Sometimes we just need a little encouragement...

Sometimes someone can say something really small,

and it just fits right into this empty place in your heart.

Photo: View of Heber Valley on backside of Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah.

Apple Walnut Cake

Hello to all.....it's been awhile since I've been able to post. Sorry, it's just that life happens! For all of you who have anxiously awaited the arrival of fall...I give you the 'Apple Walnut Cake'.

I made this cake for my mother's birthday celebration recently and it was a huge hit! Believe it or not I found this recipe in the October issue of 'Create & Decorate'. I have posted the recipe for anyone who might be interested in it. Since fall has arrived, I thought it a good recipe to share. This cake is so full of autumn flavor, it's crispy on the edges, and chewy and moist within.

Fall has arrived here...it snowed in the local mountains over the weekend and last night it got down to about 36 degrees. Oh, how I love the cooler weather! It's so nice to go out in the fresh crisp air and finally see a little snow on the mountain tops. Enjoy the recipe....it's delicious!

APPLE WALNUT CAKE

For the cake
1 c canola oil
2 c sugar
2 eggs
3 c flour
½ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp maple extract
1 tsp cinnamon
3 c chopped peeled apples
1 c chopped walnuts

For the glaze
½ c confectionary sugar
½ tsp maple extract
Pinch of salt
Drizzle of milk

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. With spoon, mix the oil, sugar, and eggs until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and mix well; batter will be stiff. Add the apples and nuts and mix well. Place in a greased tube pan. Bake for 90 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
3. Let cool 5 minutes, then remove sides of pan. Cool 15 minutes longer, then remove from base of pan. Cool completely.
4. Mix glaze ingredients without milk. Slowly add the milk into the glaze a tiny bit at a time until it drizzles freely from a spoon. Drizzle glaze over cake.

ENJOY!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Happy Anniversary to me! Wonderful American Husband sent me the most gorgeous bouquet of roses...I've been enjoying them for a few days now. He's in Minnesota, I'm here in Utah! What a way to celebrate 36 wonderful, glorious years together! He's back this Saturday and I just can't wait. We....or I should say I don't do well when he is gone! It's like we are attached at the hip. I think we truely have a wonderful love story. We met in Belmont Shore, California in July, 1971, ...we have been together ever since. Really! He asked me to marry him in August, and one month later September 18, 1971 we were married....that was 36 years ago. Can you believe it? I'm truely a very lucky person indeed....to have found my soul mate, my best friend, the love of my life way back 36 years ago! What a wonderful life!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DEAR HUSBAND!

Wonderful American Husband! (and me too!)

Beautiful roses!!!!!

Isn't the vase just beautiful???? Not to mention the roses! Have I said that....the roses are just beautiful! What a wonderful American Husband I have indeed!

Final Harvest/Halloween Vignettes...

Okay, maybe not the final pictures. Perhaps, the last for a little while...I have a few more items on order and will hopefully receive them in a week or so, then I'll post more. In the meantime, here is the last of the Harvest/Halloween photo's that I've taken. I hope that you have all enjoyed your latest visit to my home...

HAPPY FALL TO ALL WHO ENTER!

A little welcoming vignette in my living room! "BEWARE"

'Harvest Delights' along with a candle jar of sugar spice simmers to fill the house with the most delicious smells of fall and cookies baking.

A new purchase, I thought that he was the most adorable little fellow in an odd sort of way! (He was sitting all alone at TJMaxx, had to bring him home.)

Lilly has to check out the 'BOO' sign! I don't think she is too scared, do you?

This is a new purchase from The Decorated House! http://www.thedecoratedhouse.etsy.com/

Isn't it just the cuties little 'boo' you've ever seen?

Until next visit....HAPPY HAUNTING!

More Halloween Vignettes...

I promised more, so here are a few more of my

Halloween/Fall Harvest Vignettes...hope you enjoy!

HAPPY HAUNTING!

