HOME...be inspired everyday

Roger's Gardens

Almost every year we make the pilgrimage to Roger's Gardens.  I don't always buy something there because they are quite expensive on most of their items They do carry many famous artists such as Wendy Addison or Nicol Sayre that you will not find anywhere else so that does make it a unique item to collect.  What caught my eye this trip, where the super white Hydrangeas...take a look at the above picture to see what I'm talking about. 

This wall of gears and clocks behind the super white hydrangeas was an interesting display...

They have beautiful and sculptural topiaries and paperwhites...

I am forever attracted to succulants {my Mother was a big fan of succulants and California Native plants} in intersting containers, even pumpkins as seen in my previous post.

I have seen in my Better Homes and Gardens Magazine if you want a garden and you are short on space go Vertical.  This would be perfect on a wall for some interest in a patio.

I liked this idea, planting a variety of lettuces in small wooden containers, if you can find old soda boxes at yardsales or flea markets that would be a perfect idea to put in some plants.
or a BIG container full of lettuce....not sure you can find an old PEPSI container in that size...

Another rustic box but this time full of herbs.....

I loved this area over here with the think hedge and lots of galvanzized steel and wood.

Even rusty crusty makes me smile...the fresh greenery, a bit of ivy and kale...make for a great display..

Hanging flower baskets on a pergola....ready for someone to take them home..

This seasonal box with it's monocromatic theme of green...some red ornaments would look pretty or any color to match your decor.

Every year Roger's Gardens sets up this train in the woods...

With the many mini christmas trees and plants....it is the cutest thing...

I would love to have this set up all year round in my yard....why not?

Yes..the super white hydrangeas where my favorite......

That was the "garden" center of Roger's Gardens...in my next post we will go inside to see the place all decorated for the Holidays....and I did manage to bring home a couple of Saint Nick's to add to my collection. 

My home is slowly getting all decorated...the mantel is done and we will get the outside and the tree done this weekend.  Mr. Incrdible does not like to get a tree to early, he is afraid it will dry out and catch fire. {I'm having issue with my camera it is not unloading my pictures}

If you need some inspiration head on over to The Lettered Cottage's Mantel Linky Party she throws a good party and her buddies have more linky parties coming up...today I believe is the Christmas Craft decor linky party. 

 

 

Making Pumpkin Crunch

Last year we made Molasses Pecan pie....from Better Homes and Gardens magazine....it was not a success.  So this year we went back to our ever faithful Pumpkin Crunch....no fail, better than Pumpkin Pie...and I LOVE pumpkin pie...

It has to the one of the easiest receipes ever.....we had to 1 and half the receipe this year...we used three of the small pumpkin can but it usually calls for one big can of pumpkin but DO NOT confuse it with PUMPKIN PIE filling it is not the same...one time I did and it came out way tooooo sweet..."broke the mouth"  as they say in Hawaii speak....

We needed to get a bigger bowl.....

Pouring in the BEST part of Pumpkin Crunch....yellow cake mix

Here is the CRUNCH in Pumpkin Crunch......chopped walnuts or you can use pecans if you'd like...

oh..not for the diet conscious...oh no!!  Melted unsalted butter....

Perfect Pumpkin CRUNCH...with some vanilla ice cream or a dallop of whipped cream......

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Pumpkin Crunch~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 large can of pumpkin (do not confuse this with Pumpkin Pie filling.."broke the mouth" one time)

1 can of evaporated milk

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnomon

1 box of yellow cake mix without pudding

1 cup of chopped walnuts

2 sticks (1 cup butter)

1.  Grease a 13x9x2 pan or line with wax paper

2. Blend pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar and cinnomon in big bowl

3. Pour in pan

4. Sprinkle with cake mix over pumpkin mixture

5. Spread nuts over cake mix

6. Span melted butter over nuts

7.  Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour or until top is light brown.

8.  Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream...yummy!!!

 

 

Related articles

Pumpkin Planters

Pumpkins....and more Pumpkins

Pumpkins....and more Pumpkins

Wow...I amaze myself...I've been in a creative projecty {yep that's a word, I just made it up} mood lately.  Since I saw those cute pumpkin planters at Roger's Gardens...I have been itching to try making one..I went to Blue Hills nursery which is a hop, skip and away from my house. Picked up a variety of succulants....for about $2.50 each and the bigger one with 3 of them inside for $4.99.   I had the White pumpkin from TJ since early October.

I hallowed it out...with my handy dandy pumpkin carving tools, getting my hands all gooey in the process.

I dumped some marbles in the bottom for drainage, you could use aquarian rock, styrofoam peanuts or any small rocks would do.

Here they are...just the perfect amount...

Put in potting soil, they do make special soil just for cactus....if you would like.

Drop in your succulants and add some spaghum moss to seal in moisture and add a decorative touch....

