Family Fun at the lake

The "Lake Trash Band" Rocks The House

Monday, November 9, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

Last weekend we had another fun adventure at our Winter Cabin Rental. We went to Syracuse, IN on Saturday night to check out an area band performing at the Huntington Street Bar. The drummer is a long time friend of Wesley's. Man, Did they ever rock the house!! It was packed with local residents and cabin owners. If you like Stevie Ray Vaughn type music then you are going to love this band!

The Legendary "Lake Trash" Band features International blues/rock recording artist Dave Chastain on guitar Ric "Mr. Soul" Workman on lead vocals,International blues/rock recording artist Tommy "Hot Sticks" Jernigan on drums and "The Hammer" McKinley - Worlds Fastest Bassist - on bass.

This band is a must see for all Vacation Rentals Indiana guest when they are playing in the area.

Enjoy Pumpkin Cheesecake at our Vacation Rentals Indiana Cabin

Saturday, November 7, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

This is a great recipe to make at our Indiana Cabin Rentals.

Ingredients:
Crust:
1 pkg of graham crackers crumbled
1/2 stick of butter melted
1/4 cup of sugar

Filling:
3-8 oz. pkgs cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 can pumpkin
3 eggs
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp all spice
whipped cream

Mix crust ingredients together. Press into bottom of 9" spring from pan using the bottom of a flat glass but make sure not to press too hard.

Combine cheese, sugar, vanilla in large bowl, mix until smooth with electric mixer. Add pumpkin, eggs, and spices, beat till smooth. Pour into the crust. Bake for 60 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven and allow cooling to room temp. Refrigerate for 4-6 hours before serving. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

Thanksgiving will be here before we can say, " I love Pumpkin Cheesecake"... Enjoy! And be sure to book your stay at our Vacation Home Indiana.

Another Upcoming Weekend of Cabin Bliss

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

This weekend we are headed back up to our winter cabin rental for some more cottage bliss.... well sort of! We always feel more relaxed when we are snuggled in our lakefront cabin rentals that looks out on Lake Webster amidst the beautiful nature of Epworth Forest in North Webster, IN, but this weekend we have a full scheduled planned. We plan to join some long time area friends for dinner and music in Syracuse, IN. The "Lake Trash Band" is playing and the drummer is a old friend of Wesley's. We also plan to get a very early start on some of our Christmas decorating as we have many family members coming up to visit us in December. We decorate the entire cabin inside and out so it's a wonderful place to enjoy the holidays. This year we are decorating in segments as we are saving the Christmas Tree trimming for when the grown children and grandchildren arrive in early December. I love the holidays and all the traditions that go with it...especially at our Vacation Rentals Indiana lake cabin

Connect with friends at our Winter Cabin Rental Indiana

Monday, November 2, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

We just returned from a fun Halloween Weekend spent with very special friends at our Northern Indiana Cabin rental. The weekend went by way too fast as we got lost in our conversation, laughter and in visiting the area lakes and restaurants. We had a delicious lunch at Pie Eyed Petey's and found out that both of our guest had childhood ties to the neighboring area. Stephen had memories of Lake Shue and Cyndy use to attend a old cheer leading campground called Maxwelton in Syracuse Indiana The weather was rather chilly and windy on Saturday with lots of water caps out on Lake Webster so we enjoyed the warmth of our cabin fireplace and the Epworth Forest setting. It was a delightful weekend of stories, fun and friendship.

Our Epworth Forest Log Cabin is the perfect setting for Thanksgiving

Thursday, October 15, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

I have noticed that most my client retailers that I call on have already started displaying Christmas items and Halloween hasn't even arrived yet, but I have also noticed a lot of people shopping online for cabin rentals for both Thanksgiving and Christmas here in northern Indiana lately.

If you are even thinking about Thanksgiving or Christmas yet, and you think that the perfect family gathering would be in a warm cabin with two fireplaces going, while gazing outside at Lake Webster, then you might want to get with it! We recently received some inquiries about Christmas but as of today Thanksgiving is still open.

Our Vacation Home Indiana Rental is so perfectly charming for holiday family dinners. The natural all wood log walls and floor inside is picture perfect. The cabin is fully equipped and has windows in every room with views that open up to nature. It is not unusual to see deer, gray squirrels and a variety of wild life right outside the windows. A log cabin setting is a perfect place to create a Thanksgiving or Christmas Memory.

