Homemade Pumpkin Spice

This time of year, pumpkin spice, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin donuts, pumpkin pie, pumpkin anything is all the rage.  I don't care for the taste of pumpkin at all, but I do like the spices associated with it. So today, when I saw a homemade recipe for pumpkin spice on Yahoo, my curiosity took over.

I looked at a short video about making the spice mix and decided I should share it with you since it's a coffee thing, you know.  You can make your own version of this seasonal spice for a fraction of the cost of what you pay at the grocery store.  I bet you have all the ingredients in your cupboards right this minute!  It will definitely go a long way to spicing up (pun intended) your coffee or latte.

Simply combine 2 & 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1 & 1/4 teaspoon clove, 1 & 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1 & 2/3 tablespoons cinnamon. Store it in an airtight container and use a pinch at a time sprinkled on top or stirred in your favorite java beverage.

Pretty simple, huh?  Pretty yummy too I imagine!  Enjoy and always remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee With Pumpkin Spice . . . 

Life Is Good!"

Coffee-Of-The-Month

Every month last year from September to August, I crafted a set of pillowcases for my niece Jessie.   The idea was born from the single java-themed pillowcase that I bought at Tybee Island with the Sisters. 

Jess is a Junior at the University of South Carolina, shares an apartment with two friends from high school, is studying to be a teacher, and I love her to bits.  We laugh that she now has enough pillowcases to last a lifetime!

When September rolled around this year,  I told her that I didn't have a clue about how to top those pillowcases.  Then I had an epiphany!  COFFEE!!  She is a coffee hound like me and we often daydream about how cool it would be to run a coffee house together.  But that's another story.

Jessie has a Keurig in her kitchen, but being on a student budget, doesn't have a lot of extra cash for K-cups.  Enter the Coffee-of-the-Month!  In September, I sent her a box full of coffee happies with the K-cup flavor-of-the-month being Cinnamon Pastry.

Tomorrow I'm on my way to Columbia to spend the weekend with friends and I'm making a special stop in Fort Mill for a quick visit with Jess, who is home on fall break.  I'll be able to hand October coffee goodies to her in person and that will be a sweet treat for me.

For the rest of the month, she'll get to sip Kahlua Coffee before heading out to class in the morning.

I hope everyone has a good weekend and while I'm off in South Carolina, just remember . . . 

"Camping and the Coffee-of-the-Month . . . 

Life Is Good!"

Vintage Marshmallow Tin

Over the weekend, Sister Becky and I enjoyed a spectacular autumn Saturday in the mountains of western North Carolina. When we pulled onto I-40 heading west after breakfast, we had no idea where we were going.  Our plan was to let the day unfold into full-blown serendipity.

Because of our decision to take Exit 44 off the interstate and travel through the communities of Canton and Clyde, we came upon a nondescript antique mall.  We almost missed it because of a huge flea market across the street.  One u-turn later, we were in for a treat . . . one of the best antique malls we have ever been to!

We saw LOTS of interesting items that fell into the categories that we love . . . spun-cotton Christmas ornaments and Putz houses for Becky and camping and coffee items for me.  When the proprietor asked if we were looking for anything in particular, I said "Girl and Boy Scout items."  I'm currently searching for the round patches that were sewn onto sashes and uniforms.

What I spied among the items she located for me was totally different though . . . a small, round, vintage tin for marshmallows!!   

Not knowing anything about its age or history, I hesitated on the purchase.  Plus, the price was a bit steep too.  Becky kept saying things like "You need this!" and "If you don't get it you'll regret it!" and "You HAVE to buy this!"  Inwardly I was agreeing with everything she said.

The owner pulled out a calculator, did some number crunching, and said she could take 20% off the price.  DONE AND DONE!! 

This little 1920's-era tin will pair nicely with the bigger Campfire Marshmallow tin that I found during the 2012 Blue Ridge Rally and will look equally cool in The Coffee Cup or SplashT@B.

Thanks for coming around today, have a wonderful autumn week and always remember . . . 

"Camping, Coffee and Vintage Tins . . .

Life Is Good"