This weekend was uneventful in the nicest way. No snow, no strong winds, no rain. We have been meaning to rake the leaves and get the yard ready for winter, this weekend we did just that. Lots of bags line the sidewalk ready to be picked up. The kids threw leaves up into the air, watching them tumble down on top of their heads. Aries found a giant leaf right by the back door. It was the only one in the whole yard - a rare big elephant ear like leaf. When it came time for actually putting the leaves in the bags the kids lost interest fast but with a little bribing of ice cream (Yes bad parenting move) they were right there.
Today we are clearing out the dining room - getting it ready for some before pictures. Then we start stripping off the wall paper. I've been saving a nice size piece every time we take some down. My hope is that I can start a little house art journal book with before and afters. On Friday the utilities guy needed to read our meters in the basement and I think it's the only time I was happy to be in a basement. He told me all about the history of our home. How it once was made for caretakers of a mansion that use to sit across the street. Apparently the mansion is no longer there but the stone stairs remain. I plan on taking a walk with the camera to see if I can find them. There is another stone house about a block away, one I always slow down to look at and admire - it was part of the same history and estate. It use to house the butlers and maids to the mansion.
I thanked him for taking the time to give me a small history lesson. My plan was always to go down to the library and see if I could find a picture of our house from years ago or maybe to find out who built it, if it had a story to tell. He was happy I was so interested and explained about a book that was written about our neighborhoods history and how in that book there are pictures of our house and more detailed information.
As soon as we said our goodbyes, I raced up and out of the basement to search for the book online.
While my intention was to find out the history of our house it feels more like the house is finding it for me.

For the first time the other night we turned on the heat in the house. There is something splendid about the sound of old steam heaters. They chug, tink, whistle - and when they are filling up with water if you close your eyes it almost sounds like you are in an underwater vessel.

All last week, before winter really hits us, I have been trying to sneak up on the birds at the bird feeder. Right after settling in here I hung a bird feeder outside one of the four large windows that are in the dining room. They are the perfect windows to bird watch out of - big, able to see from different angles, and I just thought the idea of eating and watching birds at the same time was magical in a way. After a week or two with no change at all to the feeder, disappointment set in. That was until Odyn saw the first bird. He went right up to the window and was just as excited as I was the see the bird hoping about on the feeder. I ran to get my camera but by the time I got there it had flown away. So all week I've been trying to capture them - I've waited out on the porch in my Pj's (sorry neighbors), set up the tripod, and even stood very tree like next to the window.
Finally I captured this guy but the quality of the photos aren't great - mostly because my camera kept wanting to focus in on the window screen. But the point is I finally was able to get a couple of pictures and there are birds at the feeder stocking up for winter that is just around the corner - in fact there is talk of snow soon.
I'll be happy when there is more talk of knitting, holiday decorating, or lovely recipes to be made - not hurricanes, elections, or snow storms.

The other day after returning home from our 8 day trip back east, I looked at the calendar and realized I was supposed to bring snacks for my son’s preschool class.  That day was a field trip to a pumpkin farm.  The theme for the week was pumpkins, so I decided I could whip together some of those easy pumpkin muffins that just use canned pumpkin and a cake mix.  I’ve made them before and while they aren’t my favorite I figured they were good enough for a preschool class.

Well, I went into my pantry and saw a carrot cake mix and decided that would be a lot yummier.  As I got started mixing the cake mix and pumpkin together, I decided to doctor up the recipe a bit to give it more flavor and make it yummier.

The result was super moist and really delicious pumpkin muffins!  I will definitely be making these again soon so I wanted to share the recipe with you all.  They are so easy and yummy!  Enjoy!

Recipe: Deliciously Easy Pumpkin Muffins

From the Kitchen of: Emily Nelson

Yield: 12 muffins or about 36 mini muffins

Ingredients:

• One carrot cake mix (just the dry ingredients)
• One 15 oz. can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or ½ tsp. cinnamon, ¼ tsp. nutmeg, ¼ tsp. ginger, pinch of cloves)
• 1/3 c. milk
• ½ c. unsweetened applesauce
• ½ c. dried cranberries
• ½ c chocolate chips (I prefer dark chocolate chips for this recipe)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350. Mix first five ingredients together with hand mixer. Stir in cranberries or chocolate chips. Bake in greased or lined muffin tins until the tops spring back when gently pressed with finger, about 18 minutes for mini muffins, 23-25 for regular muffins. No need for butter!!

So, the winner of the Little Princess Shower Giveaway is:

Nat and Holly!! 

Congratulations ladies!  You will receive all of the printables for the shower, plus $40 worth of items of your choice.  Let me know what things you want and I will get them ready for you in the next couple weeks!

Thanks to those who entered and pinned my collage!  I appreciate you so much!

Have a great day everyone!