Thursday, October 30, 2014

Oh The Places I've Been

Hello everyone,

Happy Halloween... A couple of weeks ago, sweetheart and I took a drive to visit our daughter's friend. He lives in a log cabin at the foot of Mt Lassen. Before we went to his home we all met at the "Apple Festival" and enjoyed ourselves for a few hours. Here is a tour of the

~APPLE FESTIVAL~

Is everyone thinking about Thanksgiving? And all the wonderful baking we love to do. One vendor had a fabulous basket of assorted nuts ready to bake with. All cracked and packaged for those delicious Pecan Pies...

As a gardener. I'm always on the lookout for different and interesting plants. I love the look of this one.

This vendor had some new plants to me and I could have bought more.

But this is the winner. A Virginia Creeper...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. I planted it on one of the post of my pergola. Hopefully it will grow up the post and display this beautiful fall color next year.

The entertainment was great. Who doesn't like fiddler's music.

Yes! Apple pies galore*

Beautiful mosaic pieces for the garden.

Natural Handmade soaps.

Apples, apples and more apples.

A beautiful day in the mountains of Northern California.

Now it's lunch time at "Bill's House"

Smoked salmon-fresh vegetables and dip, crackers and salsa, stuffed mushrooms and delicious hot cheese spread on wheat bread.

Hum! Hum!

After lunch we headed to a local winery.

Alger Vineyards and Winery.

Located at the gateway to Mt Lassen.The owners embrace the idea and practices of biodynamic farming.

The tasting room is located right on the vineyard and offers incredible views of the vineyard and Manton Valley.

I was so happy to take a mini road trip on a beautiful fall day.

Thank you for visiting and thank you so much for the wonderful comments you leave every day. I try to bring interesting content and beauty to my blog as often as I can...
Hope you enjoy your weekend.
Joyously,
Betty
Linking to:

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Dandelion House for Farmhouse Friday Blog Hop

Natasha in OZ for Say G'Day Linky Party

Under The Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase Party

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home

Your Going to Love it Tuesday At Kathe with an E

A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday

Cedar Hill Ranch for The Scoop!

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

Friday, October 24, 2014

Halloweens Past

Hello everyone,

Please join me on a little trip down memory lane. I started blogging in 2010. I love blogging and Halloween is such a fun time for tablescapes.

Tea Time

Tablescapes

and

Cupcakes

My kitty and Crow with a tea cup and mums from my garden

Mosaic

I love to decorate with my cloche

Mr. Crow is the center attraction

October mantel 2013

Mosaic

Cupcakes galore

The green faced witch is really working the broom.

Mr and Mrs Kitty

"Bats"

Mice and a few haunted houses!

Have a great weekend!
and
a
Safe Halloween
Joyously,
Betty
Linking to:
Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Mosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thur Life
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch
Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life
♥

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Easy Caramel Corn

Hello everyone,

Oh my goodness, I can't believe October is almost over. Next week is Halloween and I have a wonderful treat.

EASY CARAMEL CORN
Printable recipe

courtesy of Pat W.

Microwave 2 packages of white microwave popcorn

In large deep pot

melt together

2/3 cup butter

1 1/4 sugar - White or brown - or mixed

2/3 cup of dark corn syrup

Cook for 5 minutes

add

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Stir foaming mixture and add hot mixture to

popped popcorn in a big brown grocery bag

Shake well

Mixed Nuts can be added at this time

Microwave the bag of popcorn for 1 minute, remove and shake

Do this procedure 2 more times.

Total 3 times

Spread hot popcorn on large cookie sheet and separate

with a fork for 5 minutes until cool

Delicious!

**********************************

I am the photographer and Sweetheart is mixing the ingredients...So some photos are a little blurry. LOL

Cooking the sugar coating

Popcorn in the brown paper bag

Pouring the coating into the brown paper bag

Brown paper bag

After 3 minutes in the microwave

Separating caramel corn with a spoon...

I'm sure you will love this recipe and enjoy the Caramel Corn on many festive days. Thanksgiving and Super Bowl are a few occasions we have made this delicious treat.

Joyously,

Betty

Linking:

Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday

Dandelion House for Farmhouse Friday Blog Hop
My Romantic Home for Show and Tell

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday

Cedar Hill Ranch for The Scoop!
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Scottish Tea Time

Hello everyone,

The fall weather is hitting Northern California tonight. We are finally having some rain...I have a love affair with Scotland and I've been on the hunt for another tea cup with a Thistle motif.

'Jack Pot' while thrifting I found this beauty. This afternoon I set a little tea table to enjoy some tea and Scottish shortbread cookies.

This tea cup was my first Thistle find. 'Adderley' England.

Flower bouquet from my garden. Chrysanthemum and Dahlias are blooming in abundance

'Brandi™ Burgundy'

While visiting Scotland in 2011 our hotel rooms would have a tea center. 'Walkers' shortbread cookies were always offered in individual wrapped packages. Whenever I see some different shaped Walkers shortbread I buy them. These Shortbread Rounds features the Scots Thistle, long recognized as the National Emblem of Scotland.

'Walkers' Scottie Dogs

'Campbells' Pure Butter Shortbread Kilts.

My new favorite book is Jan Karon's newest book Mitford #10.

*Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good*

I have all the Mitford books in my library and I truly loved them.

The prickly purple thistle was adopted as the Emblem of Scotland during the rein of Alexander III (1249 -1286). Legend has it that an Army of King Haakon of Norway, intent on conquering the Scots landed at the Coast of Largs at night to surprise the sleeping Scottish Clansmen. In order to move more stealthily under the cover of darkness the Norsemen removed their footwear.

As they drew near to the Scots it wasn't the only thing hiding under the cover of darkness. For one of Haakon's men unfortunately stood on one of these spiny little defenders and shrieked out in pain, alerting the Clansmen of the advancing Norsemen. Needless to say the Scots who won the day.

The first use of the Thistle as a royal symbol of Scotland was on silver coins issued by James III in 1470