Fall Leaves + Family = Autumn Fun

Thursday, October 15, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

Raking leaves should be fun, not a chore. You only do it once or twice a year. It's a great family event and fall memory to savor. It's also another way to burn some extra calories outside in the fall crisp air.

I can remember as a child raking for hours and having fun doing so as this was the lead up to jumping into the huge piles of leaves before they were bagged or burned. Years ago it was very common for neighbors to burn their leaves instead of bagging them. As a child I enjoyed the smell of the burning leaves drift through our neighborhood but today find it somewhat disturbing as smoke from 5 pounds of leaves contains about a pound of air pollution not to mention the health hazards it can cause. At our Vacations Home Indiana Log Cabin in Epworth Forest we are surrounded by trees resulting in a flood of autumn leaves that cover the property. It can take hours even with our blower to remove the leaves that fall. We always have fun with this chore as we make our "Vacations Rentals Indiana setting more appealing for ourselves and guest. Raking leaves for us is a fun family fall ritual event.

Warm up to a fall bonfire in Epworth Forest

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

The nights are definitely cooler now and the breeze carries the scent of the leaves falling and a hint of birch bark crackling somewhere close by. Just the thought of it makes you feel cozy and ready to pack up the marshmallows and chocolate, hot dogs, coco, or warm apple cider and head out to our fire pit area at our Vacation Rentals Indiana Cabin. We have bonfires in the summer and fall yet during the summer months it can get a bit heated by the fire with all the humidity. Fall is the best time to really enjoy a full blown bonfire. Wesley or one of his friends usually brings out a guitar, and we huddle around the fire to exchange stories, laughter and fun. Having a bonfire is a wonderful way to connect with friends and family.

Area Ghost Hauntings & Stories Around Epworth Forest

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

When I first heard the rumor about the nearby Barbee Hotel in Warsaw, IN ( just 15 minutes from our Lake Cottage Rentals Indiana Home) to be haunted by the spirit of Al Capone it certainly made for a fascinating story. The story claims that he and many of his gangsters buddies haunt the hotel. Staff members have reported seeing an old man sitting in a booth after closing. When staff members talk to him there is no response. Thinking they are dealing with an unruly customer they leave to get assistance. However, upon returning the bar is empty and no one has seen anyone leave. One legend states that the hotel was a popular place that gangsters took their girlfriends to. One gangster however took the girlfriend of another gangster. She was then murdered in the hotel by the jealous thug. People have reported that they hear her wailing at night and they feel cold spots generating from the area. Other phenomena includes the appearance of faces in photographs taken at the hotel, and more commonly orbs. Around the hotel itself is a popular place to see orbs and apparitions

A couple years ago Wesley and I invited some good friends over from Elkhart, IN to our Northern Indiana Cabins and we had dinner at the Barbee Restaurant. We struck up a conversation with a Professor from Notre Dame University who actually specialized in the paranormal. He considered himself a modern day "ghost buster". He was there that weekend with a group of other men to check out evidence to support the story. Now, I have always been fascinated by a good ghost story and meeting him seemed to give some substance to the rumor. Of course, the story seemed more credible as I finished my second glass of wine:)

A very long running ghost story for North Webster,Indiana is the ghost story about the old

North Webster Elementary School which is now a community center. Some say a young boy wearing khakis and a blue sweater roamed the athletic areas playing sports and shutting off the lights. When someone went to turn the lights on the light switch is already on. There was also a teacher in high heels on the second floor. People said that they could hear high heel shoes clicking on the floor. Random appliances in the school would turn on and off by themselves. The young boy could also be seen in the library trying to check out books. Hmmn...wonder what the ghost are up to now since it's been converted?

There are many other ghost stories out there involving North Webster, Indiana. You can read a few of them by going to http://www.ghostsofamerica.com/4/Indiana_North_Webster_ghost_sightings.html

Here is another great ghost haunting video you must check out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz1W_omigwg&feature=player_embedded

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Halloween Movies recommended for Lake Cottage Rentals Indiana

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

I usually make a point to watch as many horror movies as possible in the fall leading up to Halloween. In honor of the upcoming season. I enjoy the feel of a classic old time horror movie that just feels good to watch on Halloween, much like Night of the Living Dead does. A good old fashion scary flick that gives you something to think about One of the scariest movies I saw as a child was one with Vincent Price called "House of Ushers" and after the movie they had the characters who had died (some who were buried alive) come from behind the screen... you talk about being scared. I have watched this movie as an adult and laugh at the exaggerated 60's drama and blood curdling screams.
Check this classic movie (funny now) out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k48BMS5AfW0

I've noticed in the past few years that horror films are becoming too much to handle for certain people. A lot of these recent films are what is known as a slasher film when the plot focuses on psycho killers. These kinds of films give people like me anxiety, due to the fact that this possible situation could happen. These movies really creep me out especially when I am at our Vacation Home Indiana Cabin. It just feel scarier since we are more remotely located in a Northern Indiana Cabin.

