Simple Pumpkin Topiary

I'll be honest, this is not a new project.  In fact, I made this simple pumpkin topiary about 4 years ago!  

Yes, I know, I have been blogging for 3 Autumns now and I have never ever even thought to share this with you.  I'm guessing there may be more projects I have done in the past that you would love to see...and maybe, just maybe I will find them hidden in the garage or basement too...some day.

And, of course, since I was not yet blogging when I made this, I have no pictures of all of the intricate steps it took to create such a magnificent piece of creativity!

Seriously, it is too easy to do and now is the perfect time for you to make one of your very own!

Faux pumpkins are now on sale and in a few days will be clearanced to realistic pricing so, grab yourself 3 in graduated sizes, meaning, from large to small.  While there, pick out some Fall flower bunches, a few packages of leaves, which should also be on sale, and a Fall garland. 

Once you get home with your fantastic finds, find a long sturdy stick of some sort. Then, cut holes in the top and bottom of the 2 larger pumpkins and the bottom only of the small pumpkin making sure your stick fits through the holes and is about a foot longer than the total of all 3 pumpkins.  No math needed, just eyeball it like I did.

Heat up your glue gun and make sure you have plenty of glue sticks handy (probably should have told you to check that first before you headed to the craft store of choice huh?).

Now, start taking apart the flower bunches and start gluing flowers and leaves onto the pumpkins in any way you like.

Once the glue has dried, take one of your summer planters (or, use the one the previous owners left like I did), dirt still in it, and shove your stick in as far as it will go.  Line up your fancy decorated pumpkins onto the stick and finish off by wrapping the garland around the bottom pumpkin, making sure it is secure enough to withstand any wind storms that may occur.

Now, you can choose to make sure your pot is level or, be like me and spend 30 minutes messing with the freakin' rocks, trying to get it level, give up and enjoy it in its wonky state.  Your topiary, your call!

See, what did I tell you?  Easy peasy and can be left out until the day after Thanksgiving when, the Christmas decor comes out! 

If you make one of your own I'd love to see it so, be sure to share!

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Click here to see where I may be partying this week.

AND
Don't forget to come by on Tuesday's

for the link party.

You're Gonna Love It - Week 77

Happy Halloween Week!!
I've given up on finding my missing bin of Halloween decor for this year so my 

seasonal display consists of one witch and that's it LOL. 

I'll do a big blow out for Halloween next year.

How about you?  Are you ready for all of the cute trick or treaters?

We aren't sure how many we will get at the new house so, I bought

a ton of candy just in case we get a lot.  If we don't?

Well, someone (read: me) is going to have to eat it all amiright??

It's a good thing it's getting to be sweat pants weather!

Let's get this week's party started before I have my face stuffed full of Snickers shall we?

Last week's most viewed link came from my friend Carol who blogs over at 

Carol's Heirloom Collection

Carol shared with us her sweet Halloween tree and other blingy decor.
I have a block tree somewhere that I could have decorated too!  It's probably sitting right next to the missing bin!

Thank you Carol! We loved your awesome display! Be sure to grab yourself an

I've Been Featured button and display it proudly!

Let's Party!
Feel free to link up anything you have created.

Recipes, decor, crafts, written or photographed.

Anything you are so proud of

you just gotta share it with others.

I will reserve the option of deleting

any post that I do not feel fits the

theme of my blog. 

Please limit your link ups to

just 2 or 3. 

I love to spotlight

some of my favorites on my

Facebook page and pin them to my 
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday board on Pinterest so,

be sure to follow me there too!

As always, you don't have to
be a follower
in order to link up.
 I want you to follow
Kathe With An E
because you want to.
Not because it is required.

Sign up to receive my updates by email.

 I would also love it if you would link back

in some way so that others come and party with us.
Either grab the party button
or add my blog link
to your post or on your
  blog party page.
But again, it's not required.  

I ask that you please 

DO NOT link up

giveaways, Etsy shops or anything for sale.

Save those for the first Tuesday of each month
(next week!)

when,

Anything Goes!

Please remember, this is a party

so, after you link up,

mingle around 
and visit some of the other party guests.

