Earlier this month, I was lamenting a bit about not decorating for Halloween. After all, half the fun doing it for many years was due to the childrens’ excitement. But why not make Halloween something adults can enjoy too? So as a last minute, spontaneous gesture, we decide to have a small spooky Halloween dinner party for our wonderful neighbors.

The Decorations

I honestly can say that decorating just the back porch was SO. MUCH. FUN. When you take decorations out once a year, you tend to forget what you have. And we seem to have a lot of spooky decor.

Naturally, now, when entertaining I always take into account everyone’s comfort level on social distancing so the back porch is the perfect choice. Since one of our friends has an underlying condition, it is important to put him and his spouse at a comfortable distance from everyone else.

There is a delicate balance between creating a cozy atmosphere and keeping 6′ apart from others.

So I stuffed a pair of pants with newspaper and tucked a pillow inside a man’s shirt. Adding a scary mask, I wedged the knife in his back, and made some blood to drip down the white shirt. My “crime victim” is propped on one of the chairs and helps solve the social distancing requirement.

On the other side, Mr. Bones and a rat in a trap joins us for dinner. The table isn’t feeling so empty now!

As you may remember, my husband made a raised centerpiece shelf (see post here), and it comes in handy for the spooky decorations.

Tarnished and dusty candlesticks are perfect with black candles. The old laboratory bottles, skulls, skeletons, black cats and witches add to the Halloween theme.

The rest of the porch is decorated with mummies, owls, autumn leaves, lighting and sounds that let you know that you should B.E.W.A.R.E!

The Menu

The menu for the evening is rather simple, starting with a themed cocktail, Deathly Hallows, which was recently in my post, Fall Inspired Drinks. This is served with a variety of nuts and fruit.

The main course is my favorite Turkey Chili (see recipe here) and a fig, pear and goat cheese flat bread. Unable to find fresh figs, I altered this Southern Living recipe using dried figs and added sliced Bosc pears. Drizzled with thick balsamic (the one I buy from Pinetop, see here) and topped with fresh arugula~it was delicious. Since one of our guests is a vegetarian, I also made chili full of vegetables and no meat from Ambitious Kitchen (see recipe here).

Dessert is a simple pumpkin cream cheese swirled brownie. I won’t share the recipe because they were okay but not spectacular.

All in all, it was a VERY fun evening, especially with the lights low and the skeleton dog howling.

Whatever you are doing for Halloween, I hope you have as much fun as we did at this dinner party. We feel so blessed to have neighbors who are spontaneous and enjoy our festivities!

When the weather becomes crisp and the smell of autumn is in the air, one thinks of apples, cider, hot cocoa and all things warm and cozy. This week I am making all sorts of drinks that inspire fall vibes.

Homemade Apple Cider

Growing up in New England, we always had our fair share of fresh apple cider. Apple orchards and farms are plentiful and I have fond memories of sweaters, mittens and cups of apple cider, both cold and warm. Well, here in Phoenix, it is a different story. My apple tree is abundant for picking in June when it is insufferably hot.

We pick the apples and try and cold store them for as long as we can. This week I used up the last of the summer apples by making homemade apple cider in the slow cooker.

Coarsely chop apples, add spices and cover with water. Cook for 10-12 hours. Smash the apples with a potato masher and strain.

Inspired by a recipe from Baker Bettie, I did alter it based on what I have available. No orange, just add a good squeeze of lemon. I believe this is one recipe that would be hard to screw up. And you let the slow cooker do all the work while your house fills with yummy, homey, autumn smells. Click here for the recipe. And then you can reduce the cider to make apple cider donuts! (see recipe here).

Homemade Hot Chocolate

I confess to be a bit of a hot chocolate snob. Not a big fan of over-sweetened packaged cocoa, I tend to not drink it because I always expect a better flavor. Finding this recipe torn out of a Coyuchi product magazine, it is a very different type of hot chocolate.

