On Monday, Patty hosted a wonderful Halloween Brunch at her home for the Breakfast Bunch!
Her table was set in just a festive manner. . . putting all of us in the "spirit" of the season!
For some reason I decided, in a weak moment, that my hubby and I should host a Halloween Party this year.
Actually, I do know the reason was because for the first time in years, that weekend was finally open for us and I wanted to actually enjoy a gathering in honor of the occasion. . . and it was also a huge motivation for me to CLEAN MY HOUSE!!!
I have been on a cleaning rampage this week. . . . ceiling fans. . . woodwork. . . .blinds. . . . I even cleaned my oven this week. OK. . . if you look closely you can see that I didn't clean the racks. . . but the rest of of the oven looks amazing!
I find that I open that door about 22 times a day, just to see the sparkle and glow coming from the clean metal!! :)
I've really been a slouch about Fall decorating this year. SO, having a party inspired me to "get with it".
My pal Bonnie gave me some wonderful corn stalks.
Yesterday, I had this really great idea to put the cornstalks on the front porch, but I couldn't get them to stand up.
After a bit, I came upon the plan to use a couple of old metal plant stands as bases onto which I could anchor the stalks!
I pushed the stands against the brick wall on each side of the window on the front porch. Then I stood cornstalks around the plant stands and secured them in the middle with jute.
I had to enlist the "weighty" help of one of THE STONE RABBIT'S concrete bunnies to help secure the base of the plant-stand.
I added some birch branches and bittersweet, then wrapped burlap ribbon around each group of stalks.
Some time ago, Marian and I signed up to take a pie making class on The Historic Independence Square. Well, last night was the night for that class!
Sally, our teacher, was fabulous! She gave us such great directions for making the perfect crusts, then demonstrated how to fill a fruit pie and a custard pie.
She then turned us loose to make our own pies to take home and bake!
I couldn't think of a better item to bake in my pristine oven than the little cherry pie I had created with my own two hands!!
THE STONE RABBIT was really impressed with my new found pie making skills. It didn't slip by him that I had nibbled away on the crust. :)
What a wonderful treat. . . .homemade cherry pie. . . .with the perfect amount of pinky-redness!!
Hmmmm. . . .Twiggy was pretty impressed, too!!!
Please visit Beverly, at HOW SWEET THE SOUND, for a long list of other bloggers who have Halloween or Fall or PINKS to share with you!
Happy PINK SATURDAY!!!
DANA
Happy Pink Saturday, dear Dana. And, Happy Autumn and Happy Halloween.
The Halloween Brunch must have been so much fun. The table looks scary fabulous. You girls are always up to something fun.
I love your front porch. When is the party? I don't want to be late.
My husband's favorite is cherry pie. He would love you.♥
Posted by: Beverly | October 28, 2011 at 04:20 AM
Happy Pink Saturday "autumn", Dana!!
Your pie looks scrumptious. I would have nibbled crust too...that is my favorite part of a pie.:-)
Posted by: Pat@Back Porch Musings | October 28, 2011 at 05:50 AM
Can I come to your party Dana? xo
Posted by: Lynn @thevintagenest | October 28, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Hi Dana....I hope you are not going to be too pooped to enjoy your party! Your decorations look great and the pie made me hungry. I need lessons as when I bake an apple pie the crust rises way above the filling...Uggg! I will never be a baker!
Have fun at your party!
Jil
PS Shabby Cottage Shops is having their annual Pinkalicious Christmas Shoppe with beautiful shops and fun prizes...hope you will come and register!
Posted by: Jil | October 28, 2011 at 01:08 PM
Me too - why didn't you invite Lynn and me??? BOO-hoo. (That's scary crying by the way)
Your cornstacks look incredible - they are the best I've ever seen and the bittersweet makes them perfect. Almost as perfect as that pristine oven and the pie is fabulous...please send me the leftovers. Have fun at the party you're hosting without Lynn and me. I'm sure it will be a huge hit. Now stop reading and go clean some more!!! xoxo Nancy
Posted by: Nancy | October 28, 2011 at 01:09 PM
Happy Pink Saturday, Dana! Your cherry pie looks beautiful! I always have trouble getting my crust to look so smooth --any tips? I've always heard "don't overwork the dough or it will be tough" yet all professional bakers doughs look so wonderfully smooth.