*By linking up your post, you are giving Kathe With An E permission to use your pictures as a feature on this blog and other social media outlets.

Be sure to stop by and visit these other great linky parties this week!

 

 This week’s party is sponsored by:

An eCookbook by Kathe With An E

Click the photo above for more information

Fall Tablescape

We had such beautiful weather this weekend.
We were able to have the doors and windows wide open, 
letting in the fresh Fall air.
That will change during the week though,
Snow and wind is expected.  Typical Fall weather in the Rockies.

In anticipation of the cooler I set a Fall tablescape with the warm colors of the season. 

I found this beautiful tablecloth at Home Goods when my mother-in-law and I went shopping on Canadian Thanksgiving.

I fell in love with the paisley leaves and the Fall colors.
Although, I don't think it screams Fall and I am hoping I can use it with other tablescapes.
I thought the Cost Plus World Market via Goodwill woven oval place mat was a good anchor for my place settings. 

I used my green ruffled dinner plates with a ruffled red salad plate, both bought years ago on clearance from JC Penney. A white Gibson Everyday bowl tops it off.

The napkin rings were another Goodwill find.  5 for $1.00.  I left them with their tarnished finish as I thought it added a rustic touch to the table. 
The napkins are from Bed Bath & Beyond.

The design in the flatware reminds me of the wind 
blowing the fallen leaves around.

I just love the dark amber glasses I found at Goodwill last year.  .49 each!  Be still my heart at that kind of a bargain!

A green mercury glass candle stem from Burlington Coat Factory sit 
on each side of the plate stand centerpiece.

Purple ruffled bowls from Michael's sit atop orange 
melamine plates from Target.

Each bowl holds a seasonal pumpkin. And yes, the orange one is a salt shaker but it fit so perfectly don't you agree?

A Fall table to offer comfort and warmth as the days get even shorter and the weather turns blustery.

Follow my blog by email

I always share my tables with

Kathleen at Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen

Susan at Between Naps On The Porch Tablescape Thursday

and

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life Table Top Tuesday

Click here to see where else I may be partying this week. 

AND

Don't forget to come by on Tuesday's

You're Gonna Love It - Week 76

Welcome to Week 76 of my favorite party with my favorite peeps!

Can you believe we are looking at the tail end of October 
and that Halloween is next week?  
What the Wha?

It's a good thing I got a TON of things done this weekend!
How about you?  You keeping up so that the holidays don't
come crushing down upon you?

How about I help you out by getting the party started now?

Last week's most viewed came from Alice who blogs at
Mums Make Lists

Alice shared a terrific list of how to dry clothes in winter without a dryer!  
Even if you have a dryer available, these are such great 
tips to save a few dollars where you can! 
Thank you Alice! Be sure to grab yourself an

I've Been Featured button and display it proudly!

Now, Let's Party!

Those Dang Rules

Feel free to link up anything you have created.

Recipes, decor, crafts, written or photographed.

Anything you are so proud of

you just gotta share it with others.

I will reserve the option of deleting

any post that I do not feel fits the

theme of my blog. 

Please limit your link ups to

just 2 or 3. 

I love to spotlight

some of my favorites on my

Facebook page and pin them to my 
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday board on Pinterest so,

be sure to follow me there too!

As always, you don't have to
be a follower
in order to link up.
 I want you to follow
Kathe With An E
because you want to.
Not because it is required.

Sign up to receive my updates by email.

 I would also love it if you would link back

in some way so that others come and party with us.
Either grab the party button
or add my blog link
to your post or on your
  blog party page.
But again, it's not required.  

I ask that you please 

DO NOT link up

giveaways, Etsy shops or anything for sale.

Save those for the first Tuesday of each month

when,

Anything Goes!

Please remember, this is a party

so, after you link up,

mingle around 
and visit some of the other party guests.

*By linking up your post, you are giving Kathe With An E permission to use your pictures as a feature on this blog and other social media outlets.

Be sure to stop by and visit these other great linky parties this week!

