Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone! Are your ready to celebrate and enjoy all the trick or treaters? I am, plus I've been surprised and treated by a special Halloween spirit. I'm pretty sure I know who treated me with all these wonderful goodies but they deny everything. Look at all the sweet things I received.
A yummy loaf of pumpkin bread, orange recipe cards perfect for the season, notepads, one has a cute ghost on it the other a piece of candy corn, darling sticky notes, lovely green candles..my favorite color, a little stitching project, candy, candy, and more candy,and the most darling crown cookie cutter. I love crowns and won't crown cookies be the cutest? Thank you for all the wonderful treats.

What a nice way to start the day..... Mmmmmmm homemade bread and a cup of coffee. Delish. I have got to get this recipe.

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,

May luck be yours on Halloween.....author unknown

Enjoy Linda

Halloween Party

Who is this ? Hee, hee, hee, it's just me. I make a wicked witch don't you think? Last night my honey and I went to a spooktacular Halloween costume party. I can't help it, when I hear costume party I always have to go as a witch. I love smearing all the green stuff on my face, weird eye makeup ,and all that lovely hair....which by the way kept getting in my mouth when I ate. Now that I can do without, but what's a witch to do?
Here's my honey! Put on your sun glasses, this rhinestone cowboy has too much bling, bling.
Enter if you dare. The front yard was transformed into a graveyard and every room in the house was decorated to the max. The decorations were amazing.
Here we are with our hostess with the mostess. Alicia, we had a great time!
Besides having a delicious spaghetti dinner, we had yummy appetizers, the best desserts and lots and lots of candy. I took this 8 layer mexican dip, it's delish. If you haven't ever made it give it a try, you won't be disappointed. Here is the basic recipe.

1 9-ounce can refried beans
1/4 cup picante salsa
1 6-ounce container guacamole dip
1 8-ounce sour cream (I use light sour cream)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ( I always add more cheese)
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1 small can sliced black olives
1 medium tomato, chopped
large bag restaurant style tortilla chips

Mix together refried beans and picante salsa. (For more fire add a couple of splashes of hot taco sauce to this mixture) Spread mixture about 1/4 inch thick on a plate or platter.

Next layer guacamole dip and sour cream. Top with cheese, green onions, olives, and chopped tomatoes. Cover and chill for a couple hours. Serve with chips, and enjoy.

I'm not casting any spells today just witching you a happy day. Linda

The Park and What Is This

Today is a lovely warm sunny day, not fallish at all. I've been ironing about three hours and I need a break. I love to iron ,but enough is enough. It's so pretty out we decided to take Lily for a walk in our little park, just down the street from our house. We walk there nearly everyday. I love to pick up little pieces of nature and Lily sniffs everything and tries to find the squirrels in the trees. She can hear them but she can't figure out what's up there. I picked up these pretty little leaves, not much on the ground, no acorns today.... the maintenance men had just finished mowing.
They were trimming some trees and look what I got. This cutting is from a large tree, lots and lots of green foliage, with these beautiful little nubby balls. Red, orange and yellow , and even a green one. I wonder what color it will be? They remind me of candy or Christmas lights. I love them. Does anyone know what these are called?

I'm calling them pretty. Take a walk and see what pretties you can find.

Linda

Hearts

Happy Halloween heart. I found this little sweetie in Morro Bay.
My mom stitched this sweet little heart many years ago. Love you too.
The little hearts are from my honey. The darling book, and beautiful white heart are from my friend Brenda. She found the heart on a beach in Mexico.
Crafted by Rob. He twisted the wire and created this neat piece. It's special when you receive a gift made especially for you!

This little tea towel is from my friend Sharon, she collects hearts too.
It's a pleasure to cut bread on this board.
Teddy likes hearts too. The quilt hanging over the chair is the first one I made.
My gratitude journal. I have much to be grateful for and for this I am truly thankful.
Love this little heart. Mmmm Q, for queen......no I think Q, for Queen of Hearts.

