I’m getting ahead of myself with the Halloween celebration for a good reason. A very special 21st birthday celebration is taking place at Places In The Home this week, and this particular October baby favors a Halloween theme. Strawberry Ghosts and Pimento Cheese top the appetizer and dessert menu.
Strawberry Ghosts
Ingredients
30 fresh strawberries
8 ounces white baking chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon vegetable shortening
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
¼ cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
Wash strawberries. Lightly pat the strawberries with paper towels until completely dry. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt white chocolate and shortening at 50% power; stir until smooth. Stir in almond extract.
Dip strawberries in chocolate mixture; place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet, allowing excess chocolate to form the ghosts’ tails. Immediately press chocolate chips into coating for eyes. Freeze for 5 minutes.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt remaining chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Dip a toothpick into melted chocolate and draw a mouth on each face. Yield: 2-1/2 dozen (30 strawberries)
Pimento cheese is the caviar of the South and great as a dip for a Halloween soiree. This recipe is my dad’s, and it is as basic as it is delicious with just two ingredients- Velveeta and pimientos. Grab a package of Ritz crackers or a bag of Fritos and it’s a monster mash y’all!
Ingredients
1 32 ounce package Velveeta cheese
4 4-oz jars pimentos, drained
dash of fine black pepper
Directions
Cut Velveeta into evenly sized chunks. Drain pimentos and add to cheese.
Monster Mash the Velveeta and pimentos together with potato masher until well mixed to desired consistency.
A good bargain, the perfect find, and a successful Goodwill run is the lagniappe of my day, and I like lagniappe.
Thrifting, flea market, or auction finds aren’t usually free, but if the find is really good or exactly what you’ve been looking for it’s both a gift and a bonus! When we walked into Goodwill I didn’t know I was looking for a triple switch plate cover, but evidently I was. A bargain archaeologist I am not. I do not like to dig through, over, or under anything looking for something- that’s Dave the Builder’s role.
The switch plate cover was sitting between two other items- a decorative box and some item I can’t recall. The first item Dave picked up was the box. He opened it up and loudly proclaimed, “there’s a hundred dollar bill in here!” Now I’ve known this man and his brand of humor for 35 years however, the two gentlemen standing next to us have not. Bless their hearts, they almost broke their necks looking to see if in fact a Ben Franklin was up for grabs. By the way, Dave’s comedy routine at our local Goodwill got a huge laugh.
Back to the switch plate. I consulted with Dave to get his mechanical and electrical opinion. With a thumbs up things started to get interesting. I noticed a piece of the bottom banner was chipped off. I reasoned if I could not live with it I would simply chip off the intact piece on the other side. The persuasive pot was sweetened when I realized the store was having a special sticker something or other additional 40% off sale bringing the total price to $2.17. Ring- it- up, baby!
The breakfast area toggle light switch situation was updated to the new and so very improved rocker style.
I darkened the plate with a thin coat of Americana acrylic paint in raw umber. What areas a foam brush can’t get to and the initial coat won’t cover a Q-tip dipped in paint will.
The color deepens the details and camouflages the imperfection. I’m debating leaving the switch plate in its present form. Would performing decorative surgery by removing the detail on the left side in order to smooth out the imperfect edges make such a huge difference to the finished look, or would it not move the needle enough to matter?
As odd as it sounds, the story is found in the imperfection. That’s the wonderful thing about certain items and objects we use in our decor. The story, the memories, and the tales of the hunt that go along with the bargains, thrifting finds and imperfections is often what is so appealing.
Fall excites the senses through seasonal colors on parade, thread counts of warm and cozy fabrics, tastes of pumpkin, apple, cinnamon and spices, and pitch clear sounds floating through the air of a crisp fall evening.
Those of us who live for and love the fall season savor the season, knowing fall is best enjoyed when we keep calm and harvest on.
Fall is the gateway to the season of warm colors, cool weather fairs and festivals, and home for the holidays celebrations.
It’s a fabulous color choice, it’s a fabulous cause to support, and won’t it be fabulous when the cure is found!
For my mother, dear friends and old and new, the woman in the waiting room, the names and faces of cancer I will never know, the growing numbers of survivors and thrivers, and the walkers and runners uniting together in pink solidarity- this one’s for you.
One of my favorite historical landmark hotels, Hotel Bentley, is a hometown legend.
The Hotel Bentley is a stunning testament to opulent grand foyers, crystal chandeliers and marble staircases.
Notable guests in its 104 year old history include Major General George Patton, Lieutenant Colonel Omar Bradley, Colonel Dwight David Eisenhower, and Henry Kissinger.
Be still my heart!
When the last owner decided to close the Hotel Bentley, I was able to acquire a few of the items to add to my collection of hotel silver and china.
Making welcomed additions to my collection is an etched seltzer bottle, a lithograph from the hotel art collection, and a charger from the dining room china pattern.
Even with non-smoking laws and policies in place, matchbooks remain a highly collectible item.
Las Vegas hotels never die, they just implode.
Fortunately, the classics remain alive and well via a well guarded matchbook collection.
Power outages, fire pits, birthday candles or barbecue grills need not apply- these vintage matchbooks are for admiring purposes only.
I view antique plates and bone dishes as small pieces of art full of history, provenance and color.
Coming in as the number one thing I like to collect is frogs.
The association with frogs goes all the way back to the mid 70’s.
Ions ago, don’t ‘cha know.
When the majority of mothers around the neighborhood discovered a great summer babysitter activity for the neighborhood kids, the word spread like softened butter.
Our local community theater was sponsoring a summer workshop culminating in a off, off, off Broadway production at workshops end.
The play was Fairy Frog Superstar, and yours truly won the part of the Fairy Frog.
A future theater star was not born, but my love of all things frog was.
It only takes one look at a frog for my thoughts to go back to the summer of frog.
Thoughts of fall have naturally brought about seasonal home decorating ideas, reminding me it is time to begin putting together ideas for a fall tablescape.
Noting a stunning pair of barley twist bar stools seen on Pinterest turned my thoughts to the pair of vintage barley twist candlesticks I know I have somewhere.
Found the little darlings.
Isn’t it funny how an image or an item in that image can initiate the decorative snowball effect?
One Kings Lane
Textures, finishes, and color palettes evoke thoughts of warmth, coziness, and hominess- qualities so closely associated with cold weather days and nights.
Decorative throws and pillows infuse a space with the look and feel of warmth.
Candles in scents of the season treat the senses.
Seasonal home decorating ideas often are inspired by the senses.
Forget the pie, this is my idea of a slice of pumpkin love!
Pumpkin, ginger, and cinnamon- from kitchen to table to home decor accessories to color palettes.
Dering Hall
Traditional Home
In a few months from now I’ll be writing about how I can’t wait for spring flowers to bloom, summer colors, and there’s nothing better than the taste of barbecue.
For now, I’m looking forward to the first really cool night and the feel of a down comforter.
Also on the fall treats list is the delicious scent of cloves and oranges throughout the kitchen and dining room, and the highly anticipated first taste of a pumpkin spice latte.
Okay, now it’s your turn.
What is it that you hear, see, feel, smell or taste that reminds you of fall?
