A beautiful fall day -- perfect for creating a welcoming porch for the season. For the door, a simple sign proclaiming fall and hung with brown satin ribbon. A huge pumpkin, kissed by late afternoon sunlight and nestled in autumn leaves and berries atop a black urn. Bytes has dibs on carving a jack o lantern. Imagine coming at this dimpled brilliant beauty with a sharp knife -- not me. Beautiful pumpkin's companions. That's a swan gourd at the end. Looks just like a swan, doesn't it? If swans were green and spotted. It's shaped like a swan I meant to say. The stem looks like the beak -- even though you can't find it for the scarecrow's twine ties. On the other side, shooting into the morning sun, Mr. Strawman rests his foot on the little pumpkin. My dad always ... [Read More]
Autumn
Candy Corn Fudge
Candy Corn Fudge . . . Just another pretty fudge. Candy Corn Fudge . . . . Just because I can. The coloring I used was Wilton’s gel and to give it a strong color I scooped out a bit with the edge of a teaspoon. I mixed the coloring into the sweetened condensed milk first before adding it to the chips to make the color more even. I prefer Ghiradelli white chocolate chips to other brands. Soften the white chocolate and shortening in the microwave for 30 seconds at 50% power. Chips will hold their shape until stirred so don't microwave again until you stir the chips and shortening together. If they are not soft enough to combine, then microwave again in 15 second bursts at 50% power until most chips are melted. Add the colored milk to the melted chocolate, stirring gently ... [Read More]
Autumn Banner
I’m always delighted to find my autumn banner with the fall decorations. Hanging it announces fall is here and that it’s a good thing! We live where forests once reigned and there are still oceans of beautiful color in the fall. There is the somber brown of oak, flaming red, orange and yellow set amongst deep green in a single maple tree, brilliant yellows and chartreuse and pale russets of a dozen other varieties. My favorite is the sweetgum tree that does the whole fall spectrum itself. Its star shaped leaves first become deep vibrant yellow and orange, then turn red, crimson, burgundy and purple. My banner reminds me of all these beautiful things – even if drip and dreariness obscure the particular fall day! I made the banner two or three years ago. Sorry -- no how to ... [Read More]
