About Me

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I have been married to my childhood sweetheart for 42 wonderful years. I have been blessed with one daughter who is grown and gone! She and her hubby have blessed us with a precious grandchild, Darbee Rae. She is eight years old and the sunshine in our days. I have always been a stay at home maid, cook, doctor, babysitter, taxi, wife, mother, and grandmother. I enjoy crafting. My interests include primitives, vintage and colonial styles. I love decorating my home. I enjoy traveling with my hubby and friends, reading, and trying different recipes. I am a Christian and enjoy activities within my church. I hope you enjoy reading about my daily adventures in crafting, shopping, and enjoying life thru the eyes of my darling grand daughter.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Fall on the Porch and a Recipe

WARNING ..LONG AND PICTURE HEAVY

Hoping all of you have had a wonderful fall weekend.  The weather has been wonderful here in the south.  In fact it was quite chilly at the homeplace this morning.  Don't tell anyone, but I dug out my flannel robe. And it felt right comfy too.  So thanks to the cooler temps. I got busy yesterday and got my fall decorating DONE.  Well not quite that done, there is one more thing I want to tweak, but almost done.  Enough so I can sit back tonight and enjoy what I did get done. 

So, it's been quite a while since we met on the porch in a previous post.  In fact it was back in the Spring.  Unfortunately the summer was so hot and dry, we didn't get to meet out there too much.  But now that fall is here and the temps. are cooler we can enjoy coffee there in the early evenings.  So anytime you would like to stop by and visit your are so graciously welcome.

Of course it being fall, you will be welcomed with a hay bale , mums, pumpkins, and a few black crows.  I figure if they are going to be hanging around out back eating all my pecans, I might as well make them feel welcome.  They are surely in no hurry to leave.


While we were on vacation back in September , we saw these old shutters for sale at a prim shop. The prices on those babies was way out of my price range.  So what did I do?   Got Mr. P. to create me one when we got home.  You can do one so easily.

Just find you an old shutter.  Use  burlap or a old  feed sack.  I used an old burlap coffee bean sack.  Just cut off a piece bigger than the shutter and form a big deep pocket.  Turn under raw edges and staple to shutter.  Then get you a piece of chicken wire , bend over the sharp edges where you cut it and make a pocket over the burlap material.  This just helps to stabalize the burlap.  I filled my bag with straw and added the leaves and black crow.  You can fill with your choice of foliage.  Enjoy.  Thought my instructions and Mr. P's skills yielded one cute shutter, and we saved ooodles of dollars. 


Even the birdhouse decided it wanted to join in the spirit of the season.  A little pumpkin sits on its porch. And look at that spooky tree with those dreaded crows lurking on the branches.  That tree glows in the dark and makes the porch SPOOKY!!!!


You know I always complain that I can't find anything good at our GW?  Well, I found this quilt and it was NEW.  I was so excited.  Love the fall leaves on it.  Sure will feel good to snuggle up in it on the evenings when there is a chill.


This green plant will soon have to come inside as the temps. get cooler, but right now there is no danger of frost.  Until it does a little orange pumpkin will keep it company.


Can't forget my favorite spot on the porch.  It got a little sprucing up with new fall pillow shams for the pillows.  This swing was the first thing we bought when we built the house.  We were finishing up the outside and a pick up truck came by selling them.  We have been here for 35 years and other than swinging in it so much when Holly was small and we wore the chain into, it has held up so well. I use to hold her in my arms and swing and sing her to sleep.  Seems like yesterday. Darbee Rae loves the swing too, but unlike her Mommy  she doesn't sleep and she sings to me. (LOL)


This dresser that belonged to my grandmother spent the summer on the carport.  When you visited last in the spring this is where the old flour bin that belonged to Mr. P's grandparents sat.  Will show you where it is later.  Brought the dresser around to the porch where it will stay until next spring.  Makes for a cozy spot when the lamp is on.  I have it on a timer and its nice to come home with the lights on.

Well as you can see I have kept you out here and now the sun has gone down and night fall has silently approached.  A little too cool to keep you out here and offer you coffee.  But I'll tell you what I will do. If you promise to pass thru the great room and not look at my fall displays (they are for another post)  you are more than welcome to come in for a bowl of homemade beef strew and homemade bread.  So come along now and no peeking.




