Inspiring Fall Decorating Ideas and A Yummy Gingerbread Muffin Recipe

Hi, Primmies, everyone seems excited (and relieved from the heat of this summer) about the approaching Fall Season. I know I am. I'm peeping from the kitchen window several times daily to see what leaves are starting to turn. Our little baby maples' leaves have turned colors, isn't that funny? The big fellas I'm still waiting. It was early last year. Maybe this year,too.
So, I've website-hopped a little and here's some pretty ideas for decorating and a Gingerbread
Muffin recipe (who doesn't love gingerbread?)

Gingerbread Pear Muffins
Makes: 12
Prep: 25 minutes Bake: 15 minutes Cool: 10 minutes
Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens
All Photographs Copyright Better Homes and Gardens

ingredients
1-1/2
cups all-purpose flour
1
tsp. baking powder
1
tsp. ground ginger
1
tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2
tsp. baking soda
1/4
tsp. salt
2/3
cup mild-flavored molasses
1/4
cup butter, melted
1/4
cup packed brown sugar
1
egg
1/2
cup boiling water
2
small pears, cut in 6 wedges each
3
ounces dark or bittersweet chocolate broken in small pieces
Raw sugar, optional
directions
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly coat twelve 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray and flour.
2. In large bowl combine flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. In a second bowl whisk together molasses, butter, brown sugar, and egg. Pour into flour mixture. Stir until combined. Whisk in boiling water. Divide evenly among muffin cups. Add 1 pear wedge to each muffin, press lightly.
3. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Sprinkle with raw sugar. Add chocolate piece to top of muffins. Cool in pan on rack 10 minutes. Use table knife to smooth melted chocolate. Remove from cups. Cool completely on wire rack. Makes 12.
nutrition facts
Servings Per Recipe 12 Calories221 Total Fat (g)7 Saturated Fat (g)4, Monounsaturated Fat (g)1, Polyunsaturated Fat (g)0, Cholesterol (mg)29, Sodium (mg)163, Carbohydrate (g)39, Total Sugar (g)21, Fiber (g)2, Protein (g)1, Vitamin A (DV%)0, Vitamin C (DV%)2, Calcium (DV%)6, Iron (DV%)11, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Hope you enjoyed the ideas and the recipe.

Susan

Colonial Pastimes and Amusements For Girls of the 1830's

This is a cute little book called "The American Girl's Book" by Eliza Leslie, written
in the year 1831. It was written to amuse and teach young girls of the times with sports
and pastimes, plays, card games, "amusing work"-Pincushions (one of prim stitchers' favorites)
needlebooks (another stitchery favorite), reticules, variety (as far as I can tell, miscel-
laneous household items).

Another cute idea in the "Amusing Work" chapter is this Wineglass Pincushion:

Another cutie for young girls to craft:

Very sweet pincushions, so different from today's favored designs.
And finally, my favorite, a Common Linen Doll, "to answer every purpose
for very small children".

I hope you enjoyed this peek into the times of the 1830's for children's amusements.

Goodnite, Primmies

Prim Crafts: Freebie for you. Prim Sunflower Pattern

Hi, everyone, sorry about the overlap in the post, just click on the link below to go to
Jean from Prim Crafts.She very generously printed this sunflower tutorial a while back
for everyone to enjoy. It's time for fall projects and this prim sunflower can
be used for lots of things. If you click the pattern here it will open into a separate
page and can be enlarged and then printed out. You'll still need to go to her blog
to read the complete easy tutorial.

Click the link below to read the entire tutorial:
Prim Crafts: Freebie for you. Prim Sunflower Pattern:

'via Blog this'

Spectacular Giveaway and Two Ladies You Have To Meet

Hi, Primmies, here's the post I promised.
Meet Tracey from French Larkspur blog. She is
having a giveaway on her blog that Heather from Post Road Vintage. is hosting. Tracey has a beautiful blog and a Website where she sells Jeanne d'Arc Living products. Heather has a beautiful blog as well and takes gorgeous photos. The giveaway is for a $300.00 (yes, THREE Hundred Dollars!) gift certificate to spend at Post Road Vintage,
Heather's web store. Click Here to see Post Road Vintage Fall 2011 catalog. She's also on Etsy. Look at some of these beautiful photos:

I didn't want to spoil your fun looking but I had to sneak in a few beautiful picture.
Simply go to Heather's shop Post Road Vintage and take a look around and go to French Larkspur
and read Tracey's post about the giveaway and follow from there. Totally easy and enjoyable!
And be thinking about what YOU'LL buy with that $300 gift certificate! (I have)
'Nite, Primmies

Country Living Halloween Spiderweb Rug | Just Something I Made

This Spider Web Rug is featured on page 55 of the current October 2011 issue of Country Living magazine, made by Cathe of Just Something I Made. She is a graphic designer and also blogs for Cathe says there is a gorgeous pumpkin craft featured.
Isn't this just the cutest? What a great welcome mat for trick or treaters.
Just click the link below to read Cathe's very simple tutorial to make this mat.

Country Living Halloween Spiderweb Rug | Just Something I Made:

'via Blog this'
I'll be back to post later about that $300.00 Gift Certificate Giveaway
Susan