 

 This week’s party is sponsored by:

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My Big Hairy Scary #Bugout Moment

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Orkin Ecologist for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

The other day, I was walking down the stairs on the back deck and looked to my right and saw the biggest, hairiest spider I have ever seen in my life!! 

I about jumped the rest of the way down the stairs!  Okay, maybe it wasn't as big and scary as this photo depicts but, I have serious Arachnophobia, you know, the fear of spiders! The Orkin Ecologist has come up with the top 10 bug phobias. Guess what’s at the top of the list? You betcha — Arachanophobia!

The fun folks at Okin just love to study insects of every shape and size.  I don't know how they do it!  To them, the bigger and fuzzyer the better...UGH! (SHUDDER)

They know that every little bug has its place in the circle of life.  And as a gardener I get that too. I don't like it but, I get it. They study all about whether a bug harms people or property or helps the enviroment.  They know that the best way to control the real pests is to learn all that they can about them.  Orkin scientists have been studying bugs for 100 years and really get into checking out those multiple legged creatures.

Because of the Orkin website I was able to do some research and found out that, out of the over 3,000 species of spiders in the US, only 2 are harmful to humans! They are the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse.

I'm pretty sure the spider I saw that day was neither of those so, I was safe and thanks to Orkin, I am a tad less fearful. Just a tad LOL!

Now, I wanna hear your #bugout story.  What insect or bug creeps the beejeezus out of you? Share it with me in the comments below.

You can Like the Orkin Ecologist on Facebook and check them out on Pinterest too! They have beautiful pictures of butterflies as well as the creepy ones pinned. 

Slow Cooker Angus Sausage & Onions Recipe

“This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Hillshire Brand Company but, as always, all of my opinions are my own. #pmedia #buy3save3  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO”

One of the funnest things about moving is getting to know your new neighborhood and finding that perfect store to go to for groceries.

Mr. B and I ventured out a few weekends ago and, because I needed a few items, stopped into the local Safeway store.  

I haven't shopped at a Safeway in quite a while because there wasn't one really close to our old house but let me tell you! I have found "my store".

This Safeway had wide aisles, nice lighting and we both agreed, it just felt like a small town market.  

They also displayed the food so nicely!  
Not all thrown about like a gorilla had been pawing through it. 
And that is why these packages of Hillshire Farm Angus Beef Smoked Sausages caught my eye!

Now I don't know about you but, with working full time, moving and just life in general, we get so busy! Those of you that have kids and their activities? 
I have no idea how you do it!  

Those are the times I rely on my trusty slow cooker and quick and easy recipes so that when we finally do get time to sit and eat, it's hot and ready!

Which brings us back to those sausages! One of Mr. B's favorite slow cooker meals is Slow Cooker Sausage & Onions.

You probably have all of the ingredients on hand but if you don't, this is your lucky week my friends because right now,if you have signed up for the Just For U program at Safeway stores, when you buy three Hillshire Farm products, you’ll save $3! Hurry though, this offer ends Saturday October 19th!

Slow Cooker Angus Smoked Beef Sausage & Onions

2 - 12 oz packages of Hillshire Farm Angus Beef Smoked Sausage, cut into 4-inch pieces

1/2 Cup honey mustard

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

18 ounces of your favorite beer (the darker the beer, the deeper the flavor. Since it's Fall, I used an Octoberfest style) or chicken stock

2 medium onions, quartered

Combine honey mustard and brown sugar in slow cooker: whisk in beer or chicken stock. Add sausage pieces and onions. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours. Serve over cooked egg noodles.

For our dinner this night I added a romaine salad with kalamata olives and Gorgonzola cheese crumbles. 

A thick slice of crusty bread to sop up the awesome sauce 
would have been perfect but, hey, I'm busy, remember?! 
I lost track of time and forgot to pick some up LOL!

With so many Hillshire Farm sausage flavors to choose from, 

you could interchange them very easily with this recipe and make it your own.  

Now tell me,  

what is your go-to fast and easy recipe for those super busy times in life?

For more great recipes for any meal, be sure to check out the Hillshire Farm website and follow Hillshire Farm on Facebook and Twitter!