Little Capotain Mug

October’s poplars are flaming torches

 lighting  the way to winter.

Nova S. Bair

We haven't chosen the pattern for our pumpkin carving yet, but that's because College Girl has been busy with midterms for the past two weeks. We did, however, make a quick hanging banner for our fireplace! College Girl strung dollar store plastic skeletons on a double strand of bakery string, then placed silk maple leaves between each skeleton.

When various holidays roll around I like using seasonal dishes, rugs and towels in addition to decorative pieces. As avid tea drinkers, we have a small collection of mugs and cups that lend a festive air to our morning or evening cuppas! Here is a small mug someone gave to us that makes an appearance each October~

 

Mug by Hartstone

It has pointy capotain hats hand-painted 

around the sides. Not familiar with the word capotain? Not to worry! Neither was I until recently. The conical hat with a wide brim typically pictured with witches are capotains. Pilgrims wore a flat topped version. 

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came,—
The Ashes, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The sunshine spread a carpet,
And every thing was grand;
Miss Weather led the dancing;
Professor Wind, the band.

George Cooper

Dark chocolate dipped macadamia shortbread just jumped onto my napkin! Who am I to resist?

 There are silly green spiders (we jokingly call 

them speeders) that grin back at me when I use this sweet little cup.

The Ghost Cafe looks perfect in the kitchen every October


Can you believe Halloween is almost here and the countdown to the holidays is upon us?

I'm glad that Halloween falls on a Friday 
this year. 

Where there is no imagination, 

there is no horror.

Sir A.C. Doyle

We'll be handing out candy, roasting pumpkin seeds, and watching Hocus Pocus or Under Wraps by candle light. I'll keep my camera ready for cute visiting trick or treaters!

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Marvel friendship- To The End of The Line

I just finished a scrapbook page featuring one of College Girl's favorite movies. 

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

 She is a huge Marvel Cinematic Universe fan as it is, but this movie has become one of her favorite for several reasons. The directing, music, performances and character development all grabbed her attention - she is studying film at school - but it is the loyal bond between two dear friends that is central to the appeal of this movie. 

I used two different Marvel themed papers from Sandy Lion, cut them in half and matted them on a blue background. Since I was playing along with a challenge at CSI I used the colors and page design required. 

You can see some of the metal embellishments I used in this photo. I used a key, a clock face and gears.

I layered notched banner pieces, that I
 distressed with ink, along with three photos from the movie.

I also used string, ribbon and die cuts. 

I had so much fun making this page that I may decide to do others featuring our favorite movie characters, friendships or stories.

This page was featured- so exciting!

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Pumpkin Coffee Cake

College Girl and I had a spontaneous urge to bake last night. The daytime temperatures cooled way down and there was a crispness to the night air - perfect for heating up the oven and creating in the kitchen! First we made our standard baked egg dish with vegetarian Canadian Bacon and sliced black olives sprinkled on top. While that baked, I searched online for a pumpkin coffee cake recipe and found Sally's kitchen tested version. 

For the full recipe and directions visit Sally's Baking Addiction 

Her cake recipe includes:

• 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup (244 grams) pure pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup (100 grams) dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil)
• 1/4 cup (82 grams) pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup (60ml) milk
• 
  
• I substituted 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce and 1/4 cup olive oil for the 1/2 cup oil listed in order to lower the fat content a bit. I also used 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour with 1/2 cup whole wheat flour. These changes didn't affect the quality or flavor.

• 
  
• The recipe includes a yummy crumb topping, too. I followed the directions for the simple icing glaze made from powdered sugar and milk, and 
• drizzled it over the top of the 
• coffee cake when it came out 
• of the oven.

• 
  
•  This pumpkin cake is moist,
•  pumpkin-y and delicious. 
• I can taste the cinnamon. I can taste the pumpkin! I don't like cakes which are brown but don't taste like chocolate, or orangy colored cakes that don't taste like oranges or pumpkins...I want to taste the flavor, not just see the color!
• 
  

This pumpkin coffee cake is perfect for 

breakfast or teatime - if it lasts that 

long!

