USHERING IN AUTUMN

 Good Morning TLB friends,

The first day of Fall is September 22nd and I'm ready! 

I LOVE OCTOBER

Hello Friends-

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers!

L.M. Montgomery

October is one of my favorite months. The changing of colors that only Fall can bring is something I always took for granted when living in the North. The beautiful foliage, apple picking, and pumpkin spiced drinks for those crispy Fall days.

We weren't able to find a "pumpkin farm," however we were able to buy two beautiful pumpkins in good ole' HOME DEPOT, one orange and one white!

Hubby sprayed the pumpkins with his famous Rustoleum Clear Laquer, giving them more longevity in the warm weather. We plan on carving the orange one for Halloween---we are hoping it lasts that long!

Our cul-de-sac of homes are all decorated and ready for Halloween. Since our development is new, we haven't been able to meet our "new neighbors,"  except for a wave or my favorite..."I'd be over with a plate of cookies, if it weren't for this darn Covid!"

There is one thing we can all start out our morning's with, a little treat in our coffee "Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer!"

Have a spicy Fall day!

Kathleen

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

Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer

 Ingredients

Makes about 2 cups of creamer

2 cups Almond Milk*

2 tbsp mashed pumpkin (canned is fine, but make sure it’s just pumpkin and not pumpkin pie)

2 tbsp maple syrup**

1 tsp cinnamon***

¼ - ½ tsp nutmeg***

¼ - ½ tsp ground cloves***

¼ - ½ tsp ground ginger***

½ tsp vanilla extract*

* If you use Vanilla Almond Milk, you may not need to add any additional vanilla. You can also use Soy Milk, Rice Milk, Flax Milk, or Hemp Milk. Do not use animal milk - it will separate, go spoil quickly, and taste off.

** Adjust to taste and desired sweetness. If you use sweetened Almond Milk, you won’t need as much sweetener. Fair Trade/Equal Exchange brown or white sugar or agave nectar can be substituted for the maple syrup. The Maple just Falls up the flavor that much more.

*** Adjust spices to taste. You can also substitute pre-mixed “pumpkin pie spice.”

                                                   CHEERS!

 

NORTHWEST FALL

Hello Friends!

Welcome back to THE LAVENDER BOUQUET!

I'm not quite sure where this year has gone, but I am excited about our first "Fall in the Northwest." The evenings are becoming much cooler, the students have arrived back on campus and the town is bustling once again. Summer's are pretty quiet here.

I found that the typical mums I was used to from the East aren't as plentiful here, although

I did find some along with some Lantana to provide color on the front porch. The selections were limited so my tried and true Eastern big box stores came through for me for the Mums, and I was able to find the Cabbage, Lantana, Dusty Miller and Fountain Grass at our local nursery.

With a majority of our worldy goods stored in Texas I don't have the decorative

seasonal items that I am used to grabbing from my boxes. I round a TJ MAXX 

where I found the corn husk wreath (bare) on the front door. I added the ribbon and leaves for some color.

I found the decorative pot online at:

Pumpkins and Gourds 15" Art Planter, Outside/Indoor Planter, Gardening, Pot, Fall, Autumn, Thanksgivingand the pumpkins at our local Costco. The sweet bird pillow I couldn't resist because our grandaughter LOVES birds. I found it at our local Wal-Mart. I brought the large gray planter with me from the Texas house.

Chain stores make shopping so much easier when you move from State to State! I'm always looking for something familiar, something that I am used to. You would be surprised how many are not located in our new little town.

DIY Cornhusk wreath......

Please feel free to leave a comment and share with me how you are 

decorating for Fall this year.

I'd LOVE to hear from you!

                           Kathleen

UNIQUE PUMPKIN DECOUPAGE

Hello TLB friends!

I was recently browsing other bloggers to see what they were up to in regards to FALL creative ideas! Low and behold I found a blog that is using the same idea that I used and published on my 9/10/14 blog!! It was such a fun project I thought I'd share it with you once again. 

HAVE A FABULOUS DAY!
Kathleen
**************************************************
9/10/14

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic today after completing this DIY. My girlfriends and I used to get together one night a month and make all kinds of craft projects. It always was such a great time and ended up being a great outlet for all of us Moms to enjoy some adult time.

One of the things we worked on was a decoupage project. Truth be told, at his moment, I couldn't tell you what I made, but as I worked on this project I remembered there were a lot of "sticky" fingers that night!

