Attempts at Making Fall Crafts with the Kiddos

Craft #1: Glycerin Soaps

A few days ago, I was in the mood to make some apple-scented fall soaps, which the children shared with their teachers at school.  This led to a weekend of trying my hand at some fall crafts with our children.  Unfortunately, I discovered that crafting is not one of my strong points.

Glycerin soapmaking, however, is simple enough for me to handle.  I like to buy seasonal buttons and scrapbooking items to place inside the soaps.  These can be found at any of your fabric or hobby stores.

All you have to do is take a block of glycerin soap base (I got mine at Michael's,) cut it into cubes, and microwave it for a few minutes until melted.  Then add about half a dozen drops of fragrance oil or essential oil.  I used to buy mine from a company called Lorann Oil's, but fragrance oils can be found in hobby stores.  Pure essential oils tend to be more expensive, but they are of better quality and can be bought at your local natural foods store.

To prevent the soap from sticking, line the molds with vegetable oil or coconut oil.  Then pour enough melted soap to cover the bottom, and place the decorative items in.

Then you just fill the molds with more soap and let cool.  Several hours later, they should be ready to pop right out.  To get rid of the bubbles on the bottom, you can spritz them while hot with some rubbing alcohol.

I had some melted soap left, so I added a little yellow liquid coloring and poured it in these leaf and sunflower molds.  Candy molds will work too.

image from sparkandchemistry.com

Craft #2: Fall Leaf Mason Jar Candle Holders

I found these cute DIY fall leaf candle holders on Pinterest and all over the Internet.  I thought this would be a fun, sticky, and inexpensive craft for the children and me to do this weekend.  We have Mason jars galore in our basement, and we picked up leaves on one of our evening hikes last week, so all I had to do was buy some Mod Podge and raffia ribbon.  I couldn't wait to see how these would turn out and had visions of lighting them up all over the house and front porch.

This was SO much harder than it appeared.  My boys gave up after the first ten minutes, but my girls and I stuck it out a little longer.  We could not get those leaves to stick.  I googled our problem, and the suggestion was to wrap elastic bands around the leaves to keep them in place on the jars.  This didn't work very well either.

The Mod Podge stuck to our fingers, to the table, to the jar, but not to the leaves on the jar.  We couldn't figure out what we did wrong.

We eventually gave up and abandoned this project too, but with much reluctance and disappointment.  With so many pictures and sites featuring these on the Internet, it must be a popular craft.  I would appreciate any reader tips on how to make this work.  If you want to try making these yourself, you can visit this website: http://www.sparkandchemistry.com/craft-it-blog/leaf-mason-jar-candle-holder.

Craft #3: Jack-o-Lantern Candies

After the failed attempt at the previous craft project, I figured we'd do something simple and less messy.  My teen daughter has experience in candy making, and I found these pumpkin spice candy melts at Michael's and wanted to try them.

She and I melted the candy wafers in the microwave and used a wooden skewer to "paint" in the black lines with the black chocolate.  This was more challenging than I expected too because it was such a time-consuming, tedious task.  Or maybe I am just that impatient.

After we finished with the black chocolate, we filled in the rest of the jack-o-lanterns with the melted orange pumpkin spice candy.

Then we put them in the freezer to cool.

And this is what we ended up with.  Not quite what I had hoped for, but they tasted good.  I don't know how those kids at the 4-H fair create those fantastic winning candy exhibits.

My Tried-and-True Oatmeal Cookies

The only way I redeemed myself and saved my self-esteem was by helping my teenage son bake some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for a party he was attending that evening.  Maybe I just have to accept that I'm a much better baker than a DIY crafter.  Unfortunately, that doesn't help my expanding midriff.  I guess instead of spending the weekends trying out the great projects I find on Pinterest, I'll just have to go on more hikes with the kids.

Signs of Autumn

Autumn has just begun, but signs of it are all around our mountain farm.

The swimming pool is covered for another eight months.

Crabapples are ripe on the trees.  One of these years I am going to attempt to make jelly from them.

Goldenrod is everywhere.

Pumpkin and apple products are displayed in all the stores.  The Pumpkin Cupcake candle from Bath & Body Works is my favorite this year.

We've picked the last of our tomatoes and peppers...

...and we've begun a second crop of radishes, beets, and Swiss chard.

Fall clothes now hang on the clothesline.

I'm just beginning to adorn the porches with autumn decorations.

The sheep are starting to get fat and wooly as they prepare for the upcoming winter.

We don't have a lot of beautifully colored leaves yet, but they're starting to come down from the trees.

