Is everyone enjoying this summer encore weather. Just when I thought it was safe to pack away the shorts and flip flops…it seems that Fall will be returning next week and we can resume our seasonal activities. Speaking of Fall activities, am I the only one who goes a little crazy with the Apple picking? If you have one or two or twenty leftover, try my cheesecake baked Apple recipe.   This week I selected the beautifully understated decorating style from The Organized Dream.  I love how she captured the joy of the season with simple pine cones.   

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Amy at A Day of Small Things – Pin

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

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We always go to the Apple orchard with the same intention every year… we will only pick enough apples for snacking and a few Apple pies… and every year we return home, look at our many bags of apples and wonder what came over us.  I think it is the combination of crisp fall air, a bite from an Apple just picked from the tree, jubilant time with extended family and visions of Apple creations that keep me picking…and picking….Anyway, it does give me the excuse to spend some quality time on Pinterest…

This yummy desert is a combination baked Apple and caramel cheesecake…we use apples so it must be healthy…right?

The usual cast of characters

 1. 4 to 6 baking apples, depending on size.  I used Red Gala

2. 2 tbsp brown sugar

3. 1 tsp cinnamon. 

4. 1/4 cup powdered sugar

5. 1/2 tsp vanilla extract…not to brag but I make my own!

6. Graham cracker crumbs…enough to sprinkle on top

7. 3 tbsp butter

8. 1 block cream cheese

9. Several pieces of caramel candy rough chopped
 

The steps to greatness

1. Slice the top of the apples and scoop out the inside.  A large melon baller works great.  We also save the Apple pieces and bake in a large ramekin…nothing is wasted

2. Mix together melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Brush the inside of the apples with butter mixture allowing it to soak in.  Pour excess on Apples in ramekin.  Bake 20 minutes in a 400 degreee oven. 

3. Meanwhile, cream together cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and chopped Caramel.  Spoon into apples and bake 10 minutes more.  Top with crushed graham cracker crumbs.  

4. Serve hot or cold…both are delicious!

And just because…enjoy the beautiful picture of our Princess taken by the talented Sarah Michele on the Naval Academy Yard!

Show and share. Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. The Scoop inspire me Tuesday. Thrifty and vintage                  make it pretty.  Titus 2. Art of homemaking  made by you. Metamorphosis   Wow us Wednesday. Talk of the town.           Let’s talk vintage. Share it. Vintage bliss. Moonlight and Mason jars. Tuesday with a twist. Brag about it work it Wednesday share your cup. Share your style. Home and garden. Welcome home. Thursday favorites. Wonderful wednesday.            Waste not Wednesday  thoughts of home. Your inspired design. Friendship Friday. Friday features. Home sweet home. Sweet and simple.  Tada. Imparting grace. Morning cup of joe. Home matters. Sweet inspiration. Best of the weekend vintage chic

Boy has it been  a week! Many friends and family felt the full brunt of Hurricane Matthew, and thank goodness, experienced minimal damage. We tolerated a rainy, windy Saturday in Annapolis but it didn’t dampen the spirits of our Navy football team! The town will talk about the great win of ’16 for decades to come! Sunday and Monday provided the quintessential Fall holiday weekend we all needed. My porch now reflects the beauty of the season.  I can’t wait to enjoy a pumpkin pie milkshake and watch the leaves do their thing. The featured recipe sounds amazing.  

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

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Dawn at LeroyLime – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Maisy at Becoming Alice – FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | 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

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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So, that loud cheer you heard yesterday… a big day in the history of Navy Football. While the princesss and I enjoyed the afternoon in the warm, dry house, my hero walked to the stadium to witness the win. Yes, we live that close. Today seems to be that quintessential perfect east coast Fall day…come join me on the porch.

Mums and pumpkins…and a few gourds…what could be more perfect!

Indian corn on an antique drying rack…probably my favorite fall decoration.

The leaves are still green on the trees, but on my porch they are the magnificent colors of Autumn.

The perfect spot to curl up and enjoy the beautiful day…I wish you could join me!

Behold…the Apple…the perfect snack for today!

Show and share. Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. The scoop. Inspire me Tuesday. Vintage and thrifty.              Make it pretty. Many blessings. Art of homemaking. Made by you. Metamorphosis. Wow us Wednesday. Talk of the town. Let’s talk vintage. Share it. Vintage bliss. Moonlight and Mason jars. Tuesday with a twist brag about it. Work it Wednesday. Share your cup. Share your style. Home and garden. Welcome home. Thursday favorites. Wonderful Wednesday. Waste not Wednesday. Thoughts of home. Vintage charm. Your inspired designs. Friday feature.                 Home sweet home. Feather nest Friday. Sweet and simple. Morning cup of joe. Home matters sweet inspiration.              Best of the weekend  Tada. Imparting grace  vintage chic. Sunday at Home Snickerdoodle. Amaze me Monday                    Busy Monday. Monday inspiration Digging it. Inspire me Monday  silver pennies 

So, that loud cheer you heard yesterday… a big day in the history of Navy Football. While the princesss and I enjoyed the afternoon in the warm, dry house, my hero walked to the stadium to witness the win. Yes, we live that close. Today seems to be that quintessential perfect east coast Fall day…come join me on the porch.

Mums and pumpkins…and a few gourds…what could be more perfect!

Indian corn on an antique drying rack…probably my favorite fall decoration.  

The leaves are still green on the trees, but on my porch they are the magnificent colors of Autumn.

The perfect spot to curl up and enjoy the beautiful day…I wish you could join me!

