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Happy “almost Autumn” Sugar Pies! Boy it’s hard to believe that the “Good Ol’ Summertime” is over! My daughter Summer has gone back to school, the weather is cooling just a tiny bit and even some of the trees are beginning to turn! My hubby and I had a picnic lunch at beautiful Taneycomo Lake here in Branson Missouri  the other day. As we watched the graceful movements of the fly-fishermen and listened to the birds sing their “farewell to summer” song, we tried to soak up every last, sweet, drop of this “Watermelon and Fireflies” season. I do love summertime here in the Ozarks but I also look forward to the golden delights of Fall!   Chubby orange pumpkins, the air so apple-crisp, cozy sweaters, the scent of wood-smoke, hot cider,  honey colored leaves swirling on a blustery day…isn’t it wonderful how God blesses us with beauty in each season?  The most wonderful of all is His faithfulness, mercy and love!

I love this dear old hymn:

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

(Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Thoman O. Chisholm 1923)

Before I say “see ya later alligator” to the bright days of summer, I have “part two” of my trip to Ol’ Californy to share!

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One of my favorite places to visit in So. Cal is Julian. It’s a tiny mountain town full of charm and memories for me. In the  Fall we would go up there for a day of apple picking, and apple pie eating! The apple orchard, pictured here,  is just minutes from the main part of town. This is the very spot our family would stop to gather apples and fresh cider to bring home. We also brought home warmed hearts, full of  happy memories!

Come on, let me show you around Julian….

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Since Julian is known for it’s delicious Apple orchards, finding some pie is not a problem! There are several places to fill your sweet tooth!

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We chose Mom’s Pie House!

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The atmosphere is homey…just like mom’s!

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And the pies…YuMmY!

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Hubby Gary had apple…

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Summer and I had Strawberry Rhubarb. DeLiSh!

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We took this home for later!

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Love the screen doors on the way out!

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Take a peek at some of the old buildings on the main street…

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There are cute shops and sweet stops along the wooden walkways in this adorable  turn-of-the-century mining town. Come fall, Julian will be bustling with folks hungry for a walk in the crisp autumn air, enjoying friendly conversations in cozy cafe’s sipping cups of hot spiced cider and savoring a slice of warm pie!

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Since it was almost Summer’s 12th birthday I thought this birthday- cake apron was a perfect one to try on! She’s as sweet as a cupcake, that girl!

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One of my favorite shops in Julian is American Gardener. It’s darling and full of country charm in every nook and cranny. It’s also the home of the wonderful E. Barrett Soap company. The owner of American Gardener, Sherry Horton is also the creator of the french made, E. Barrett Soaps. “Sherry dipped into her family history, borrowing the name of her grandmother Emma Barrett to reflect the old fashioned values and quality of her merchandise.”  Her soaps smell absolutely delicious! She has dozens of  different fragrances. My favorites are: Apricot, Linden Flower, Milk, Ocean Spa, Pear, Rose, and Blackberry. Take a peek at her adorable shop!

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Yummy potpourri too!

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Love this basket!

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If you’re taking a trip to Julian, be sure to stop in at American Gardner and Sherry’s other shop Oakwood Creek, a cute little house turned home decor shop. Oakwood Creek is closed on Tuesdays…that’s the day we were up there so I couldn’t go in…boo hoo!

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An afternoon spent in old town Temecula was full of fun and giggles…

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with my dear friend Cat from The Vintage Housewife. Cat and I were next door neighbors back in the day! She is just adorable inside and out. Cat is such a wonderful mama, loves her hubby and keeps her home festive and cheerful for every season. She also loves the Lord!! I love that she dresses vintage pretty much everyday! She’s very knowledgeable  about the history of fashion from the 1940’s and 50’s. Cat has a second darling blog where she shares her passion for vintage clothing,  it’s called The Vintage Housewive’s Closet.

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We both brought along our girls…Summer and Amaray.

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One of our favorite stops was the ever adorable Rooster Creek! Come take a peek!

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Isn’t this the cutest little-bitty washing machine you ev-ah saw!  Why, it’s as cute as Christmas! How adorable would it be in a laundry room! LoVe iT!!

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There’s cuteness around every corner!

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Cat and I are candle girls…we are always on the hunt for yummy smelling candles that will make our house smell like “home sweet home!”