I decided to decoupage a faux pumpkin this year.Now what would I use to make this pumpkin beautiful?? I always have a good supply of napkins leftover from whenever we entertain. In searching through my fall stash I came across a stack of beautiful Caspari napkins with Bittersweet branches in gold, crimson and orange. They were just perfect!

I started by gathering the following supplies:

1.  Faux pumpkin (size is personal preference)
2.  1-container of Mod Podge (I used Matte finish)
3.  Sponge applicator or paintbrush
4.  Scissors
5.  Cut strips of napkins, paper, fabric in approx. 4 inch wide 
pieces.
6.  Cut squares in whatever width you like to act as a patchwork where needed. It kind of gives the final project a 3D appearance.

INSTRUCTIONS: 

1.  Clean the pumpkin making sure it is clear of  any raised imperfections.

**If you use Caspari napkins remove the white bottom layer of the napkin before gluing....you can see what happens in this photo with the white backing---the result is more wrinkles.

2.  Apply Mod Podge with sponge applicator working in lines from top to bottom of the pumpkin. (I applied glue to a 3-4 inch strip of pumpkin and it worked well.) 
3.  Cut out strips or squares of napkin/decorative paper/fabric. Size is personal choice. I liked using some strips in the beginning because the crevices of the pumpkin were easier to manage. Then to finish up I used a patchwork like look and applied squares.
4.  Smooth out wrinkles as best you can by lightly tapping with a dry sponge applicator. This helps especially in the crevices of the pumpkin. You will get some wrinkles.
5. When the entire pumpkin is covered apply one more coat over the entire surface area to seal the project and let dry thoroughly.

In the photo above the pumpkin is still very wet. The wrinkles and patches are much more prevalent. The final photo below is after hours of drying.

In next Monday's blog you'll see where I incorporated my pumpkin into the fall decorating at my house.

I hope you enjoyed today's blog. Have you ever decoupaged anything before? Do you think you'll give it a try?

Just remember, the final product doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful........beauty cannot be judged objectively, for what one person finds beautiful or admirable may not appeal to another.

Wishing you a beautiful day!

Kathleen

***Thanks so much for stopping by. We love visitors! Feel free to pass our blog along to all of your friends.  http://thelavenderbouquet.blogspot.com  THANK YOU!!

UNIQUE DIY PUMPKIN DESIGN

Happy Fall TLB friends!

Once I flip the calendar to October I dream of comfy sweaters, warm cider, fresh apples and my WNY childhood! Fast forward to today.....hubby and I live in FLORIDA! Hmmmm....with temps in the 90's this northern girl needed some inspiration to jump on the Fall bandwagon.

Fast forward....when the mail arrives is a catalog I love called Ballard Design. I've ordered from Ballard in the past so I leafed quickly through the pages. I stumbled upon the cutest pumpkin ever. It was a plaid pattern in black and white. Of course, it reminded me of the MacKenzie Childs patterns in black and white also. 

I grabbed a white pumpkin from Big Lots, opened my box of stencil paints, found the perfect black, and got busy. Half way into the project as I worked with my hand, that's not as steady as it used to be, I decided to make stripes instead of a plaid look.

Below you'll see my final results...........I even added some of hubby's pheasant feathers from one of his hunts.

I do "LOVE" the way colors have evolved for our seasons. Decorating with black and white pumpkins was unheard of back in the day---unless you were MacKenzie and Childs.

What colors have worked themselves into your Fall color palette? Feel free to share with us, it's always fun to discover new ways to decorate!

In closing I am including a beautiful Fall photo from our NJ home. Our yard was full of color every Fall. 

   Hope you enjoyed today's post!

                                                          Kathleen

PRESERVING PUMPKINS & GOURDS

HAPPY FALL!

Our weather has been so fantastic lately I find myself wanting to spend more and more time outside. Temps in the mornings in the mid 60's and by afternoon low 80's. These temps are such a sweet spot for me. I love them!

I ventured out last week to my two favorite garden/nursery centers and bought mums, gourds and pumpkins. I've always felt a little frivilous when purchasing a bunch of pumpkins and gourds only to have them rot or get eaten by wildlife before Thanksgiving. Usually I would be hesitant to purchase them so early, but this year I came across a way to extend their life (I hope), to preserve them....until Thanksgiving!

What you will need:

-Bleach and water
-Dobie scrubber (or something similar)
-Clear lacquer sealant spray

Step #1:
Wash pumpkins and gourds in a solution of water and bleach. 
Scrub with a soft pad, like a Dobie pad so as not to scratch
the pumpkins or gourds.

Step#2:
Dry them off with a towel and lay in the sun for the remaining dry time.