Love this one! I purchased this mask from American Harvest (americanharvestinc.com)

You must stop by their shop and see all their delightful items!

A little visitor in the bedroom!

I've been seeing these potion bottles in magazines lately, so I thought I'd try to make a few. I think that these turned out really cute, if I do say so myself!

This vignette sits in the downstairs game room! I love how the pumpkins sparkle!

Love this little cat tassle. Can you believe I found this at Michael's Craft Store?

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I hope you enjoyed your visit and that you will return soon.

You just never know what you will see!

Halloween Vignettes

IT'S BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE FALL....

Finally, cooler weather! I'm so excited that the air is starting to really feel like fall. In fact I'm so excited, that I decided to get out my fall decorations (and halloween items as well). I must admit that I was a little inspired by Rosepetitemaison's blog the other day showing some of her Halloween Vignettes....I decided to set out my decorations a bit early too. It helps that the weather is finally cooperating, my husband is also out of town for a couple of weeks, what better way to spend my time than setting up for fall! I've only shown a few here, don't want to bore any of you. So, I'll post a few more on next few posts. Hope you all enjoy (please leave comments, I love comments)! HAPPY FALL....HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

A very big 'BOO' to all who enter!

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Fall greetings on the entry table!

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A little crow sits among the autumn leaves!

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A fall basket sit's beside the living room fireplace!

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A vintage boy and girl ready for a night of trick or treat!

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Thanks for stopping by, more to come in the following days!

New Doors

The new doors are in, I'm soooooo excited! We moved into our house almost two years ago and finally got the all glass slider put in. Our current home was built in the fifties, the moment I saw it I new it was meant to be. The interior of the home had totally been redone by a father/son team. They did a beautiful job, it was like moving into a new home; only better! There were french doors off the family room which goes out onto the back patio. I loved the doors, but it was just a little too dark for me...and I wanted to be able to take advantage of some of the views. Thus, the new doors were installed. I'm so happy with them, they let the light poor in and I feel as if the outdoors is now part of my family room.

The Old Doors!

Nice, but too dark!

And, now let there be light!

Aren't they beautiful?

Sheep Herding

Soldiers Hollow in Heber, Utah

Yesterday, we traveled to Heber to view the International Sheep Herding Competition. We didn't really know what to expect, since this was the first time to a sheep herding event. I cannot say enough about the competition. The dogs are so amazing to watch. They had to run up a hill about a quarter mile and then herd a group of five sheep down the hill, through a gate and over to where their owner was. At that point they had to show control over the sheep and then drive them away from their owner through another gate and across a field and around another gate. Then the dog would move the sheep back down to were their owner was and would have to split two of the sheep from the group and take control of those two sheep. It was an amazing sight. Once the dog had control over the two sheep, they would regroup the sheep and herd them into a pen. If you know sheep, they DO NOT want to go into a pen. We watched about a dozen or so dogs do this, and only about 2 or 3 were successful in getting all five in the pen. There was always one lone sheep who didn't want to go in and would break away from the others. The event is timed, but the dogs are mainly judged on how straight a line they take when driving them down the hill and through the gate. I can't say enough about the event, it was just a sight to see. Today's event seemed to be even greater, with the dogs having to drive a group of ten sheep, separating them into two groups of five and then back together again. And, mind you five of the sheep are tagged with red neck bands...those are the one's that have to be grouped together. We were not able to attend today's event, but we will surely remember next year and try to go over the entire Labor Day weekend. The event is held yearly with competitors coming from all over the country, as well as Canada and Scotland. It was held in the Olympic Venue where the cross country skiing took place when the olympic's were held here in Utah. It's a beautiful place as you can see by a couple of the photo's. I was truely impressed with these dogs....made my puppies look a little sheepish...my puppies sleep all day! But, I luv em none the less!!!

Look at that determination of this dog!

Rounding them up!

Just a taste of fall colors!
I can't wait for cooler weather!