• 
  
•  
• sharing this post with~
• Share Your Cup
• Weekend Re-treat
• Halloween House Tour
•  

Moon Shadows and Irises

There was a lunar eclipse the other night that was visible in our time zone beginning at 1:50 a.m. College Girl and I went outside at 1:35 and were amazed at just how bright the moon was and how well we could see everything. I took this photo of the patio and the fire pit and table can be clearly seen, as well as the yellow color of the sunflowers! I didn't use a tripod so the sunflower photo turned out blurry, but you get the idea.

The shadows looked so stark - such high contrast!

This week I played along again at CSI and made another scrapbook page. Here is the Case File for the page I created ~ You have to use all the colors, two items from Evidence and one Testimony.

I made a page about how every year the Easter Bunny places an egg in the Iris blooms in our backyard for the egg hunt. How strange! It's amazing that the Iris blooms just in time for Easter, even though Easter falls in March some years and in April in others. 

SEE THE EASTER EGG RESTING IN THE IRIS BLOOM?
 LOOK AT THE CENTER OF THE RIGHT PHOTO


I machine-stitched around the page edges. I also stitched yarn and string onto the page on opposite corners. I did stamping and embossing in both corners, too. I got the idea to use embossing powder on the page from my friend Patty - she always uses fun techniques.

You can see the glitter and shine of the melted embossing powder along with a purple heart button, brads, and stitched yarn.

I overlapped the photos of the Iris and placed the right one on foam adhesive for a little lift and dimension. The purple mesh peeking out from underneath the photos came off the top of a honey jar. Waste not, want not! 

Did anyone see the lunar eclipse? What crafty

 thing are you working on right now? 

Have a great Friday :)

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Catitude

Here is our newest rescue cat - we just celebrated his first year with us! He's a Maine Coon and has a sweet disposition and lovable personality quirks. 

I entered this layout at CSI's Challenge #139

and was happy and honored it was a featured page that week. I machine stitched, punched, stenciled/misted, and stamped on the background page. I also used the required sketch:

Here is a close up shot in which you can see that I added dimension by putting the photo on foam adhesive dots ~

I used a piece of paper from a 6" x 6" pad, turned it upside down and tied bakery string through the pad's hole punch without tearing off the perforated section. 

This photo shows the flower, paw brad and meow button cluster at the bottom corner of the page. I did lots of punching, tearing and stamping in this corner.

It's still 100 degrees outside. It gives me a headache! I've started reading a new book which looks fascinating and have been slowly digging through the autumn decor boxes and placing Halloween items here and there. I want to put a monogram on a white pumpkin and add it to our other white pumpkins on the mantle. Our fireplace surround is black and I think it will look elegant.

Update~ Chana from 613 Avenue Create 
just told me I was selected as
 Layout Designer of the Day for October 6, 2014.
I'm thrilled! Thank you, 613 Avenue Create.

My page was also featured at CSI - wohoo!

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First of 31

It's officially October ~
 I opened our Fall decorations box and look 
what I discovered on top! I found this unique countdown calendar last year at TJMaxx.

I must admit that store is one of my 
favorites for just about everything. 



It's going to be fun moving the key each morning
 as Halloween approaches.
And what better way to welcome in the new month than to bake something dark and decadent? 
College Girl and I tried this Depression-era recipe 
I found online. Notice anything missing from the ingredients list? It turned out so great it was spooky!

Crazy Cake
recipe from LA Times
1 cup water
1 and 1/2 regular flour
4 TB unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 TB oil (I used olive)
Grease 8x8" pan. Lightly mix all dry ingredients in the pan. Make three depressions in the dry mixture: pour vinegar in one, vanilla in the second and oil in the third. Pour water over the top, then mix lightly until smooth. Bake on middle rack at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Cool, then frost with your favorite icing. You can also bake in a cupcake pan for 13 minutes, or double the recipe and bake in a 9x13" pan.


 Did you notice this recipe doesn't call for eggs or milk? It came out rich, chocolaty, and moist.

I have the perfect teapot for this afternoon's cake and teatime ~

 October is the fallen leaf,
but it is also a wider horizon more clearly seen.
It is the distant hills once more in sight,
and the enduring constellations above them once again.
H. Borland

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