wanted our bedroom to reflect this change so I added some fall touches…I think it looks quite festive.

I love the rich colors of fall.

Fall, Leaves, Fall

October 6, 2024October 7, 2024 ~ amykins100 ~ 1 Comment

By Emily Brontë

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;

Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow
Blossom where the rose should grow;

I shall sing when night’s decay
Ushers in a drearier day.

Fall is Here

September 29, 2024October 6, 2024 ~ amykins100 ~ 5 Comments

Today it felt like fall. Kinda dreary but still warm, evening creeping in early, the faintest glimmer of red and yellow on the trees…I love this time of year. There is a contemplative quality about it. A time to gather at home and begin the process of “cozy”. Granted, it will probably still be in the 80’s so cozy dressing might need to wait a bit, but pumpkins, apples, darker colors are all fair game. I hope you enjoy some of my fall touches!

Homework…the Princess’ most unfavorite part of fall.

Fast and Delicious Orzo Bake

September 15, 2024September 15, 2024 ~ amykins100 ~ 6 Comments

Life is busy these days, between work, school, field hockey practice, homework and the general busyness of keeping a home running slightly smoothly, it is nice to have a meal you literally dump into a pan, bake and enjoy the deliciousness. This Greek Orzo bake fits the bill and is on rotation for dinner. I find it makes enough for several meals and freezes beautifully. What are your favorite go to “fast meals”?

The Usual Cast of Ingredients

6 oz.feta cheese

2 cups orzo pasta

4 cups chicken broth

20 oz cherry tomatoes

2 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp oregano

1 cup packed spinach

Drizzle of olive oil

The Steps to Glory

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).

2. In an oven proof pan, Place orzo evenly on the bottom. Drizzle Olive oil. Over low heat gently toast the orzo until fragrant.

3. Pour the chicken broth over the orzo pasta until it’s fully submerged. Add the cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, and dried oregano and feta cheese to the baking dish, distributing them evenly on the orzo.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until the orzo is cooked through and the cherry tomatoes are soft and bursting with flavor.

4. Remove the baking dish from the oven and add the packed spinach to the mixture. Stir well to incorporate the spinach into the dish. Return the baking dish to the oven and cook for an additional 5 minutes, allowing the spinach to wilt slightly.

5. Once cooked, remove the dish from the oven and give everything a good stir to combine the flavors. Cool and enjoy!

Metamorphosis

Beautiful Cannon Moutain

September 8, 2024September 9, 2024 ~ amykins100 ~ 1 Comment

Nestled in the heart of the White Mountains, Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire is a treasure trove of outdoor adventure, natural beauty, and historical significance. Known for its breathtaking vistas and rugged terrain.

It’s perhaps best known for the iconic Old Man of the Mountain, a series of five granite cliff ledges that, when viewed from a specific angle, resembled the profile of an old man. Though the Old Man sadly collapsed in 2003, its legacy lives on, with a dedicated memorial at the base of the mountain and a strong place in the heart of New Hampshire.

One of the highlights of a visit to Cannon Mountain is the Aerial Tramway. This unique experience allows visitors to glide up 2,022 feet in under 10 minutes, with unparalleled views of the White Mountains, Vermont’s Green Mountains, and even Canada on a clear day. At the summit, visitors can explore short walking trails, take in the views from observation decks, and enjoy a picnic with a view.

I was a bit apprehensive about the tram, heights are just not my thing, but with some handholding of my Hero I made it though the quick trip up. Coming down was much easier. Oh the views…worth it!

Metamorphosis

The School Bell Rings

September 2, 2024September 3, 2024 ~ amykins100 ~ 10 Comments

When that school bell rings I will answer it. The Princess and I both headed back to class last week. She is off to Sixth grade and I’m off to my own classroom of little ones. You can feel fall creeping in around the edges and my back to school decor always sets the tone beautifully. My favorite season!

Apples, a chalkboard and an antique slate give the kitchen a touch of school.

Antique readers and teacher bells on the mantel.

Time For Apricot Muffins

August 25, 2024August 28, 2024 ~ amykins100 ~ 5 Comments

The weather felt a little cooler…relatively speaking and I was ready to turn on my new oven for a little late summer baking. I also had some things to use in the pantry. Muffins seem so cozy and used up things on my shelf that have been sitting around for a while. It had the added effect of making my home smell like a bakery.

The Usual Cast of Characters

INGREDIENTS

1 ⅓ cup 165g all-purpose flour
½ cup 100g sourdough starter /discard
2 teaspoon 6g baking powder
¼ teaspoon 2g salt
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
5 tablespoons 75g unsalted butter softened.
¾ cup 150g Sugar
1 large egg
1 cup 158g Apricots chopped
⅓ cup milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

The Steps to Glory

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease it lightly.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and cardamom. Set it aside.
In a large bowl, add egg, melted butter, milk , sourdough starter, vanilla extract and mix until it is light and fluffy.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to dry ingredients and then fold in chopped apricots mixing just until combined . Be careful not to overmix the batter.
Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup with about two-thirds full.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

And there you have it, let me know if you give it a try and how it turned out.

Maybe enjoy some after paddle boarding…

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster. Whimsy stylish song

Exploring a Bit of Vermont

August 18, 2024August 24, 2024 ~ amykins100 ~ 8 Comments

The weather was so beautiful in Vermont, the air seemed so crisp and clean. Driving around is an event in itself because one picturesque view after another appears out your car window. Cute small towns, mountain view’s, lovely old farmhouses, great antique shops…it truly had it all.

Now, the Princess needed a little more to go on besides pretty views out her window so we scheduled two family friendly stops to enjoy. The fist was the Ben and Jerry ice cream tour and the other was the Von Trappe lodge tour in Stowe.

Ben and Jerry’s had ice cream…you can just stop there and I would be happy. The tour and tasting were both fun, and walking the grounds, especially the graveyard of retired flavors, was a nice way to spend some time. It was well organized and although crowded, you did not feel rushed. We were able to sample some yummy strawberry cheesecake ice cream. We also discovered the Princess is just a hair shorter than me…not sure how I feel about that.

Stowe was also a fun stop. The town was very cute but crowded. I can’t image how it is during ski season. We enjoyed our tour of the Von Trappe Lodge. I am a fan of the movie so I enjoyed the trivia and “real story” details. I think it would be fun to stay there sometime. It felt very European. There are a lot of outdoor activity options throughout the year. The Princess would love to try skiing sometime, I would enjoy the cozy fire in the lodge.

Metamorphosis Inspire me Tuesday .Wonderful Wednesday. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster whimsy

	Jeanne on Dressing the House for Ch…
	Joanne on Dressing the House for Ch…
	rocnmarne on Dressing the House for Ch…
	Paula @ Grace~Filled… on Falling for Fall
	Lydia C. Lee on Falling for Fall

A Day of Small Things…

Equals a big life of happiness.

Uncategorized

Fall on the Porch