LOVELY OCTOBER~

 

October...

Dear October... how swiftly thy days are passing... all too soon your opulence will be but a distant memory...I savor each day while mentally preparing for the seasons to come...days are short...dusk arrives early... candlelight... the warmth of a wood stove... simple joys...   

The countryside is aglow... corn has been harvested and  hay bales stacked...farm stands offer delectable seasonal delights...fresh pressed cider and warm sugared donuts taste especially good in the cool Autumn air...how lovely an early morning walk can be with leaves swirling in the air and the "crunch" now heard under foot...

I find no "pressure" to the month of October...as I do in the months of November and December...I bake for the shear joy...Sunday morning finds pumpkin bread cooling on the kitchen counter...happily awaiting the Pumpkin Spice cream cheese I discovered at Target... I have never noticed  this product before, have you?  Tomorrow I'll offer my opinion on this product...BTW the only item I purchased at Target...my wood stove calls...good evening everyone...Off to catch up on my blog reading....
              
                                   

MONSTER COOKIES~

MONSTER COOKIES

For those of you who requested my MONSTER COOKIE recipe here it is...

4 cups all purpose flour (I use KING ARTHUR)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 sticks BUTTER softened
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
2 Large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract, NOT imitation
1 cup  TOLL HOUSE milk chocolate morsels
1 cup  TOLL HOUSE semi sweet chocolate morsels
1 cup  TOLL HOUSE dark chocolate morsels
1 package REECE'S mini pieces ( I found the mini REECE'S Halloween colored pieces at Target)

preheat oven to 375*

Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Beat butter and sugars till creamy. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop dough by level 1/4 cup measure 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.  Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown... (I routinely use either tin foil or parchment paper on my cookie sheets. I bake my cookies at 350* for exactly 13 minutes.)  This I find works best for me, my oven is electric. Your cookies will be chewy on the inside and lightly crispy on the outside. I promise they will not last long! ENJOY!

AUTUMN RAIN~

Autumn Rain...

outside my window the rain softly falls as the day comes to a close... leaves drop from the trees...acorns can be heard bouncing of the hen house roof...

my girls remain inside...tucked safely in the confines of their coop...the spicy aroma of apples and cinnamon fill the kitchen as a German apple cake bakes in the oven... 

Travis delights...

in his granny's love of Halloween...

I cannot resist...

 

nor can my sister inlaw Jovan, hers is a love of Christmas...

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what Easter will bring...

MONDAY MORNING~

I'm glad to know everyone enjoyed seeing my goodies from Target...I must clarify though  that I do not spend all my time at Target or shopping.  Three days per week I have the greatest job in the world, providing care for my grand baby Travis...one day a week I spend  with my dad, who comes to the mainland for grocery shopping...and breakfast at IHOP... 

 Friday is my "me" day unless one of my parent's has a doctors appointment...my opinion is two sets of ears are better than one...So yes, Friday is the day you will find me at Target...my budget consists of $30.00...and the majority of my purchases are holiday, housewares or for Travis Lloyd...Monday morning dawned with a soft haze lying low to the ground...as I walked next door to gather Travis I noticed the leaves with their brilliant color  now at peak...

 the morning air is cool...a soft breeze makes the leaves  swirl as they fall to the wet ground below...

  heads bow  from last night's rain...

the last bouquet from my flower garden is gathered...

 

This cookie has become a favorite of the men in my family...I call them "monster" cookies. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and Reese's Pieces. I use a 1/4  measuring cup...these cookies are crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside and monster in size...

 

finally, the last of my indoor decorating is now complete...ah...perfect timing... a baby calls...have a great day everyone...

SEASONAL DELIGHTS~

 Do you recall the Candy Corn flavored Oreo's I discovered at Target?..I am sad to say... they are no more...completely sold out and  I have yet  to discover them anywhere else ...but...my search for those did lead me to  these...M&M's white chocolate... candy corn coated... decadent delights...Lord have mercy these candies could do some serious damage to one's blood sugar, never mind the waistline...I purchased two bags...big mistake... the first has been devoured and the second is quietly calling my name...I need to relocate them...and soon...  

On my past few visits to Target  this friendly "Jack" pillow caught my eye. On each  visit I would pick the pillow up, wrestle with temptation, then  place the pillow back on the shelf...this week.. this cute little pillow must have jumped into my cart on it's own accord...for when I got to the checkout there it was...staring me in the face...

