Thursday night, we kicked off the fall with seasonal lattes. We like pumpkin spice. In the past, I’ve used a popular coffee syrup to make ours but this time we tested out a new one by the Sonoma Syrup Co, Pumpkin Pie. I found this product on their site when DH mentioned a particular vanilla extract, Organic Vanilla Bean extract Crush, which is a combination of Madagascar Bourbon vanilla and Tahitian Vanilla with vanilla bean seeds, he was curious for us to try, which we did in my homemade whipped cream recipe (see below). I originally bought this vanilla to use in the Malted Vanilla Cake that I made last week. I haven’t share my recipe but did post a photo and shared the link of the original recipe last Thursday for those who missed it.
Making your own lattes at home is not only more economical but tastes better than those gourmet lattes you pay an arm and leg for. Just make your favorite dark roast coffee. While it’s brewing, add your syrup to the mug. Sonoma Syrup Co says to use 2 to 4 tablespoons. We don’t like the overly sweet tastes in our coffee, so we opt a more conservative amount. I added only 1 tablespoon of syrup which worked out fine. DH says he thinks it can go down to three-fourths but I’m okay with the full tablespoon. Anywho, I top the hot drink with my homemade whipped cream with ground cinnamon sprinkled on top. Mmmm, de-e-e-licious!
We picked up watching WestWorld on HBO Max. We signed up for the streaming service last weekend after I got an email promotion offering 6-months half-priced. That was too good to pass up, especially since we’ve been eager to try HBO Max out.
The wee hours of Friday the temperature dipped to the mid-40s. This is the earliest I recall it ever getting this cool in the fall. When we got out of bed around 8:30, he wanted to know what the temps were like in Maine just for fun. It was 53º here when I checked Wells in southern Maine and much further north. TWC claimed it was 64º and 70º perspectively. It was colder here then there. It’s crazy but we see this happening sometimes. Normally, we like getting up early to go to the mountains for the day but DH hadn’t been sleeping well. We got a later start than usual but it was still worth the trip. The day was gorgeous. We drove through the Smoky’s into Cherokee, North Carolina to get on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We only went as far as Water Rock Knob where we enjoyed the view as we picnicked. On our way back to the Smoky’s just as we got off the parkway traffic was a bit congested, a sure sign of wild life in the area. See for yourself!
We got home late but it was a nice to break from the daily grind. Now for some random humor that’ll put a smile on your face and a giggle on your lips.
Join Sandee’s Happy Tuesday linky party!
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Today, I’m joining this week’s Tuesday 4 Q&A session. If you don’t see the current week’s questions then that’s because they weren’t available at the time I created this post. So, until the new ones show up, I’m going to lift the ones from two weeks ago. Why not? I mean, I haven’t played along in months and this is an excellent way for you to get to know me better, right? 
- What makes a house a home? The people is what makes a house a home. My parents moved after I got married. The house I called home was no longer home anymore. Mentally, it was an adjustment but I soon realized that where those I love dwell then that is home.
- How to you keep your house neat , tidy and clean? Do you find it difficult? I wouldn’t say my house is neat. We have a lot of clutter but I do keep things clean. The reason we’re looking for a new house to call home is because we have too much stuff and not enough room. I know what you’re thinking, why not declutter. We have up to a point but we are horrible pack rats who find it difficult to separate sentiments over an object. I guess we’ll continue to be a work-in-progress where this is concerned. And, yes I do find it difficult to keep things tidy in a home that we long ago out grew but it is what it is and I can’t do too much about that right now.
- Are plants important in your home.. or collections.. or wall art? Is there a theme you like to create? No, but it doesn’t mean I don’t like plants because I do. I usually kill everything I try to keep alive so I don’t even bother to try anymore.
- What is a typical day/evening like in your home? DH has been working at home for the past 18-months and he’s now slated as a permanent remote employee. We keep our weekdays pretty much the same. We get up, have breakfast, brush teeth, etc and we give each other a kiss as he walks toward the back of the house to his make-shift home office. I begin my day taking care of things online. In between blog posts I do chores around the house, cook, sketch, or some DIY project then around 3pm I wind things down as DH nears the end of his day. We shower, have dinner, watch a little TV, and before we know it, it’s time for bed again.
For music enthusiasts, you’ll find this week’s Top Ten Tuesday playlist in an earlier post, but I hope you decide to sample my picks. It’s time to grab a cup of coffee and follow along with me as I head off to visit some of my favorites Comedy-Plus (Sandee) and Stacy Uncorked. Well, I’d say you got your money’s worth out of today’s visit with two entries on CAAC. Join me tomorrow a new edition of Wild Wednesdays – the party where just about anything goes! 
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X, Cathy
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What a refreshing post, Cathy, and it’s good to learn more about you. I totally agree it’s the people that make a house a home. Keep on keepin’ on!
I love Peanuts comics! Narnia business was awesome! Your seasonal coffees look yummy!
You pack so much fun in your posts, i always get a kick out of visiting here!
Great answers and a fun post to enjoy!
Kathe,
I’m happy you enjoyed the content, my dear!