Since this Halloween we will be enjoying our lakefront cabin rentals that views Lake Webster, we will no doubt rent or buy some Halloween DVDs to add to our collection of movies (approximately 50 movies to choose from) that we keep at our cabin for ourselves and for guest. Some of our favorite Halloween movies are...Halloween of course.. Friday the 13th... Night of the Living Dead (b/w version) Pumpkin Head..It's the great pumpkin Charlie Brown (for the faint hearted), Saw, Hellraiser, and Cabin Fewer (of course)

Autumn Cabin Family Fun In Epworth Forest

Monday, October 12, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

In the North Webster, Indiana fall, when the air is cool and the leaves begin to get crisp, you will always find door steps and front porches in Epworth Forest protected by the fun scarecrow. It is so popular that seeing a home without a scarecrow is actually unusual. Kids and adults both love to build scarecrows and it is known to be one of the greatest family projects that any family could ever think of sharing. In fact many area families make the scarecrow part of a yearly tradition when it comes to making them.
So this year Wesley and I thought we would make an attempt to make our own Lakefront Cabin Rentals Scarecrow that would look out to Lake Webster. I have never made a scarecrow but we have plenty of old clothes to use so this will be a fun project while we are at our Indiana Cabin Rentals.
Here are some suggestions I found on the internet on how to make a scarecrow for those of you who are like me and have never tried it.

Creating your own Scarecrow

What to use for clothes: The most common used are blue jeans or blue jean overalls and a old button up flannel shirt. Get yourself a pack of safety pins to help you attach the shirt to the pants so you can stuff your scarecrow really good. You will also need a pair of gloves to attach to the arms and.......Don't forget the straw hat now!

What to use for stuffing: The most common item to use to stuff your scarecrow is pine straw that you have raked up out of your yard or even hay. A way to cheat the stuffing process is to save up your 1/2 gallon plastic milk jugs. Wash them really well and use them to stuff down the legs of your scarecrow as a filler between the rest of the stuffing that your using. This method also makes your scarecrow light in weight and easy to move around. If your worried about your scarecrow taking a runner..... then think about filling up the milk jugs that actually sit at the bottom of the pants leg full of water for weight. This will keep his feet in place. Now stuff stuff stuff as tight as you can.

What to use for the head: There are many different ways to make your scarecrows head. The idea of using a gallon milk jug comes to mind or even a pumpkin or a gourd. Retail stores now sale pumpkin shaped trash bags that you can stuff and decorate your yards with. These trash bags make a easy head for your scarecrow and the face is already there for you. Another simple thing to do is to stuff an old pillow case and tuck it in the neck of the flannel shirt. Don't forget to attach it with the safety pins. Buckets and flower pots also work just great as heads too. Remember to have paint so you can create that famous scarecrow face.

Helpful Tips: Use string and rope to help you tie off the opening of the arms and legs so the stuffing doesn't fall out. Stuffing will always settle in time so as your stuffing your scarecrow, shake it down several times so it will pack really tight.

Extra Fun: Having a Mr. Scarecrow is the most common thing to have but for some extra fun.... why not make a Mrs. Scarecrow to go with him. Use your imagination and see what you can come up with.

What's your favorite Halloween Candy Treat?

Monday, October 12, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

My favorite part of trick or treat was sorting my candy. My sisters and I would each claim a spot in the living room and empty out our pillow cases full of candy. We would spend at least an hour going over our haul. We'd make it last as long as possible and gloat if one kid ate all theirs faster than another. We hated the people who gave out popcorn, apples, raisins, and the dreaded pennies. I could get fruit year round at my house any day and was guilty of discarding a few of these unwanted apples in the neighbors front lawns My mom always enjoyed our haul and would pick out her favorite candy which I believe was a Mars Chocolate Candy bar.

