Getting Ready for Anything and Everything Apple

Hey Yeah!!

It's that time of year again; Stuart Virginia's annual 

Apple Dumpling Festival!

October 19, 2013

I'm think I should conjure up some apple goodness but to get myself in the right apple state of mind I thought I'd revisit last years festival and gather some ideas. 

Since I was taking a stroll down memory lane I thought you might want to stroll it with me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Here you go!

Stuart, Virginia's Annual

Apple Dumpling Festival

Great turn out!

Lots of Artisans!

Yum..

Yum, yum

Local grown apple

                                               The guest of honor..Apple Dumplings

How 'bout Homemade ice cream atop those dumplings?

Music at the amphitheatre

C.C. Coates Band

Am I in the warm sun in the middle of the day?

Or..

Some dimly lit corner?

Great Blues Band!

What a way to enjoy an autumn day? This is just one of a few festivals that Stuart puts on but it definitely is a favorite. Nothing screams the turning leaves and the brisk air like the Apple Dumpling Festival. As you can see folks turned out from all over. Definitely a stopping point for many traveler. This little town is at the foot of the Blue Ridge Parkway and makes a wonderful place to stop on your next leaf watching adventure. I thank you for letting me share my day with you and thank you for stopping by 

Southern Direction.

Be blessed.

Shake It Baby Shake It~Monday Music Moves Me

Sometimes you just gotta

Shake it baby!

Hey!..I said shake it..shake a leg shake ya' head..shake ya tail feather!

Let's start this thang off with the original Wild Man.

                           

                                 

Aah...you still wanting to boogie? Well me, too!

              

Oh yeah..by now You Should Be Dancing...

                          

                         


                          

Time to put that slow roll on..

                           

I'm hoping your week is off to a shakin' good time.

Shake Your Tail Feather!

            

BE BLESSED!

Peppermint Sugar Scrub~DIY

Ingredients:

sugar(white or brown)

unscented oil such as grapeseed 

peppermint essential oil

Directions:

• I started by placing about a cup of white sugar in a small mixing bowl.
• Begin pouring oil(about 1/4 cup) into sugar while stirring. 
• Continue stirring and adding oil until you have the consistency of sticky sand            (sandcastle quality)
• Add 2 or 3 drops of peppermint oil and mix/
• Pour into a container with a large opening such as a large mouth jar

 That is it!

Tie a ribbon around your jar to make super easy gift to yourself or someone ya' love.

Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you will give this DIY a try.

BE BLESSED!

Whipped Coconut & Lavender Moisturizer

For about three month, I've been using a natural moisturizer.

I found the recipe for Whipped Coconut Moisturize while scrolling through Pinterest.

The article explained all the benefits of coconut and with a oh-so simple recipe I was convinced to give it a try.

My method is quite simple coconut oil whipped with a mixer. The first few times I made this I just used some vanilla extract I know that must sound crazy but I didn't have essential oils on hand. The result wasn't bad and I could feel and see the difference in my skin almost immediately but I missed the fragrance. I had become spoiled to those store bought aroma's. 

Once receiving the doTerra Lavender Essential Oils, I can't got back only a drop or two have soothed my fragrant wants. I wish there was a way to convey the purity in the smell and it totally added a refreshing to the cream and made my skin really feel revived.

I tell you it was so good that Roscoe, our dog, ate my first  batch with the lavender, completely!

I guess you can't blame a dog for following his nose.

I hope you'll give this moisturizer a try. 

As always...thanks for stopping by.

BE BLESSED!

Pumpkin French Toast Casserole

Fall is callin'

What?? 

You don't hear it?

It's calling pumpkin, Pumpkin, PUMPKIN...

We want more...we want more...

So today let's make up some Pumpkin French Toast Casserole.

Ingredients:

• Loaf of bread~I'm using some day old french bread. Use a bread of your choice.
• Dozen eggs
• 1 cup o' milk
• 8 oz. block Cream Cheese
• 1 cup of raisins..or more
• 1 1/2 cup of pumpkin~~I used 1/2 a can of Libby's
• teaspoon of Vanilla
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon 
• 2 cups of Brown Sugar
• nuts~I used Fisher crusshed nuts for ice cream topping 
• Maple syrup

Once you've gathered your ingredients place your cream cheese in the freezer.

This will make it much easier to cut into cubes.

1. Cut bread into cubes. Place into casserole dish.

2. Cut your block of cream cheese into cubes. Place on top of cubed bread.

3. Sprinkle raisin over bread and cream cheese.
4. Mix pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, and brown sugar.
    Mixture will be dark and thick.
5. Lightly beat eggs and milk together.
6. Pour egg mixture over bread. 
    Pour slowly so that the bread will soak it up rather than 
    turning soggy on you.

7. Cover and place in the refrigerator until morning 
     or at least 2 hours.
8. When you are ready to bake your casserole 
     Heat oven at 350 degrees.
9. Bake for 30 minutes covered with foil.
10. Sprinkle nuts and drizzle maple syrup over the top
11. Bake for 30 minutes uncover.

Your casserole should be soft drizzly
                                                                               but..
                                                               if you need more add a few more raisins
                                                                               and
                                                                  drizzle more maple syrup.