Step #3:
Coat each pumpkin or gourd with 2 coats of lacquer. Let dry thoroughly and enjoy for the season!

Have you ever had an issue with rotten, moldy gourds or pumpkins like me? You may want to give this little trick a try!

                       Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Kathleen

THROWBACK---PRESERVING PUMPKINS AND GOURDS

Good Morning TLB friends,

As I am starting to decorate the exterior of the house for Fall, I thought I would re-share one of the most visited blogs I have written. It was appreciated by so many of you as you prepare for your own decorating......here ya go!

HAPPY DECORATING & PRESERVING!

Kathleen

Just click on the link below:

http://thelavenderbouquet.blogspot.com/2014/09/preserving-pumpkins-gourds.html

EMBRACING FALL ON FOODIE FRIDAY

It's hard to believe yesterday was the first day of Fall. With temps remaining in the 90's here, I decided to stay inside a nice cool air conditioned house and bake for you!

Welcome to Foodie Friday friends.........

JOANNA'S HOMEMADE BANANA BREAD

Welcome to Foodie Friday friends,

I've been sensing a Fall movement afoot. How is this happening? With my head being stuck in boxes, I've completely gotten side railed with my blog calendar and the fact that Fall 
DIY projects, recipes and home decorating are everywhere!

Since it's Foodie Friday I've decided it was a great time to turn on my oven and bake something comforting and Fall like.......

EMBRACING FALL WITH APPLES

Welcome to Foodie Friday friends!

Rain, rain go away! This northern girl wants a bit of Fall not floods!  

GMA has published this great US map showing us the best time of year to expect the prettiest fall foliage from coast to coast. It looks like early November for us. (see the link below for your peak time)
http://abcnews.go.com/US/eye-popping-leaf-peeping-fall-foliage-forecast/story?id=25623069

Ironically, I found a great pic I took in early November last year at our home in
Princeton, NJ......I wonder how it will look in Texas this year.

Maybe if we're lucky we'll get some color very soon! But until then I've been thinking about apples. Those crunchy Western NY apples that we grew up on.

Today's blog is a recipe from one of my favorite trendsetters of tasteful everything....Carolyne Roehm. I love her approach to entertaining and decorating and quite often incorporate her ideas into my parties. The recipe today is from Carolyne Roehm.

  Weatherstone Fresh Apple Bread 

This time of year beckons everything apple; applesauce, apple pies, apple breads and cookies, and how about Apple Cake?

Take a peek at how easy this is to make.....

You can bake the cake either in a bundt pan or 2 small loaf pans. The cake falls apart very easily when using a bundt pan so handle with care.

It's yummy center is full of delicious apples with a nice spicy Fall flavor.

Here is the link to the recipe:

http://carolyneroehm.com/2015/09/28/what-to-do-with-all-the-apples/

I hope you are all enjoying a nice Fall day wherever you may live. 

Have a wonderful colorful weekend!

Kathleen

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PUMPKIN BREAD WITH DATES & WALNUTS

Welcome to Foodie Friday friends!

Since we've officially entered the Fall phase, pumpkin is always first and foremost

in my mind. I LOVE anything pumpkin. How about you?

FESTIVE FALL CENTERPIECE

Festive Fall with it's glorious colors.......is simply beautiful!

Touches of fall can easily be added to your home in just a few minutes. From natural elements like apples, pumpkins, gourds, branches and colorful leaves.... to the shimmers of gold and copper. Fall is my second favorite time of year to decorate.  In case you are just joining TLB.....Christmas is my all-time favorite!!

DIY CUTEST PUMPKINS EVER!

Welcome to Wednesday friends! 

Last week as I entered Hobby Lobby I couldn't believe the store....it was full of FALL and CHRISTMAS decor. 

NEW FALL COLORS ROYAL BLUE & ORANGE

Happy Thursday friends!

It's been no secret that I am in love with the color combo of deep royal blue and orange. The first time I laid my eyes on a photo of these two colors together was in Better Homes and Gardens magazine. To say I am obsessed is an understatement.

I searched my entertainment pantry and found the perfect vases to use to create this vignette. I can always count on my favorite grocery store for great priced floral bouquets. I bought orange daisies (mums work great too), grabbed some bittersweet vine, mini pumpkins and the perfect gold tray. 

Come take a look........

Are you a fan of royal blue and orange like me? Tell us what you think about this color combo. It's a nice twist to the traditional Fall colors.

Wishing you all a wonderful Fall day!