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Here are the Rooster Creek Gals! Sweet Vivian, in the robin’s egg blue top, is the owner. I love that she always calls me “darlin’ “!  If you’re ever in Temecula, be sure to stop by! (Hey girls, I know you’re reading this! I’m sending ya big O’ hugs!)

Here’s the info:

Rooster Creek                                                                                                                                                          42050 Main Street
Temecula, CA 92590-2747
(951) 694-9918

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At another shop down the street, Summer and Amaray had fun trying on vintage style aprons. These are girls after their mama’s own heart!

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Soon after our fun day, it was time for my family and I to head back to Missouri, and as I said before, it was good to get home! One of the things I was looking forward to was meeting my dear friend Kathy from The Hillbilly Debutante. She lives near Washington DC, but is originally from the Ozarks. I was so excited that Kathy was going to be in town for a book signing. Her first book, False Victim, is hot off the press. This is a story I’ve been waiting to read. It’s based on a true story of a “neighbor-friend” that turned stalker. This actually happened to my adorable friend Kathy!! Oh my, I could not put this book down…I kept thinking… Oh dear goodness, poor Kathy!  What she went through is chilling, I mean, I got goosebumps reading it. Kathy loves the Lord and  I know it was by the Grace of God that she survived this nightmare. Her story is being made into a movie and Discovery Channel is doing  a documentary.

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If you are interested in reading this incredible story, False Victim, you can find it on Amazon.

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Kathy’s book signing was at ABC Books in Springfield Missouri, you can also purchase the book there by calling 417-831-3523.  If you live in the area stop by, the address is: 2109 Glenstone, Springfield Missouri.

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Well gals, I’ve begun my fall nesting by uncluttering my rooms and giving them a good cleaning. I’ve painted some things white (yes I’m still in that “farmhouse white” phase) and I’ve brought up my bins of autumn decorations from my basement storage. In the next few days I’ll be as busy as a honey bee, adorning my home with the sweetness of Fall. I’ve got candy corn on my market list along with fresh apples, pumpkins,and cider. I’ve purchased a yummy-licious candle from Bath and Body works called Creamy Pumpkin…Gals, let me tell ya…I love it so much I wanna MaRRy it! It’s got this buttery, carmel-y, sweet pumpkin scent that makes my heart swoon! Yummy smells and happy music get me inspired to cozy up my home. I”ve also gathered tons of inspiration from AdOrAbLe books!! Take a look at the new additions to my home library:

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I love me some Gooseberry Patch books!! Homemade Harvest is jammed with cozy Autumn ideas and recipes!  A few of the chapters are:  Old Fashioned Memories…Farmhouse Breakfast…Warm and Inviting Soups and Breads…Fall Festival Favorites…Campfire Classics…Harvest Pantry and more! You can take a peek inside the book on Amazon, click here.

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The Farmer’s Wife Harvest Cookbook: I have each of the Farmer’s Wife cookbooks and love them all! In this Harvest edition, there are 300 vintage recipes from the 1930’s Magazine called The Farmer’s Wife. All the recipes have been updated for use in modern kitchens. Vintage images are polka-dotted throughout the pages as well as articles and household tips from the magazine. You can take a peek inside this book by going on Amazon, click here.

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AdOrAbLe! That’s my word for this sweet book! Home Economics is vintage advice for the 21st Century Household.  It’s written with an old fashioned flair, and filled to the brim with practical, no-nonsense tips for the homemaker who desires a neat and tidy, warm and welcoming home. The retro illustrations just make you want to put on your aprons and pearls, June Cleaver style! You can find it on Amazon click here!

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The Farm Chicks Christmas: Oh HoNeY!! I’ve been as giddy as a kid walking through the gates of Disneyland waiting for this book to be released! And it’s finally here! LoVe. LoVe. LoVe. (Of course anything Farm Chick I love!) The Farm Chicks Christmas is chock-full of darling colored photos, decorating ideas, gift ideas, recipes, and gobs of vintage charm! This is a perfect book to curl up with, jammies on and a mug of hot cocoa in hand!!

Well gals, I’ve got to get cracken! There are pumpkins singin’ my name! (yoo hoo…Aunt Ruthie!)

Please know I always so appreciate your comments!! Thank you Sugars sooooooo much! Keep ’em comin’, they inspire me to keep doin’ this fabulous blog thang!!

Hugs and blessings y’all!!

Aunt Ruthie

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