I had one of the girls find a old branch in the yard, I cut it and hot glued a chalkboard sigh to it and stuck it in the middle with the word gather....

I think it came out soooo Darling.......I hope our Hosts love it as much as I do..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Happy Thanksgiving~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Related articles

Wait! Don't Throw That Pumpkin Away (Even If It's Carved)

Pumpkin Thanksgiving Tablescape

Tablescapes....I do set a table for Thanksgiving every year.  I set this table in anticipation of staying home and cooking for my family but we will be sharing our Thanksgiving Meal with Mr. Incredibles' Uncles family this year.

But since the table is set already...I thought I'd share it here on my blog, it helps me record it for next year if I don't remember what I did.  I love the orange and robin's egg blue colors together. 

 I added the cream eyelet lace to the edge of the burlap runner....I pinned it on my board.....from this etsy shop. I always love a juxtaposition, ying and yang..rustic and feminine....it was so simple to do.  I already had the burlap cut from The Barn Baby Shower I did last year....all I did was cut the lace, pin it to the edge and run a stitch....

The other items on the table....

Aqua mason jars....collected over the  years at yardsales

White pillars...... from a Candle company which I can't remember the name of

Autumnal sunflowers....Michaels

Pumpkin candles...Debi Lilly for Vons

Robins Egg Plates...Homegoods

Pumpkin bowls.....Candlelight

I still plan on making those Succulant planters to take to the Host of our Thanksgiving.  I'll take some shots of them when I do them......

 

 

 

Tidbits....from October and November

Sorry for the blog break...we have been busy and I've had no time to compose a blog post.  I do have LOTS to share with some Autumnal goodness around these parts....FALL is finally here and it feels soooo good with the brisk cool mornings.   Here are a few tidbits of some things that have been going on...with the Maders. Starting with the above photo.....

Going to the Long Beach State VS. University of Hawai'i {my Alma Mater} Volleyball game with my girls and Madison's volleyball team. It was a great game..

but as I expected the Hawai'i team took the win....way to go Warriors!!

MacKenzie's middle school team has one more game left..they are doing pretty well this season, lost a couple and won more than they lost.  Not bad.

Her league play is swap dab in the middle of the season...go Mustangs!

Madison with her Frosh Volleyball team...they lost a total of 3 games the whole season not sure where they placed in league as it has now come to an end...now on to High School Soccer....

My GIRL made VARSITY!!  Yep my freshmen...she was so excited when she found out, she was shaking like a leaf!  Whoop, Whoop{oops that's Volleyball cheer}!!  As for me..

 the House of Horrors... was a great success!!  All three of us were actors in the Insane Assylum {Kenzie is in the wheel chair} boy oh boy did I love playing the crazy lady in the rocking chair, not a far stretch for me.  I put together a Bat Cave complete with LIVE Vampire in a coffin {I was so mad at myself that I never took any pictures!!!}

Madison {and most of the vball team} and Kenzie trick or treating around the hood...this year Madison was an Indian Girl and Kenzie finally settled on being a Black Cat...she started out wanting to be be Bear { I guess not that far off from a cat}, then a Greek Goddess,  then Hello Kitty....I think she makes a very cute Black CAT...Meow...

After going a few blocks...they all came back to do the "trading game"...I remember doing this with my brother when we came back after a night walking the streets trick or treating...

I was so impressed with this year's seasonal set up at TJ's...I love the little chalkboard pumpkin on the fence...I bet it looks pretty at night with the string of lights overhead..so festive.

I was alone shopping so I didn't get my picture taken in the totem pumpkin photo op....I suppose I could of asked a passerby...but they probably would of thought I was a bit nutty...don't answer that please..

I picked up some of those mini white pumpkins for my home.....

Here they are in my galvanized feeder with some garland.....in my built-in Cottagy hutch...

My Li'l One grabbed a couple and decided to make her own mini jacks..next to her Last Year's Hello Kitty One..

My sign found a new home...next to the mailbox.....

Here is Mrs. Witch...resting her weary bones...in a Windsor chair.

the Happy Halloween sign is staked into my Hydrangea...welcoming visitors.

Saw this on Pinterest...was one of a couple Halloweenish projects I got done this season.  I love that I can change this little chalkboard sign to suit the need and/or season.

Here was another one I was able to get to do too...I just took a faux pumpkin and painted it white and used my scallop circle punch to punch out the M on my napkin and glued it on...so very simple. 

Here is the other faux pumpkin, I painted it with chalkboard paint ...and now I can change out the greetings.....and even add a bow on the stem.  Speaking of chalkboards...

I spray painted the backs of the boards of these frames and used Chalk to write scary on them { i used them for Madison and Kenzie room at the old house} Another simple idea that can be changed out....

