Autumn Joy

Well, it's time to bring in the tropical plants- banana tree,
bougainvillea, and mandevilla, before a frost nips them.
  They'll winter once again,  crowded in my bedroom's bay window,
"my little jungle" , until spring returns and they'll go back to the patio.

 This amazing blossom on a hanging houseplant surprised me last week,
 and then several more appeared, one-a-day, on this Christmas-Cactus-type
 plant in my kitchen window.  First time it ever bloomed, and I've had it for several years!
A sweet gift, just as I was lamenting the summer flower's dying in my garden!

Does anyone kow what this plant is?

I love the name of this sedum, an easy-to-grow plant that looks good most of the year. .
  

"Autumn Joy"


"How beautifully leaves grow old.
How full of light and color are their last days"
- John Burroughs

Fall brings school activities, reunions, sports and homecomings.
Homecoming at Rutgers University was great, but I couldn't go this year.  At least my grandkids got to go with their Aunt Amy, who's a law student there.  It just thrills me to see my daughters together with my grandchildren.  I especially like the teenage kids to participate in some campus life and start thinking about planning their own not-too-distant  future college days.

 My granddaughter  Amber and I had tea and pumpkin pie after school Monday,

 After homework, that is.  I'm so proud of her! 

She has started the school year off right,  by doing her homework as soon

 as she gets home, before anything else,  and  without any reminding from me!

"Oh, how we love pumpkin season. 

 You did know this gourd-ish squash has it's own season, right? Winter, Spring, Summer, Pumpkin...

 We anxiously await it every year."

                       -Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer, October 2010

Easy no-bake Jello  pumpkin pie

   I cheated, and made this quick no-bake pie.  Pretty good, in a pinch to have

 this inexpensive mix on the shelf, if you don't have eggs or evaporated milk.

  Mix the crumbs with a softened stick of butter, wisk the filling mix with milk.

 Then just press the graham cracker crust into a pie pan,  pour the filling in

and chill.  It costs about $3.00, and  only takes 1/2 hour.

This gorgeous teapot is on my Etsy!

I love using this  vintage Hall teapot in the fall.  I just listed it on my Etsy shop.

Easy pumpkin waffles for breakfast with a mix!

Pumpkin  pancakes or waffles are an easy breakfast treat.

 Try mixing 1/3 cup pumpkin puree  and 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

into the complete pancake/waffle mix  batter. for two servings. 

 "Vegetables are a must on a diet. 

I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread,

and pumpkin pie."

- Jim Davis

 

October is Fire Prevention Month

Area fire departments had an exciting muster in a Lowe's parking lot

 so  families and local kids could meet and greet the firefighters,

 EMTs and D.A.R.E. police officers.  We got a rare up-close look

at all kinds of fire apparatus and great big  ladders extended high into the sky!

   Children were given coloring books, fire hats, rubber bracelets,

  and all sorts of  fire prevention and safety information.

A big thank you to our firemen, police officers,  and rescue  workers,

 for sharing this special night with us!

I copied these important tips from South Jersey Mom Magazine, October 2012

Fire Safety Tips   

•  Make sure your alarms are working.  When you change your clocks, change your batteries.
• 1 alarm on each floor, plus 1 per bedroom is recommended.
•  Designate  a meeting place.  Teach children how to escape and practice.
• Have a flashlight or a bell in kid's room, because they are often frightened and hide.
• Don't forget Carbon Monoxide detectors too!

 Click herehttp://issuu.com/atnich/docs/oct12issue  page 26, for more detailed information

by Fire Prevention Specialsist Mike D'Orizia

Fall has been lots of fun so far for my family and now we're

 planning costumes and hayrides, and visits to the pumpkin patch!

 

Hope you are having lots of  fall fun too!

Love, Linda

I joined the Time Travel Thursday Party at www.thebrambleberrycottage.com 

The Cottage Garden Party at www.etsycottagestyle.blogspot.com

 Wow Us Wednesday at www.familyhomeandlife.blogspot.com.

More the Merrier Monday at http://diyhshp.blogspot.com

and Potpourri Friday at http://twenty-eight-0-five.com.

