Decorating My October Home

 

 

 

 When I decorate for fall, I start with my front door. I have several inexpensive Temu signs for fall and Halloween that I enjoy. Above is September's door, Hello Fall. Below is October's door, Home Sweet Spooky Home.

 

 

 

 

 By the front door is a coat closet and my House Blessing which I've had for almost 30 years. I've had it by the front door of each home since its purchase.

 

 

 

 

 A House Blessing

 

Bless the corners of this house.

And be the lintel blest; 

And bless the hearth, and bless the board,

And bless each place of rest; 

And bless the door that opens wide

To strangers as to kin;

And bless each crystal windowpane

That lets the starlight in;

And bless the rooftree overhead

And every sturdy wall;

The peace of God, and the peace of man,

The peace of love on all.

      Arthur Guiterman (1871-1943), American writer & poet

 

By the House Blessing is my painted small chest.  I've shopped my home and rotated art. Instead of my father's painting of a landscape scene, I brought out of the bedroom a hand-painted treasure from my late friend, Mary.  It is sunset on the Florida keys, and the colors are perfect for autumn. On top of the chest are faux flowers and 2 wooden rabbits.

 

 

 

 Across from the chest is my TV area.  In September, I continued with my summer pillow on the loveseat in my TV area by the front door.

 

 

 

 

 For October and November, I'm adding more vibrant fall color with a fox pillow cover.

 

 

 

 In the area by the dining table, is my grandmother's old wooden side table. Again, I rotated art from the bedroom and placed a wall art of a fall fox. A small wooden framed photo on the table is of my sister's family with a small pumpkin. 

 

 

Now for the dining room.

 

 

 

Living in Florida, I don't really get to see colorful fall leaves in autumn. but I still like to decorate for October & November with some warm colored faux leaves. Several years ago, I crafted  rings of faux fall leaves for autumn decorations. The rings are sized for Dollar Tree chargers to enhance my place settings as well as centerpieces or other decorations.

 

 

Photo taken 2023 in my home

  

 

 

I used Dollar Tree leaves and a needle and thread. You could also make the ring using a hot glue gun.  With my arthritis, I do better with a needle and don't get burned.  You can buy a pack of individual leaves or use left over bunches of leaves on stems.  I had leaves from previous years I used.

 

 

 

I used a wire cutter to remove each leaf from the stem. It's much easier to just buy packs of individual leaves, but I was trying to not buy anything and just make do.

 1. Collect individual faux maple leaves

2. Measure diameter of plate or charger to determine size of ring needed 

3. Lay leaves in circle around plate or charger 

4. Add 2 leaves together on the edges using needle & thread or hot glue gun

5. Add a 3rd and then a 4th leaf adjusting leaves to form a circle

6. Periodical check the growing ring to be sure of leaf placement and flatness of ring

7. Continue adding leaves until circle is complete

8. Repeat for number needed if desiring to encircle your dinner plates

 

I made mine large enough to edge Dollar Tree chargers  or a centerpiece on the table. If food is spilled on a leaf, you can easily wipe it with a wet sponge.  I can pack it away with fall linen in my chest of drawers.  Easy Peasy. I really shouldn't call it crafting as it is so simple.

When I started to decorate for October in late September, I immediately reached for rings of fall leaves. I started with a slice of wood on the dining table. I added a faux leaf ring on top of the wood. I bought a new ceramic off -white pumpkin which I love and added a small faux flower arrangement to the vignette.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 Thanks for the visit!

 

 

 

 

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Spooky Halloween Appetizer: Pepper Spider on Spinach Artichoke Hummus

 

For Halloween fun, make a spooky platter of a spider on green dip using pepper for the spider and spinach artichoke hummus for the dip. It looks great and is so tasty too!

 

 

Choose an orange pepper that looks like a body of a spider (with a little help).  I cut the bottom off and deseeded the pepper. 

 

 

 

  I cut a spidery body shape (maybe) and added 2 holes filled with half a dried cranberry for eyes. You could also just use edible black paint. 

 

 

 

I used the rest of the pepper to cut lengths of legs to surround the body. I placed the pepper parts on a bowl of spinach artchoke hummus. Golly, it tastes so good and has a nice green color. 

I placed the white bowl of dip & spider on a black plate and surrounded it with cut veggies. This appetizer is cute, tasty, and healthy.

 

 

I put the plate on a charger with a vintage thrift store doily in orange trim on top.  I like the look for my party.

 

  

 

 

 Now if you want to get creative, homemade dip always tastes better to me than commercial brands. I also like knowing exactly what's in my food. This hummus recipe makes a great thick dip which holds the pepper spider perfectly.

  

Spinach Artichoke Hummus

Use organic when available. Makes 1 1/2 cups or about 4 Servings 

 

Ingredients

• 1 can of cooked chickpeas drained (reserve fluid) or about 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas
• 2 tbsp tahini (sesame paste)
• 1 cup fresh spinach sauteed in a little olive oil
• 1 cup marinated artichoke hearts drained & chopped
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 small garlic clove
• salt & pepper to taste
• a drizzle of really good extra virgin olive oil or about 2 tsp

 

Instructions

• Place chickepeas in a blender or food processor with tahini, spinach, artichokes, lemon juice, garlic, salt & pepper 
• Blend at high speed until smooth; add 2 tsp reserved liquid if too dry
• Add 2 tsp of olive oil and blend again
• Chill in the refrigerator until served
• Serve with fresh vegetables, flatbread, toasted crostini, or pretzels 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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October in the Garden

 

 

My condo building is built like a square with a garden in the center. Each of the 3 floors has 4 sides. My front door opens to a walkway on the 4 sides with 2 points of access to the stairs down or up, and one elevator door. I can look sideways at the trees and sky beside the building. 