Your corn stalk idea was wonderful and they look so festive and pretty. ave a fun Autumn/Halloween Party
I'm so sorry that I have been so remiss in visiting -- it has bee a busy time since spring with my helping my daughter move to Colorado and then do wedding plans with her and then lots of travel. My husband and I just got back from a two weeks trip to California --business and pleasure trip--it was wonderful!
Happy Halloween!
Hugs,
Pat
Posted by: Pat | October 28, 2011 at 01:33 PM
Dana, You have been very busy! The pie making class sounds interesting to me...both my father and grandfather owned bakeries while I was growing up so I never learned to bake. Now that I have lost my free pie connection I have been wanting to learn and the local cooking school has a class starting next month...I am really thinking about taking that class. Your pie looks delicious!
Posted by: black eyed susans kitchen | October 28, 2011 at 01:54 PM
Great post. Yes, hosting a party is the incentive to decorate and clean. Have a great Pink Saturday.
Posted by: Joann Miller Mathias | October 28, 2011 at 02:14 PM
Your corn stalks look great on the porch! Very creative way to keep them up! Love Cherry pie, I'll be right over! hugs, Linda
Posted by: Linda @ A La Carte | October 28, 2011 at 03:32 PM
Oo! Yummy! Beautiful table- sets the season perfectly!
Posted by: envoy-ette | October 28, 2011 at 05:57 PM
Happy Pink Saturday Dana Sweetie...
What a beautiful share. I absolutely loved this post. Those corn stalks are so festive and really accent the front of the house. They are perfect against the brick wall. I love the idea that you used for the plant stands to hold them tall and those burlap bows are so pretty. Those little twigs you added give just the right amount of color. So pretty Dana.
Oh your cherry pie is so yummy looking. The crust looks just perfect and the pink, makes me think of your pinkie cuppies. (Which by the way, our stores now have. Strawberry delicious.) How fun to take a baking class. Looks like fun.
Have a glorious weekend sweet friend. Country hugs, Sherry
Posted by: Sherry | October 28, 2011 at 07:23 PM
I LOVE your cornstalk idea! Your pie looks delicious...and that OVEN! Amazing! :) I also think your friend's candy corn candle holders are pretty adorable! :) Hope you have a very lovely weekend!
HaPpY pInK sAtUrDaY!
Sarah
Posted by: Sarah Coller | October 28, 2011 at 08:33 PM
Fabulous pies - and the cleanest oven I've ever seen outside a showroom (I don't even want to talk about mine - I hang my head in shame, lol). We don't really 'do' Halloween in the UK, but we are catching up fast - so Happy Halloween, hugs and Happy Pink Saturday from the UK!
Posted by: Susie Jefferson | October 29, 2011 at 12:19 AM
Oh Dana, you are so wonderful! You are filled with so much energy. I wish I were close by. I would have you come over, kick me gently in the butt and I would get some major cleaning done too! Your decorations are beautiful and your friends brunch divine! Thanks for sharing the PS and season of bewitching fun with all of us! HPS to you! Please pray for our son Nick and his cross country team. They run at state today at 1 P.M. MST. Blessings to you
Posted by: Anne | October 29, 2011 at 06:09 AM
It is about time I commented on your post Dana, I came over but was distracted yesterday, so I'm back.
Patty's table looks beautiful and I know you had a wonderful time. I would love to have a group of friends like yours to visit as often as you do. The one bad thing about us moving so much is losing touch with old friends. I know I have my sisters and I imagine your breakfast is kind of like sisters. You care about each other very much.
Your fall decorations look so festive. I love the cornstalks too. Good job and I am sure you will have a great time entertaining in your lovely home.
You took lessons to make pie??? You should have called me but I admit to not making my own pie crust anymore. I used to but it is a lot of work. I think your cherry pie looks delicious. You will be all set to go for Thanksgiving.
We are having a great time with our daughters, Christina, Diana and grands. Of course our son-in-laws too. Diana and family drove up to Jax for the football game. We lost, sigh! I heard that Missouri will be joining the SE conference. We could be playing together if that happens. We will be rivals. Big smile.
It is bedtime so good night my dear friend.
Love, Jeanne
Posted by: jeanne | October 30, 2011 at 08:21 PM
Your spider webs look so cute. Love the cornstalks....great decorations.
Posted by: Ceekay | October 31, 2011 at 04:45 PM