Kathleen

***Just a quick note......there will be no FOODIE FRIDAY post tomorrow. We will see you on Monday! Have a great weekend!

UNIQUE FALL TABLESCAPE

Welcome to Wednesday!

Since we have gotten back from Florida we've had some beautiful sunny days, but our temps dipped to 33 overnight! As my husband says, "there was frost on the pumpkins!"

I've been busy trying to come up with a Fall tablescape that's really different. I came across a black and white striped runner that I made for my neice's bridal shower a few years ago and decided to use it as my foundation.

Did I ever mention that I love repurposing things? I always get a great feeling when I know what I'm making has the potential to be used mulitple times and in different ways. Also, I was able to recycle my gifted coffee table planter into what you see below. By merely removing the plants and placing them in new containers they look entirely different. The colors of Fall abound in all three of the plants.

I chose the purple linen napkins because purple is a nice compliment to the golds, oranges and shiny items I decided to use. (and I love purple Mums!)

By adding the Fall orange in the form of pumpkins and beautiful golden toned leaves, it began to look a little more Fall like.

Golden sprayed pinecones and gourds along with crystal votives and candlesticks gives a nice shiny appearance.

The only thing I purchased in the entire tablescape was the chargers. I had read about the new release of a Better Homes & Gardens collection in Walmart so I went to check it out. These chargers were a very inexpensive add to my tablescape and I just love all of the beautiful leaf and pinecone detail on them!

I hope you've been inspired to think "outside the box" for your next Fall tablescape. The colors of Fall are everywhere right now...while you are out driving or walking take notes, and go home and create your Fall masterpiece with God's creation of color!

Wishing you a colorful day!

Kathleen

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ROASTED HUBBARD SQUASH SOUP

Welcome to Foodie Friday!

Last week I roasted 3 different kinds of squash, and today we are using the Blue Hubbard for a delicious hearty soup. The ingredients and spices combined make such a unique flavor. Add a warm baguette and leafy green side salad and you've got dinner. 

Carrots, a leek, chicken broth (I always use low salt),squash, and a bay leaf along with the ingredients used in the paste mixture make up the broth below. Bring it to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes.

The final step is to puree the soup in batches (after cooled) in a blender. The soup thickens nicely as seen here...

Sprinkling chopped roasted hazelnuts and chives with a touch of cayenne prior to serving gives it a nice crunch and enhances the already delicious flavor.

This recipe is a keeper in our house.....hearty and delicious!

***You may find the recipe here:
http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/roasted-hubbard-squash-soup.aspx

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Kathleen

***Don't forget to join us on Monday for The Harvest Cocktail Party photos!

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY

Enjoy your day my friends!

TRENDING WHITE DISHES

Welcome to Wednesday!

Today's all about change in the dining room. Just like our seasons change.....I felt like it was time to change-up the contents of my china cabinet.

I've been paying particular attention to new trends. They appear to be moving away from the traditional china cabinets filled with china and crystal to those filled with more casual collections reflecting much more personal style. I really love this idea!

You only get one first chance to wow your guests. Keeping that in mind I've got both the dining and living rooms that are open to the 2-story foyer. Because of all of these rooms melding together I was careful not to make things too busy in the cabinet.

First I removed everything and replaced it with some of my white Mikassa French Countryside pieces. Just by doing this the cabinet is taking on a much more casual feel.

Then I scoured my house for other white pieces that I've collected over the years from Homegoods and other stores. I added in a few fallish items, keeping it pretty simple.

I always like a bit of shine! The silver candy dish above was a thrift store find and the silver trivet that it's sitting on was one of my birthday gifts from my sister and brother-in-law.

While back in WNY a trip to j Ellen Goods resulted in this purchase. I LOVE this little sugar bowl beauty! At first I thought I would polish it, but I much prefer to think that the tarnished look gives it character. I wonder where this little guy originated from? Whose table did he grace all those years ago?

Because my china cabinet has grill decorated doors, placement of the interior items has to be strategically displayed so that they may be seen when the doors are closed. By adding crystal candlestick holders topped with cute little silver pumpkins.....a little glamour was introduced.

A touch of mercury glass adds a bit more shine too!

With the doors open you have full view of another way to display items without the grills blocking the view.

By rotating a few things around....everything is now in full view even with the doors closed. When the cabinet is lit everything is more visible in the evening too.

The wedding china is put away for a while and the casual, crisp, clean Mikassa has taken it's place.

I'm happy........I think change is good! What do you think?
Now go make some fun changes in your house and tell us all about what you've done.

Have a wonderful day!

Kathleen

***See you on Foodie Friday for a delightful seasonal dish!