 

 

 

 

I enjoy having a small garden to greet me every day. Year-round, one of the loyal members of the garden is a peace lily. Remember, I live in central Florida with a semi-tropical climate. For most of my life I lived in south Florida, which is a zone 10, tropical climate.  Peace lilies are often planted in zone 10 shade. Full sun burns peace lilies' leaves.  Here in zone 9, I see them less often as we are exposed to times of freezing temperatures occasionally. I believe being surrounded by the 4 sides of the building helps to protect the plants. Of course, last winter's night of 28 degrees F did kill a tropical plant in this garden. Luckily, the peace lily lost some leaves but survived to come back beautifully.

 

 

 

 I hope you're enjoying October wherever you are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                     

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Pumpkin Pie Spice & Pumpkin Dip For Fall Holidays

 

Many autumn dishes call for pumpkin pie spice. It's really just a simple mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice.  I save a few glass spice jars with lids (wash, air dry) for my inexpensive homemade mixes like this.  Pumpkin Pie spice is easy to make and economical too. Be sure to annually review your herbs and spices for freshness. Although they theoretically don't expire or become unsafe, they do lose flavor, color, and aroma over time. NOTE:  Some pumpkin spice blends sold commercially contain cloves too. I personally do not like cloves. You can add and subtract a spice and change amounts to personal preference.

  

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Use organic when available. Time about 5 minutes Makes 1 cup

Ingredients

• ¼ cup ground cinnamon
• 4 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 4 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon ground allspice

Instructions

• Combine cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice together in a bowl
• Store in air-tight container with lid
• Label with name & date mixed

  

 

 

 Now for Pumpkin Dip:

 

 

 

 For all your autumn get-togethers, there's nothing like a bowl of pumpkin dip with a tray of apple slices, ginger snaps, graham crackers, pretzels, or even vanilla wafers.   It's so easy to make and will disappear fast. It's also perfect for afterschool snacks or family night in front of the TV. I suggest you place your cream cheese on the counter until it softens before mixing to avoid lumps.

  

Pumpkin Dip for Fall Holidays

Use organic when available. Makes 4 cups or about 32 Servings in 15 minutes!

For smaller amount, half the ingredients.

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup  confectioners' sugar
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Instructions

• Beat confectioners' sugar and cream cheese in a medium serving bowl with an electric mixer until smooth
• Gradually blend in pumpkin
• Add & mix cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla until well blended
• Chill in the refrigerator until served
• Serve with apple slices, ginger snaps, vanilla wafers, graham crackers, or pretzels 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Arugula & Fig Salad

 

When fresh figs are in the market, you can make a quick, fig and arugula salad with goat cheese and a simple balsamic dressing. It's fast to make, and quite tasty. 

 

 

 

 This is such an easy, yet elegant salad. The spiciness of the arugula paired with the sweetness of the figs and honey is wonderful, and the balsamic ties it all nicely together! It's a very versatile recipe.

 

 

Arugula & Fig Salad

Use organic when available. Serves 4 

Ingredients

• 4 cups arugula
• 8 fresh figs quartered
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp pine nuts toasted
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Instructions

• In a small bowl, combine honey and balsamic vinegar
• Whisk until well combined
• Place arugula, figs, Parmesan cheese, and pine nuts together in a bowl 
• Drizzle vinegar & honey on salad
• Toss lightly and serve immediately

 

 

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A Florida Fall Front is Coming!

 

 

Matt Devitt Weather, as of 9/23

 

 

Matt Dewitt as of 9/24/26
 

 

FLORIDA FALL FRONT! Cooler mornings and lower humidity are on the way for most of the state as we head into the weekend, especially Sunday. Many will be waking up to lows in the 60s with even a few upper 50s near the FL/GA line...our coolest in months. I Will Enjoy It! Yeah!

 

Facebook

 

 Yes, fall in Florida is still warm to hot with blue skies. Of course it's the rainy season and hurricane season. As of today, there hasn't been a hurricane storm in the Atlantic this year.  This is the longest period without a high level storm since 1914! 

Believe or not, despite the rain this summer, the state of Florida has NOT reached the normal level of inches and is still considered in a drought. According to updates from the U.S. Drought Monitor via Drought.gov, a large portion of the state remains impacted by abnormal dryness and varying levels of drought, ranging from moderate to extreme categories. Central and regional water management districts have reported ongoing aquifer deficits and implemented localized water conservation measures or restrictions. The City of Lakeland has issued water restrictions. We are asked to conserve water.

 Now for some fun:

 

 

 

I saw this for sale on Facebook. I love what it says; I just don't need another sweat shirt. There is only a short window of cool weather in parts of December/January when I can wear it. I need a t shirt with the message.

  

 

Another Facebook Photo

 

I do believe this is an AI graphic. It's adorable, but I've never seen an apple grow like that tail. Have you?

 

 

Photo by Arlene Swinton

 

Photo by Arlene Swinton

 

 

 These amazing photos above of lightening over Sunshine Skyway Bridge are by Arlene Swinton and were shared on Facebook by Matt Devitt, weatherman.

 

 

Now for my photos of dry grass locally for Sky Watch:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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