Wednesday Wonder: October Five Senses

 

Hello lovely Friends ~ 

It's October - yay!! 🎃🍁🧡

I couldn't agree more! This is the best month of all in my opinion. Cozy season truly begins. It starts getting so colorful outside. It's a time of year we usually go exploring and hiking pretty places the most. It's chillier, but not too cold. Not to mention it's birthday month for my Hubby and me! I'm so ready for all of the cozy ahead. 😍

So today I thought I'd indulge in a 5 senses post to share all the Autumn goodness around me at this moment. 

 SEE:

When I look out my windows now I see more color everyday. I love how many of the lower shrubbery below the trees, and lower parts by the bay, turn a crimson color. And then there is all the golden goodness on the trees above. We have a lot of birch trees in our backyard and others that turn a pretty yellow. When the wind blows through them they shimmer in the prettiest way. Until they can't hold on any longer and slowly drift to the ground. I never tire of this show that shares its splendor every year. 

I also see another little painting I just finished. I've been working on my shading more - which I have found difficult with watercolor. I have an Aunt coming to visit soon and I'm going to give this one to her ...along with a few Fall goodies. :) 

I also see my Fall decorations around the house and it brings me such joy! It's my favorite time to decorate (with Christmas as a very close second)

FEEL:

I feel Ruby's soft fur, as she just went to the salon...er, groomer yesterday. 😉 She's such a pretty girl. When she gets shaggier she feels so wooly - more like a sheep! Ha! But when she gets shaved down her fur is so soft underneath. She's an old girl now. Almost 14 years. 🙈 And she has quite a few old lady lumps and bumps I also feel when I pet her. She may be older but she still runs and plays like a puppy. She can't hear or see as well, but it hasn't slowed her down. Plus, she's my snuggler and I love it! 

HEAR:

As I was sitting and painting and then petting on Ruby I was listening to an Autumn playlist I created on Amazon music through our Alexa Echo. Here are some of the songs to give you an idea of the vibe. I love lots of oldies and lots of songs or music that makes me feel in a Fall mood:

* EVA CASSIDY:

- Fields of gold

-Songbird

*ED SHEERAN:

-Autumn Leaves

-The Hills of Aberfeldy

-his Autumn variations album

*NAT KING COLE:

-Autumn Leaves

-Tis Autumn

-Love

*Music from the PRIDE & PREJUDICE SOUNDTRACK

*TAYLOR SWIFT:

- Cardigan

-Exile

*ELLA FITZGERALD & LOUIS ARMSTRONG:

-Autumn in New York

*FRANK SINATRA:

- Witchcraft

-I'll Be Seeing You

*Soundtrack to THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN

....Lots more but this gives you a good idea 🧡

TASTE:

I just made myself a cup of creamy spicy chai tea. I love how it's sweet but also has that bite of spice to it with exotic cardamom & zippy cinnamon. I'm enjoying it in my Fall mug that is big and chunky and perfect for Autumn bevvies. 😋 

I'm enjoying it with a little healthier version pumpkin spice cookie. The cookie is soft and perfectly dip-able in my chai. 

To make the cookie simply blend a 15 oz can of pumpkin with a standard spice cake mix. Mix them until they are well blended. Add chocolate and butterscotch chips if you wish (I added just a little). And extra cinnamon or spices if you like. Then with a tablespoon scoop out cookies onto non-stick cookie sheets. Bake at 350* for 16-18 minutes. 

Or if you don't want to add chocolate chips once cookies are cooled you could dip them in a powdered sugar glaze of about 1&1/4 c. of powdered sugar blended with 3 tbsp of milk. Whisk well and can add some vanilla or cinnamon for flavor too. Then dunk the tops of the spiced cookies in the glaze and let set. They are made with no eggs or oil so less fat and so a few less calories. Store in an airtight container. They will be soft. 

SMELL:

And finally, what I'm smelling is this wonderful blend in the diffuser. I keep it in our tv room but it perfumes the whole main part of our home. I like that this diffuser is a pretty glass one (I found it on amazon) - and I can set it for anywhere from 1 to 6 hours and it changes colors as it works. This is a blend I found on pinterest as you can see from the "recipe" below. It truly does have a magical scent. It has a spicy sweet herbal-ness to it that makes me think of the woods in Autumn. It would be a really good Halloween scent and I think I used to have a witchy Halloween candle once that smelled a lot like it. 

Thank for sharing in these little Autumn moments with me Friends. Are you an October lover too? What's your favorite of your 5 senses during the Fall season? 

Friday Five Senses

 

Hello lovely Friends! 

In honor of the start of December, I thought I would do a December Friday Five Senses post. It's starting to look like December inside my home (still not done decorating though). But outside it still looks like November. Brown, bare and no real snow. But I know it will show up eventually! It always does. Lol 

SIGHT

I'll begin with what I SEE:

I see the decorations that I do have up - and even the gifts I have wrapped so far and put under the tree (to get them out of the closets!) Lol

Love this old cabin advent calendar I've had forever. I used to stock it with candy or else slips that said "see Mom" because I'd have little toys or goodies for the kids. I give them their own fun advent calendars now (like Annie's is a beauty one). But I still stock it with candies. 😉 

SOUND

And this is what I HEAR as I work on this actually. Listening to Christmas CD's in my office. It rests on an old hope chest that was once my Grandma Anne's. 💗 I hear the warm rich sound of Nat King Cole's voice and it fills the whole room. Nice way to start the day. 🎶 

SMELL & TASTE

These were the wonderful SMELLS this morning as I began my day. 