Along with fewer hours of daylight and chilly mornings, I think everything has a golden hue.

Next to summer, this is my favorite season.

It's Apple Season

Apple Crisp (recipe below)

We spent some time Sunday picking apples from the trees at our new cabin.  Thanks to the agility and strength of our nimble 9-year old son, we were able to collect quite a few without even dragging out the ladder.

He stood on branches, hung from branches, and shook branches until we could reach the apples from below...

...or until they fell down to the ground, sometimes clunking us on the top of the head. (It's amazing how much that hurts!)

We don't spray anything with pesticides, and no one had pruned or fertilized these trees for many years, so the apples are not aesthetically pleasing.  However, they taste great, and we're saucing and juicing most of them anyway, so the appearance doesn't really matter.

All of the bruised and fallen fruit went to a good cause too.  As soon as we approached the pasture, all of our goats and sheep came running.

Unfortunately, they do not have top teeth, so it takes them quite awhile to consume them, but it's rather humorous to watch.

Because it's apple season, it put me in the mood to make some green apple scented soaps in a fall theme.  I'm thinking that some teachers might receive a fragrant surprise this week. 

But what my family wanted most of all was my steaming hot apple crisp with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.  So we had it after dinner tonight, and I share the recipe with you.

Apple Crisp

(adapted from Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book)

Core, peel, and slice 6 medium apples and place in a Pyrex baking dish.  Sprinkle with 3-4 Tablespoons of granulated sugar.  Combine 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup unbleached flour (sometimes I use whole wheat), 1 tsp. cinnamon, and a dash of salt.  Soften 1/2 stick of butter and add to the mixture until it is crumbly.  Sprinkle the mixture over the apples, and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.  Serve with whipped cream or ice cream, or it's great plain!  This feeds the seven of us, but barely.

Have a wonderful first day of fall, everyone!

The Perfect End to a Fabulous Summer

With the official beginning of autumn this Wednesday, we spent our final weekend of summer hiking some trails at a local state park.  Other than a few campers fishing in the creek, we had the entire place to ourselves.

Before our hike, the younger children rode bikes and played on the playground.  We had to walk right past this beautiful---but rather frightening---orb spider that was next to the steps leading to the swings.  I wasn't willing to get any closer than this to photograph it.  I just had images of it leaving its web and landing on my head.

The first signs of autumn were visible with fallen leaves accumulating on the water.

This trail has a lot of bridges, and the fishermen in our family had to pause on each one to search for trout.

We've had so little rain here during the past two months that local creeks are lower than I've ever seen.  Some are just dry rock beds.

Since I was taking photographs with my tablet while hiking, our precocious six-year old was also stopping to "take pictures" for her imaginary blog with an iphone that she made out of cardboard.

It was such an incredibly beautiful day with temperatures around 80 degrees and a brilliant blue sky.  My photographs could not do it justice.

This trail is one we hike quite often with our children because it's fairly light climbing, and it winds right alongside the creek.  They love all the bridges, rocks, and "beach" areas.

Um, did I already mention there are a lot of bridges in this park?

I stated in a previous post that we are fans of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.  Our youngest son does the best impersonations of Gollum, and he can't resist jumping and crawling around on all these flat rocks like Gollum does in the first part of The Hobbit.  I know, it's a little quirky...but that's who we are.

There were even plenty of spots to sit and relax when we were finished.  The rock in the middle of the creek was not my choice.  I found a nice squishy mossy spot up against a tree instead.

Now, I feel ready to welcome in fall.  Bring it on!

Chunky Chili and Corn Muffins

     It is that time of year again to break out the warm, hearty recipes for fall.  Cooking in the crockpot all afternoon means the chili is ready for everyone come dinner time without needing my attention in the late afternoon when we are our busiest.  The corn muffin batter can be made up ahead of time so all we have to do is bake them for 15 minutes, and they'll be steaming hot out of the oven by the time the table is set and chili is ladled into the bowls.  Even though it was 80 degrees here yesterday afternoon, we still enjoyed our first batch of chili this autumn.

Chunky Chili

Brown 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef and 1 diced onion.  Mix with the following in a large crockpot: (2) 28 ounce cans of diced tomatoes, (1) 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes/zesty chili style, (1) 16 ounce can of pinto beans, (1) 16 ounce can of kidney beans, 1 Tablespoon of brown sugar, (1) 6 ounce can of tomato paste, and salt, pepper, and chili powder to taste.  Cook on low for 5-7 hours.  We also like to eat ours on top of cooked rice or macaroni noodles, and we top with plenty of shredded cheddar cheese.  This makes enough for our household of 7 to have second servings, and sometimes there is still enough left for lunch for 2 the next day.