Wesley and I have been trying to figure out what would be the best treats to give our trick or treaters in Epworth Forest from our Vacation Rentals Indiana Cabin that views Lake Webster. In doing some research here are some top candy favorites

Mini Mounds Bar
Chunky
Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
Snickers
Milky Ways
M&M's
Three Musketeers
Butterfingers
Nestles Crunch
Candy Apples
Popcorn Balls

From the look of this candy list it doesn't look like much has changed in 40 years in regards to Halloween Favorites. What is your favorite Halloween Candy or Halloween memory?

Halloween...Mr. Bones is excited about meeting our Indiana Lake Cabins Guest

Sunday, October 11, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

Today was a beautiful fall Indiana Autumn Day which inspired me to go downstairs for our Halloween decorations. I love to decorate but time and money often prevents me from my full expression of this talent. So I head down to what we call the way back room. It is full of junk, memory boxes, and seasonal home decor. I see Mr. Bones, (our singing/talking skeleton) who has been a favorite for years for both family and trick or treaters. We also heard today that one of my best friends, Cyndi and her fiancee Stephen will be joining us at our Northern Indiana Cabin Rental for Halloween They have never been to our cabin in Epworth Forest in North Webster, Indiana or had the pleasure of crappie fishing Indiana on Lake Webster yet.

I want to make sure they feel the cozy welcome that this Indiana Lake cabin can bring and enjoy the Halloween spirit.

So, we plan to add a few extra personal touches for their arrival and will probably bring Mr. Bones along for their pleasure and for any possible trick or treaters. We can't wait to return to our personal cabin and make memories with dear friends amongst fall decor.

New Generations

Saturday, October 10, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

On each visit to our Vacation Rentals Indiana cabin we can't help but reflect on all the generations of family and guest who have come through these doors to create special moments and memories. Currently, we have 2 family members and one close friend expecting babies. Wesley will become "Papa Duke" again when his third grandchild arrives in March. This will be his youngest daughter Jessica's first baby. My youngest niece Bridget is expecting her first baby so I will be Great Auntie R again too:) All of these Mothers to be have made special moments at our lakefront cabin rentals and two of them have shared memories at Lake Cabin Indiana "Take It Easy" with previous generations that came before them. It is our hope that as these babies arrive and grow that they too will enjoy the beauty of this surrounding and hold it dear.

Gratitude is found in our Lakefront Cabin Rentals

Friday, October 9, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul"
Henry Ward Beecher

This past September I captured a moment of Wesley giving gratitude for the gift of our Indiana Cabin Rentals Log Cabin. He had no idea that I had captured this sweet moment on camera. The peaceful surroundings of our cabin of wooded trees, the Lake Webster view and all the wild life gives you a serene sense of comfort. His personal family ties and youthful history here in North Webster, IN opens up a flood gate of growing up memories. He has shared many stories of his past youth of Crappie Fishing, hiking, family and friends

Having a grateful heart is transforming and should be a daily event. Living in the United States most of us have a standard of living many higher than two-thirds of the rest of the planet. Instead of focusing on what we do not or can not have it's good to bring your awareness around to the many things you do and begin practicing gratitude.

Wesley and I try not to save gratitude for just Thanksgiving but year round too. Our Vacation Rentals Indiana cabin is the perfect place to spend Thanksgiving. Check out our availability calendar for openings.

Halloween Ideas For Our Lake Cabin Indiana Rental

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

One of our favorite fun holidays is Halloween because it brings out the child in the young and old. Normally, we stay at home for Halloween and greet all the neighborhood children with tons of candy and our singing "Mr. Bones"moving skeleton. Usually a few friends and relatives stop over later in the evening to enjoy our "spirited" brew.

This year we are headed to our Vacations Rental Indiana cabin and want to share in the Epworth Forest Halloween traditions. I have been doing some research on what we could do special for the Lake Webster area Halloween Trick or Treaters and guest. Here are some spooky ideas that we found from http://www.evite.com/

Halloween Adult Drink Ideas

Slime Punch — This spooky punch looks the part and tastes fizzy and lime-licious.

Sangria — Vamp up your cocktails with this sweet sip, a drink that takes its name from the Spanish word for blood.

Bloody Mary — Thanks to its macabre name and blood-red color, this spicy cocktail is dripping with Halloween flavor.

Zombie — Afraid your party might be kind of dead? These strong, rum-tastic cocktails are guaranteed to liven things up.

Non-Alcohol Drink
"Eyes" Tea (makes 1 pitcher)

• 8 tea bags
• sugar (optional)
• lemon slices (optional)
• grapes

Boil 4 cups of water in a large saucepan. Remove saucepan from heat, and add tea bags. Cover saucepan and let tea steep for 5 minutes.

