I LOVE Fall. I especially enjoy taking Fall pictures of the boys.
These are the woods across from our house. The boys are good sports about all the pictures. 
But still have to be goofy! 
Can you believe my youngest is on the left, and he’s only 13! My oldest is on the right and he’s 16 (17 in a month)!!!
Of course the woods in front of my house…
And the view from my front door…Gorgeous! 
Hubby and I were at Wal Mart the other day and saw these Giant Sugar Cookie kits with decorations included. We thought this would be a fun activity for the boys. Since the kit had two Giant cookies in it, it was perfect.
They even shared a few bites with their daddy.
This year we picked up some pumpkins for the boys to carve. The pumpkins sat on the porch as decoration until Samhain when the boys turned them into Jack O Lanterns…
My first crocheted Fall Wreath!
Found this pattern on Repeat Crafter Me…
Materials:
Pattern:
Chain 23, SC in second chain from hook and the rest of the way across, chain 1, turn (22 SC) You will continue to SC rows making… 5 rows with your first color (yellow) 8 rows with your second color (orange) 10 rows with your third color (brown) 3 rows with your 4th color (blue) Continue this pattern 6 times so in the end you will have 6 sections of each color. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Sew onto your wreath. Just be sure to line up each color to itself.
Embellish with Teeny Tiny Crochet Pumpkins.
Crochet a series of rows to make a bow or loop to hang wreath with. Mine was 6 SC wide and about 3 ft long.
Embellishments:
Veined Leaf Pattern:
chain 10 leaving 8” beg tail
Side 1: working in back loops of beginning chain, 3 dc in fourth st from hook, dc in next 3 sts, hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in last st, ch 1, sl st in ch just made (leaf point made)
Side 2: working down the other side of the beginning chain in the front loops, sl st in next st, sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, work 3 dc in next st, join with sl st to top of beg ch 3 Stem: chain 4, sl st in second st from hook and in next two sts. sl st to next dc, finish off weaving in all loose ends
Teeny Tiny Crochet Pumpkin Pattern:
Materials:
– Yarn
-Size G (4.0mm) Crochet Hook
-Tapestry Needle
-Poly-fil
Abbreviations:
SC= Single Crochet
HDC= Half Double Crochet
Working in back loops only… Chain 11
Row 1: SC in second chain from hook, SC in next, HDC in next 6, SC in last two, chain 1, turn
Row 2: SC across (10 SC)
Row 3-17: Repeat rows 1-2. Leave long tail. Stitch together row 17 to beginning row.
Just like you would begin to make a single crochet decrease, stitch together one end of the pumpkin. Keep looping the tapestry need under two stitches at a time until it closes. Stuff with poly-fil and do the same to the other side. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Pumpkin Stem: Magic ring, 4 SC in magic ring, 2 SC in first stitch, SC in next, repeat around (6 sc) Continue to SC around until stem is to the desired length Add on a leaf and coil as well.
Pumpkin Coil: Chain 10 (or more/less for desired length) 2 SC in second chain from hook and the rest of the way down chain.
Mini Leaf for mini pumpkin:
Materials: E hook
Leaf: Ch 5, Rnd 1 – sc in 2nd chain from hk, hdc in next, dc in next, work (2hdc in last, ch 2, sc in second ch from hk, 2hdc) in last ch. Working now on the opposite side of foundation ch. dc in next, hdc in next, sc in last.
Fasten off with sl st in the first sc of rnd. Leave a tail long enough to play with (a 6″ tail is comfortable)
Insert hook into your slip st
Grab the tail and pull up a loop
Insert hook into next visible hole you find up the center of your leaf
Pull up a loop and pull through the one loops on hook – (you are slip stitching up the leaf)
Work the slip stitches all the way up the center of your leaf –
To fasten off – let go of your “working tail” and grab (with your hook) the other end (located in the back of your leaf), pull it up and pull it all the through the loop on your hook. Weave in ends
My first penguin hat! The main hat pattern is on Repeat Crafter Me, but I adjusted the eyes a bit to make them bigger.
I made the teen/adult size hat. I tried it on my head and my teens heads to make sure the size was good. I found it a bit snug…
I plan on making more of these for my nieces and nephews for Christmas, in different colors.