One Last Summer Fling!

I don't like to see summer end yet.  I  want to enjoy one more fling before I start dragging out all the fall decorations and baking apple and pumpkin goodness.  This weekend, I am going "down the shore" for a car show. 

One more time this summer, I want to hear the endless waves crashing,
 dip my toes in the foamy surf, feel the cooling seabreeze.

I  love to watch the gulls and sand pipers

Wildwoods, New Jersey has the biggest beaches and a lively boardwalk, 38 blocks long,
 with all sorts of amusements on it's piers, a huge convention center hosting various events
 and top performers, many restaurants and  pizza joints,, frozen custard stands,  boutiques
 and  novelty shops!

Today was Preview Day,
for the Classic Car Auction
and set-up day for the vendors.  I'll give you a sneak preview!

 

"Old Blue Eyes" car is in the auction room

Here's a  red bug, just like my very  first car, a VW Beetle!

 Isn't  this Metropolitan the cutest car you ever saw?

 Here's a real beauty!, and there are about a hundred more in this room.
 On the boardwalk tomorrow will be hundreds of  fabulous classic cars lined up
 and families strolling along.
 The Irish Festival is this weekend too, so we'll see lots of "wearin' o' the green".

 I'll see lots of old friends and fellow vendors as I sell car magazines
in the Convention Center lobby.

  

 The beach at dusk, sun is setting behind me over the bay.

  Sunset, standing in the ocean's edge,with my back to the ocean, facing towards the bay.

Be sure to enjoy these glorious days and cooler evenings and the amazing sunsets!

  At home, the other night my neighbor came out onto her porch to watch the

spectacular evening sky and sunset with me.  Very special moments.

 Savor the last sunset moments  of your  fleeting summer! 

Love, Linda 



Back to the Fifties

 

Imagine going back to  a time of peace, prosperity, and an explosion of new
 designs in fashion, architecture,  and automobiles.  Rock and roll's debut.
 This is what we did at the 30th Lead East,

The  world's  largest  50's Party,

 in Parsippany, N.J., on Labor Day weekend.

 

 A new group of nice kids singing acapella. Look for them on facebook,

The Whiptones, from Whippany, N.J.

Two ladies, coincidentally dressed alike in 50's-style dresses

 

I bought a Walking Taco from an outdoor vendor, for $4.
  All she did was crush an individual bag of chips and open it,
 then put a spoonful of ground meat taco filling, shredded cheese,
 shredded lettuce, dollop of sour cream, chopped tomato
and jalapeno slices right in the bag.  There are lots of recipes online.
  I walked around, eating it with a plastic fork, looking  at all the cars.
 First time I ever heard of them!   It was really good! 
There are lots of recipes online.
Wouldn't it be fun to make  these for a kid's party?

In the booth next to me, it was so exciting to watch Bob Petillo work on his amazing reflections.  His  photorealistic paintings of cars are exquisite.  During the show, he presented a custom-made car portrait to a man for his 65th birthday, a surprise gift commissioned by his wife!
 Click on the artist and see his work!

 

 

Youngsters had their own bobbie-soxers and greasers

 dress-up contest, and danced to the oldies.

Tiffany sells vintage clothing and  fifties decor items.

 My friend, Kat, wears 50's style clothing and is one classy lady!
She's a long-time attendee of Lead East, and started a seminar years ago,
 teaching us about 50's fashions and accessories, and how to get "the look".

 

Charming Jenna, and her date, attending the Lead East Prom.

She  teaches a seminar  about dressing 50's style.

 

 

 

  Plenty of spontaneous Doo-wop singing, and great concerts on stage as well. 

 

 

"A  magic weekend  celebrating the best decade

 in  American history",

well said by Terry Cook, the car show's promoter. 

 It was like one big family reunion, full of music and memories!

 

 

 

You gotta come next year!

 

 

This is more than a car show, and although I worked very hard,

 selling car literature, it was so much fun, going back to the Fifties!

 

I'll leave you with a listen to the fine young acapella  singers I met at  Lead East.,

The Whiptones

 

Love, Linda

 

 

 

 

 

I  joined these great partties!