Howdy Sugar Pie! I’m so happy you’re here! How is your fall season going? I hope you’re breathing in the delight and sweetness of this golden time of year…it’s so good for you, ya know! Our lives are so busy, filled with challenges and struggles. That’s why it’s so important to stop and “smell those roses” or watch the leaves fall, or meet a friend for coffee . Well, as with every October, since our kids were babies, our family once again made our traditional trek to the pumpkin patch! This year our destination was Sycamore Creek Family Ranch! It’s owned by my dear friend Lisa and her husband Mike Button, pictured on the middle left above.
We had a rootin’-tootin’ good time! Yee Haw!!
It’s always such a blessing to spend time with my little cutie-patooties! That sweet butterball-baby is my son Dusty’s and daughter-in-love Kimmy’s baby girl Ember Joy. I think she’s made out of marshmallows! That delicious doll-baby is so sweet and creamy! Darlin’ Polly June sure loves her little cousin!
I do believe that Fun Family Traditions works like glue to hold families together (among a few other things of course!). Spending time together makes life meaningful and so much richer. The thing is, we have to be intentional about this because it’s so easy to say “I’m too tired”, or “I need to clean out the garage this weekend”. Sometimes we procrastinate by saying “maybe next week”. Only, next week may not work out. Someone once said “Opportunities are not postponed, they are lost forever.” So even though we have an overflowing to-do list, we must make time for some good old fashioned family fun!
“Tradition gives us a sense of solidarity and roots,
a knowing there are some things one can count on.”
~Gloria Gaither
There’s my little boy with his little boy. Awww!!!
Johnny going for a ride on a slide…Sawyer hugging grandpa…two redheaded sisters giggling…a funny donkey and some pumpkins. All adds up to a fun fall day!
My wonderful, funny, imperfect, goofy, lovable family!
(Minus my son JJ and daughter-in-love Tiffany and grandbabies, Olive Rose and Ivy James…they live in Southern California and we live in Missouri)
But here they are! J.J., Tiffany and my two adorable grand baby girls dressed up like Beanie Babies on their way to their church harvest party! I’d like to know how Tiffany talked J.J. into wearing leopard print onesies out in public! Lol! I’m glad he went along with it… they sure do look cute!
Ashley and Polly were scarecrows, Glen a 90’s guy..Lol… and Johnny’s a Star Wars Character.
Dusty and Kimmy were Black Eyed P’s (pretty clever!)…
Baby Ember Joy was a Cuties Tangerine (adorbs!) Kade, a baseball player, Zealand is an Astronaut (umm…can he breathe in that helmet? LOL!) and Sawyer Clark Kent! Lol! So cute!! Good times, fun fall memories!
And now…
Ummm…yeah, that’s me and Paula Deen!! Wait what?!!! Y’all I got to meet her!! She came to our little ol’ town of Branson, Missouri! She came to do a book signing here at our local book store. What a doll she is! Truly so sweet, caring and adorable. I told her that the VERY LONG line of people waiting to meet her was proof of how much she is loved and adored…that’s when she gave me this hug and said to me “Aww…and that love comes right back to y’all, darlin”.
That was 3 minutes of fabulous fun!! Lol!! She said that there’s a real good possibility that she might open a restaurant here in Branson! How fun would that be!! Yee Haw!!
Another fun thing is my decorating feature on my dear friend Christy Jordan’s Southern Plate website! Check it out here!
For more down-home goodness and recipes check these links below!
Aunt Ruthie’s Butter Crunch Pumpkin Bars
Grandma’s Old Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies
Aunt Ruthie’s Chewy Golden Oatmeal Cookies
Sugar Pie Farmhouse Christmas Home 2016 Tour Video
Well, darlin’s thank you so much for stopping by! I want you to know sisters that you’re in my prayers and that I love you! Keep a song in your heart, count your blessings, be sure to give God the glory and keep the home fires burning!
Sugar and hugs! Aunt Ruthie
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Ahhhhhh…I just LOVE when you post!!! I look forward to new ones and re-read your older posts frequently!
Thank you so much for this blog…what a blessing it is!
Love from New York xoxo
I’m new to the blog. Sooooo enjoyed it! Gloria Gaither’s quote is great!
I enjoy reading your posts and have saved you to my pinterest page. I was in Branson over 20 years ago and loved it and have wanted to go back. Maybe some day that will happen. Keep the posts coming and your house is gorgeous.
You have a beautiful family. They all looked great in their costumes. I can’t believe you got to meet Paula! How fun :)
love it and thank you for sharing
Love your posts! They are so uplifting! You are so right about the importance of traditions. We live in Sonoma County about 5 miles from all those horrible fires so much of what we do every year was canceled this year and it just didn’t feel the same. We did manage to make it to our yearly pumpkin patch (one of the few open) but all the great fall festivals were canceled and Halloween just wasn’t the same. It really makes you appreciate the importance of it all and to do it while you have the chance because it all can change so quickly. Thank you so much for your rays of sunshine that you are so gifted to write!
I LOVE YOUR POST, You are very Blessed to have your family so close to you, The family picture is beautiful. God Bless Ann
Thanks for the wonderful post, Ruthie; it cheers my heart. But, now, as great as it is that you got to meet Paula Deen, we can’t fail to point out that lucky Paula Deen also got to meet YOU!
Beautiful family!! Love your wonderful post, as always! Happy Fall!
Just wanted you to know that you have been my substitute mom this summer. I lost my dad last August, and then my mom in January of this year. Although I dearly miss them both, my mom and I were very close. I always counted on her encouragement and support. Her favorite dessert was any kind of pie, and I could always count on her to help me remember what ingredients go into what dish. Thanks for being a blessing to me. – Cindy in Indy
making your cozy cider as we speak for my thrive party tonight..perfect too..as it is cold and rainy..;)
Oh how I love your blog!!! It is so inspiriting to this mama of 2 darling daughters. I recently went back to teaching (4th grade) after 13 years as a Stay at Home Mama and I’ve found more than ever that it’s important to make my home a lovely place to be.
I clicked on that link and LOVE that ‘how to’ on creating a fall vignette. I know that you won’t believe this but I just couldn’t do it before you showed me. THANK you for breaking down the steps and for taking the step by step photos. Now it’s do-able!
Will you consider showing us more when the decorating for holidays come around?
Now I’m off to create a Thanksgiving vingette!
Thanks so much,
tara
Hi Ruthie! Stella from Fresno, CA here. What a precious post … I loved all the pics of your family. Your reference to your marshmallow grandbaby tickled my heart. And, what a sweet moment you had with Paula Deen!
Hey, will you be going to see the Lennon Sisters and the Osmond Brothers do their Christmas show there in Branson?
Thank you for the recipe for homemade laundry! I have all the ingredients and just need to whip up a batch of country fresh goodness.
Smiles, Stella
Fresno, CA (former Santa Barbara girl)
Loved seeing all your cute family members dressed up! You’ve got some clever folks making up those creative costume ideas! I think it’s so cool you got to meet Paula Deen! I hope she knows what a great cook and baker you are, and she sees some of your beautiful posts! It’s no wonder you two hit it off! I admire both of you very much, for your sweetness and your loving homemaking talents. Have a wonderful blessed Thanksgiving! Linda
I am going to love this blog. I love everything country and that is no joke. I just found you on pinterest. I am so addictive to that site too. Happy Thanksgiving Ya’ll.
I just love re-reading your blogs, they make me smile and fill my heart with happiness, Thank You!!!!