First of all, I didn’t recognize some of the ingredients. Macuna prurient? Maca powder? Pearl powder? The recipe also calls for organic raw cacao powder. Conveniently I am able to find all the ingredients on Amazon and the links are below with the product benefits.

The recipe states this hot cocoa “improves mood, lowers stress levels and helps keep you healthy through the holidays with magnesium, iron and antioxidants”. Wow! Really?

The down side to this recipe is that it does not tell you the number of servings. So I doubled it and had so much of this homemade beverage!

First of all, it is VERY chocolatey so I would recommend a small cup vs. the huge one I made for myself. Secondly, since I consumed SO much just before bed, I didn’t realize the impact organic raw cacao would have on my sleep patterns (raw cacao has caffeine!) so I do not recommend that!

But it is good and you can control the sweetness. And how fun to learn about the health benefits of those unknown ingredients:

Pearl Powder: Anti-aging mineral, rich in calcium to help support hair, skin and nails. Maca Powder: Supports energy and vitality. Promotes balance in the body. Macuna pruriens: A natural source of Levodopa it increases dopamine in the brain cortex resulting in mood enhancement and elevated alterness. Has been used for over two thousand years for its energizing, revitalizing and restorative properties. Raw Cacao Powder: Nature’s superfood containing high concentrations of minerals and magnesium.

Spooky Cocktail

I cannot take credit for this fun cocktail. The recipe is from Half Baked Harvest and is called Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter inspired!). What better glasses to serve it in for a scary impact than these from Pottery Barn (I also heard you can get them from Walmart).

Silver tequila, cranberry or pomegranate juice, orange liqueur, lemon juice, maple syrup and ginger beer, garnished with a sprig of thyme. Lighting the thyme gives it a bit of smoke and mystery!

Click here for the recipe. I hope to use this cocktail at a small scary dinner party I am having at the end of the month.

Happy Wednesday to you! Are there any drinks or beverages that remind you of Fall?

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Happy Saturday! I so look forward to catching up with you today about all things~from travel to baking. So grab a cup of coffee or tea and let’s chat.

I don’t know about you, but I feel like my world has gotten so small since COVID. And I didn’t realize the enormity of this until our recent road trip from Phoenix to Denver and back. Hesitant about going (you know, “but I have so much to do!”), in retrospect, I am very happy that I did.

The Car Trip

Driving for 34 hours and covering 2000 miles in four days is a bit intensive. However, what a wonderful reminder that we do live in such a beautiful country. The open roads of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico are some of the most spectacular. And everyone we encountered was nice and friendly, unlike what the news portrays. America is a gorgeous place and often, I think we take our freedoms for granted. Lesson learned~turn off the news!

First Stop: Vermillion Cliffs

We had the great opportunity of watching the release of the California Condors at the Vermillion Cliffs, near the Grand Canyon. Known for its vibrant colors and intriguing forms, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is 280,000 acres up against the Arizona/Utah border. Since my husband is on the board of The Peregrine Fund, we spent the day with the program directors and biologists responsible for this conservation event.

It takes the dedication and tenacity of hundreds of people to bring the iconic California Condor back from the brink of extinction. In the 1980’s, there were only 22 individual birds left on the planet, yet today they stand at nearly 500. To learn more about this incredible program, click here.

Denver

Not only is the condor release a reason for this trip, but we are also picking up a huge set of antlers in Denver. As you know I am trying to add more Scandinavian elements to our cabin. What better way than placing a nice set of antlers over the front door?

Friends of ours own a ranch and have elk, deer and bison shedding their antlers each year. Since these sheds are very big, shipping them wasn’t an option. So we packed these beauties in the car and drove back to Phoenix.

COVID Hors D’ouerves

We are blessed with wonderful neighbors and make an effort to keep connected during this pandemic. With social distancing of course. When we gather, instead of making a large charcuterie tray or cheese board, I am making “couple plates” so no one is sharing food from the same dishes.