Aren't these pumpkins "special"?  I love that some are bumpy with warts on them, other are smooth, others are striped......well....yesterday I was at a very "popular" Garden/Decor center that I have posted on here several times and they had the cutest idea......can't wait to show you, so stick around.   Happy Fall to you all!! 

Wild Parrots

In the city I live in there is a "humongous" flock of wild parrots that inhabit the area.  I have an apple tree in my back yard and at this time of the year.....they swarm upon the apple tree.

They are quite noisey and chatter up a storm which attracts my....doggies.

As you can see my "Jack Russel Terriost"...Snickers Barbara gets air borne trying to reach the parrots.  Critter {the Chihuahua} doesn't know what quite to think about all this action.  When I saw the apples appear last year I told myself I'd attempt to make an apple pie but yet again the Wild Green Parrots beat me to it.  Hopefully next year I'm a bit faster at picking them. 

The Spooks and other Poisons...

My Li'l One had a great time making these Spooks for our meeting,  they tasted yummy! I can't take credit..the girl is a regular Martha...

She added Halloween colored sprinkles....to some of them.

Chocolate covered strawberries and some fun"get in the spirit wine" from World Market, a perfect combo. 

Here is all the info you'll need if you are in the area or plan to be in the area, it is reving up to be a great and spooky time.  Hope to see you there!!

 

Edible trick or treats....

In a couple of weeks we will be having our Third Annual Harvest Festival and House of Horrors for my daughters' music program.  I'm on the commitee for the House of Horrors. You might of remembered the first year I did The Creepy Music Room and last year the Medical Morgue room, remember The zOMbiES .  This year I'll be doing a hallway, something dark and eerie with glowing eyes in every corner.   To get us in the spirit I like to bring special treats to our meetings....so I'll be making and bringing these Strawberry Ghosts as seen in the above photo.  I do chocolate covered strawberries for Valentines every year, so this should be a piece of....chocolate cake.  If I wanted to step up my game I'd attempt these babies or spooks you might say.............

Super cute too...maybe at the next meeting I'll try the halloweenies...

Or these cake pops...I have NOT been very successful with cake pops..I tried the Hello Kitty ones..a couple of years ago but I do know they have all kinds of cake pans that can help with the process, maybe I'll check into that the next time I want to do the cake pops...

If you have been reading my blog for sometime you might know that I have a fondness for witches especially the witches from The Wizard of Oz.  I dress up as the Wicked Witch of the West every year since oh...1994....yep...I have her cackle down...

These Ding-Dong the Witches Dead cupakes will have to be made in the near future.....in honor of her sister....

All these recipes and how tos can be found here on my All Hallows Eve board....Happy Halloween Sweeties Treaties... Here is the video of our East Whittier Middle School Music Program's House of Horrors which will be On October 17th, 18th and 19th this year.  Come if you are in the area it is quite scary if you dare!!!!

 

 

 

 

Nothing says Fall Like a Pair of Burlap Toms!!

After years of being a naysayer to my girls to the infamous Toms.....this year when we went back to school shopping...Mom had to get them when I saw them in Burlap..

I think they look great with a pair of jeans....on a cool crisp day....{ending up wearing them to the Long Beach State Volleyball game in the evening}

In Southern California we have not had one day where the weather says "fall"..nope in fact this week we are supposed to get record breaking heat....I know it's October!!  That is how it is in this part of the country....when the rest of the country is breaking out there jeans, boots and sweaters we are still sporting flip flops and shorts.  I'm ready for my Pumpkin Spice pancakes {at Mimi's} latte, {at Starbucks} Muffin tops {at Panera}...at this time of the year...come on fall....hurry up and get here...I'm ready....

 

 

 

Halloween Mantel

I usually decorate in the more fall{y}sense, let me clarify...using orange, rusts and mustard yellows  with lots of pumpkins but last year I decided to detour into the more macabre style in the family room.  I figured I had a few things to get me started and I could switch to a more autumnal look when Oct 31st has come and gone..and Novemeber is here.  For the first time {this was last years picture} I was able to decorate my very own fireplace mantel, there is just something about having a slim wooden ledge to gussy up from season to season. 

I've had all these items for years, nothing is new , {expect the middle picture that has the glowing eyes and talks all spooky in the last image}.  The old black and white pictures ARE MY ANCESTORS....yep they are not store bought creepy people images..these creepy people are related to me!

For this year I'm sure I'll be changing the mantle up a bit..maybe adding some black dripping candles...or more dark colored cheese cloth.

 Today I'm hooking up over at Centsational Girl , she is having a Fall Mantle Decor Linky Party...If your not familiar with her go check out her blog...she is quite Centsational {she is great at decorating on a cent well maybe a dime}!!  Plus you'll get to see what a bunch of creative-type people, who gussy up a Fireplace Mantle or two....in all kinds of color schemes....now get going...Fall is here go get your fall mojo going!