Always nice to learn more about you from the questions. Thank you for the recipe. I see now why my cream is runny- I never add powdered sugar. XO
Ellen,
I’ve used regular sugar in my recipe before and that doesn’t keep it from getting whipped up nicely. I think the two most important things to remember is to get your bowl & attachment super duper cold and to use your mixer on a high setting per the instructions (start slow then step it up). A stand mixer does an excellent job. I do think the powdered sugar tastes better overall in the whipped cream.
I used to like lattes and then I gave up coffee. Those were good answers to those interesting questions.
Love the funnies and love your questions and answers. I agree with number 1. It’s the people that make a home and sometimes the people never live in a home but a house. Sad, but true.
Thank you for joining the Happy Tuesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Happy Tuesday. Love and hugs. ♥
Sandee,
It is sad that sometimes people live in a house and not home. It’s much better the other way around. I often wonder about these elaborate mansions or upscale homes where everything is perfectly in place with all white decor or what have you. It look like it says, look but don’t touch – very cold environment. Thanks for dropping by, my dear!
Hi, Cathy!
Happy Tickle Me Tuesday, dear friend! I hope you and DH had a nice weekend.
Your pumpkin spice lattes look delicious, and I am sure they will warm your innards up there on cold fall and winter days/nights. It’s noticeably cooler here in Florida this morning, but it will be a long time before we reach the mid-40s or anything like the temp range you’ve been enjoying up there. I will share your latte recipe with Mrs. Shady along with your recipe for homemade whipped cream topping. You are clearly a wiz in the kitchen and DH is a lucky hubby.
Evan Rachel Wood is one of my favorite actresses and will soon be appearing regularly at Shady’s Place when one of her characters becomes a full time DJ on SPMM radio. I have been wanting to watch Westworld when it trickles down to one of our subscription services.
You guys picked a beautiful day to head over to the mountains. The sky is brilliant blue. I see that antlered elk in the field. Yessum, Mrs. Shady, her son and I stopped at the Visitors Center at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. One of my favorite memories is the many times my family vacationed in the mountains of northern PA and we went on “deer spotting” car trips up and down the mountains. On more than one occasion, a deer jumped into the side of our car as we were driving at night.
I enjoyed your Tuesday Sillies. I’m thinking that vintage mom knew what she was talking about. I’ve read that eating dark chocolate every day is good for you.
I also appreciated reading your Q&A answers. Mrs. Shady and her whole large family are pack rats. If there is a way to form a sentimental attachment to a chewing gum wrapper and never want to part with it, they find it. (LOL) Our house is what I would call “delightfully cluttered.” That is to say it looks lived in and inviting, not like a roped-off museum in which visitors aren’t allowed to touch anything. Mrs. Shady routinely leaves her crocheting materials strewn about on the love seat she uses and the ottoman in front of it. Our kitty is fascinated with her craft work and often paws at the yarn while she is making things.
I used to keep a large collection of containerized cacti and succulents inside the house, but the dirt and mess became too much of a hassle. Now we have a few attractive artificial plants and are happier about the situation. As I have told you before, Mrs. S. is also an artist, and we have some of the portraits she painted framed and hung on the walls. It makes me misty to read that you and DH kiss at the start of your day. Keeping the romance in a relationship is so important, but many married folks turn into ships that pass in the night.
I didn’t see your Top Ten post. I’ll look for it now. Have a happy Tuesday, dear friend Cathy!
Tom,
Let me ask you, do you think it would help when I do a double daily entries if I separated the posts by more time than say only a few minutes? I scheduled TTT for 6am and TMT for 6:02. In my side menu, you’ll find the last 5 posts published so that may help to solve your problem of not seeing something when you know it should be there. I hope Mrs. Shady likes the pumpkin pie lattes and whipped cream. The general instructions can be used for any coffee flavoring you want. It’s really simple and a ton cheaper than going to Starbucks but that’s fun to do once in awhile, though.
I’m not sure that I’ve recall Evan Rachel Wood before West World, even though she looks familiar. So, I did a quick look up and now I know why she I vaguely recognized her. She starred in another HBO series, True Blood.
Friday was simply a gorgeous day. The cooler temps helped to make the day all the more enjoyable. I’m glad you could make out the big antlers on the elk. Those critters are really quite large when you’re up closer. It’s hard to judge just how big they are passing by in a car when they are the off in the distance as seen in the picture.
A house that is delightfully lived in is the kind of home I like having or visiting. I don’t like feeling like I can’t touch anything, you know?
DH & I are quite affectionate toward each other, even when we’re out. I’d love to see more couple publicly displaying love for one another, holding hands, hugging, or a little kiss. You’re right it’s easy to settle into a routine with your significant other turning into two ships that pass in the night. If couples find themselves in that mode, then I hope one of them just decides to grab the other to spice things up. Who knows, maybe that’s all it’ll take to get the fire glowing again.
Thanks for dropping by for some giggles this morning, my friend!
Hi again, Cathy!
To answer your question, it works best for me when you do what you are already doing most of the time: In your first post of the day, be sure to mention that you have a second post coming. In post #2, be sure to mention the earlier post (and link back to it if possible) so that I know to look for it if #2 was the first post I saw.
Thanks, dear friend!
Tom,
Okie dokie! I did mention in both posts. I try every time when I conclude a post to mention upcoming content and if I do multiple posts like I did today, then in my second one I provide a link to the first to make it easier for readers.
But if you think I’ve goofed you’ll find the last 5 posts listed in my side menu. 