Inspired Palette {The Perfect Pear}
Last year, about this time, my husband, my parents and I drove a few hours east to Door County for a quiet and relaxing long weekend. We rented a cottage on Lake Michigan, hiked, watched the sunset, went wine tasting and just generally had a great time. During one of our many drives through the beautiful countryside, we saw a simple handmade sign that said “PEARS. You Pick”. Of course, we immediately pulled off because the thought of picking our own pears was so charming. We soon met an elderly woman who owned a small hobby farm, complete with a herd of sheep, chickens, a sprawling vegetable garden, grape vines, and an orchard with apples and pears. She pointed to the garage out back, and directed my “young, strapping” husband to go fetch the ladder. Then she walked us up to her orchard, handed us an old ice cream pail, and pointed to the tree from which we should pick. Let’s just say the entire experience left us grinning from ear to ear. What great memories were made, and oh my, those pears tasted like heaven!
This week’s inspired palette captures the rich and brilliant colors of a sunny autumn day spent in the countryside.
Good to Eat {Oatmeal Cookies}
I’m trying out a bit of a new format here on the blog with my images, so thanks in advance for being patient as I experiment with some different things.
I mentioned yesterday that I baked oatmeal rasin cookies over the weekend to completement the fallish weather we were having. Last night was just as blustery and chilly, and I enjoyed a couple of those cookies with a glass of milk while I worked on some logo designs and caught up with emails. It occurred to me that while my oatmeal recipe is very basic, it might be worth sharing. If stored properly, these cookies will stay perfectly chewy and moist for several days, making a yummy treat for after work or school.
Ingredients
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup flour
1 cup raisins
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Place all ingredients in large bowl, except for oats, flour and raisins. Beat with electric mixer until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients.
3. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove and place on wire cooking rack.
5. Enjoy while warm with a cup of milk!
Pieces of Life {Looking Up}
Life at the cottage this weekend was relatively quiet. We stayed home, and I busied myself with the normal weekend chores of laundry, cleaning, and grocery shopping. I also tackled some new designs for Emmy Lu Design Studio, and a few fun projects that I’ve been planning in collaboration with two other bloggers (stay tuned for details!). Sunday dawned bright and beautiful, with cool temps and blustery winds. I stayed in all day and made chili to complement the very fallish day outside. It was, by all means, a rejuvenating break from the routine. Today I am feeling rested and ready to dive into the week ahead.
I hope each of you had a nice weekend as well. Did anyone tackle any big projects or have the opportunity to unplug and relax at home?
Fall Flavors #5 {Winery, Orchard, Backyard BBQ}
Hello my lovely readers. It is Friday, the end of a good week. A long week, but a good week. Also the end of Fall Flavors week on the blog. I’ve really enjoyed putting together these posts and spending some time reflecting on the season. For a finale of sorts, I have saved the snapshots fro the Autumn Flavors party that the hubby and I hosted on Sunday. It was, by all measures, a smashing success. The weather was perfect, and we enjoyed a wonderful time with some very dear friends. From wine tasting at Woodland Hill Winery, to apple picking at Minnetonka Orchard, to the backyard BBQ and bonfire, every aspect was delightful and delicious. I had so much fun planning the details and decor, but in the end it was only a success because of the people. I am so thankful for the friends I have, and for the relationships that I am blessed to have as a part of my life.
The pictures above document the day, and some of the small touches at the party. I used old mason jars with leftover candles from our wedding (three plus years ago!) in groupings around the patio and on the tables. Since we were eating outside, I tied the plastic silverware in the napkin with scraps of fabric from the flags. For dessert, I served the apple cake, and set up a little s’more station (using my milk glass bowl). I even used my DIY chalkboard as a menu. At the end of the night, when the food was cleaned up, and most of the people had left, a few of us lingered around the fire, enjoying the flickering candles and beauty of the night. My brother-in-law Josh snapped an “end of the party” picture… which I love because it perfectly captures the warm atmosphere of the night and those last lingering moments of enjoying it with just a few close friends.
I took most of the shots above with my camera, but a big thanks to Josh for taking several of the party pictures (the flags, the menu, the grilling, the food spread, and the “end of the night” shot).
Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Relax, unplug, spend some time with the ones you love, and do something creative… see you Monday!
Fall Flavors #4 {Fall at Home}
While summer is the season of going, doing, running about and spending as much time as possible in the out of doors, fall is the season in which I enjoy simply being at home… holing up with a good book while the rain patters on the roof, baking something that makes the house smell delicious, raking the yard, and enjoying a bit more calm in my daily life. This edition of Cottage Life Snapshots is focused on the small things that make fall at home so appealing to me.
Fresh-picked apples on the dining room table. | Acorns, which constantly fall from the oaks in our yard. | Cinnamon sticks and the warm scents of autumn. | A new scarf, perfect for a crisp autumn days. | Leaves in the yard. | Leaves on the sidewalk. | Tea, chai, hot chocolate… warm beverages to sip on cold mornings.
Subscribe (rss)
