Fall Into These Cool Websites

Little Ghost..aww..

I don't like scarey Halloween decorations. They frighten, if not traumatize little kids, and I don't get any pleasure from the site of dead bodies hanging from trees or bloody body parts strewn around a yard.  Who cares if they're Made In China?  There's are enough real macabre images on the covers of newspapers and on the Web.  I don't need polyurethane grossness. 

Our yard, right now, is full of cute little ghosts made from white plastic bags with eyes drawn on with Sharpie markers.  Watching over them is a scarecrow I bought from Michael's.  No one is going to run to their psychiatrist because of anything in my yard.

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Nevertheless, the Fall season itself is fun, so here are some of my favorite sites for an Awesome Autumn:   

http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org - This is a MUST VISIT website to find out about pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides and more!  Find the best fall activities near you, plus click on their links to other wonderful Autumn and Halloween websites.  I also like the fact that visitors can make corrections to any data that may not be current. 

http://webclipart.about.com/od/seasonsclipart/ss/Autumn-Clip-Art-Collection.htm - Back when I wrote newsletters, I used clip art all the time, but there's much more you can do with it!  Add it to emails, print some out on mailing labels to decorate lunch bags, and print some out on full-size paper for great window decorations.

http://www.foliagenetwork.com - This is the site for The Foliage Network (who knew?!) which has up-to-the-minute maps showing where the leaves are turning and which areas are at their peak for color.  This site uses actual data as opposed to others websites that only use annual averages.

http://www.primarygames.com/seasons/fall/games.htm - Don't fret if the weather is bad!  This website for kids lists all kinds of free online games dedicated to this colorful season.

http://www.ehow.com/how_12076561_make-house-smell-like-pumpkin-spice.html - The folks at eHow offer a great recipe for making your house smell like pumpkin spice without the expense or chemicals found in commercial air fresheners.  Buy a store-bought pumpkin pie to accompany this because the family will be hungry when they come home and smell this!

Synthia, The Scarecrow (she can't spell)

Now, if you actually WANT to bake (why, people, why???), here's an Impossibly Easy Pumpkin Pie recipe courtesy of the bakers at Bisquick.  It serves 6, depending on the eaters, takes about 50 minutes to cook and about 10 to slam together. 

Here's what you do:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF (yes, you really have do this)

Ingredients: 

1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1/2 cup original Bisquick baking mix
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs


Directions:

1.  Spay Pam in a 9" pie plate. 
2.  Stir all ingredients together.
3.  Pour into the pie plate.
4.  Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
5.  Cool 30 minutes.
6.  Refrigerate about 3 hours or until chilled.

Store covered in refrigerator.

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Thank you for reading!  Y'all come back 'round, ya hear?