It’s that time again. In our household, a uniform is laid out, lunches planned, new backpacks are prepared and everything that leaves the house is labeled. Yes, that school bell is about to ring for both me and my Princess. Technically, it rang several weeks ago for my hero as the Naval Academy welcomed Midshipmen back for a new year.

First Grade! How did that happen? Next thing you know we will be dropping her off at some dorm somewhere…not really, but it sure feels that way to this Mama.

I love school and I love vintage school things…one of my favorite things to celebrate with decor is the start of school. It makes me smile to think of children now long, long grown answering that school bell so long ago.

School bells, ink wells and vintage flash cards brighten up an early Fall mantel.

Curious George and some vintage books and toys are waiting for little hands to play with them again.

An antique chalkboard join some apples, sunflowers and original crayons in front of the fireplace.

More Antique books and rulers to welcome scholars back to class.

How sweet is this lunchbox topped with blocks?

Speaking of sweet…how cute is the Princess at the opening Navy football game!

Go Navy…Beat Army

Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Made by you. Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Talk Of The town. Keep in touch. Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Your whim. Share your style. Home and garden. Waste not. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm. Friday features. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home. Pit Stop. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Best of the weekend. Create bake grow. Faith and family. Snickerdoodle. Happiness is homemade. Saturday shuffle. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Over the Moon Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Wednesday Aim Home style gathering celebrate your story Little cottage Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home

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My Patriotic Pride was a top viewed post at Home and Garden Thursday@A Delightsome Life.

The weather has been beautiful this weekend in Annapolis! The air is cooler, the sky is blue and my thoughts are turning to Fall. Especially with school starting in one week. How can the Princess be in First Grade already? It seems as if yesterday I was walking her to her two year old program…with tears in my eyes.

Because I love Fall, I felt like doing a little Fall cooking today. Granted, it will be back up in the 90’s later this week but Navy football season starts on Saturday, so it must be Fall. Also time for homemade applesauce…the easiest way possible.

The Usual Cast Of Characters

1. A whole bunch of Apples…2-3 quarts

2. 1/2 Cup Red Hot Candies

3. 4 tablespoons lemon juice

4. A dash of cinnamon

The Steps to Glory

1. Dump the above into a crockpot…it looks so festive.

2. Cook on high for 30-45 minutes to release the apple juice and melt candy.

3. Turn to low, and cook 3-4 hours. Stir occasionally.

4. When the apples are soft, mash with potato masher to desired consistency. I use an immersion blender to smooth it a bit.

5. Enjoy warm or cool…both are delicious.

Guess who had her first pedicure this week! She now wants one daily…as do I, Little Princess, as do I.

Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Made by you. Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Talk Of The town. Keep in touch. Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Your whim. Share your style. Home and garden. Waste not. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm. Friday features. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home. Pit Stop. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters. Best of the weekend. Create bake grow.. Faith and family. Snickerdoodle. Happiness is homemade. Saturday shuffle. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Over the Moon Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Wednesday Aim Home style gathering celebrate your story Little cottage Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home.

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things – Pin

Penny at Penny’s Passion – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

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My Patriotic Porch was featured on Thursday Favorite Things@Vintage Mamas Cottage and Best of the Weekend@ Calypso in the Country.

Summer day camp is a beautiful thing…you can usually still sleep a little later, enjoy a cup of coffee…and then, drop your child off to enthusiastic, trained adults who have planned terrific activities to create happy memories that will last a lifetime. It also allows for a solid block of time to explore all the antique stores without the constant reminders to keep hands in pockets. It is also just sooooooo boring to look at old stuff, according to a certain Princess. I’m sure she will have a very successful yard sale someday. I did find some treasures, I hope they make you smile.

A few more colored seltzer bottles! I can’t pass them up.

I love my darning eggs in this bowl.

I can always make room for more rolling pins…especially with red handles.

A relatively new collection for me…antique butter paddles.

One of the mentioned day camps…Kitty Craft Camp. Literally doing crafts surrounding by cats. Not my cup of tea but she loved it.

Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Made by you. Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Talk Of The town. Keep in touch.Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Your whim. Share your style. Home and garden. Waste not. Style showcase. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm. Friday features. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home. Pit Stop. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters. Best of the weekend. Create bake grow. Faith and family.Snickerdoodle. Happiness is homemade. Saturday shuffle. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Over the Moon Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Wednesday Aim Home style gathering celebrate your story Little cottage Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things – Pin

Penny at Penny’s Passion – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

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Strawberry Ice Cream! I was featured at To Grandmother’s House We Go@ Chas’ Crazy Creations.

…using nothing but things already in the pantry and refrigerator! Let me give a little backstory. Sometime around Thursday I started to crave a little pie…well a lot of pie. I really didn’t want to add to the already hot day, however, as the air conditioner fought to keep the house comfortably chilled. Saturday morning a thought occurred…don’t I have an icebox pie cookbook…that I found in TJ MAXX…and never opened? I did, and behold the creation I made with simple, easy ingredients and very little time. Cherry pie!!

The Usual Cast Of Characters

• Graham Cracker Pie Crust. I made my own from our stash of S’More Fixings * This is a great and easy recipe!
• 1/4 Cup Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice (about 2-3 lemons)
• 1 Can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 3-4 cups chopped fresh cherries.

The Steps to Glory

1. Mix the Eagle Brand with the lemon juice. 

2. Stir well until mixture is thickened. 

3. Drain cherries and fold into Eagle Brand mixture. 

4. Pour mixture into pie crust.  Do NOT cover. 

5. Refrigerate for 4 hours before serving, to allow time to set.

6. Relax and enjoy a pampering activity while you wait!

Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it Pretty Made by you. Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Talk Of The town. Keep in touch. Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Your whim. Share your style. Home and garden. Waste not. Grandma’s House DIY. Friday features. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home. Pit Stop. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters. Best of the weekend. Create bake grow. Faith and family. Snickerdoodle. Happiness is homemade. Saturday shuffle. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Over the Moon Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Wednesday Aim Home style gathering celebrate your story Little cottage Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home. What’s for dinner