Scarecrow Festival 2010

It's hard to believe that Halloween has already come and gone!  One of our favorite things to do each fall is to attend the Scarecrow Festival.  We met Brittany there after she took the LSAT a couple of weeks ago.

Nothing better than spending a nice fall day in a small Texas town.  The weather was beautiful!  Below are some of just the few adorable scarecrows for sale.

 While in town I had to stop by my favorite store where I found the best candles in world made by The Candleberry Company.  The huge cookie jar candle Richard bought me last Christmas in my favorite scent (Hot Maple Toddy) will probably last well into next year.

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Main street is very cute and you can find plenty to eat along the way.  We stopped at the Fire House, the real fire station for the town for some Barbecue.

Richard was in charge of ordering and brought me a yummy brisket sandwich with a refreshing beverage. 

It was good and I could have eaten several!

 

More views on the downtown and the quaint buildings.

I would love to start our own pickling business like "Brittle Time" has.  How much fun would that be!!!!  I have to say our pickles did turn out fabulous, even the girls loved them.  

It was a warm Texas fall day and we found a place to sit and rest in the shade next to the local Baptist church.

The office had free books for the taking...

The church in the center of town is very pretty and traditional...

Britty met us since Chappell Hill which is not too far from College Station.   I was so happy to see her and Milo.

What's great about the Scarecrow festival is that you can get very unique items like cacti shaped like your favorite pet.

 I found a cute scarecrow to bring home who now resides on my entryway bench and...

a new quilt for our bed, both gifts from my mother for my birthday which just happens to be in October as well.

On our way home, we stopped at Chappell Hill Sausage.

I find it incredible that this small town company supplies all the Houston area and the entire state of Texas with their great products.

Richard took the pictures below...



He enjoyed looking around and of course had to buy something.

We bought a cooler and some goodies and headed home after a great day!



Where's My Inspiration?

My favorite season has come and I have to admit that I'm still not motivated to bring out all the fall stuff that I usually anxiously can't wait to display by now.  It's really different having all the kids gone.  We have enjoyed visiting Meg at LSU and attending some great tailgate parties and games but things are not the same here.

Meg at LSU Game

 I'm beginning to realize that most of the holiday decorating I have done in the past was more for them than me.  So, with Brit and Meg gone, my inspiration seems to be gone too.  Sad I know, but I am determined to rise above it.  This week I am pulling out the fall stuff including the Department 56 Halloween houses and doing what I have done the past years.  Meg has a fall break October 21st so that has become my motivation.  I want her to come home to the one she would expect, one filled with the warm sights and scents of fall.

Fall Wreath

It's hard to believe that fall is officially just around the corner when it still feels like summer here in Texas.  However, there are a few signs that it will be here soon like the beginning of another school year, an occasional cool morning here and there and football which I've been so "fortunate" to watch with my hubby all day.  I'm so excited that my favorite season's almost here and wanted to begin decorating for it.  So while watching the Texans BEAT the Colts (YAY!) I decided to make a wreath for our front door.
 

The materials I used included some artificial fall flowers and leaves I found at at Walmart last week and a grapevine wreath.  I used the same wreath from the spring, just took the spring flowers out and saved them for next year.  My camera's flash in the first couple pictures make the flowers and leaves look a little discolored.

The first step was to stick leaves around the wreath bought at Walmart for $3.00.  No glue needed, I just cut them apart and stuck them in and secured each one under the grapevines.  One bundle was just enough. 

The next step was to add the the flowers, also from Walmart.  I bought two different bunches in shades of yellows and reds for about $10.  The picture is a little blurry but the colors are more true to the real deal.  Last I added some fall things here and there that I had already in any empty spaces.

The final product pictured above is hanging on my front door, which has been without a wreath since June.  Now adorned with a touch of fall it's looking inviting and bare no more!

To give our front porch another touch of fall I bought a beautiful mum, also from Walmart for $15, and  placed it in my bicycle plant holder.   So for about $30 I gave our home some needed curb appeal.  Next weekend I'll continue the decorating inside so by the time fall does come, we'll be ready! 

