Howdy Sugar Pies! Over here in my neck of the woods (Branson, Missouri)I have tried to squeeze out all of the goodness of Fall to the very last drop! It’s been sweeter than homemade sorghum on Lambert’s Throwed Rolls. Now if you haven’t been to Lambert’s, they have the yummiest pillow-y yeast rolls fresh ‘n’ hot out of the oven that they throw to you across the room. Then a cute country gal comes by with sweet and gooey sorghum syrup to drizzle on top….mmm…mmm, now that’s what I call good eats! (Sorghum is a sweet light molasses syrup…my mother-in-law puts 1/2 cup in her chocolate chip cookie dough to make her cookies extra chewy!) Anyhoo, autumn is breathtaking here so I’m gonna take y’all on a whirlwind arm-chair tour of fall splendor in my hometown. This is Bluegrass country and it’s smack dab in the middle of the Bible Belt….and that’s the way I like it! Yee Hawwwwwww! Enjoy!
Here is my view from the front porch…
The tree in front of my house….
The road in front of “The Farmhouse”….
My backyard….
Fall is such a glorious time to get out and enjoy one of my favorite things to do …. junkin’ with my sister-in-law Linda ( I’m married to her cute brother). Recently we took a couple days to visit a couple of our neighboring towns…starting with the darling town of Ozark…..
Ozark has an adorable town square with the Court House in the middle….I always think of the movie Back To The Future!
It is also home to one of our most favorite places to shop for vintage goods and have the yummiest lunch EV-AH!….Spring Creek Tea Room….
This charming Autumn vignette greeted us at the front door…
Here is the menu for their scrumptious assortment of the most amazing desserts!
The hardest part is choosing!
Take a peek!
We had oh-so-yummy Chicken Salad Sandwiches and heavenly Cold Strawberry soup… 
For dessert we decided to go for the Better-Than-Anything Chocolate Cake and Hawaiian Sunset Cake…Oh me, Oh my! I think I heard Angels singing with the first bite! We like to get two different desserts and share them….you see, we have a need to know which one is better! It’s a hard job but somebody’s got to do it! (Both flavors were delish! We couldn’t decide…I’ll think we’ll have to come back and try again. Oh well! LoL)
I really try to limit myself to one dessert a week…this cake was worth the wait!
Next door is another quaint little shop called The Avant-Garde’n (417- 485- 4857) It’s filled with all kinds of delightful goodies….
That story-book red dooris actually a bookcase! It’s about 14 inches deep and has shelves all the way down when you open the door. Very farmhouse-y, LOvE iT!
Here’s another one with a sweet farmhouse screen door. I think I heard it calling my name. LOL
On another day we headed up toward Lebanon Missouri and stopped at one of the best antique shops west of the Mississippi…The Route 66 Antique Mall….come on in and have a look around…
Every booth is a showcase! If you like primitive vintage this is the place to go!
I wonder what stories this rolling pin could tell? I bet it rolled out a mess of buttermilk biscuits and pie dough in it’s day!
I’ve just gotta tell ya, the comfy green plaid flannel jumper that I am wearing with blue-jeans, was actually a dress from J. C. Penny. I got it on sale for $13 , had it hemmed a little shorter so it now looks like a top rather than a dress. I love longer tops that go to the thigh and I love me some good deals!
We tried a new restaurant called Gary’s Dowd’s Catfish (yes that’s the name!). The name reminded me of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (amazing restaurant by the way)…A lady named Ruth bought the Chris Steakhouse and since she was the new owner she just put her name in front of Chris. Looks like Gary did the same…. makes sense I think (I’m scratching my head). Anyhoo, it was a delightful place for a quick pit-stop!
Last week my hubby and I took Summer Rose to our local pumpkin patch for some good old fashioned fall fun….
It’s a homestead complete with a log cabin and a corn field in the front yard.
They provide bumpy hayrides down into the woods….
All Aboard!
My blue scarf that looks like a checkered tablecloth….compliments of Target! For some reason I feel like eating fried chicken when I wear it.
The view looking up….