Have a happy day ....Linda

Hearts

I adore hearts! I'm not sure why I like this shape , maybe it's because it's a symbol of love ... anyway I like it. I've been collecting little heart shaped things for a long time and these are just a few. My honey is always looking for heart shaped rocks to add to a collection he strarted years ago for me , they are really hard to find, so I don't have too many. This is one of my most favorites. It's two rocks he matched up to form a heart. I think it's too cool.
These little molds are in my kitchen and I like to change the candle to match the season. Somtimes there are three candles , but I kinda like just the one . What do you think??
I can't imagine what this opened.
Everything taste better on a heart plate. I found this in a little thrift shop in Fort Bragg.
I love sterling silver jewelry, and I'm crazy over heart bracelets. These are some of my most favorite pieces. There is mix here. Some vintage charm bracelets, and anniversray bracelet from Carl, a couple from Lisa and one from my good friend. Whenever I wear any of the pieces I think of the sweet ones who they are from.

More hearts tomorrow.....until then from my heart to yours have a happy day. Linda

Look What I Found

Last week was the WX Peddlers Fair and I found this treasure of a lamp. In all the years of collecting moonstone I've never seen a moonstone lamp. Well, I really wanted this piece, but what if it didn't work? My honey doesn't like to do wiring......maybe our electrician friend R.H. would take care of the wiring, I'm pretty sure he will. It needed a shade, would I find one I liked, and last but not least was it within my budget. Well it was budget friendly, it worked, and I found this darling shade at Goodwill. The shade is a pretty burgundy with a sweet little blue flower design. I just love this little lamp and it has found a happy home on the "sidecar" with other moonstone pieces.


Angie, at Scrappy Moments tagged me. I'm to share seven things about my self. Here goes..

1. Love sweets....Good and Plenty candies are my favorite. Also love Sen~ Sen, a confection sucrerie.....also know as a breath perfume.

2. Please give me Apricot Pie for my birthday....no cake for me.

3. I adore animals, at one time we had 3 dogs and 5 cats....kinda of expensive , but worth it.

4. I'm a reader, with a good book you can go anywhere.

5. I love ketchup on cottage cheese.

6. I'm an only child.

7. I love fog and rain too.

Well there you go.....I'm tagging:

Andi ~ Andi's Everyday Adventure

Polly ~ Counting Your Blessing

Ginger ~ Enchanting Cottage

Dolly ~ From My Cherry Heart

Monica ~ Home Is Where Your Heart Is

Michelle ~ I'm A Little Teapot

Rosemary ~ Rosepetitemaison

Enjoy your weekend ----- only 13 day until Halloween, wonder what these little imps are cooking up......Linda

Soup's On

It has been raining most all of today, and cold too. This kind of weather always puts me in the mood for homemade soup. This is Taco Soup, one of our favorites. Not only is it simple to put together, but it is delicious too. I love to serve it with a crusty bread, and green salad. Here is the recipe.

1/2 lb. lean ground beef

1 onion, chopped

2 16-oz cans pinto beans, drained

1 16-oz can red kidney beans, drained

1 16-oz can cut tomatoes

1 16-oz pkg. frozen corn

1 pkg. taco seasoning (I use about 1/2 pkg. for my family)

1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix (dry)

1 1/2 cup water (I like to add another 1/2 cup water as it simmers)

Cook the ground beef and onions, drain. Add remaining ingredients and simmer to blend flavors.

This recipe was originally created by a weight watcher leader, or maybe it was a member, I'm not sure but anyway she used ground turkey. Whichever meat you choose to use you will Enjoy. Linda

"You Make Me Smile" Award

What a very sweet surprise and honor to receive the " You Make Me Smile" Award. Michell at BACK THROUGH TIME,and Robin at BITTERSWEET PUNKIN both nominated me. Thank you so very much.

I've met so many friendly, sweet ladies in the short time I've been blogging, I feel truly blessed. I love connecting with others in a way I never thought possible.

The rules to this are to pass this award to 10 other ladies. There are so many blogs I enjoy and that put a smile in my heart, I wish I could give this award to each and everyone of you.......but here is my list.

Rhonda Jean at Down-To-Earth

Esther at Esthers Sunday's Journal

Rhonda at Farmhouse Style

Deb at Homespun Living

Michelle at I'm a Little Teapot

Jen at Jen's Country Home

Penny at Little Penpen

Rosemary at Rosespetitemaison

Rachael at The Rose Room

Priscilla at Priscilla's Cottage

These are just a few of the many blogs that touch me and put a smile on my face......please pass this on. Linda

"I am a part of all that I have touched and that has touched me."

Thomas Wolfe

Candy Corn and More

Halloween is in the air, most all the decorations are out, a yummy pumpkin candle is burning.....but something is missing. What is it? I know, I need candy corn. Blow out the candle and off to the store for precious candy corn. Hey it can't be all that bad, the bag says it's made with honey. Back home again, light the candle, fill the jar, perfect. Now on to the weekend. Lunch and a little shopping with Lisa on Saturday. Sunday is the WX Street Fair, can't believe a whole month has flown by. The past two weekends we were at fairs too. Here are some of the goodies from them.
. When I was in Placerville I found this sweet table runner and I love the bluebird plate, I'm going to mix it in with the moonstone.
These treasure are from a fair in Lodi. Aren't the little frogs the cutest? I love them with pictures or little cards tucked in them.
Green is my favorite color, I've been collecting green kitchen stuff forever. As soon as I saw this Daisy can opener I knew it had my name on it. Now what to do with it? Ta Da!
A towel holder, I just love to re-purpose anything and everything, now if I could only figure out what to do with the rolling pin I just got, any ideas. Have a sweet weekend, try not to eat too much candy corn. Linda

Home Sweet Home

Last week I went to "The Country Store" hosted by Gypsy Traders, an antique collectors club I belong to. As soon as I saw this cute little decorated pot of hens and chicks I knew it was for me. I love the orange gingham bow and little witch trying to hide from us. For now I have it sitting on the hall tree but eventually I'll put it on the patio. Do you see the Home Sweet Home print? This is one of my most favorite sentiments, I've always liked the picture but I've decided to cross stitch my own Home Sweet Home.
I adore samplers and this is the sweetest! Just a few more stitches and the alphabet will be finished. Love the hearts, and the brown begins the house, then comes Home Sweet Home. I hope to have this finished before Thanksgiving, I'm kinda pokey so we'll see. Wishing you a "Home Sweet Home".........Linda

"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like "Home Sweet Home"

Sir Henry Bishop 1786-1855

Halloween

October is one of my favorite months, I love all the fall colors and it's Halloween time! This little pumpkin person is on the dinning room table, I found her at the Summer Cottage, a darling shop in Morro Bay. The crochet table topper and pink depression glass candle holders are from a dear friend and I love them.

I love, love, love moonstone......my Aunt Gerdie started this collection for me many, many years ago. My first pieces were a set of salad plates and a little top hat.... and I have been forever hooked. Last weekend I found the picture stand at a street fair and thought it would be perfect for holiday postcards. These sweet little Halloween cards are from Lisa. Oh, and this hutch has been in my Dad's family for over 100 years. It was in his family home while growing up, then passed on to him, and now to me. It is a love. This is just a sweet basket filled with floral pieces. It's on our "sidecar"......and that's a story I'll share later on.
Halloween under glass is on the kitchen table.....I have always loved witches and this is a perfect place for her, she just makes me smile.

Happy Halloween wishes from me to you.........Linda

Napkin Swap

Look what I got in the mail today! I was in a napkin swap and just received these sweet napkins from

Aimee in Australia, I love them.They are the prettiest shade of green, one of my favorite colors and she hand embroidered each one. There is a little bee, caterpillar,snail and butterfly they are too cute, I'll be using them with my Jadeite dishes....Aimee, thank you.

Linda

Puttering

For me , today has been perfect. I've been doing what I love most.....puttering. Yes, puttering, I love changing my little collections around and just enjoy decorating. I've just finished setting Halloween out and I think I'll leave everything as is, well maybe. The following quote is a favorite of mine.

"Puttering is really a time to be alone, to dream and to get in touch with yourself.....To putter is to discover". A. Stoddard

Try puttering and discover yourself.......Linda

The Front Porch Swing

Oh, I just love my front porch swing from hubby. He found it a couple of weeks ago at a little Saturday morning flea market he's been going to for years. As soon as he saw he it he knew I would love it, and I do . He had to add a few nail to make stable and then stained it.......it turned out great. On Friday he put it up and I've enjoyed it so much already, back and forth , back and forth as I watch the world go by.......thank you honey. Linda