Dante's Kitchen and Banana Pecan Pancakes

 Two weeks ago we loaded up our Tahoe with all of the necessities Meg would need to survive in college and headed east on I-10 to Baton Rouge.  After five hours on the road we spent several more unpacking and hauling all her stuff into her dorm, which just happens to be on the third floor of a building without an elevator in the Louisiana summer heat.  Now I know the true meaning of miserable.  On the positive side, it was a workout for us all and I may have shed a pound or two.

Meg's Dorm

Exhausted and hungry, we treated Meg to lunch at The Chimes right outside of the campus before we said our goodbyes.  Tears flowed, as we pulled away. Thank goodness we kept it together until we got in the car and on the road. I didn't want her to feel any of the pain we felt leaving her even though it broke our hearts.

 Sad and beside ourselves on how to deal with our new "empty nester" situation, we headed further south to New Orleans for the weekend to get our minds off of everything.  Margarita anyone?  Yes please... 

This would be our third trip in about a month, but we never get tired of it. We strolled through the streets of the French Quarter, me with camera in hand to capture whatever I fancy. We even got into a party at the House of Blues for Texans fans! Too bad the Texans lost.  Good for New Orleans though, so whatever!

Something different about this trip was that fact that I picked the  place to have brunch Saturday morning.  I did some research and found Dante's Kitchen.  It caught my eye because it didn't seem to be a tourist trap, prices were reasonable, and they promote the the local economy by working closely with nearby farmers and dairy producers when making their seasonal menus.  With a little prodding of Richard, who usually picks our restaurant destinations, I got my way and we ended up here late Saturday morning. 

We were not disappointed.  The restaurant is located in a quaint little neighborhood in the Garden District.  It actually is a house so there are different rooms you can dine in, each with it's own unique style. 

We were seated in the wine room.  We were alone for a bit, which was nice, but soon people started coming and our little room was full.  When it came time to order, Richard decided on shrimp and grits and was pleased. 

Picture from Tiny Test Kitchen

I went the sweet route and opted for the roasted banana pecan pancakes, which were to die for!  They were so good that just for a moment the sadness I had been feeling slipped away, almost like magic.

Picture from Food Network

Although it's only been two weeks, Meg already made the long trek home this past weekend for the three day weekend and a John Mayer concert she had tickets for on Sunday.  We made her a special breakfast each morning while she was back.  It's funny how what use to be a chore became a treat while she was here.  I thought for her last morning before heading back I would make a version of those yummy pancakes I had at Dante's.  I thought she'd enjoy them and was hoping they would work their magic and keep me from crying when she left again.  I found Tyler Florence's recipe on the Food Network website (below) and whipped them up just in time for her enjoy before leaving, again.  Good news is she left without the embarrassment of me crying in front of Kyle or his brother, thank goodness.  I miss her already...

 
Ingredients

2 cups buttermilk 
3 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 pinch salt
4 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
3 bananas, peeled and sliced in 1/4-inch circles
Maple Butter, recipe follows
Confectioners' sugar, to garnish


Directions:

In a large mixing bowl whisk the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla together so they are well combined.  I didn't have buttermilk so I made it by adding a Tbsp. of vinegar to a measuring cup and filling the rest up with milk and let sit for 5 minutes.

In a separate bowl mix the flour, baking powder, soda, salt, and sugar. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry and stir with a spoon to get rid of the lumps. Fold in the pecans, most of the melted butter and whisk until batter is smooth.

Heat a griddle or skillet over medium low heat and swirl around a little melted butter to keep the pancakes from sticking. Using a ladle pour the batter into the pan.

Cook the pancakes on 1 side until they are set and then lightly press the bananas into the batter. When small bubbles appear on the uncooked surface, flip the pancakes and cook until golden on both sides, about 8 minutes.  Serve warm, topped with maple butter, sliced bananas and maple syrup.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Maple Butter:

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons honey


In a mixing bowl, using a spatula mash the butter with the maple syrup and honey until well blended.