Sunday Snapshots: November Birthdays

As we rifled through the bins of paper products at Christmas Tree Shops in early October, Kati held up napkins and plates with adorable woodland creatures. "These can be for the November birthday party!"

Perfect. For what could be a better when the birthday people are a 24-year-old woman, a 7-year-old boy, and a 3-year-old boy? 

A woodland theme it was! So easy to blend with bits of autumn decor. Leaves and acorns. (Oops. I meant to get out some pine cones too.) Trail mix for woodland paths. Cups labeled with things you might see in the woods. "Happy Harvest Bingo" (picked up at Target's Dollar Spot). 

Of course, there were some Wrapping Paper Antics!

I didn't get a photo of the birthday cake. It was an apple dump cake made in the crock pot by the birthday girl. Sooo easy and sooo yummy, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. . . . a great fall dessert. We will surely make it again. 

 ♫ Happy Birthday ♫

to 

PAUL

PETER

and KATI!

May your new year be grace-filled!

A Saturday Chat About This and That

Do you think that "small" gifts can sometimes be the biggest? Like when you walk through your back door one afternoon and the sun is highlighting your bowl of apples? Such a gift of beauty! Or like the time you have had a bit of a rough week and you get to the drive-through window to pay for your coffee and it has been paid for? And you find out that your brother- and sister-in-law have seen you from inside and decided to treat you (not knowing about the week that you've had)? 

Yes, those kinds of gifts! 

Can you believe it is November?! 

November is one of my favorite months of the year. Cool, crisp air. Color. The aromas of leaves and fires and pumpkin candles and coffee. The anticipation of my favorite holiday. Brown transfer ware. Leaf-strewn pathways. 

Kati had a birthday this week! She was off for a half day, so Bekah and I also took off for the afternoon and we celebrated by taking a drive, doing a little antiquing, and drinking frozen coffees! (Aren't we wild and crazy? 😉) For dinner, we had "Aunt Linda Casserole" (a Mexican dish named for its creator) on the sun porch (the birthday girl got her wish for a warm day; it was a balmy 77 degrees!) and a store-bought pumpkin roll for dessert. We'll be having more fanfare tomorrow as we celebrate all the November birthdays, but it was a lovely day of simple pleasures. 

Side story: 

When Bekah saw me writing out Kati's card, she laughed. "Mom, I think you've given Kati that card before. Twice." 

"Really? Are you sure? Well, at least she'll know that I mean what it says."

Sure enough. Kati looked amused when she opened the card and I knew that Bekah had been right.

I do amuse my family with my propensity to keep collecting the things I love. 

Like pumpkins and gourds. I seem to bring another one home every week when I run errands. This week's selection: 

And then there are candles . . . and napkins . . .

But how could I resist this amazing pumpkin spice soy candle that is white (not the more typical orange)? Or this huge package of red brick-ish red, not fire engine red) paper napkins? And my "hobbies" are cheap ones.

I rest my case. 

On the agenda today: 

Hang the Thankful Tree. We did not have a Thankful Tree last year for the first time since we began this tradition. I attributed it to "new house brain fog" which was my excuse for lots of things last year. But this year, the Thankful Tree is back and I can't wait to see what everyone writes on their leaves.

House cleaning and party prep for the November birthday celebration tomorrow.

But first . . . Saturday Morning Mochas in brown transfer ware mugs. 

Because, November. 

A Weekend Breakfast: Pumpkin Spice Baked Oatmeal

During the week, breakfast is a fend-for-yourself affair, with everyone rising at different times and some of us heading out the door early. We often satisfy our cravings for breakfasty foods with breakfast-for-dinner. But sometimes it's fun to try a little something special on a Saturday morning. 

On a recent Saturday morning, Pumpkin Spice Baked Oatmeal was on the menu! I had come across this recipe over at StoneGable and I couldn't wait to try it. 

(StoneGable is a fabulous house-y blog! If you haven't been there before, go have a look around. Maybe while your oatmeal is baking. 😉)

So thoroughly fallish and yummy!

Even though I am not particularly fond of oatmeal, baked oatmeal is another story. And pumpkin spice baked oatmeal . . . yes, please!

Ron and I loved it. The girls, not so much. 

That's okay, because that meant that Ron and I could have all the leftovers!

Because another great thing is that it reheats well. Pop a bowl into the microwave on a weekday morning, and you have a warm, yummy breakfast ready in seconds. 

PUMPKIN SPICE BAKED OATMEAL

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Ingredients:

1 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups milk

2 1/2 cups dry old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

1/2 cup raisins (I omitted those)

Directions: 

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2) In a large mixing bowl, add pumpkin, brown sugar, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, salt, baking powder, and vanilla; whisk together.

Add milk and whisk until incorporated.

3) Stir in oats, pecans, and raisins. 

4) Spray an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray. Pour mixture into dish.
(I used a 2.5 quart casserole dish.) 

5) Bake for 45 minutes until done. 

6) Serve hot with milk or cream.

Do you have a favorite weekend breakfast? 

Kayaking

When it's a glorious autumn day . . . and your son and his family are camping . . . and four of the cousins are also joining in the fun . . . and you are invited to come for the day (not to sleep over) (in a tent) (too old for that) . . . and there is a picnic lunch . . . and three kayaks . . . 

. . . then you're glad that you came and gathered such memory-making moments!