Faith Family Friends

Celebrating the Joy of Living & Home Making ~

Baking, Cooking, Decorating, Tea Time, and taking Inspiration from those I love and the world around me...

A sharing of my heart and my home from a Christian perspective

...with a wee bit of whimsy added.

Monday 2 October 2017

October Blues and Pumpkin Pie

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. ~ Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery



Hello my lovely friends and thank you for stopping by for a visit. Please make yourself at home. 

October is here and with it comes the changing of nature all around us. Soon the trees will be dressed in their fall colours and the ground will be strewn with fallen leaves under foot. With October comes a chill in the air so we have our fires burning to make our homes cozier. More and more we are snuggling indoors.



The brisk Autumn air often sparks the urge to come indoors and rekindle the spirit of hearth and home. ~ Victoria magazine

I was overwhelmed by your sweet comments last week! I hesitated to share that post but my hubby thought that I should. I hope I was able to bless someone out there by posting it. That was my intention.

As we have opportunity, let us do good unto all men. ~ Galatians 6:10

This is the goal of my blog; to be a blessing to all of you as you are to me. Each day has enough trouble of its own and it's helpful to dwell on lovely things and pleasant conversation.

We had a set of new steps built the other day for our front door. The first set, made of cement, had just been thrown there by the builders and after time they sank and were crooked so I was always hesitant to decorate out there for fear it would only bring attention to how crooked the steps were. Not only were they crooked but we couldn't use them because they had sunk too low. 



We also had an Alberta spruce cut down to make room for them because the shrub was taking over the old steps. Anyway, now we've got a nice set of wooden ones and they make such a difference. 

I am trying to embrace the Autumn season so I got my pumpkins and I bought a new wreath for the front door. 

Here I lightened it up for you so you could see the lotus seed pods and the true colour of the ribbon which is a soft cocoa brown.

I have always made my own wreaths but with my hand and wrist in the condition they are in, I decided to purchase one this year. Got it for 60% off too so that's not bad! I couldn't make it for what I paid for it. 

Here it is on my yellow door as well as our new steps decorated with pumpkins and mums.


I went to see a hand surgeon the other day and it seems I have carpal tunnel syndrome. This is my new fashion accessory which I have to wear 24-7 for a month, then sporadically after that. Hopefully that will fix it.



For now, I have dodged another surgery and for that I am very grateful. I am managing to work with this lovely thing on my hand/wrist although it's not easy. Sometimes it is a real pain; pun intended.

Our Canadian Thanksgiving is next week and I've been craving pumpkin pie. 'Tis the season for it, isn't it?



I hadn't been able to enjoy the last two pies I made because they made me ill. Turned out it was my gallbladder robbing me of the foods I have always loved but now that I am without the cranky organ, I can enjoy my favourite pie again. I almost always make a crustless pumpkin pie; less calories and gluten-free. If you would like the recipe you can find it here.

What Keats aptly called 
'the season of mellow fruitfulness'
is the season for simmering pots on the stove,
pies in the oven,
canning jars in the cupboard,
and trusted family recipes
on the kitchen counter. ~ Celebrating Home


Dollops of real whipped cream on a scrumptious slice of pie and a hot cup of tea is just the thing on a cool day such as this.


I love spending time in the kitchen this time of year, don't you? When I was a little girl I loved being in my Granny's kitchen because it was warm and there was always something delicious baking in her oven. Best of all, she was there! Such lovely memories I have of her. I think I got my homemaker heart from her. My Auntie P always told me I got it from my grandmother so that must be so.

What we remember from childhood we remember forever. ~ Cynthia Ozick


Today I am using my Johnson Bros. Devon Cottage teapot which was a Christmas gift from my hubby a couple of years ago. It holds pumpkin chai tea. 



This teacup is made by Enoch Wedgwood, Royal Homes of Britain, made in the 1950's with Balmoral Castle of Scotland depicted on it and trimmed with a floral border around the saucer. 



The other is Tulip Time, made by JB. It's hardly tulip time but the teacup looks wonderful with the other blue and whites. I love the scalloped edge around the saucer!




To beat fatigue, you'll all agree, there's nothing like a cup of tea. ~ unknown

The other day I spied these tea plates while out shopping for a new purse. I didn't find a purse and I had no intention of buying any more china but I couldn't resist these. They go perfectly with my blue and whites, don't you think? At just a few dollars each I thought they were a great buy. 



The pattern is called Victorian Calico and they are made by Queens-Churchill in England.


They are almost identical to Burleigh Calico which I love! Several companies produce the calico pattern and although this is not Burleigh, I'm happy to have found them.



So, what do you think? Would you like to join me for tea and pumpkin pie?



I apologize for the long post. I always set out to do a short one and somehow they usually end up being as long as my arm.

Have a lovely week everyone and God bless you!


I am sharing this with the following parties ~

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Friends Sharing Tea
 Share Your Cup Thursday
 Home Sweet Home



 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi