November 7, 2014

 Autumn is the Mellow Time of Year?!

Immersing myself in all that autumn has to offer!
Photo courtesy of Trevor Hoffman

I love autumn! Those lazy, cool, fall days;  trees filled with a myriad of colorful fall leaves, big bright orange pumpkins, and baskets brimming full of fresh-from-the-orchard, crisp red apples, culminating in my favorite of all holidays, Thanksgiving!

An example of the colorful beauty of autumn.
Ashtabula, Ohio’s Lakeshore Park, on Lake Erie.
October 2014

 The Irish poet, William Allingham, once claimed,
Autumn (is) the mellow time (of year).

 Mellow???? During this past month and a half, my mellow memorable autumn has included…

• Finishing up a three-month stint living (and working) overseas
• Spending a stopover (work week) in Switzerland
• Family time over a three day week-end at Walt Disney World to cheer on our daughter in her first 10-mile race
• Visiting a country pumpkin patch at Larriland, near home in Maryland
• Taking a trip to Ohio, that included a one day business trip for Dale, and the beautiful wedding for a friend
• Enjoying three days visiting family in Cape Cod

 Autumn 2014, Photomontage of Fun
Please, allow me to share with you,
a brief photomontage of some fun highlights of my Autumn 2014.

Posing near the Red Sea where we were living overseas,
September 2014.

The picturesque view from our window in Switzerland,
September 2014.

Look for a future photo blog about our week in Switzerland.
Meanwhile, please click on my Swiss post from 2013, below.
https://annettehoffman.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/touring-with-swiss-missmrs/

Enjoying our long weekend at Walt Disney World
with my youngest two.
October 2014

Our oldest son, Trevor, and his family, joined us for Walt Disney World fun at The Sci-Fi Café!
The dining cars are such fun!
At one time, waitresses used to serve in roller skates!

I love the Sci-Fi Café! (The official name is now the Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater)
Part of the fun are the sci-fi movie clips shown
while the meal is being served.
(Does anyone know if this movie clip “loop” is for sale anywhere?)
In my dream world, my basement is set up, just like this! :o)
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/hollywood-studios/sci-fi-dine-in-theater/

Martese proudly displays her medal for completing the
Tower of Terror, 10 mile run, being one of the over 15,000 runners!
She ran, dressed as the original mousketeer, Annette Funicello!
Walt Disney World, October 2014
http://www.rundisney.com/tower-of-terror-10-miler/runner-info/

It was a pleasure to attend the beautiful fall wedding, in Ohio,
for Kim and Brett Fleischmann
October 10, 2014
Photo courtesy of Lauren Redmond

Chandler exhibits his pumpkin balancing skill,
while pumpkin picking at Larriland in Maryland.
Dale, and my mom (visiting from Iowa), look on.
October 2014

A spectacular autumn Cape Cod view.
October 2014

Dale and I just had to take a selfie on a Cape Cod beach
with Dale’s mom.
October 2014

Check out this awesome “Wizard of Oz” Halloween lawn display!
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
October 2014

 A Recipe to Share

 Happy Thanksgiving Trash

 Ingredients:

1 box (12 oz) Crispix cereal

12.6-1 lb. plain m & m’s

12.6-1 lb. peanut m & m’s

1 (8oz) bag small shaped pretzels

1 can (12.5 oz) can Spanish peanuts

20-24 oz. white almond bark

 Directions:

Mix all ingredients, but almond park in large bowl.

Melt almond bark slowly per instructions. (I do this in the microwave in 30-second increments.)

Pour melted almond bark over dry ingredients, stirring until well coated.

Spread out onto wax paper over cookie sheets.

Cool. (Might need to refrigerate.)

Store in airtight container.

Note: Make this for any holiday by changing the seasonal m & m colors (if you cannot find seasonal colors, the regular colors will do. :o)) :

Happy Halloween Trash

Happy Thanksgiving Trash

Happy Valentine’s Day Trash

Happy St. Patrick’s Day Trash

Happy Easter Trash

Happy 4^th of July Trash

 Thanksgiving Traditions

Many of my favorite things about Thanksgiving revolve around all of those little traditions that our family has established over the years. Everything from…

• the food we eat each year,
• to our family’s own version of the Turkey Bowl,
• trivia board game playing, along with new games,
• to the movies and classic TV shows that make their annual appearance in-between the football games of the weekend,
  they all add up to making memories at our house.

Click on the link below to read about some recipes, along with movies and TV shows that my family enjoys. A free Thanksgiving printable is also included.Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving!

https://annettehoffman.wordpress.com/2013/11/12/annettes thanksgiving/

Some of our crew having fun playing “Just Dance”,
Thanksgiving 2013

 Thanks for reading!  :o)

Annette

I attempt to post my blog bi-monthly, look for my next post around December 8.

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Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!