Behold…the Apple…the perfect snack for today!

Show and share. Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. The scoop. Inspire me Tuesday. Vintage and thrifty.              Make it pretty. Titus 2. Many blessings. Art of homemaking. Made by you. Metamorphosis 

Once upon a time I had a neighbor who made the most amazing chicken noodle lemongrass soup when I was not feeling 100%. She gave me the recipe but in the midst of the many moves of the military life…it was lost. My feature selection from the Ethnic Spoon reminds me of this wonderful dish and I can’t wait to try it…I won’t even wait until I’m sick!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

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

Christine at Light and Savvy – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Jen at Creatively Homemade – Twitter | G+ | Pin

Dawn at LeroyLime – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Maisy at Becoming Alice – FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | 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

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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An apple adventure…

Way up high in the apple tree…

…two little apples smiled down at me. 

I shook the tree as hard as I could…

…down to the ground the apples fell. 

And mmmmmm were they good!

Show and share. Tuesday at our house. The Scoop. Inspire me Tuesday. Thrifty and vintage finds. Make it pretty. Titus 2. Wow us Wednesday. Talk of the town. Let’s talk vintage. Share it. Vintage bliss. Moonlight and Mason jars.                  Tuesday with a twist. Brag about it. The art of homemaking. Monday blessings.  Inspire me Monday  wonderful Wednesday Made by you. Metamorphosis   Work it Wednesday. Share your cup. Share your style. Home and garden. Welcome home. Thursday favorites. Waste not wednesday. Thoughts of home. Vintage charm. Your inspired design. Friday features. Home sweet home. Feather nest Friday. Sweet and dimple. Tada. Imparting grace. Morning cup of joe. Home matters. Sweet inspiration. Best of the weekend. Vintage chic  friendship Friday share it one more time. Sunday at home                        amaze me Monday. Busy Monday inspiration Monday. Digging it. Proverbs31. Silver pennies 

There is a flurry of activity in our household this evening as we prepare for our annual family apple picking weekend. This trip to Northern Virginia is a highlight of our Fall season! The Princess loves apples…and her extended family loves to see her… A win for everyone!
I have to admit my selection this week had me at the title…A drunken table?
But the story of this discarded trash to treasure was fascinating. I think I need to take a second glance at roadside junk for my own drunken furniture!

 

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Dawn at LeroyLime – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Maisy at Becoming Alice – FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | 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

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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I love Fall…I love pumpkins…I love pumpkin pie, although, I suspect the love has to do more with the spices than actual pumpkin. With a family of three, including one very picky toddler, an entire pumpkin pie seems to last a long time…dare I say too long? With some time on my hands, a cabinet of rarely used specialty baking items and the magical world of Pinterest ( it has the ability to suck me in and keep me unaware of the passage of time!), I set out to make a smaller version…and I found it…and I can’t wait to eat it. 

The usual cast of pumpkin pie characters:

1. 2 eggs beaten 

2. 15 oz can of pumpkin purée.  I measured from a large can and froze the rest for future use.  

3. 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk

4. 2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice

Cream the above ingredients together until smooth.

The steps:

1. Using a regular size pie crust, I cut two circles large enough to line my 5 inch pot pie pans (from Miles Kimball catalog many years ago). I filled each 3/4 full of pumpkin purée mixture… I had 2 interesting issues suddenly appear and easily solved…

A. Too much filling..I froze the excess to bake in small ramekins for a tasty treat

B. Leftover pie crust…I rolled and cut into leaf shapes with my Marshalls purchased leaf cookie cutter. They look darling on the little pumpkin pies!

2. Bake at 425 for 30 minutes. Allow to cool. Top with adorable leaf cut out.

3.  Enjoy with a nice glass of apple cider. 

  

To celebrate the first weekend of Fall, we took the Princess to a local Fall festival. To say she enjoyed it would be an understatement!

Let’s party. Show and Share. Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. The scoop. Inspire me Tuesday. Thrifty and vintage finds. Make it pretty. Titus 2. Many Blessings. Art of homemaking. Made by you. Metamorphosis. Wow us Wednesday     talk of the town. Let’s talk vintage. Share it. Vintage bliss. Moonlight and Mason jars. Tuesday with a twist. Brag about it  Work it Wednesday. Share your cup. Share your style. Home and garden. Welcome home.      Thursday Favorites. Wonderful Wednesday. Waste not Wednesday.  Simplify Wednesday.  Thoughts of Home. Your inspired design. Friday features.     Home sweet home. Feather nest Friday. Sweet and simple Tada. Imparting grace. Morning cup of joe. Home matters.    Sweet inspiration  best of the weekend. Vintage chic. Sunday at home. Share it one more time. Peace love and link.     Amaze me Monday  busy Monday. Inspiration Monday  digging it. Proverbs 31. Finding silver pennies. Snicker doodle 

Welcome to the Friday Features Linky Party this lovely first day of Fall! Seems like everyone has this wonderful season on their mind. Just take a look at the wonderful selections our hostesses have featured this week….Fall in every shape and form. My own cozy house is beginning to represent this gorgeous time of year…in case you missed it, check out my early Fall decor

Autumn Joy@A Day of Small Thing

I am inspired by the simple but elegant table decor at Comfort Spring and I think you will be as well!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

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

Christine at Light and Savvy – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Jen at Creatively Homemade – Twitter | G+ | Pin

Dawn at LeroyLime – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Maisy at Becoming Alice – FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | 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

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! Continue reading →