The view looking down….yup those are my cowgirl boots! yEe HaW!
The view behind us! It was so beautiful, the air was apple-crisp and sweet and the sun lit up the trees like fire.
Summer decided to do a little chicken chasing! Her friend has chickens that she enjoys catching and holding, but this little rascal was a little too quick for her….
Oh well maybe next time! There are other fun things to do…..
Like talking to the piggies….I’d say these were some happy pigs, stretched out in the warm mud sleeping in the sunshine!
There were cows to pet….
And haybales to climb!
Summer climbed up by herself….
But needed Daddy’s help getting down….
She LoVes her daddy!
I tried to take a picture of her running through the corn maze but she ran as fast as that rascal chicken!
Time to find that perfect pumpkin….
Oh here it is! Oh honey!
There was a cute little farmstand filled with all kinds of goodies…
Well, I got my pumpkin but I think I would have rather had that cute old farm truck!
My Hubby and I discovered this cute little cafe right here in Branson with the most amazing breakfast meals! It was a chilly morning with light rain…a romantic and cozy little spot to get warm and fed. 
The townsfolk and businesses really do a wonderful job decorating for harvest and the Holidays. How cute is this little vintage trike with the pumpkin sitting on top!
Come on in!
Billy Gail’s has all kinds of quirky signs everywhere…Ice N’ Pop…Foodstuffs…Dodads…Fancies.
They sell the vintage things that they decorate with.
Here’s one that took me a while to figure out! See if you can……
It says (in proper english) This must be the place.
If you want pancakes, you only need to order ONE! It’s bigger than the plate! I think that sweet little lady to the right of me might be thinking I wonder if she needs help eating that flying saucer of a pancake….the answer is YeS! I have to say it was one of the most delish pancakes I’ve ev-ah tasted! And the cheese and mushroom omlet was the best ev-ah too! This was a real treat, since I usually just have a bowl of cereal and fruit for breakfast!
The last stop on my Enjoying the Goodness of Fall in the Ozarks Tour…..
Silver Dollar City….just 15 minutes from my house….and just 15 minutes to the most amazing aromas….cinnamon rolls baking! I love this little bakery nook, they sell all kinds of kitchen gadgets and cookie cutters….jams and jellies….cookbooks….
Pecan pie in a jar….Nut Crackers….Apple Pie Filling….
Adorable mixing bowls and pottery pieces for the kitchen….
Amazon sells it too….click here for the butter dish and here for the mixing bowl.
Yummy dessert mixes….how adorable is Miss Elsie Grace! Her package says “My Heart Bakes For You”!
I had to take a picture of this cute sign: Mc Haffie’s Homestead presents The Milk Cow Gals. Too cute!
Summer and I love to visit these Authentic Cabins built in the 1800’s and furnished in that time period. It really helps you imagine what life must have been like back then…
Every morning they cook a breakfast meal on a real wood stove for the folks who work there.
Notice the dishes are upside down…that’s a great idea for keeping dust and critters off of the clean plates. Those pioneer women were so creative!
This is how washing dishes was done before the dishwasher! To me it kind of looks like fun….maybe for a day or so!
The Smokehouse just outside the cabins…
“Meat Smoking: Prior to refrigeration, smoking meat preserved, as well as, added flavor to the family meat supply.”
It was Fall Festival time at Silver Dollar City. Craft booths were set up and folks would demonstrate their craft. This gal is making Sawdust dolls…..
Here they are!
Summer and I had a grand old time!
Well that’s it Sugar Pies! I have had a super busy two weeks! Now it’s time to settle in at the Farmhouse and start making plans for Thanksgiving….the Kinfolk are gathering at my house this year! Then Christmas time’s a comin’! I need to start decking the halls! So much to do! I had better grab my apron and get busy!
Have a blessed week! All of you Sugar Pie Sistas of mine are in my prayers!
Hugs to you!
Thanks for stopping by for Pie.
Aunt Ruthie
I know I’ve talked about this before Sugar Pies, ( but it is worth repeating over and over because we forget! Or at least I do sometimes…..) Be a friend to yourself! Know what your limits are, plan ahead for things so you don’t get so stressed out. Get a calendar/planner and write down appointments so you don’t miss them or schedule too many things in one week. Talk nice to yourself ( you darlin’ thing you!). Cancel that pity-party… it will steal your joy! Come on now, pull yourself up by your cute cowgirl boot-straps! Try to stay on top of things in your home so cleaning the house won’t become so overwhelming (has your house ever looked like an earthquake happened at Walmart? That is not a pleasant feeling!). It’s really hard for us to think straight (and keep our joy) when our home is in disorder. A messy nest will only bring us unrest! We need to take care of ourselves and our home so we can best care for our family! It’s amazing how our environment affects our emotions! And if Mama ain’t happy…well, you know the rest!
Oh my dear Sugar Pie homemakers, we need God’s help to do the most important job there is! Nothing can match the treasure of a happy home or the heartwarming memories that are made there….for you and your family!
Here are a few Happy Home Tips that have helped me keep a spring in my step and make me feel blessed to be the keeper of my home!
1. Start the day with prayer, praise and thanksgiving!
Let me just tell you, the best thing you can do for yourself is to meet with the Lord each morning. (“Seek first God’s Kingdom and what God wants. Then all of your other needs will be met as well. Matthew 6:33 New Century Bible). The first thing I do right when wake up is to begin thanking and praising God. I think about how He has blessed me and my heart is warmed.
Before I get out of bed I declare these two heart-lifting scriptures:
- “This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
- “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house (Presence) of the Lord for ever. Amen” Psalm 23:6
His love for you and I is so extravagant, full of sparkling grace and glowing mercy. He knows our difficulties and wants so much for us to trust Him with them.
“He’s walked in your shoes. He knows it’s hard! He delights to show you mercy and give you grace. He has compassion on you and sees your heart. Your need is not looked down on by Him. You are His beloved child.” ~Mary Grace Birkhead
Spending my first few morning-moments talking to God just feels right. It’s at that time I ask Him to help me, to give me wisdom, joy and strength to accomplish the things that I need to do, to be mindful of my blessings and to bless others. Then I get up, read a scripture and meditate on it while I am showering and getting dressed. Throughout the day I talk to the Lord, He is my constant friend! I love that the Word says “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”! I don’t want to miss out on any of God’s rewards!
“Keep company with God. Get in on the best”. Psalm37:4 (The Message Bible)
On most mornings I get up early to spend time reading the Word of God, pray, and write in my journal what I feel He is speaking to my heart. I take time to thank the Lord for His goodness, promises and blessings. I also ask Him to help me with whatever is going on in my life…to guide me, to help me show love like He does and give me wisdom. If for some reason I don’t start the day with devotions, I feel the difference.
2. Getting pretty makes you feel sweet and perky! To start my day off right, I shower, get dressed, put makeup on, and fix my hairdo (unless I’m sick in bed of course). If I don’t, I feel sluggish, sloppy and frumpy. Then, it affects how much I can get accomplished in the day. That’s just me, the way I’m wired. I feel so much more energetic and ready to face the day when put myself together.
3. Tidy the bathroom after you get dressed! After I “paint the barn” (Lol!) I put my brushes, flat iron, dryer and toiletries away. I wipe down the sink and put wet towels in laundry basket. I don’t leave the bathroom until it’s wiped down and picked up. I find that when I tidy up my bathroom each day, when it’s time to do the nitty-gritty cleaning it’s not that big of a deal.
Can I just tell you sisters that I am not always on top of things?! There are days I get behind for one reason or another. I am not a born organized person, I have to work at it! ( Seriously!) But, I’ve figured out that my days go smoother when my house is in order. I’ve adopted this motto…Clean as you go! Girls, it’s a fact, we are happier when we’re surrounded by beauty and order instead of bedlam and chaos. A happy mama makes a happier home. Join me and make “Clean as you go” your new motto….it does take a little extra effort but you’ll be so glad you did!