Remove teabags and pour tea into a pitcher. Pour in 4 cups of cold water and stir. Add sugar and/or lemon slices, if desired.

Serve in martini glasses garnished with a grape "eyeball

Halloween Music To Play

. Werewolves of London / Warren Zevon
2. Living Dead Girl / Rob Zombie
3. Somebody's Watching Me / Rockwell
4. Spellbound / Siouxsie and the Banshees
5. Don't Fear the Reaper / Blue Öyster Cult

6. Tubular Bells / Mike Oldfield
7. Devil Inside / INXS
8. People Are Strange / The Doors
9. Possum Kingdom / The Toadies
10. Bela Lugosi’s Dead / Bauhaus

Eye-Ball Cupcake Treats

White paper cupcake liner
1 recipe for white cup cakes
1 recipe Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting
Red food coloring
Pastry bag and small round tip
Small black jelly beans
Round candies with hole in the middle
1 recipe Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting
Red food coloring
Pastry bag and small round tip
Small black jelly beans
Round candies with hole in the middle

1. Line cupcake tins with the liners. Fill the tins two-thirds full with the batter and bake the cupcakes as directed in the recipe.

2. Frost the cupcakes, reserving some of the frosting. Pile the frosting up a little in the center to make a sort of domed shape, more like an eyeball. To make the surface smooth, dip a butter or frosting/palette knife in hot water and smooth it over the top of the frosting.

3. Tint the remaining frosting bright red with the food coloring. Using the pastry bag, pipe the red frosting on the tops of the cupcake in vein patterns. Make the veins radiate from the center of the cupcake to make the bloodshot quality more realistic. Cut the jelly beans in half. Place a jelly bean half into the circle of the round candy. Now you have and iris and a pupil. Place this in the center of a cupcake. Continue with the rest of the eyeballs.

This Halloween we plan to have thrills ,spills and chills galore at our Lakefront Cabin Rentals.

Things To Do At Our Epworth Forest Cabin

Sunday, September 27, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

For those of you who might feel a little lost at our Vacation Rentals Indiana Cabin without all the time commitments to which you've grown accustomed, we've compiled the following list which offers a few suggestions about how you might spend your time:

Turn off your cell phone.
Watch that video/DVD you've been wanting to see
Listen to your favorite CD all the way through - without any calls from telemarketer.
Sleep in.
Have a true candlelight dinner.
Write a letter - longhand.
Take a long, hot soak in the bathtub - until your feet shrivel like prunes.
Walk around in a robe all day.
Stay up late.
Curl up next to the fireplace in a cozy chair with a good book.
Savor the aroma and sizzle of a steak being cooked to perfection on an outdoor grill.
Take a hand-in-hand stroll down around North Webster Lake
Skip a few stones.
Pick some blueberries
Try bird watching.
See how many constellations you can find/remember.
Fall asleep to the sounds of nature - not the freeway.
Fix your favorite exotic beverage.
Slow dance to your old favorites on album, tape, or CD
Eat an entire batch of brownies.
Cuddle around a campfire.
Make s'mores.
Try your luck/skill at Lake Webster Fishing.
Knock your partner's socks off with the most romantic kiss you can muster.
Play a game of checkers.
Paint or draw something.
Make a leaf collection
Play in the fallen leaves
Hunt for mushrooms
Make an outdoor fire
Tell your favorite childhood ghost story
Pick out a pumpkin
Walk through a corn maze
Visit one of North Webster Indiana's Haunted House
Have dinner with ghost at the Barbee Hotel (seriously it's suppose to be haunted)
Sing Karaoke at the Frog or any other local pub.
Go see the Lake Trash Band at Huntington Street Bar
Order in a pizza from Lighthouse Pizza
Put together a jigsaw puzzle
Ride the bicycles we have at the cabin
Watch Deer
Feed the ducks
Take a ride in the row boat
Walk The Path in Epworth Forest
Absolutely nothing at all...

On you next Indiana Getaway Bring The Whole Family

Friday, September 25, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

We are quite the pet lovers in our household. Our pets are like family to us and we enjoy taking them with us whenever possible. There are certain vacations when we hire a pet sitter but when we are headed to our Vacation Rentals Indiana Cabin they come with us. Both are pets enjoy this beautiful retreat to nature and it doesn't take any coaching to get our Maltese (Rivera) to go bye-bye. Once our pets see our bags packed and their pet carriers they climb in ready to go.