Supplies: • medium worsted weight yarn (Black and an accent color such as pink, green, purple, turquoise) • Crochet hook size H-8 (5.0 mm) • Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Abbreviations:
Size: Teen/Adult: Magic ring, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2 Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (22 DC) Round 3: 2 DC in first, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 DC) Round 4: 2 DC in first, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 DC)
Round 5: 2 DC in first, DC in next 10, repeat around, join, chain 2 (48 DC) Round 6: 2 DC in first, DC in next 11, join, chain 2 (52 DC) Round 7: 2 DC in first, DC in next 12, join, chain 2 (56 DC) Round 8: 2 DC in first, DC in next 13, join, chain 2 (60 DC) Round 9: 2 DC in first, DC in next 14, join, chain 2 (64 DC) Round 10: 2 DC in first, DC in next 15, join, chain 2 (68 DC) Round 11-16: DC in each around, join, chain 2 (68 DC) do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below
*Note: I found the Teen/Adult a little snug. Pattern might need adjusting.
Earflaps for Child – Adult: Earflap 1: Chain 1, SC in next 12, chain 1, turn Row 2: SC decrease, SC in next 8, SC decrease, chain 1, turn Row 3: SC across (10 SC) Row 4: SC decrease, SC in next 6, SC decrease, chain 1, turn Row 5: SC across ( 8 SC) Row 6: SC decrease, SC in next 4, SC decrease, chain 1, turn Row 7: SC across ( 6 SC) Row 8: SC decrease, SC in next 2, SC decrease, chain 1, turn Row 9: SC across (4 SC) Row 10: Make 2 SC decreases, chain 1, turn Row 11: SC decrease, fasten off, weave in ends Earflap 2: Leave 22 stitches in front for Child, 25 stitches for adult Chain 1, SC in next 12, chain 1, turn Row 2: SC decrease, SC in next 8, SC decrease, chain 1, turn Row 3: SC across (10 SC) Row 4: SC decrease, SC in next 6, SC decrease, chain 1, turn Row 5: SC across ( 8 SC) Row 6: SC decrease, SC in next 4, SC decrease, chain 1, turn Row 7: SC across ( 6 SC) Row 8: SC decrease, SC in next 2, SC decrease, chain 1, turn Row 9: SC across (4 SC) Row 10: Make 2 SC decreases, chain 1, turn Row 11: SC decrease, fasten off, weave in ends
Eyes (Make 2):In Black: Magic Ring
Chain 2 Round 1: 10 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2 (10)
Round 2: 2 DC in same stitch and in each stitch around, *Change colors to accent color before joining*: join, chain 1 (20)
Round 3: SC in same stitch, 2 SC in next, *SC, 2 SC in next, repeat from * around, *Change colors to white before joining*: join to first sc, Chain 2
Round 4: DC in same stitch, 2 DC in next, *DC, 2 DC in next, repeat from * around DC
fasten off leaving long tail to sew on (30)
Nose: *Consider making bigger*
Small nose:
Chain 5 Slip stitch in 2nd chain from hook, SC, HDC, DC, fasten off leaving long tail to sew on
Medium nose:
Chain 6 Slip stitch in 2nd chain from hook, SC, HDC, DC, DC, fasten off leaving long tail to sew on
Large nose:
Chain 7 Slip stitch in 2nd chain from hook, SC, HDC, DC, DC, TC fasten off leaving long tail to sew on
Braided Tails: Cut three 1 yard strands of each color (9 strands total). Pass through last space in earflap. You should now have 18 strands to braid with. Make knot and braid approx 5.5 inches long, knot, trim ends.
Finish off by adding a pom pom on top for flare!
I bought the Knifty Knitter rectangular looms, second hand, several months ago, before we moved. I tried working with it once and had trouble with it. I hadn’t picked it back up yet until now. All thanks to the hubby. He said he wanted to make a scarf using the loom. So we picked up some really soft yarn and got to work. I had to figure out to work it so I could show him. Well, the start off wasn’t so great. I re started it about 6 or 7 times. I got the basic idea of the figure eight but the two ends weren’t looking right. Once side was loose and one side was too tight. Made no sense.
I eventually mostly figured it out. I think it had a lot to do with the yarn I was working with as well as not using 2 strands at the same time. I was alternating the strands, without cutting them! It works, it just takes some figuring out to do it. (I ended up making the whole thing as my hubby would have just gotten frustrated) And the end result was beautiful!
Its soft enough to not scratch me as I wear it, but thick enough for warmth. Its also long enough to wrap around my neck and still hang down a bit. I used a whole skein of the Yarn Bee Calcutta Chunky Black Diamond and almost all of a skein of the Yarn Bee Calcutta Chunky Plum Garden. Each Skein was about $5.99 at Hobby Lobby, before the 40% off coupon!
I have never had Chowder before, but hubby has had Clam Chowder and loves it, so I thought I’d compromise and give a non fishy chowder a try.
