Pumpkin Patch and a Precious Little Pumpkin!

Last weekend, our dear friends invited us to join them and their Bible Study class (the younger-than-us-marrieds) for a day trip to Love Creek Orchards Pumpkin Patch in Medina. It was a GORGEOUS day, and the Pumpkin Patch was a lot of fun! Here's my favorite photo from the day:



I love the multi-colored pumpkins and gourds, so I made this photo my desktop background!

Here's a collage of some of the other sights:


My friend, Kirstin, and I got together the night before the pumpkin patch trip for a night of sewing and chatting. She is a precious friend, and truly a Godsend for me! Anyway, she wanted us to try making a fall-themed tutu with leaves for her little girl. We had a lot of fun experimenting and this is what we came up with:

Isn't she a precious pumpkin? We also made the pumpkin applique shirt. Cute, huh?

And this little rosette/bow/clippie thing:


It was a lot of fun collaborating on this project! I'm anxious to try some other tutu projects...anyone want one for a special little girl?

Happy Fall, Y'all!

This is dedicated to the one I love...

formal Originally uploaded by thingspondered

My sweetheart and I just celebrated our 6th anniversary. We were late bloomers...married at 32 (me) and 33 (him). But he was SO worth the wait! God provided just the right man at just the right time, and I am very blessed.

We were married in McAllen, TX (our hometown), on November 3, 2001. OK...so now you know how old I am. Oh well.

Our wedding had a fall theme, since we both love autumn. My brother & father sang, the girls group I used to sing with (Shekinah), sang, and Brian & I sang a duet for the unity candle. Both of our brothers and their entire families were in the wedding party. It was such a treasure to have all our nieces and nephews involved. Our flower girl (Brian's brother's daughter) dropped autumn leaves in the aisle, instead of flowers. The triplets, my brother's boys, were bell-ringers. They ran down the aisle just before me, ringing their bells and shouting "Aunt T, Aunt T"! They were almost two...and so adorable. Then the trumpet voluntary began, and I floated down the aisle on my father's arm, to meet my groom, my beloved.

Our home church is situated downtown on a block that also has an old city park and a historic hotel. The church & the hotel share Spanish-style architecture. We were married in the church, then led our guest on a stroll through the park to the hotel while friends played guitar and sang worship songs. It was perfect.

We honeymooned in Estes Park, CO, and enjoyed beautiful sunny days for hiking, followed by a few days of snow! We had the best time. We're saving up to go back for our 10th anniversary.

Our wedding day was a wonderful, special day. We treasure it. But it was only the beginning. In our six short years, we've been through better and worse, but mostly better. We've grown up and matured and found ourselves in a deep, solid, steady love.

You were worth waiting for, my beloved. I thank God for you! I love the life we have together. To God be the glory!

Flickr Friday Fave's: PUMPKIN LOVE

Just a few pumpkins to help you make it through the month! I'm lovin' (Plovin' - pumpkin lovin' - for Leigh-Ann) the pumpkin necklace & purse on the top row. And how cool is the pumpkin-lined wedding aisle?



I'm off to carve pumpkins! Stay tuned to see what we come up with!

Fall...Finally!

It's here! It's here! Today's the day we Texans have been waiting for - the first cool front of the season. It's crisp and breezy and just......wonderful. As soon as Adventure Man gets home, Reilly (Adventure Dog) and I are going to ask him to take us for a walk!

FFF's 10/19/07

fff's 10/19/07
Originally uploaded by thingspondered

Forgot to do this last week, but I've been very inspired by some of this craftin' cuteness!

The four corner pics are the work of the talented hollydoodle. Click here for her shop+blog.

I'm loving the little felt pumpkin & cat, the outrageous-colored owl, and the funny little turkey. The pilgrim hat placecards are on the agenda for our Thanksgiving craft, Cody. Sound good?

And I'm just about to jump into that center picture - my favorite picture this week. I love me some autumn!

Fall...It's Not Just for Pumpkins!

fresh apple cake
Originally uploaded by thingspondered

We had a birthday celebration at our office today. One of the birthday girls loves apples, so I took advantage of a great opportunity to pull out this wonderful recipe:

Mrs. Norvell’s Fresh Apple Cake

(From My Kitchen by Barbara Richardson McClellan)

2 c. sugar
1 c. oil
2 eggs
2 ½ c. flour
1 ¼ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
3 medium apples, peeled & chopped
1 c. chopped nuts
¾ c. raisins (if desired)

Preheat oven to 350°. Flour or sugar a 9x13 pan, or line with foil. Mix oil and sugar, then add eggs. Mix dry ingredients and add to sugar mixture. Add apples, nuts, and raisins. Mix well and bake for 50-60 minutes. Cool and frost with the following:

Frosting:
2 c. brown sugar
½ c. evaporated milk
1 stick butter
¼ tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix first four ingredients in saucepan and stir over low heat until blended. Bring to boil over high heat. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat and beat until cool and of spreading consistency. Add vanilla. You may wish to garnish with extra nuts. If it's very humid, you may need to add some powdered sugar to the frosting to get it to a spreadable consistency.

Pumpkin Planter

I only have fake pumpkins right now...we'll probably buy a real one next week. In the meantime, I clustered several together on my porch.
Then Monica's cute idea inspired me! (see Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Pumpkins from Grammie's Garden! ) I remembered this urn in my backyard and brought it out to the front porch to display this big pumpkin.

pumpkin planter Originally uploaded by thingspondered

Check out Meredith's cute pumpkin idea here, too.