by Trenda
Welcome to the first day of autumn! In conjunction with the calendar, our temperatures in East Texas were cooler today with alternate periods of pouring rain … sunlight … or light rain pattering down on the still green leaves overhead. Our cooler weather inspired me to get our screened porch “dressed and ready” for the anticipated autumn days and evenings we’ll be spending out there.
A latticed topped table holds a mix of autumn colors and textures. The unframed canvas looks simple and charming painted in the “colors of the season.” Rustic textures are repeated in the bronze of the wire canoe candle holder … the bronze pine cone clock … and the bronze fish lamp – all against the rugged backdrop of the brick wall and the wooden shutters.
Daisy watches the falling rain against an array of pillows in autumn colors … soft plum, golden yellow, sage green, and crimson colored pillows are the background for a smaller fish pillow which continues the fishing theme of the cottage porch set by the Largemouth Bass on the lamp.
“A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work.”
Pillows and throws are an invitation to “sit a spell.”
A miniature screen door hangs on the brick wall with a tiny sign posted … “Home Sweet Home.”
After I got through cozy-ing up the screened porch, I pre-heated my oven and mixed up a delicious recipe of “Easy-Cheesy Jalelpeño & Pimento Dip” (recipe below) and slid it into the oven. While the dip was warming, I cut clusters of midnight black grapes and placed them in an antique berry bowl. Then, I washed and julienned my celery and stacked them on another sweet vintage dish. By then, the dip was ready and all golden, bubbly, cheesy-nes. (: I removed it from the oven and tucked Creamy Tomato & Basil Crackers and Sociables’ crackers into the dip, along the edges of the baking dish … then I placed “all” on a metal fish tray to carry out to the porch.
[SIDENOTE: I’m always on the lookout, when antiqu-ing, for unusual little dishes that are charming and make even the simplest meals seem special. Antique dishes, especially singles without a “mate” are surprisingly inexpensive. The little berry bowl with it’s pedestal legs and angular cut bowl was only 50 cents and the green serving dish with 2 glass handles and etchings on the bottom of the bowl that looks “perfectly, perfect” heaped with celery … olives … or pickled okra was less than a dollar!] 
Bon appétit! (:
“Tête-à-tête on the screened porch.
A “Wecome to the Lake” DIY Fishing Wreath (instructions here) hangs on the French door and a gift from our dear son and DDIL … a fishing net with bobbers and carved wooden fish is “cast” over the door frame.
Afternoon raindrops and shadows …
Easy, Cheesy Jalepeño & Pimento Dip
Ingredients:
- Price’s Pimento Cheese spread (I ONLY use Price’s)
- Diced, Mild Jalepeño’s
(This is the simplest recipe and is really just a matter of stirring ingredients together … but it is so delicious! Heating the pimiento cheese makes it creamier and slightly sweeter.) I always try to keep the ingredients on hand for quick snacks and/or unexpected guests! (:
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees or use microwave
- Stir together pimento cheese and desired amount of drained jalepeño’s (I used approximately 2 teaspoons of diced jalepeño’s for this small dish, but adjust the amount of peppers you use according to the “degree” of spiciness that you prefer and the amount of pimento cheese used!)
- spread pimento mixture into an ovenproof, shallow dish, good for dipping
- Microwave or cook until edges are bubbly
- Tuck assorted crackers into the dip, around the edge of the serving dish and serve warm with crackers, veggies, or bread
Have fun decorating the nooks and crannies of your cottage and getting ready for “the cozy season” ahead because the crickets have been warning us … “summer is changing into autumn.”
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…” Ecclesiastes 3:1
From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda
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Trenda@ cottagegreenonthelake.com
This week I’m joining:
Courtney at French Country Cottage
Carol from The Red Painted Cottage
Chloe Crabtree from Celebrate & Decorate
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And for lunch …
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Presuming it will freeze tonight, I gazed a little sadly at our still blooming Encore azaleas, roses, begonias, impatiens, coleus, and ferns. However, Richard (forever surprising me) brought in one last winter rosebud he found blooming in our yard, put it in an antique vase that belonged to my grandmother, and set it on my vanity, where I happily discovered “it” after I showered! (imagine a picture of a heart, here!)
Getting ready for “winter-on-the-lake” comes with a long to-do list … filling bird feeders, decorating the outside of the house with Christmas decorations, putting the potted begonias and impatiens away in their winter residence -our cedar greenhouse (: and last, covering the boat and draining our sprinkler system (which our son came over and helped his father with. PLUS … he also helped his father with our latest DIY project, the remodeling of our upstairs bathroom (pictures upon completion!)
by Trenda
Our “Beau” Pilgrim (I told you we like to name things around here!) made by Fitz and Floyd resides over the Mantle Harvest and has his own thanksgiving offerings … some maize and a pumpkin, in his hands.
