Happy Harvest

I got the idea for this from something at Hobby Lobby.  I still need to find a long frame for it...

(Goodwill, here I come!)

I used embroidery floss for the letters, vines, and the curves inside the pumpkins.  Yarn around the outsides of the pumpkins.  Any orange/ yellow or even some reds will work for the pumpkins.  Stick a little batting beind them before sewing them down to add some depth. 

I am really happy with how this turned out.  I just love fall and all the wonderful colors!!

Yarn Wreath

My first yarn wreath.  I love how it turned out.  One of my favorite colors is orange.  Especially in this shade.  One of the reasons I love fall so much! 

I used a straw wreath and left the plastic wrap on it.  If you want a smoother look I would recommend a foam wreath.  This has some bumps and I had to wrap some places more than once to get full coverage. 

I used an off-white felt for the flowers.  I cut circles and then cut those into a spiral.  Then start rolling from one end.  This was my first time making these flowers as well, but they were fun. 

Lastly, a few green ribbons as leaves, and some buttons or smaller felt flower in a different color for the flower centers, and there you have it. 

I also like how it looks against my black door. 

Inspiration came from here.  Someone way more talented than me! 

Bruschetta

My first post!  Yay!  And the lucky item on todays menu is... Bruschetta!  Oh, yum.

My lil' sis' taught me how to make these last year.  Since then, my mouth just waters thinking about them.  They make a great appetizer, but I also ate them for lunch today, and it was divine. 

Since I was the only one eating these for lunch, I just made a small batch.  So start by chopping your tomato.  You want small (not fine) chunks.  After this photo I cut these strips again going the other direction.  What am I saying, I know you already know how to chop a tomato.

After your tomatoes are cut, put them in a bowl with a small handful of mozzarella cheese.   Drizzle about 1/2 Tbs of balsamic vinegar, and a little olive oil over top.  Ground some fresh black pepper and salt over that.  Top with some fresh chopped basil.  Toss everything together.  GARLIC, I forgot this orginally... throw in some garlic, it's important.  :)

While the tomatoes marinate in the yummy vinegar, slice up some french bread.  I prefer a smaller loaf, even a baguette works.  Slice it fairly thin.  Line slices on a cookie sheet and butter each slice.  Pop that in the oven with the broiler on.  Watch these!  I can't tell you how many times I have burned things...  When they are a nice golden brown around the edges and the butter is bubbly, they are done. 

Remove from oven, and top with a heaping spoonful of the tomato mixture. 

(It would have been nice to have a plate full of these babies, but I was eating them too fast. 

 Just use your imagination.)

These are best when the bread is still warm from the oven, and the tomatoes are still cold.  Mmmm, the flavors make a little magic in your mouth, and it's amazing. 

Do you want to know the only thing that could have made these better??

Home-grown tomatoes.  Nothing beats a home-grown tomato.  Our little plants are working hard on growing some beauties in our back yard, but, dang!  They are taking forever.  I'm so impatient...