I was sniffing the heavenly smell of this candle. Think of a Christmas tree farm. Pure pine branches with maybe a hint of mint or snow? Just such a fresh smell that helped wake me up too. And the smell of a yummy cup of coffee. It was out of a coffee advent calendar I got for Matt and I to share. It was called Christmas blend (forgot to get pic) and it had faint TASTE  of spiced cinnamon. And I added a little rich creamy salted caramel protein drink that gave it a smooth and salty flavor too. Truly starting to feel like the holidays! 

This is the calendar and this is tomorrow's flavor I already got out and ready for Matt! 

FEEL:

And instead of touch in tangible terms - I'm going with what I feel. Which is nostalgic. I look around and so many of the decorations have meaning to me. 

On one of our first dates Matt and I went to an antique store, because he knew I loved them - and I got this neat old German calendar topper. Last year I had it framed to hang in our home. 

And these pieces of Lefton Christmas and the angels among my china, reminds me so much of my former mother and father-in-law. I miss them every day and talk to them in heaven. They were a part of my life since I was 15, so those feelings stick with you forever I think. They picked these up at antique stores and gave them to me as different Christmas gifts through the years. Some day I hope they'll bring nostalgia to my kiddos. And so is the beautiful cycle of life, holidays and family treasures. 

Happy December and stay cozy! xo

Friday Five Senses

 

Hello Friends! Happy TGIF to you 😊 

It's been a while since I've done one of these posts and I was out watering my flowers this morning and I was soaking it all in and aware of how I was engaging my senses and so I thought I'd share this five senses post with you today. 

SEE

I see the beautiful colors and textures of all the different flowers around my house. I see how fast they're growing already and spilling over my pots. Sight is such a gift, isn't it? I'm so grateful to fill my gaze (& my soul) with these beautiful flowers. 🌸 

HEAR

I can hear the birdsong like an amazing chorus all around me. It seems like every tree is filled with some singing out. I like to try to identify the ones I know. I love the feeling I get from hearing the birds singing aways. It's hard to be grumpy when you're surrounded by birdsong. As I looked up I could see this beautiful blue jay. In the middle pic if you look a little below center you can see it on the branch. And then it came down in the yard and posed for me. :) 

FEEL

I can feel the fresh crisp wet texture of the king cabbage lettuce head I cut out of my raised garden. And the tiny weight of the adorable little strawberries starting to sprout out in one of my pots. I love the silky feel of flower petals as I deadhead them so more beautiful blooms will grow.  💗 

TASTE

I take in the lettuce to wrap in paper towel to store in the fridge. But first I took a leaf and washed it well and then tried a taste. It's crisp and a little bitter and refreshing. (I might have dabbed a little ranch dressing on the rest of it and then it was truly delicious. Lol)

SMELL

I pick off a top of this thyme in one of my pots. It's called Golden Lemon Thyme. Oh my word! I wish I could make this a scratch and sniff right on the screen for you! It's absolutely heavenly!! I rubbed it between my fingers and I smelled the strong fresh lemon scent - like those scented hand wipe packets restaurants sometimes give out, or like the best lemon scented cleaner you can imagine. But fresh...not artificial. I may need to remember to plant this one every year. I will use it in the little bouquets I keep on my kitchen window sill all through the summer. But I will also use it in marinades for chicken or fish. Maybe even try a bit in baking - like blueberry lemon muffins. It is so aromatic and I just love the pretty golden look of it too. 

Thanks for sharing this lovely moment with me. To slow down and take in the surroundings engaging every sense and making a watering chore an absolute pleasure. Have a blessed weekend. xoxo

Friday Five Senses

 

Hello Friends! Happy Friday to you. 

I'm bummed because I was so good at fighting off all of the flu and cold germs all season...but this past week I finally succumbed. I have a horrible head and chest cold (thankfully not covid). So I have been coughing, sneezing, feeling tired - the whole deal. Today I have finally felt a little bit better so I have been cleaning up a bit. Lysoling everything. And I thought I'd do some blogland visits and a quick post of a Friday 5 senses. 😊 

SEE

I can see the sunbeams shining in the window - which probably contributed to my bit of pep. It has been gray lately, and we got several more inches of snow the past few days. So even though it's really cold today, the sunbeams give a nice burst of energy. 

HEAR

I can hear the velvety rub and squeak of markers as I work on a coloring page today. I'm also listening to Celtic harp music and they both have been really relaxing soothing sounds in my day. 

TASTE

The first pic is from a few days ago - but this has been my drink on repeat lately. The bottom cup is my current one I'm sipping the last of right now. It's orange and spice tea with a squeeze of lemon and little honey & cinnamon. I like this tea because my tastebuds are dulled from my cold - but I can still taste the spices in the tea and the bright citrus from the orange and the squirt of lemon. The honey helps coat and soothe my throat. 

FEEL AND SMELL

I'm sort of cheating and lumping these 2 senses together. I can feel the nice soft aloe in the tissue when I blow my poor sore nose. I can't smell too well right now. Lol But I can smell the strong menthol vapor given off in these cough drops. They work well! 

I hope you have a cozy and very healthy weekend ahead. 

xoxo