Individual vegetable cups with dip in the bottom, salted almonds, caprese sticks, cheese, salami and crackers seems to be the right amount of food to nibble with a glass or two of wine. I wonder how this pandemic will affect the ways in which we will entertain in the future.

A New Recipe

Do you ever just get a hankering for something and you must have it? I had a chocolate chip cookie moment like that this week. Trying this new recipe, which claims to be the BEST one, turns out to be a winner.

With Christmas cookie baking just around the corner, you may want to consider this recipe. Using block chocolate vs. chips, each one is filled with nooks and crannies of warm melted chocolate. Sprinkle with a flaky sea salt as the finishing touch. Click here for the recipe and review done by Kitchn.

My October Afternoon Tea

A new favorite afternoon tea for this month is Pumpkin Spice Brûlée, with a bit of Rare Hawaiian honey and a spot of milk. The tea is from Teavana, which unfortunately was acquired by Starbucks and all stores are now closed. However, you can find several types of pumpkin spice tea brands on Amazon here. And I just love this very thick honey from Rare Hawaiian Honey Company (I order it online). They have several flavors and I recommend them all!

Be Careful What you Ask for

During this time of year, I sometimes complain about the lack of good pumpkins in Phoenix. All the ones in the stores are basic and have broken stems. And I have to wait to visit the pumpkin farm up in the mountains to find any that are reasonably priced and unique. So what does my husband do? He comes home with this.

Maybe the picture doesn’t depict how HUGE this is, but it took two of us to carry it up the stairs on this rolling cart. It is the focal point now of the front porch. Too funny.

On my bucket list

While in Santa Fe, we toured The Inn of the Five Graces. This stunning Relais & Chateaux property is one of a kind. Quite honestly, I have never seen anything quite like this. The rooms are so fabulously decorated and this is definitely on my bucket list.

Returned to the Yard Sale

A few weeks ago, I wrote about an ongoing yard sale to a home that may potentially be available for purchase. See that post here. Well, I went back in hopes that the contents on the inside of the house are finally revealed, but no luck. Here is what I found instead. Wouldn’t these dolls be perfect for a scary Halloween party? And no, I didn’t buy them.

This wooden cradle could be a potential purchase, however, it is covered in pigeon poop and I didn’t want to put it in my car in this condition. If it is still there when I go back, I may consider it again.

Strange Looking Grapes

Aren’t these the strangest looking grapes? They are called Sweet Sapphire seedless grapes from Bakersfield, California. Tasty and sweet, they are currently at Safeway. I highly recommend them.

Well, that wraps up my weekly activities. If you missed any posts this week, I made a felted wool wreath, organized a hidden space in my front entry and decorated the dining room mantel for Fall.

Have a wonderful weekend! Am hoping to take a quick drive to the cabin to finish the painted dresser. Can’t wait to show you the finished product.

If you like Instagram, I also have an account there. Would love for you to check it out and become a follower.

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During a recent trip to Home Depot, I found a few fun things and bargains that I want to share with you. Typically, when I think of Home Depot, lumber, plumbing and hardware comes to mind. But in the last few years, Home Depot has become so much more. Here is a list of some of the fun finds and bargains I discovered. Also, this is not a sponsored post by Home Depot, only my personal recommendations.

If you do not get their seasonal catalog, I would highly recommend signing up for it. Here is an online version of their Summer one, which is chock-a-block full of ideas on summer home decor and entertaining. Granted, many of these products are not in the actual stores, but ordering online is very easy.

If you are doing your summer canning, click this link to see all the supplies Home Depot offers.

Unique tile

Recently, I ordered this beautiful green tile for our barbecue backsplash from Home Depot. They have an extensive tile collection on their website. Their stores tend to inventory what is popular or a best-selling item, but if you are looking for something unique and different, try their website. If you missed the blog post on the BBQ project, please click here.