Hope you enjoy your supper. Sure does hit the spot on a cool evening such as this.  I know I have babbled on and it may too late for some of you to eat, so I will gladly share the Beef stew recipe with you before you leave.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I.  One of my favorite fall recipes. And while it's simmering in the crock pot your houses will smell so yummy.

Crock Pot Beef Stew

1 1/2 pounds stew beef
1 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 beef bouillon cubes
3 tablespoons steak sauce ( your choice)
1/2 cup celery (sliced)
4 medium potates (cut in cubes or hunks) I usually add more veg. than it calls for
2 medium onions (quartered)
2 large carrots (sliced) I buy baby ones and cut in half
water
Cut your veggies and layer in crock pot first. Add your stew beef (no need to brown). Add enough water to make as soupy as you want.  Remember it will not cook down in the crock pot.  Once water is added, add remaining ingredients such as salt, sugar,bouillion cubes, steak sauce.  Stir to mix.  Cook on high 6-8 hours.


We enjoy this over white rice, but is good alone.  Enjoy!

Well, I know this has been a  long post, but I so enjoy company on a wonderful cool fall evening.  Just a perfect ending to a wonderful weekend.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Now don't peek going  back to the door.  Next time we'll meet in the great room.  Until then be safe on your way out......

16 comments:

  1. Your porch looks great and that stew and homemade bread, YUMMY!

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  2. Love love love the porch. So cozy. Can't wait to see everything! Love you.

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  3. Sounds so good. I love your porch and all your decorations. Such a nice place to visit with you. Hope you have a wonderful week!

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  4. Everything sounds so splendid! I loved your post!

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  5. Love the porch, loved swinging in the swing....my favorite. Loved the cutting board for the bread...never saw anything like that. I need it!!!! I can't cut a loaf of bread evenly to save my soul!!!!!

    Have a great week.

    Lois

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  6. Love your porch. It's Beautiful! Thanks for sharing your Beef Stew recipe. My kids LOVE Beef Stew. Can't wait to try it out. Love your bread board cutter. Never seen anything like it.
    Have a wonderful week!

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  7. Angela
    Your porch looks very welcoming and inviting! You have so many unique ideas for display.
    I was thinking about beef stew just today since it's been cooler here.
    Thanks for the recipe!

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  8. Angela,
    Love your porch...it is so pretty and welcoming!! It reminds of my aunt's porch and brings back memories of all the time I spent with her on her porch swing.
    hugs,
    Cindy

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  9. o darn on days like today I so wish we were next door to one another as I think I d love me a bowl of that yummy looking stew and a slice of fresh bread right out on that comfy porch of yours! It all is beautiful Angela and so love the shutters thanks for sharing I just may have to try that with mine on my porch they need something for certain ! have a gret week ! hugs lilraggedyangie

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  10. Loved seeing all the photos & reading your captions : ) The stew looks delicious! Blessings, Shirlee

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  11. That porch looks so inviting Angela. I would love to be sitting in that swing with a cup of coffee at the end of the day. I love the idea of the lamp on a timer. And your shutter project turned out great!

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  12. Awesome porch Angela - oh I so wish we had a protected porch area like that for decorating and swinging.....Your shutter is adorable....But hey - "dreaded crows"???? Really??? :o( Your stew looks yummy - we just had our first batch last week....Wishing you a wonderful week ahead....Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin

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  13. hi, Angela
    Your porch looks so fall~ so welcoming!!!
    Homemade Beef Stew Yum Yum~ sound delicious!!!
    have a wonderful fall day~
    smiles
    Teresa

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  14. Your porch is so inviting, beautiful displays. I like the soft light reflected from the table lamp, so pretty prim. Thanks for the inspiration.
    Connie

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  15. I love your meanderings posts. I feel like I'm sitting beside you on the glider chatting away. The shutter is so adorable. Can't wait to try the stew.

    Blessings,
    Pamela

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  16. Yep, you need to come to my house!!! lol Love it all! And I just love that thing you have around your loaf bread to cut the slices. What do you call that? Again, Happy Birthday!

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