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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This week I’m joining:
Courtney at French Country Cottage
Carol from The Red Painted Cottage
Chloe Crabtree from Celebrate & Decorate
The focal point of this tablescape is vintage minnow bucket that Richard found for me on one of our antique-ing excursions. Some time ago, I told him I was looking a for a minnow bucket though I had a certain “look” in mind for that bucket. I wanted an antique bucket with good coloring and with graphics that were still readable, but I didn’t want it to look all “beat up” so I could use it for arrangements. I was amazed when months after I mentioned it to him, he came to me smiling with this perfect gift in hand, complete with both the bucket and the minnow strainer and with the added bonus of a little rust to enhance the patina! Now, that my friends is a gift more romantic to me than a bouquet of roses! <3
Gazing beyond the window at blue skies and spring blossoms, and inside … lace-y tree branches reflected on my grandmother’s glass-topped table … a dreamy place to work!
Instructions for dying Graham Cracker Crumbs
These little skaters, with their magnet pedestals actually pirouette around the iced pond when the music box is wound up and playing. 
After dinner coffee and Dutch Almonette cookies are waiting to be served. Crystal mugs, biscuit barrel, and sugar creamer set match the “icicle” look of the frozen pond and snow flocked trees.
White crocheted-edged napkins are tucked inside navy blue napkins and are tied with a simple gold cord which nonchalantly holds the salad and dinner fork. Individual little tealights glow in white holders covered in “snowballs” and personalize each place setting.
My mind still links Tomato Soup and cold winter days together and we had a “snow day” this week which made me want to make “Tuscan Tomato Soup.” 
Winter weather managed to push past the borders of Texas earlier this week, and obliged us with a deposit of sleet and snow! We were excited when the weather forecasters predicted the possibility of us getting a wintry mix and began to look expectantly for our guests’ arrival. At 10:00 pm Monday evening the sleet arrived, right on time and entertained us for 2 hours before tiny snowflakes began falling! Snow is always a thrilling sight in our area of TEXAS and Richard and I watched the enchanting display from our opened door until shivering, we reluctantly left our vigil to warm up, before checking again. We finally went to bed around 2:00 am; the flakes were still swirling and our driveway and deck were covered. The weather forecasters deserve a gold star … not only did they get their predictions correct, our winter guests were punctual and came exactly when expected! (;
Side yard and cobbled pathway …
Waiting for Spring …
Backyard and lake …
View from our bathroom the next, sunny but cold day!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend with moments enjoyed padding around in warm fuzzy socks, mugs of coffee in hand, snuggled under comforters, comfy within and without!
“I’ll have a blue Christmas without you …”
“Here we come a-wassailing …”
“Daddy, how does this thing fly?”
“And a hundred other where’s and whys …”
“When you look down in those trusting eyes that look to you, you realize …”
Do you ever stop to think or wonder why? The nearest thing to Heaven is a child
Oh, I hope you enjoyed seeing our Christmas at Cottage Green and I hope you had a wonderful, blessed Christmas filled with moments that will warm your heart throughout the year. Our grand daughter told me, “Grandma, I’m sad Christmas is over” … I’m sad Christmas is over, too, but I promised God I am keeping Christmas in my heart, all year long! <3
