The Apple Street Cottage

Welcome to the Party in Your PJs Link Party, where your posts will be seen on three different blogs each week.


Let's meet the Co-Hosts: Nina @ Grandma Ideas Facebook // Pinterest // Twitter
Lynda @ Review, Chews, & How-Tos Facebook // Pinterest // Twitter // Instagram
Ann @ The Apple Street Cottage Facebook // Pinterest // Instagram
Here are my features:
Recycled Tin Can
Maple Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Aren't they fabulous? 
Make sure you visit the other Co-hosts at their blogs.  We each  choose our own features.


I can't wait to see what you have to share, so let's get the party started!

Rules: Link to your post, not your home page. Link to something YOU made, wrote, or thought. No Etsy or business pages. Link Parties, Roundups, and Giveaways are welcome. Don't link and run! Please visit other links, make friends, learn something new, and leave a comment - because we all love comments!
By linking up to Party in Your PJs, you give us permission to use your photos in features of …

Before we get started, I have some exciting news to share with all of you.  You can read about it at the bottom of this post.
On to the post...
It's Fall and that means APPLES!  Yes, we are surrounded by orchards around here and apples are one of my favorite fruits.  My husband loves applesauce so I thought it was time to share my recipe that is done in under an hour.  

Here's what you need:

4 pounds of apples - about 16-20 small apples
1 cup of water
1/2 cup of brown sugar.

First, peel and slice your apples and put them in a saucepan.  I used Jonamac, you can use whatever type of apples you like best.

Add 1 cup of water 

and a 1/2 cup of brown sugar and mix well.  You may want to increase/decrease the amount of brown sugar.  It depends on the sweetness of the apples you are using and how sweet you like your applesauce.  My husband thought this was perfect.

Using high heat, bring the apple mixture to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer, stirring occasionally. 
Aft…

You've seen the meme:  Grandma Had It, Mom Threw It Out, I Bought It Back.  The story of this little sewing box fits it to a 'T'.  While walking through the local thrift store, I saw this sewing box sitting on a bottom shelf.  My grandmother had one just like it and to be honest, I have no idea what happened to it.  But here was another one, looking pretty humble.
The finish was worn, the veneer was chipped, and it was only $2!  
It came home with me. The first step was to glue all the loose veneer on the legs:
I used wood glue and added binder clips to act as clamps...there's a little tip for you! After the glue was dry, I did some filling with wood putty, sanded, and painted the legs, sides, and top with Ocean chalk paint. 
After two coats, I distressed the edges and it was time for decoupage! I scuffed the finish a bit with 220 grit sandpaper and wiped away the dust. The Mod Podge was brushed on, making sure to get it into the edge.   After separating the layers, I placed …

It's officially Fall! The Fall Equinox is here, so it's time to get the Fall decorating into full swing.  For my birthday last month, my kids sent me this adorable wagon for the garden. 

If you follow me on Instagram, you saw this:

Yes, there was some assembly required, but it really didn't take too long.  The directions looked worse than they actually were! 

I decided it belonged on the front porch along with my Shabby Planter that I've had for a few years:

I also decided to keep the Stepladderout for a few more weeks:
Since we moved into a new Cottage and all the mums I've overwintered are probably blooming at the old Cottage, it was time to stock up!  All of the ones you see will be overwintered and planted in the ground next Spring. I never plant them in the ground in the Fall because they just don't have enough time to establish roots.  Here's what I do:
Over-Winter Mums: First, if frost is expected but the daytime temperatures will be warmer, I bring them in…

The weather went from one extreme to the other this week. One morning I woke up to temperatures in the 40's and the daytime temps didn't get out of the 50's.  The past couple of days we've had mid-70's.  No doubt about it, cooler weather is coming, Fall is on the way, and the gardens are caught between the seasons, yet the hollyhocks are still blooming:
I just love that color! The daisies are also making a showing: I'm still picking fresh tomatoes, along with some beans and peppers. And the pumpkin plants are still flowering: So, where is Fall, you say?  
Well, the pumpkins are almost ready to be picked! It's time to get some mums too, since all the ones I had are probably blooming at the old Cottage.  This weekend I'll buy a few to decorate the porch.  When the weather gets cold, they'll come inside for the Winter and next Spring, out they'll go to be planted in the flower beds.  When Fall arrives, there will be mums flowering at the new Cottage.  I c…

We went to an Estate Sale a few weeks ago where I found some treasures. While we were in the basement of the barn, I spotted this pitcher through the back window.  It was sitting outdoors on a rickety table, surrounded by weeds, all by it's lonesome.  

It was humble, but I was ready to climb out the window after it, until my husband looked at me and firmly said, "No, not with your knee!" as he promptly climbed out the window to grab it for me.  Isn't he just the BEST??? When I got it home, I took a closer look and found this mark on the bottom.  It was time for a little research.  I learned that the Derby Silver Company was founded in Derby, CT in 1872.  In 1898 they merged with the International Silver Company.  At that time the Derby Silver Company was known as 'Company B'.  My research said that items with this logo most likely date from the nineteenth century. The company closed in 1933,  a victim of the Depression.  I couldn't find this particular desig…