Still Woods Farmhouse

One of the wonderful benefits of being newly retired is that I had the opportunity to thoroughly organize our home.  I am like a mad woman on a mission when I begin a task related to organizing.  My mom would call and say "What can you possibly be organizing today?" and I always had an answer.  One of my favorite places to organize is the kitchen.  With holiday baking right around the corner, I appreciate neat and tidy drawers and cabinets. Benjamin Franklin must have been an organized man.  After all he said, "A place for everything, everything in its place".  He was on to something! I know everyone has their own method of organization, but if you are looking for a few suggestions, I'm here to help! Today we are going to tackle the bottomless pit known as the kitchen drawer! These two drawers are used often when I am baking.  I won't bore with you all my other drawers! 1.  First, measure the inside of your kitchen drawers and head to your lo...

Are you looking for a delicious cider to warm up your family and friends after a little Trick or Treating ? Well, look no further!  I found this recipe on a Taste of Home site and made a few very minor adjustments. I recently served this decadent caramel apple cider as part of a cider and coffee bar.  It was a huge hit! The best part is you can mix it up and let it warm in the crock pot. I love crock pots! In honor of the world series, I would like to present... The starting lineup: 8 cups of apple cider...not apple juice 1 cup of caramel syrup (Torani brand or DaVinci found in the coffee aisle) 1/4 cup of lemon juice 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla 3 cinnamon sticks 1 tablespoon of whole allspice Cheesecloth Toppings:  Whipped cream and Hershey's caramel syrup (type used for ice cream) Directions: 1.  In a 3 quart slow cooker, combine the apple cider, DaVinici or Torani caramel syrup and lemon juice.    Cut a square of cheeseclot...

I love fall and everything that comes with this season.  Decorating for the fall is an anticipated pleasure.  The warm colors of autumn make my heart sing.  Please join me on a tour of a few spots in our harvest home! The front entryway is decorated with pumpkins topiaries, corn stalks, mums, grapevine wreaths with burlap roses, and two jaunty scarecrows. I placed the corn stalks close to the front door.  They have dried corn still attached to the stalks.  I was afraid the deer, which live near our home, might have been tempted to nibble on the corn if I placed them further away from the front door!  Come on in! Let's stop in the Reading Room .  My grandmother's buffet had served as a coffee bar, but with a little rearranging, it now serves a different purpose. I don't do scary Halloween decorating, but love this little Halloween village which I have had for years. When my boys were little, they were so excited when it was time to turn on the v...

Hi everyone! I have been granddog sitting for the past week and let me tell you...it has been a chore!  My youngest son is at a church technology conference and asked if we would watch his puppy.  Sadie is a 9 month old Siberian Husky.  I forgot how active 9 month old dogs could be!  Our two labs run our property, but Ms Sadie is not accustomed to wide open spaces and dense woods.  This morning she high tailed it to a neighbor and proceeded to torment their miniature horse named Sugar.  Bless Sugar's heart. She was trying to be neighborly, but from what I was told, Sadie was about to get kicked.  I bet Sadie wouldn't head back that way again!  Anyway, all thoughts of finishing my next blog post went out the door and I have been enjoying playing with this pretty girl for the past week.  I must say that even though she looks quite innocent, she has eaten a pair of tennis shoes, knocked over my pumpkin topiares, torn up a pillow, pulled the butt...

For me, October brings to mind chili dogs, bags of candy, and caramel apples. We always had chili dogs before heading out to a church fall festival or trick or treating in the neighborhood.   It was a quick meal and one of our favorites as kids. Of course later in the evening, we ended up with a bag full of candy and one special treat made by a sweet neighbor.  She always made caramel apples for the children she knew the best.  It was better than any candy in our bags! My first real memory of caramel apples brings me back to an excursion with my parents and little sister to Apple Valley in California.  The tree branches were heavily laden with crisp, luscious apples.  Various vendors dotted the roadside selling their baked good ranging from apple pies, breads, dried apples, caramel apples, and my favorite candy apples!  As our day ended and we drove back home, my sister and I sat in the back seat happily eating our apple treats. Caramel apples are perfe...

Hi friends! After many days of traveling, I am back home with some photos to share with you.  On September 15, we loaded up the car and began the long journey to see our son in Virginia.  It was a perfect visit!  The temperatures were unseasonably warm, but we didn't care a bit.  We were just grateful to spend time with our oldest child.  Family...it's what life is all about! Of course, I had to visit a few of my favorite antique stores while in VA. I love this dining room set.  My son is in the market for a set and I think it would look great in his home! I always stop at this booth and usually find a piece or two to add to my Fostoria collection.  She also has great Pyrex items.  I have one of the turquoise bowls.  Such a happy color! I just love her vintage inspired booth. Another few booths.  Isn't the burplap wreath cute? I am not sure why, but I am drawn to conversation chairs.  I can just imagine a hard working housew...

I purchased a tiered tray this spring and have yet to use it.  At Home with Jemma is hosting a  Tiered Tray Extravaganza  party this week and I thought it would be a great time to get out my tray and do something with it! I selected an adorable Fall Gathering sign to top my tiered tray.  I decided to place a simple garland of fall berries on the second tier. And what do you do when you have ripe bananas and left over pumpkin puree? Well, you make banana pumpkin muffins.  I placed the muffins on the largest tier! I'll share the recipe with you later, but I will tell you that this recipe has flax seed hidden within the other ingredients.  I love to hide flax seed in food! I poured two cups of coffee in case you stop by for a visit!  I think these Fostoria coffee cups are so beautiful!  I only have two, so I am always on the look out for more. Have a wonderful rest of the week friends!  I am packing up my muffins and hitting the road tomor...