Now packaging is everything and it seems everywhere you go people are sneezing, coughing, and a cute box of tissues is a must...it is a need...I'm sure it will be a need sooner rather than later...same thought process with the "witch" napkins...we all need to wipe our face....some of us more than others...

 

and lastly...I did a bit of Halloween decorating...

the evenings are now cool and a cold front is headed our way... the wood box is filled and a fire has been set in the wood stove...Sadie has settled in her favorite chair and Winslow Homer's belly is full....all is well at Dog Trot Farm...

SAYING GOODBYE~

Saying goodbye...

On this cool October day Mr. Dog Trot and I boarded a ferry and headed down the bay to my childhood home of Long Island...my mom and dad were there to collect us and soon we were on our way to the "New Hill" cemetery...It was a day for saying goodbye...it is never easy losing a loved one, but on this Autumn day, as the sun filtered through the maple trees, the gentle wind whispering, we bowed our head's in prayer...An island community is a very special group of caring, giving people. It is one of the many things that I have missed since leaving...once an islander, always an islander. The memorial service was lovely, heartfelt and with a bit of humor. Later... as I placed my flowers at the graveside,  I turned and was in awe of what I saw...standing behind us, the immediate family, was an entire island community, both young and old alike. My aunt would have been pleased.
Goodbyes are not forever.
Goodbyes are not the end.
They simply mean I'll miss you,
Until we meet again.
~Unknown~

REFLECTIONS~

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots maybe lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on, the feelings as now in October." ~Nathaniel Hawthorne~

 

 

"I love Fall it is exciting. It's apples and cider. It's an airborne spider. It's pumpkins in bins. It's burrs on dogs chins. It's blowing leaves. It's chilly redknees. It's nuts on the ground. It's a crisp and dry sound. It's green leaves turning and the smell of them burning. It's clouds in the sky. It's Fall...that's why...I love Fall...~Unknown~

Shhhhh...I'm sneaking off to Target....Enjoy your day...Julie.

WELCOME OCTOBER

October ..."The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly changes from summertime cottons into its winter wools"...~Henry Beston Northern Farm~  

 Travis Lloyd... is the perfect remedy...

 for easing...

 a broken heart...

A heartfelt thank you for all the many kind comments and e-mails regarding  my girl Gladys...Blessings to you all Julie~

SADNESS~

In the blink of an eye it happened... 

A phone call alerted us to the danger seen lurking in the field...out the door Mr. Dog Trot and I flew...

sadly we were to late...my fear proved true...Gladys was dead...killed by a fox...my girl Gladys is no more...she now rests buried in the flower garden...

our heart's are heavy here at Dog Trot Farm...Goodbye my sweet girl...

A DELECTABLE INDULGENCE~

Do you see this package?...the one that reads CANDY CORN flavored Oreo cookies...I discovered these at Target last week...have I mentioned how much I love shopping at Target...Friday is errand day and a stop at Target is always a must...anyway...you would think Mr. Dog Trot and I still had  youngsters  living in the house...why you ask? because these delectable wonders were quite happily devoured in a day...such a sinful indulgence and of course accompanied by a tall glass of cold milk...  

Sadly...this Friday... there were no candy corn cookies left on the shelf...my Oreos had been discovered...heading to Target? Do pick up a package of these festive golden orbs...perhaps two or three...how I wish I had! Have a lovely weekend everyone.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR~

Sniffle...sniffle...cough...cough..

Sniffle...sniffle...cough...cough...



Granny ain't running at top speed this morning little buddy...it seems the common cold has found me...but the good news is I did get a flu shot  last weekend...Travis has had a cold and of course he just had to share it with his granny...but really it's my own fault... I simply can't leave the kid alone...those cheeks of his were just made for kissing... 

Bright and early Travis and I made pumpkin pies...one for his daddy and one for his grampy..our first pumpkin pies of the season...the kitchen smelled heavenly...well, really if I could smell I know the kitchen would have smelled heavenly...freshly ground spices from The Shakers of New Gloucester Maine are  key...with the pies cooling Travis and I delivered eggs to our neighbors  and then proceeded to get our walk in between  rain drops. With the weather dreary I decided we could use a bit of seasonal color to cheer up the homestead...

out came a glow in the dark bottle of sweet smelling Dial soap...

a delightfully fragrant candy corn  air freshener...I admit I have a weakness when it comes to creative packaging...

witchy...the bathroom nightlight...

 friendly "Jacks"...

with friendly witches...

and cats...

hoot owls...oh...and the perfect plates to serve

our pumpkin pie with a topping of french vanilla ice cream...Travis and I...we just love this time of year...how about you?