Lasting Memories

I came across this picture the other day, I knew that I had to post it for you all to see. This was taken in 2005, Nicholas just turned 5, and Kait would have been about 3 ½.

We had just gotten back to the river bank after gigging for fish.

They are removing the fish scales to get them ready to filet and score them so they can be our dinner.

Creating lasting memories with Frugal Fall Fun, is a Finer Thing.

What Finer Things are you celebrating today? Join in on the Bloggy Fall Festival and share over at Amy's Finer Things.

Warm Pumpkin Dip

Fall brings on an influx of family and friend gatherings for us. I have a really hard time gathering, and not bringing some form of food, and this dish is just perfect for those moments. You can't have one without the other, can you?

I had this dip a few years back at Thanksgiving. It was amongst a whole table of hors d'oerves, and I just couldn't take myself from it. It exudes all things fall. From it's color, to the pumpkin and cinnamon, and since it is served warm, it is nice and cozy, too! :) Ahhh..Comfort Food.

I have since lost the original recipe, but I am almost certain that this is just about as close to "the real deal" as you can get!

*Ahem. Please forgive the poor quality photo and the sea of white. It's obvious I'm not a photograher, or a sprinkler.*

Warm Pumpkin Dip

Roughly 1 ½ cups pumpkin puree (or 1 can pumpkin)

8 ounces cream cheese; softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1 Tbsp Pumpkin Pie Spice (if you do not have this spice, use a combination of allspice, ginger and ground clove)

Sprinkling of Cinnamon

In mixing bowl combine the powdered sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Add in the pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin. Mix thoroughly. Pour into a pie pan and bake at 350° for about 30 minutes.



Sprinkle with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Serve with graham crackers. We like to use the small, graham cracker sticks. Perfect for dipping!

Enjoy!

What are some of your Favorite Fall Dishes? Join in the Fall Festival and share over at Life As Mom's Ultimate Recipe Swap.

This post is also thinked to:

• Holiday Food Fest at Hoosier Homemade
• Recipe Swap over at Grocery Cart Challenge
  

Frugal Fall Fun

A few of my favorite fall activities just so happen to be frugal entertainment. Bet you never would have guessed that. ;)

One of the things I look forward to most, with the onset of fall, would have to be hayrides. Something about riding down the road, or through the woods on piles of hay, cuddled under a blanket or under layers of clothing, telling stories and singing songs--it just warms my soul!

I love gathering around a big bonfire, sipping apple cider and just enjoying my surroundings.
The cool, crisp air. The beautiful fall colors.

The children especially enjoy our annual trip to the pumpkin patch to pick out their carving pumpkin. Lots of excitement is to be had there!

I love seeing what designs they will come up with for their pumpkins. They may have to be reminded to brush their teeth, but they would never forget to light their pumpkin! ;)

But, the highlight of this season, and all the way up until February, would have to be gigging! I looked high and low through my collection of pictures, and somehow still ended up empty handed. Let me tell you, I used to be a skeptic about the "fun to be had while gigging", and I now wouldn't miss a season. If for nothing else than the food.

For those that may be unsure as to what I am talking about, gigging is basically taking a long pole, with a fork-like thing on the end and going after fish, in the dark, on a boat. Sounds strange, I know, but it is so much fun, and the kids love it!

Once you get your fish, you go back to the bank, gather around a big bonfire, fry fish, whop biscuits fried like donut holes (aka: Pillsbury biscuits. I remember asking my DH when we were dating why they were called this. His reply, because you have to "whop them" to open them! Ha!), fried potatoes, and roasted marshmallows. If the fishin' is tough, we'll roast hot dogs instead. May not be the most nutritious meal in the world, but the memories are priceless.







And what is fall without cutting wood?

What are your fall traditions? Share them as part of the Blogging Fall Festival, over at Simply Sugar and Gluten Free.

This post is also linked to Frugal Fridays.

Feathering my Nest for Fall

Are you ready for Fall? I know I am, and my house--well it's getting there.

I've slowly been adding in fall bits and pieces to our decor. I think I'm going to make a new wreath this year, or atleast spruce my current one up a bit. Somehow while it was in storage, some flowers have come up missing. I'm also thinking maybe adding a some ribbon to the top.





Our outside bench greets you with freshly picked pumpkins that are patiently waiting to become pumpkin puree for future pumpkin pies. The squash bugs got most of our plants, so we were well pleased that we still made out with this harvest. The smaller ones will probably only get us the equivalent of one can of pumpkin, so all together we are looking at about 21 "cans". Pumpkin puree is not safe for canning, so these will be frozen, but it still counts toward our already full pantry that we've put up so far. Food wise, I think we are ready for winter!




I call this our "Bible Bench", which is located in our living room. All of our bibles are kept underneath it, or under the pumpkin so they are easily accessible for reading.





Our simple Fall centerpiece that contains our one and only "Sweet Dumpling" pumpkin:


Walking down the hallway you'll see the kids' bench has also been decorated. I got the witch and mummy decoration many years back at the Dollar Tree, after Halloween for .50/ea!



I made this witch from an old mayonaise jar (you know, back when the containers were still glass?), spanish moss, felt, and a wooden ball. I also made a pumpkin one that I haven't gotten around to getting out, although it is my favorite, probably because it is also a candle holder.


Even the bathroom is decorated!


Over the last few weeks we have been so busy with soccer practices and church functions, that I haven't had much time to finish packing up our summer goods and bring out our fall/winter things. I'm almost afraid to pack up all of their summer clothes, because we are still having some warm-ish days yet.

I also like to do a big declutter when fall comes along. I'm hoping to go room to room and simplify our belongings and take it all into the local thrift store. Fall is for Fresh Beginnings!

What do you do to Feather Your Nest for Fall? Come on over to Hoosier Homemade and join in on the Fall Festival!

Blogging Fall Festival: Sept 21-25

Where did the summer go? Fall is upon us, lots of changing colors, cool, crisp air and lots of comfort foods!

Why not celebrate, plan ahead, exchange great ideas, traditions, and recipes? A few friends of mine are getting together and hosting a week-long Fall Festival of Fun, Food and Friends. Five blogs, five days, five great ways to welcome the change of seasons.

I will be participating, and I hope you will, too!

Monday - Feathering Your Nest
How will you be feathering your nest for Fall? What do you to get ready? Decorations? Winterizing? Stocking Up? Preserving Fall Produce? Harvesting Said Fall Produce? Cleaning? Organizing? Overhauling your Calendar? Whatever you do to ready your Home and Hearth for the new season, we want to know about it at Hoosier Homemade.

Tuesday - Falling For Fun
How do you and your family amuse yourselves as the seasons change? Special activities with the kids, movies you watch, crafts, games, field trips, great vacation spots, books to read?
Tell us some great ways to kick up our heels at Daily Dwelling.

Wednesday - Fall Traditions
What does your family do every year? A fall vacation? Apple picking? Watching the leaves turn? A visit to the Pumpkin Patch? Special foods? Special events that you always observe? Share your family's fall traditions at Simply Sugar and Gluten Free

Thursday - A Special Fall-Themed Ultimate Recipe Swap
Share your favorite fall recipe at LifeasMOM. All participants will be entered for a chance to win The Autumn Book by Susan Branch.

Friday - Finer Things of Fall
What are the good things you enjoy about Fall? Join in over at AmysFinerThings and have a chance to win fall-themed scrapbook stickers and journaling boxes!

See you there!