4. Make the bed! I make my bed and tidy up my bedroom. I want to enjoy sinking into a fresh bed at night in a calm, clean and serene room. This blesses my husband also!
5. Start the laundry! When I leave my bedroom I grab the laundry basket and start a load of wash. I do laundry everyday instead of waiting for a certain day of the week. It’s too overwhelming to tackle mountains of laundry all at once. (Trust me, raising four kids, I know about mountains of laundry!) Doing a little each day makes it so much easier!
6. Create a Happy Home Atmosphere! So after I’ve gotten the laundry started I head into the kitchen. The first thing I do is create what I call My Happy Home Atmosphere…..light a yummy candle, I put on some music ( I’m listening to Christmas already!), and open the windows for some fresh air (unless it’s super hot or freezing outside!). I don’t turn the TV on because then I am tempted to sit and watch…and there goes my day! (We record our favorite shows and watch them at night.)
7. Empty the dishwasher! The kitchen is always cleaned after dinner. In the morning it’s really so helpful to empty the dishwasher right away. That way any dirty dishes or cups can be put straight into the dishwasher instead of loading up the sink. (If you don’t have a dishwasher, fill half of your sink with hot sudsy water, put any dirty morning dishes in the water to soak while you are attending to other things, then in a short while it will be easy to wash them up, rinse, dry and put away!)
Side Note! Now, if you’ve got little ones and you can get these things done before they wake up you will feel amazing! Depending on what time the kids get up, if you can get up a little earlier to get started on the day it will be so worth it! If that’s not possible, then perhaps during their naptime you can get a few things accomplished. Little ones require our full attention so you may not be able to get everything done as you would like…that’s ok! Just do what you can! As they get older you’ll be able to do more. Been there, done that with my four kids!
8. Check your planner or calendar: I like to review my planner/calendar the night before just in case I have an appointment so I’m prepared. You can do a quick review in the morning too. That way you can keep on top of your plans.
9. Grocery shopping day! Mondays are usually my grocery shopping days, so usually Sunday afternoon I sit down and make a list of meals that I want to make for the following week. I’ll go through a couple of my cookbooks (which I love to do) to see if there is something new I want to try. Come Monday I have grocery list in hand with a pen to mark off the items as I find them. I always plan a simple meal on grocery shopping days because by the time I get home, make several trips to the car carrying in the bags then unloading them I’m not feeling like I want to spend two hours cooking dinner. Now that is the ideal scenario! Life often does not go as planned. We get sick, we’re too tired, other things come up. When that happens I don’t sweat it at all. I have my go-to meals that my family loves that I don’t need recipes for like tacos, baked chicken with veggies, fajitas, pot roast, ribs etc. I also have a few recipes on my iphone…(I take a photo of my recipes and keep it in the Note App) for quick reference so if I’m at the store and decide to make my Minestrone Soup or Chili then I’ve got the ingredients list so I won’t forget something. Sometimes we just have to go with the flow and that is OKAY!!
10. Keep a smile on your adorable face! Did you know that smiling activates neural messages in your brain that benefits your health and happiness? Smiling can reduces stress, build your immune system, and puts you in a better mood. When you smile it releases endorphins and serotonin which lifts your mood. Your smile can make others smile and then they feel better…and that’s a beautiful thing!
You know Sugar Pies, every woman is a homemaker. Whether you work outside or inside the home. If we live in a home we are a homemaker. Anything you can do to create that “ahhh…it’s good to be home” feeling is the best gift you can give to your family and yourself! A home that is comforting, safe and happy will do wonders in providing a sense of well being and the sense of belonging your family needs! It’s up to us girls! Fortunately we have the help of the Lord! If you haven’t read it in a while, I want to encourage you to read Proverbs 31: 10-31. It talks about our role as homemakers and how we are worth far more than rubies! I can tell by the comments you leave me that your desire is to create a home-sweet-home, and I want to say how proud I am of you for that! Keep up the good work! The Lord will surely bless you!
Don’t forget Be A Friend to Yourself! There is only one of you and you are loved, valuable and needed!
Blessings to y’all!
Aunt Ruthie
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