Corn Muffins

Mix 1/2 cup of honey, 3 large eggs, 1 3/4 cups of skim milk, and 1/4 cup of vegetable oil in a large bowl.  In another bowl mix 1/3 cup of sugar, 2 Tablespoons of baking powder, 3 1/2 cups of flour, 1 cup of yellow corn meal, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and beat with a mixer on high for two minutes.  Either grease muffin tins or line with paper liners.  Bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.  This makes over 2 dozen muffins.

What fall soup or stew will you be dishing up this weekend?

This Farmhouse and Our Family

9 years ago---from our youngest son's baby book

     Nine years ago today our suburban family purchased and moved into this 1880s farmhouse on the side of a mountain.  This is the longest my husband and I have ever lived in one place during our adult lives.  I still remember that magical day when he and our 13 year old son (now 22 and engaged!) drove the moving truck with most of our belongings, while I arrived in the minivan with 2 preschoolers, a toddler, and our 2 month old baby boy.  I had to get there first to open the doors for the furniture movers to bring our new living room set and a king size mattress up a flight and a half of stairs.  Fortunately, the weather was beautiful---just like it is today---and the children ran around this large property to their heart's content.  I felt as if I had arrived in our own private paradise.  I loved the smell of the wide pine floors, the original oak doors, and even the slightly musty smell of the very rustic cellar.  The split staircase, high ceilings, and colonial fixtures made me feel like I was going back in time to a quiet, simpler life.  The wide open space around our house seemed endless at the time, and the acres of woods and creek bordering our property felt like they were all ours.  With the only visible neighbors being old order Amish, you could almost believe you were back in 1850, until the satellite TV van pulled up and attempted to install a dish to our roof.

     That first night after we put our exhausted little ones to bed, my husband and I stood outside and looked up into the black night sky full of brilliant stars.  There were no street lamps, no cars, no sounds except for the neighbor's cow bawling occasionally.  The most awesome sense of peace overwhelmed me, and I couldn't imagine ever getting tired of this place.  I even said I never thought I would have to go on vacation again because everything I could ever want was right here!

     While I am now aware of the realities of owning a small farm, an old drafty farmhouse, and living on the side of a mountain with no city amenities and being a good thirty minutes from just about everything, I can still say that moving into this house was one of the biggest blessings we have ever received.  Living here brought all of our extended family together far more often than ever before.  It was here that we started a homestead, built a small farm with our own hands, and learned how to be somewhat self-sufficient.  Being here, away from the malls, the restaurants, and just about anything that costs money, made it so much easier to reduce debt and allow my husband to work fewer hours away from us.  It was here that we did almost all of our homeschooling and childrearing of our youngest five.  And it was here that we learned how to rely on faith to get us through difficult times.

     Although the farmhouse is showing its age and needs continuous upkeep, it also now reveals signs of a family who lived in it well.  The pine floors in the kitchen are scratched from kitchen chairs being moved dozens of times a day by family members eating and doing school work and painting pictures at our nine foot table.  Bikes, bats, and homemade bows and arrows adorn the lower yard.  Branches have broken off trees from boys climbing up and down them over and over again.  The porches always contain work boots, cats (and the remains of the vermin they've caught), harvested vegetables, and nature collections from the latest hike in the woods.  There are walls decorated with "artwork" from our youngest daughter that can still be seen under three coats of paint.  This is a house that has become well-lived-in, but it now holds stories of our life here as a family.

9 years later---well worn but well loved

     So today I remember with nostalgia the feelings of hope, excitement, and potential when we stepped foot on this property nine years ago today and called it our own.  It continues to be that promising for me as I look forward to experiencing middle age and old age in this farmhouse with my husband.  I can't wait to be the grandmother who lives over the river and through the woods as grown children return with their little ones at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  It is here that I hope to share this natural  retreat with friends and family through outdoor farm dinners, barbecues and pool parties, and maybe even a wedding reception some day.  I hope to live long enough to see what mark our family has left on this farmhouse fifty years from now.

It's Time to Try New Things

I don't know what it is about early fall, but it always makes me feel like starting new projects, learning new things, and trying something new.  I suppose it stems from the start of a new school year and all the opportunities and possibilities that brings.  Already, our family has ventured out into new domains, and with the cooler mornings, falling leaves, and autumn harvests, I am excited about what else lies in store for us over the next few months.