Lanterns

During my latest trip I picked up these fabulous outdoor lanterns. They are 22″ tall. This must be the clearance price, but the cost is $12.98 each. I purchased two and went back and bought the remaining 3. When I first checked, they were available online at the price. But I believe they are now out of stock online. However, you may only get this price at the store level. Check out the inventory in your local store too.

Think of all the different ways they can be used for fall and Christmas decorating!

Even the smaller 14″ lantern sitting next to this one on the shelf, was more expensive (regular price $24.98 reduced to $16.00). Go figure.

Right now, they are sitting outside on the covered porch of the cabin. The battery operated candle is not included, but I have several of those anyway. Isn’t this just a steal? It feels so good to get a bargain!

Halloween Items

In the fall, Home Depot also has the BEST selection of Halloween items. A few years back, I ordered several fun decorations, all done from the comfort of my home. They were ready for me to pick up at my local store~~which now with their curbside pickup makes shopping a breeze. It appears that Halloween items will be available after August 1.

Entertaining

Check out the variety of entertaining items in their catalog! Their photos are beautifully staged and they also include a recipe for Grapefruit Rosemary Cocktail.

With the holidays coming, Home Depot’s prices are so affordable for glasses, dishes and serving pieces. Check out some of the fun items here.

And look how cute these blue and white melamine plates are? Perfect for outdoor use or pretty enough for indoor entertaining too!

I’m not sure how much holiday entertaining any of us will be doing, but check out these sweet oversized red and white dish towels for $2.49 each. Aren’t they ideal for wrapping baked goods or lining a gift basket. The online price is less than the catalog at$18.00 for 8 ($2.25 each).

Another fun find is a set of ceramic dinnerware that I purchased for our cabin. This is the first time I have ordered dishes from Home Depot, and am delighted with this set. Online price is $116.12 for the 16-piece set.

Outdoor Furniture Covers

Finding a good quality outdoor furniture cover is a challenge for me. They are not inexpensive and often, made of plastic, which doesn’t last more than one season. This new purchase from Home Depot is an attractive brown and beige fabric. It’s large size can accommodate a big table and 6-8 chairs.

This cover has handles and a venting system on either end. So far I am impressed with the quality and the roomy construction. Let’s see if it will survive the elements. So if you are looking for outdoor furniture covers, the collection online is rather extensive. Online price for this one is $41.98.

If you click on the links I provided, it will take you to the Home Depot website. If you decide to buy something, I may get a small stipend at no cost to you!

Home Depot’s fall catalog will be mailed sometime in August so keep your eyes open for it. Now with more online ordering and curbside pickup or home delivery, you can truly enjoy the vast number of fun Home Depot items.

This post shared with Thursday Favorite Things #450 with An Artful Mom

Do you do any decorating for Halloween?  My youngest LOVES Halloween!  She is a senior in high school and since this is her last year at home, I’ve decided to pull out ALL the boxes from the garage.  We are going BIG for this holiday.

The mummies are by the front door.

Mr. Bones has two new companions this year.

And the graveyard is back, with a gargoyle nearby.

The dining room gets the bulk of the decorations.  The raven is motion-sensitive.  Its red eyes light up and head moves, while cawing.

The deep mantle allows for old books, chemistry bottles, skulls, and lights.

What is Halloween without a really large spider?

The buffet has been transformed with witches, skulls, libations and crows.

We haven’t finished decorating….yet but are having fun with the mice!

There is a benefit to taking out all the Halloween boxes.  I’ve been going through them, sorting and organizing and donating.  Three children and multiple Halloweens equals way too much stuff.  I am enjoying decorating with my 17-year old as next year she will be away at college 🙁

 

 

Dog and cat skeleton, raven – Home Depot

Candelabras-Home Depot

Mr. Bones and tombstone-back in the day that Restoration Hardware had cool things

Mouse cut-outs- Martha Stewart

Mummies- Grandinrod