A baseball and a castle

Lately, I have been very busy, as always. It seems free time is something I don't have very much of, but that's ok. I prefer that than to be bored with nothing to do, don't you?!

One of the many things that keep me busy is our son's sports activities. Actually, it's a family affair since my husband doesn't just watch the action from the stands like I do but he coaches our son's baseball and football teams. The sports here are year-round since we don't get winters. Well, we don't get cold winters I should say!

Last weekend, the baseball team (8 and 9 year olds) traveled to participate in a tournament at ESPN's Wide World of Sports on Disney property. But there was a lot more than baseball on the menu for the weekend. One night, we all went to the Polynesian Hotel for dinner with the team. We took a picture of the boys in the lobby. Aren't they cute!


Another night, we went to Lego Land in Downtown Disney where every child can find any and all Legos their sweet heart desires. (At prices that remind their parents this is Disney World, not the real world!)


The next day, once we were done at the ball field, many of us from the team went to "the happiest place on earth"...


The Magic Kingdom of course!

They had already decorated for fall and as always, their decorations were just beautiful. Right in front of City Hall, we found the Mayor.


And a few others...

It looks like that scarecrow may need a few more catching lessons. ;)

Entering Main Street USA, one of my favorite places to go for a stroll. Since the guys wanted to go on Splash Mountain (not me, thanks!) I decided to take my time on Main Street and catch up with them in a little bit.

Where is this most wonderful smell coming from?


My guess is either the confectionery or the bakery. It could be either of them and the only way to find out is to go in, wouldn't you agree?


So welcoming! She has both doors open for me, how sweet of her. That's probably because after I'm done spending some time in that bakery, I'll need that big of an opening to get out! On second thoughts, I better skip it this time!

The fall decorations were all over Main Street with little touches here and there. On the window boxes...

On window sills...

The lamp posts...


The Mickey balloons were selling like hot cakes on Main Street.

And just as Main Street ended, I arrived at the most famous castle in the world.

Every time I see it, I feel like a little girl again! Cinderella sure lives in a beautiful place.

Speaking of Cinderella, it turns out that she wasn't home at the time because I happened to catch her and her Prince Charming taking part in the parade.


Another famous couple was there too. Don't they look mice? I mean nice!


And there you have it, just a few pictures from our weekend. All the beautiful fall decorations that I saw in Disney World reminded me that I need to start getting ready for fall. They inspired me to make time to put up some pumpkin decorations here and there and even start thinking about Thanksgiving. It will be here before we know it!

Sweet blessings to you and yours!

;)

Hello pumpkin!

Growing up, I used to enjoying watching my mom carve pumpkins right before Halloween. She used to do a great job at it too.

Now as an adult, I don't care for Halloween (at least not the spooky side of it) but I still enjoy beautifully decorated pumpkins, gourds and other seasonal fruits. Here are a few that I gathered from Country Living for inspiration. Not sure which ones I will try, they are all so interesting!



I really like this one below, I think it's so pretty! The sweater too...



What about this lovely lantern design?


Here's a view from the top of another favorite of mine. Is it a pumpkin or a flower? Looks like it's both!



Check out the wallpaper - another case of designs that blend in.



My mom used to decorate with candles. Maybe that's why I think this one is so special. :)



How high can you go?! The colors, the shapes, the sizes, doesn't this pretty tower have it all?



Have you or will you decorate this fall? I'd love to hear how you use pumpkins, gourds or other fruits in your decorations.

May your day be joyful and full of sweet blessings!

{hugs}

The taste of autumn

When temperatures start dropping and leaves start turning a bright red, orange and yellow, it not only feels like autumn, it looks like it too. But here, the temperatures are still above 80 and it always looks like summer.

Didn't the trees get the memo? Leaves are supposed to change colors! The landscape is supposed to look like this picture...


Above is a picture I took in North Carolina at this time of year two years ago. Instead, out of my backyard, this is what I see today...



Don't get me wrong, I think palm trees are beautiful and I enjoy very much having them in our landscaping. But, they certainly don't announce any change of season. So, what's a girl to do? Well, I decided that since I don't have the feel of autumn around me (with temperatures in the 80's!), and I don't get to see autumn make its arrival with leaves changing colors, I would taste it instead.

To some people, autumn may taste like a pumpkin pie, or an apple pie, or a sweet potato pie. To me, it's not so much a pie but more like a pumpkin brownie. But, I wouldn't want to offend Martha by calling it a brownie: officially, it's her pumpkin chocolate chip square. Just to set the record straight.

And I made a batch today. Yes I did, I tasted autumn!


I've been making these for a couple of years now and I have to admit that, even though I didn't used to be a big pumpkin fan, these have won me over. They're delicious and bring out the "it's finally autumn!" feeling in me. I hope you'll enjoy them too, so here's the recipe:

Martha Stewart's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 12-oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line the bottom and sides of a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving the foil extending over the short sides of the pan. (She doesn't say to do this, but at this point, I spray some Pam on the bottom and sides of the pan. It's a habit I can't shake!) In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, pie spice, baking soda and salt. Then set aside.

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth; beat in the egg and the vanilla until combined. Beat in the pumpkin puree (the mixture may appear curdled, don't be alarmed if it does.) Reduce the speed to low, and get your bowl of dry ingredients. Add them to the wet ingredients until just combined, so be careful not to overdo it. Lastly, fold in the chocolate chips using a spatula.

Spread the batter evenly in the pan and bake for 35 minutes or so, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Cool completely in the pan, for about 2 hours.

Lift the cake from the pan using the foil handles, peel off the foil and cut into 24 squares. Enjoy autumn! :)