So on your next Indiana getaway to our Indiana Pet Friendly cabin you can relax knowing that all those you love the most can share in your vacation experience. There's nothing like sitting out on the back deck while sipping a cup of coffee and viewing Lake Webster with your four legged companions by your side or resting in front of one of our two crackling fireplaces in the winter with them snuggled in your lap.

Halloween Anticipation At Our Lake Cottage Rentals Indiana

Thursday, September 24, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

This will be the first year Wesley and I will enjoy Halloween together at our Vacations Rental Indiana Cabin in North Webster, IN that views out on to Lake Webster. Well, it sort of seems fitting as isn't this a typical setting (like Lake Crystal in Friday the 13th) where all sorts of spooky things begin to happen? We have no idea what to expect in regards to the local Trick or Treaters since this is mainly a Lakefront Cabins Rentals resort/vacation area.

We still will be stirring our brew, fire up the fireplaces, put out some spooky decor, and load up on our favorite candy in case there are few Epworth Forest Halloweens visitors. We might even buy a cheap Jason mask to greet guest:) No doubt we will be inviting a few area friends over and check out the local events in the area by checking out http://www.americantowns.com/in/northwebster We love Halloween and looking forward to experiencing it this year at our Indiana Weekend Getaway log cabin

Enjoy Fall Comfort Food at our Lake Cabin Indiana

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

Fall is here. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder and it's the perfect time for some delicious fall comfort food. Epworth Forest is awesome in the fall with all the turning leaves on the trees with spectacular fall colors. It's an extremely cozy time of the year to enjoy fall walks and the two fireplaces. There are great trails around Lake Webster and a great place to walk your pets since we are a Indiana Pet Friendly Cabin.

We have a fully equipped kitchen and there is nothing like the warm aroma of a home cooked meal to enhance the setting of the natural log wood inside. If you are ready for new twist menu this fall season then try out this easy Pumpkin Chili recipe

PUMPKIN CHILI

~ An adventuresome autumn twist on traditional chili, rich in flavor and ... the simmering smell ... simply wonderful!

_______________

2 lbs. lean ground beef

2 large chopped onions

1 chopped red pepper

1 chopped green pepper

4 cans (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes with juice

4 cans rinsed black beans

1 large can pumpkin puree

1 can sliced black olives (optional)

1 bottle (12 oz.) Pumpkin Ale

2 heaping Tbsp. chili powder (or more)

2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

2 pinches of brown sugar

coarse salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

sour cream

chopped green onions

Cook beef in large stockpot until well browned. Drain excess fat.
Add onions and peppers and cook until soft. Add tomatoes and juice, beans, pumpkin, black olives, beer, spices, brown sugar, salt & pepper. Bring to boil, lower heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour. Adjust seasonings. Serve or refrigerate (even better).
Ladle hot chili into bowls and, if desired, top with dollop of sour cream and chopped green onions. Warm White Cheddar Scallion Muffins are delicious on the side.

Note: Easy make ahead treat for the cabin or for Indiana Weekend Getaway house guests.

Favorite Scents of Autumn

Saturday, September 19, 2009 by Roxanne Turner

Do certain scents remind you of things you've done or places you've been? I know for most people scents will bring up a memory or place associated with that scent. I love the scents of autumn. Looking back many of my favorite memories were in the early fall. Homecoming Football, back to school new clothes, riding my bike through my old neighborhood with the smell of burning leaves, and visiting our Lake Cottage Rentals Indiana Cabin for the first time. I just recently made a sales call to one of my clients in Nashville, IN. The store is called Madeline's and I purchased the best smelling fall candles ever. They are sow candles from Kentucky Hollow Creations and I have never found a collection of better smelling candles than these. These candles are perfect in letting me change the smell of our Epworth Forest Cabin to match the season with just the right scent. Below are some of my favorites scents. What is your favorite fall scents or fall memories?

The rich amber smell of our fall candles
The spicy smell of cinnamon
The smell of wood burning fires inside and out
The crisp cool air in the early fall mornings as the sun is rising
The cool smell of the night just after the sky darkens
The buttery smell of melted cheese
The smell of hot apple cider
The smell of apple-cinnamon
The smell of fresh baked banana bread in the oven.
The comforting smell of a loved ones sweater.
The smell of the inside of a pumpkin.
The smell of wood smoke on a cold day
The smell of a crock-pot stew when you open the front door after a long day.