Our first new discovery is Cookie Butter, sold at Trader Joe's.  This is the best nut butter we have come across since Nutella.  It comes in a variety of flavors, and I am finding recipes using this weekly.  For now, we're simply spreading it on bread, using it as a dip with Pretzel Crisps, or just eating it on a spoon.  This does go against my usual diet of healthy, wholesome, natural foods, but I also say "everything in moderation."  I give the credit to The Monogrammed Life for this delicious find, and for the next one.

While I am not a bacon fanatic, this is an interesting combination.  I do love dark chocolate and ganache, and I am always game to trying a new variety of chocolate bar.  The bacon is not overpowering but is definitely noticeable.  These are sold at Trader Joe's for $1.97, but I've been informed that they can also be found at Walmart.

Image from Wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons

Our 10 year old son begged us to take him to a restaurant that served calamari while we were on vacation.  It turned out that almost every child in our family loved it, and now calamari is a regular request when we eat out.

Although I am not a fan of most beer, I have been loyal to Samuel Adams in the past.  However, after trying the Achoo Chili Pale Ale from Robin Hood Brewing Co., I have found a new favorite.  You can actually smell the chili peppers in this ale, and it leaves a surprising hint of the same on your tastebuds.  It's fantastic with pizza, I'm told, but I paired it with jambalaya.

My husband and I have been trying out new restaurants the past few months including this one.  Revival Kitchen is located in the village of Reedsville, PA.  It uses fresh ingredients from local farms and sells bottles of wine in the back from a local winery.  The menu changes based on what produce, herbs, and meats are available at the time, and there are many unusual offerings.  The coconut jasmine rice that I had as a side dish was to die for.  The food was great and so was the presentation.

Additionally, I discovered a new wine at this restaurant that we really like.  I usually just order a chardonnay, but this Traminette made by Seven Mountains Winery was perfect with our dinner.  We also sampled their rhubarb wine out of curiosity, which would be great with dessert.

New foods and beverages are not the only new things we are trying.  To counterbalance the calorie intake, we have also been going on mountain bikerides and hikes on various trails through the woods here on our mountain.  Our younger two boys just recently learned to ride bikes, and they now want to ride daily.  Learning to ride a bike on gravel lanes downhill is no easy feat, which is why it hasn't happened for them until 9 and 10 years of age.  Now that they've got it down, however, they are hooked.  Those of us not on bikes are walking our beagle and sometimes carrying one of our cats who insist on tagging along, but then bawl the whole way.

Additional New Things We Are Trying:

*Once Upon a Time.  I know we're a little late to discover this, but we have not had cable or satellite television for years.  We do now have Netflix, which is where we found the first four seasons of this ABC television series.  I really didn't think I would be interested in it, but I chromecast it for our children one day, and now we are hooked.  Fairy tales with a modern day twist, this show holds the interests of everyone in our family.  With Netflix, it's tempting to bingewatch all the episodes at once, but we are restraining ourselves and limiting it to two or three episodes at a time to make it last.

*Violin lessons and Band.  Our youngest decided to give up ballet and start playing the violin instead, so this week begins lessons for her for the first time.  Our younger boys are continuing to take lessons in trumpet and clarinet, but this year they will also participate in their new school's band.  Our ten year old is my only one who doesn't like to be in the spotlight, but he assures me that since he'll be on stage with other performers, he'll be fine at the concerts.

*Learning Spanish.  I'm so excited to begin learning Spanish with our homeschooled son via Rosetta Stone.  I had four years of French in high school and college, plus a year of Italian, but I have not yet learned this romance language other than what I picked up on Sesame Street and Dora the Explorer when we had preschoolers.  I can't wait to get started.

*Lots of new books.  We just got a library card from another public library that is close to our children's new school, and I found shelves and shelves of books that I have been wanting to read.  I am a closet sociologist (well, I guess I'm out now) and I had to restrain myself and not check out an entire shelf before vacation.  I just finished reading these five and can't wait to go back and check out more:  Reading Classes: On Culture and Classism in America by Barbara Jensen; When Did White Trash Become the New Normal:  A Southern Lady Asks the Impertinent Question by Charlotte Hays; Class Matters by correspondents of The New York Times; The Middle-Class Millionaire; The Rise of the New Rich and How They are Changing America by Russ Alan Prince and Lewis Schiff; and Richistan: A Journey Through the American Wealth Boom and the Lives of the New Rich by Robert Frank.

I hope you and your family are finding new things to try with the changing seasons.