Another yummy pie is calling to me! This time I will try coconut pie with a gluten free crust and less sugar, of course.
The pie is Easy Coconut Pie from Taste of the South magazine.

I am expecting some family members who have been on a gluten free regime (and feel it is more "free" than "regime" once you get the hang of it!) They report that they are feeling better than ever.
[More products are available in gluten free versions all the time. EVEN BISQUICK now has a gluten free variety!]

So, I will try this pie crust recipe from Gluten Free Girl's blog.

I'm loving juicy pomegranates! They are in season now!

This beauty came home with me from the grocery store yesterday, then I used it in a sketchbook journal page with the bottle of wine. This is my homework for the final class from Joggles with Jane LaFazio.

....and below a free motion stitched collage of pomegranates with pears. [For sale on ETSY! see my link in the side bar]

Here is a link to more artisic inspirations from pomegranates! I love seeing all these wonderful, creative approaches!

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Now to bake the dessert we are taking to the Thanksgiving meal and service at church tonight.

These are so easy (and no soggy crust as in pumpkin pie)!

Pumpkin Spice Bars

1, 18.25 oz pkg of spice cake mix ( or similar size cookie mix)

1 egg, 2 TBS. butter

Mix this together and spread in a 9X13 pan ( or similar). Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat 1, 8 oz. pkg. low fat cream cheese until fluffy, add 1, 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk, 1, 15 ounce can of pumpkin, 2 eggs and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Pour over the crust. Sprinkle 1 cup chopped pecans over filling.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Chill. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

It is very mild and almost muggy today. But I know winter will be here, and I want to be ready.....loving these boots...on sale at Victorias Secret (.com)

The black are so chic and dressy and comfortable ( most inportant, comfort!!!) Even though they will be great with dresses or skirts, they remind me a little of "Puss in Boots" or maybe pirates, or Robin Hood's merry men???

I think I need the brown for a more casual blue jean look, too!
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I am planning to cook this meatloaf recipe tonight. It is my daughter's favorite, she makes it for her family! I think instead of noodles, I'll do some scalloped potatoes!

Just working on fall projects! [One which Mom did was similar to this photo from Martha Stewart's newsletter; so easy and such a good way to enjoy the color of fall!]

Our pints of relish are getting labels and bows.......

What is behind the jar of relish???? Another project.....



This is a gansey designed by Ann Budd. The pattern is from knittingdaily.com. I am enjoying using some yarn from the stash which Mom has. This is wool called "brandy heather", we do love the color! [above, not in the pattern photo below]

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Under this antique granite ware cake pan (which was my grandmother's), is another treat!

It is an apple walnut cake!

As the pan was smaller than called for, I made 2/3 of the recipe . It is very tasty! We didn't even bother with the "cider sauce", prefering to drink our cider!

Yesterday afternoon, we walked through the old quaint downtown area of our small city. Mr. P has a new camera and I asked him to photograph this.....

perhaps I was secretly longing to just sit for a while. I do love chairs!

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This morning, a newsletter from Martha Stewart's Whole Living had this photo and

a wonderful article on the Japanese approach to daily life called "Wabi Sabi".

To quote:"Wabi sabi is the beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete, the antithesis of our classical Western notion of beauty as something perfect, enduring, and monumental."
To illustrate: Wabi sabi is asymmetrical heirloom vegetables and handmade pottery, crow's feet and the frayed sleeves of a favorite wool sweater, exposed brick and the first draft of a difficult letter.
You won't find wabi sabi in Botox, glass-and-steel skyscrapers, smart phones, or the drive for relentless self-improvement. It's a beauty hidden right in front of our eyes, an aesthetic of simplicity that reveals itself only when animated through the daily work of living.Read more at Wholeliving.com: Wabi Sabi Your Life: 6 Strategies for Embracing Imperfection

On our walk yesterday, I also asked for this photo.....so peaceful and humble and yet perfectly imperfect!

Finished in time! Flannel pj's for B3's birthday! He is turning 3 on Wednesday.
Now Mr. P will rush them to the post office!

I found this flannel at the fabric store where I work part time, Hancocks. It has safari animals and a touch of the rain forest. The fabric also reminds me of old souvenir luggage stickers. I piped it with green and used green buttons!

working up a Christmas card for my daughter's family.....

Rather like doing a cartoon! Here it is Friday already! Next week is the grandson's 3rd birthday! So down to the sewing studio to finish his gift. [Flannel PJ's, see next post]

Having a colandar of small green tomatoes from that "lasagna" garden has led to researching and finding a relish recipe which my mother always made.

She is very excited to be making it again this year now that she lives with us! We have just returned from the store with all the other ingredients which the recipe calls for.

Now to get out the food processor and begin.

Mr. P loves hot dog relish....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We canned 6 and 1/2 pints! In a couple of weeks, we can have our first taste!

Oh, how I do love indigo!

This small quilted piece is "Indigo Moon" by Jane La Fazio. [ I am taking a sketchbook journaling on-line class from Jane through Joggles.] Jane was using hand dyed fabrics from Shibori Girl, Glennis Dolce. [Just Google Shibori girl and you will find her!]

So, I now have some similar fabrics which of course I ordered from Glennis and am excited to decide how to use them. On a denim jacket??? wallhanging???? totebag????? So many possibilities! [And yes, that special round "indigo moon" was what really "sold" me on ordering these, LOL!]

The lovely blue color comes from this little plant. Finding some indigo and dying my own never occured to me.....

Until today's newspaper ad from Jo Ann fabrics....they have this indigo (the real thing!) tie dye kit on sale!!!

Searching on-line, I found bloggers who have explored the kit and loved what they have created. This photo is from Honestly....WTF .

So tomorrow, I'll be getting a kit and starting to collect fabrics, threads, yarns and ribbons which might "need" to be dyed to some lovely hue of indigo!



Below, a photo from 2 years ago where I am wearing tie-dye in indigo. This particular shirt is from Jones New York, not a local craftsperson. I have really enjoyed wearing it and I am not ready to cut it up for an art quilt yet!

It's that time of year again......

[Since I can't always drive through Starbucks, and need to spend my $$$ on art and needle art supplies,not coffee drinks, I haven't had one yet this season......so how lucky was I to find this...?!]

I love Susan Branch! her website currently has a recipe for PUMPKIN LATTES! These will be perfect to make for an autumn afternoon!

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How do you choose art? In three rooms full of other artists and bidders?

These are 5 X 5 paintings from last night's silent art auction.

I chose the landscape because , out of over 400 little masterpieces, it was one that held my eye and which I could recall when out of sight. It reminds me of many places I have seen...Western pastures, Arkansas Ozarks. The title is "Spring" and it is by Laverne Nelson who happens to live very near me, though we have not met.

Lizzzie, another artist, found these wonderful dogs to add to her art collection. They are by Jeannie Burks of Springdale, AR. Who could resist those eyes?????

She is ready to dance!

this was a fun, painterly excercise, using metallic paints, conte crayon, and loose brush strokes. I hope the large 36"x48" canvas will find a home on the landing of my daughter's staircase!