The Country Cook recently posted about 25 must make Soups, stew & chili recipes. In it was a link to a recipe for Chicken corn chowder.
Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients:
Preparation:
In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the bacon pieces and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the diced potatoes, chicken bouillon and black pepper. Stir and cook mixture until potatoes are semi-translucent; about 15-20 minutes.
Add the cooked chicken pieces, corn and green onion. Stir and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until heated through. In a separate small bowl or measuring cup mix together the water and cornstarch until combined and then pour into the pot. Bring the entire soup mixture to a boil, reduce heat slightly and let simmer about 20 minutes.
Turn off heat and pour in the heavy whipping cream. Stir until cream is combined. Let soup stand about 5 minutes before serving.
MY NOTES: We adjusted the way we made this recipe, just a little.
Instead of Russet potatoes we used red, cause they were on sale. We used a Knorr brand chicken bouillon granule instead of cubes.
Instead of pre cooking the chicken or bacon we just threw it all together in a skillet with the butter and potatoes and cooked them together. Much less work and it worked out great! After the chicken, bacon and potatoes were cooked enough we put them in my largest pot and finished the recipe.
The first picture above is the potatoes, chicken and bacon cooking in the skillet. They look amazing and delicious by them selves while they are cooking!
We barely fit everything into my pot at the end. It was full to the top and hard to stir.
This recipe made a lot! I have a family of 4, 2 teenage boys , hubby and I. We had enough for 1 bowl a piece (potatoes are filling) for 2 meals and 2 lunches for the hubby and I.
I would suggest cutting the recipe in half, freezing half or doing what we did and put it in the frig and have corn chowder twice in one week.
This is a super yummy recipe, and is now one of our favorites! Enjoy!
Since moving to North Carolina our eating habits have changed. We have been branching out a bit and trying new recipes.
I am a follower of a site called The Country Cook. Everything I have tried off this site has come out AMAZING!!!
The Country Cook recently did a post on 25 must make soup, chili & stew recipes.
We tried the Brunswick stew.
OMG! It came out amazing!
Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
1 (18 oz.) bottle barbecue sauce
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 cans corn, drained well
1 can northern beans, drained and rinsed
1 can pinto beans, undrained
5 cups beef broth (or stock)
Preparation:
In a large pot, brown and crumble ground beef along with diced onions over medium heat.
While the meat is browning, peel and cube the potatoes.
Drain and rinse the northern beans. Also, drain cans of corn.
When the ground beef is cooked, drain excess grease.
Put ground beef back into large pot and start adding all the other ingredients.
Add in can of crushed tomatoes, pinto beans, drained northern beans and corn.
Now along add 5 cups of beef broth with diced potatoes and bottle of barbecue sauce.
Give it all a good stir.
Now, all you really need to do is get it all warmed up and make sure the potatoes are cooked.
Cover pot and simmer on medium heat for about 30 minutes (until your potatoes are fork tender).
Or, you can put all of it in the crock pot to finish cooking and keep warm until you are ready to eat (about 4 hours on the low setting).
Serve with crackers.
Cook’s Note: If you want to use chicken or other white meat with this, just substitute the beef broth with chicken broth.
MY NOTES ON THIS RECIPE:
First of all, you need a BIG pot or a larger than usual crockpot if you slow cook it. My crockpot was filled to the rim!
I used ground turkey, as it has been much cheaper than ground beef lately. It worked just fine.
The crushed tomatoes I used had a few seasonings mixed in the can. (Oregano & Basil) It smelled incredible when I opened the can!
I haven’t been buying actual Beef (or Chicken) Broth lately as I have discovered Knorrs’ Chicken & Beef granulated bouillon. Works great and WAY cheaper!
I slow cooked my Brunswick stew at the end for about 5 hours and the potatoes weren’t as soft as I would have liked them to be. Maybe it was because the amount of stew in the crockpot or they just didn’t slow cook long enough, idk.
I would suggest slow cooking a few extra hours for the potatoes.
Last note: This recipe makes a lot! I have a family of 4. Two teenage boys, hubby and myself. We all had 2 bowls and still had enough for another meal! I would suggest halfing the recipe, freezing half or simply do what we did and have Brunswick stew twice this week.
My youngest is steadily working on his Christmas gifts already since he crafts most of them, it takes time. This year for his cousin Katie he has found a graph paper design of Winnie the pooh and decided to turn it into a wall hanging with her name on it.
Isn’t it just too cute!
My youngest made Pokeball coasters for his cousins for Christmas this year.
He found a design for them on graph paper and started making them.
I think they came out great! Lucas and Logan will love them!
Blessed Dragons Academy 