Festival's,fireplaces,food and family

This is as close to a spike as my kid's gonna get, and who doesn't love a crazy haired sock monkey? Good purchases!

What could make for a better weekend, than going to the oh so popular Apple Butter Festival full of art's and craft booth's, delish hot soup's, and pie's at the famous The Blue Owl. The fair boast's over 10,000 visitor's so that's saying something! This time instead of an art vendor at this fair, it was nice to be a shopper, meandering up and down the isles, admiring wares. And buying fun stuff!

Wanted this warm sweater from Equador.

We all went crazy for the mini food jewelry!

One dollar cutest ever Pinocchio pencil sharpener anyone? Danged if Rachel didn't get the last one! Score!

Hoodies with giant attached paw glove's! 

Pretty "Mushroom"

It was a sunny but cold day, and we were pretty chilled when we left. So we headed over to my sister's to light up the fireplace, pull out the thick, cozy indian blankets. Also to cook our first
fall/winter meal swap! What's that, you may say? Long, long, long before Rachel Ray's 5 in a Day, I was getting my mom and sister's together to "each "make a meal enough to divide up for all. If there was three of us cooking, then we all brought home 3 different meals for the week, all ready to pop outta the fridge and heat up, much to the pleasure of the hubby's who were assured a good, and different meal . Bonus number two was to spend the day together, wooden spoon's flying, while tasty thing's were bubbling and baking.
And that was just what we did after the fair. On the menu: Encore of my Potato soup, this time kicked up with shredded cheese, and crispy crumbled bacon. Rachel's yummy Meatloaf cupcake's , croissant's, and a Cherry Dump Cake . Plenty for two meals, which we opted to eat together, then meal two could be changed up. Example, I paired my meatloaf with leftover's of my 20min pasta. It was like a giant meatball! Lipsmackin!

While we cooked, the kid's had a ball outside rolling down hill's and having leaf fight's.
Then we settled down under blanket's with fashion mag's and Masterpiece Theatre. ( the kid's opted for iPad's and Mary Poppin's.

 Belly's full, two sister's wrapped up like Burrito's felt the day was full as well.... Full of family:)

Dolce and Gabbana Fall 2012

I believe that at times Fashion is as beautiful as a piece of art. Especially when I saw this fall's D&G pieces. They are brilliant, and breathtaking. A grand mix of gold, black, vivid floral, and lace, that strike a gorgeous vintage , royal appearance. The accessories are equally wonderful with their detail's( I love the Spatz look). I would be in heaven to own even one piece of this exquisite garment-art collection... Sigh... I hope your having a lovely weekend! Xo Dawn

Potato Supa Soup

The potato. How many favorite foods come from the potato..mashed potato, baked potato, fried potato, au gratin potato, potato chip, french fried potato , potato salad, potato pancakes...and on and on. I'm starting to sound like Bubba Gump Shrimp, shrimp,shrimp. Well anyway , you get that I'm a tater lover. And when our nutty Midwest weather goes from 85 to 55 in a matter of hour's , why that cold snap call's for some hot soup! Potato soup that is. Here is my version, that will have you scraping the bowl!

- 1, 5lb bag Yukon gold potatoes,cubed
- 2 cartons of chicken broth
- 1 whole large onion chopped
- 1 can French onion soup
- 1tbs olive oil, and 1 tbs butter
- 1 small carton of 1/2 n 1/2
- Salt and pepper to tastes
- 1 small bundle of leeks separated ,rinsed thoroughly,and chopped.(optional)

Simply bring chicken broth to a boil and cook your cubed potatoes till softened.
- meanwhile sauté your chopped onion, and leeks in olive oil, and butter till tender.
- then when your potatoes are done mash them roughly, adding salt, pepper and your onion's and leek's, also toss in your French onion, and slowly add your half and half, tasting as you stir in the flavors till you get your preferred thick or thinness. Simmer for a few more minutes till bubbly. Ladle a big ol bowl , and garnish with some fresh chive's out of the garden if you please. Yum , yum and yum! Have a great weekend!

Tip: use pre-chopped onion's to save time, and racoon eye's!

Chive's!

I'd like to be under the sea... Lala lala

As I was cleaning out my photo library, I came across the K.C. trip Aquarium we visited that adjoined Lego Land. Lemme just say that hand's down the jellyfish were my favorite.
They are the most exquisite water creature's ever made in my opinion. From the translucent tour of their form to the graceful and awe inspiring movement's , I could watch them all day and not tire of their beauty. What a praiseworthy creation!
Along with my next fave, the sea dragon, we found it to be feast for the eye's and a really great aquarium.
Secretly I would love to be a mermaid and explore all the splendor under the sea, and I used to want to be an oceanographer as a kid. Ah well, I will settle for places like this and Discovery channel eh? Happy Thursday!

Remind anyone of Nemo?

A very kool bubble in the tank, for a real fish-eye view!

Relaxing Rustic Rest

Now that all the leaves are falling like the change of season rain shower's, it put's me in the mood to enjoy the great outdoor's . Festival's are almost every weekend, and chili cookin, hay riding, s'mores makin time's are at their peak. And we are enjoying them to the full! I can't wait for Apple Butter festival this weekend ! What's your favorite recreation for fall?

The Greatest Show On Earth

One wonderful memory as a child was going to the Circus. It was especially endearing as my grandfather was a well loved Chimpanzee trainer, who brought children and adults much laughter and applause with his show's, and I used to watch him proudly on Wild Kingdom, monkey in hand.

And his father my great grand was a fearless Lion Trainer, traveling with a European Circus.
Many a child dreamt of joining the circus, including me.. that being entirely out of the question due to my parent's fear I'd wanna be the next Bearded Lady. Well then  of course, the next best thing was to just Go to the circus. My favorite was the elephants, and the trapeze artist's! What was your's?
Sooo when the Ringling Bro's Circus came into town, we snagged some great seat's, plopped down with our nacho's and funnel cake's and had yet another memorable time with our own kiddo. Elephant's doing hand stand's (er uh, front feet stand's?) crazy clown's,and death defying feat's! Now how's that for good time's! Happy Wed!

8 motorcycles fit in there!

Homage to the Tatooed Lady

Book and Mag Review

I love, love, love to read book's and mag's. As I write this I have a mountain of them beside me waiting to be read or re-read purely for the down time I so enjoy. Here's a couple that inspire, and encourage me to keep on dreaming, and doing the thing's I love Belle Armoire Magazine is great if your into atypical artsy sewing, Lorri Scott's work is beautiful! This new mag : Living Craft had so many interesting articles with wonderful variety in craftsman! Finally if your looking for A-dorable pattern's for embroidery, look no further than Little Stitches by Aneela Hoey... The snow globe is killin me! So, What's your favorite literature?

 I want this bag!!!!