Another turkey bites the dust.....

As I write this blog today...in total honesty I must convey...
the big old turkey that is in the oven ....
was prepared with stuffing and a bit of lovin.

In one hour the feast will begin... hubbie and I attacking it with nary a chagrin.
To friends & family we must say...another turkey bites the dust today !

This past weekend.....

This past weekend we celebrated my mother in laws 85th birthday. It was fun to see all my husbands family with only a few missing. My husband is one of 10 kids so you can imagine the number of people that show up.

The birthday cake was made by my sister in law, Terri and it was fabulous ! She got the recipe off Epicurious.com. I was able to find it and share it with you. When my birthday comes I am asking my darling husband to make it for me. I mentioned that today and his face went white...he told me he has never made a cake...lol....heck, this could be interesting.

Here is the recipe - she left out the nuts due to some with allergies...it was a light cake but very good.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese-Lemon Zest Frosting Epicurious | June 2009

by Sarah Magid
Organic and Chic

Yield: Makes one 8-inch layer cake or 24 cupcakes For the cake: 1/3 cup dried shredded organic unsweetened coconut About 1 pound organic farm-fresh carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch Lengths (3 cups) 1 cup chopped organic pineapple 1 1/2 cups organic all-purpose flour 1/2 cup organic whole wheat pastry flour 1 1/2 cups organic cane sugar 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 1/4 teaspoons organic ground cinnamon Pinch of freshly grated organic nutmeg 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup dark-brown sugar 3/4 cup organic canola oil 1 tablespoon organic vanilla extract 3 organic eggs Cream Cheese-Lemon Zest Frosting Optional additions (add one or a combination of all three) 3/4 cup chopped toasted organic walnuts 1/2 cup organic golden raisins, plumped in warm water for 20 minutes and drained 1/2 tablespoon minced fresh organic ginger Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper (to ensure that the cake will not stick), or place liners in 2 muffin pans for 24 cupcakes. Set aside. Place the dried coconut in a cup of warm water to soften and set it aside for 15 minutes. Place the carrots in a food processor and pulse on and off for 1 minute. Then add the pineapple and pulse until the carrots are cut into very small pieces and the pineapple is pureed, 1 to 2 minutes. In a large bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Add the brown sugar and use a whisk to break up any lumps. Drain the coconut and place it in a medium bowl. Add the oil, vanilla extract, eggs, and carrot-pineapple mixture, and whisk to combine. Add the wet ingredients into the dry, mixing with a rubber spatula to incorporate but not overmix. When the batter is almost mixed, stir in the additions, if using. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake for 55 minutes, or until the tops are a very golden brown and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. (It may look as if the cake is too well done, but it takes a while to bake because it's so dense.) For cupcakes, the baking time is 35 to 40 minutes. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then invert them onto a wire rack and let them cool completely. Fill and frost the cake with the Cream Cheese-Lemon Zest Frosting (for added oomph, add 1/2 tablespoon minced fresh ginger to the frosting). to decorate Fill and frost the cake with cream cheese frosting and let chill. Tint 1/2 cup frosting lemon yellow, and use the 10 tip to pipe 5 dots in a circle to create simple buttercup flowers. Then combine any remaining yellow frosting with some additional cream cheese frosting and tint it leaf green. I use tip #67, which pipes small fern stems. Pipe the center stamen with cream cheese frosting and chill to set.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/printerfriendly/Carrot-Cake-with-Cream-Cheese-Lemon-Zest-Frosting-353969#ixzz15ZlSdnD9

Oh Me Oh My....I have been a busy little beaver.....

I truly believe my fingers were permanently glued to my keyboard this past week...lol...listing items on Ebay and Etsy before the holiday craziness starts. Yes, I stated craziness...in the past I have actually completed orders on Christmas Eve....lol.

For those who do not know about Etsy ...it is a website that features artists work along with art & craft supplies and vintage items more than 20 years old.

I find a lot of my treasures on Etsy..oops, I just gave away a secret...but lets keep it between you and me !

In the artist section of Etsy, I have listed some of my OOAK Pocket Watch Vignettes in which I had so much fun creating. They are like little showcases of tiny treasures and vintage images.

Today I am listing my charm bracelets ......I have always loved charms....at the age of 13 I would order charm catalogs from the back of magazines. When the catalogs arrived I would circle the charms I wanted. Of course I wanted all of them...lol...a very greedy little girl was I.

I still retain my girlhood charm bracelet and add to it every once in awhile...I think the last charm was from a trip to Paris. I went to the top of the Eiffel Tower all by myself (my girlfriend had a French class and wasnt interested). I found a cute little souvenir shop and bought a Sterling Silver Eiffel Tower. One day I will tell about my other Paris adventures. The trip was what got me started in jewelry making.

Here are one of my Pocket Watch Vignettes and Charm Bracelets

below .....

just to tease you....

* * Bella Floras Escapades * *

* * Grandma Was A Cowgirl * *

* SOLD *

Thank you for your purchase !

Take a peek at my other necklaces and charm bracelets that have been listed on this fun site -

www.etsy.com/shop/MadameWhimsey

If you are not sure how Etsy works and interested in purchasing or have any questions....just email me at

meer2@execpc.com

Thank you !

Karen

A local show...

Well...just when I think I have enough on my plate to do before the holiday rush....I decided to do a local show at the Waukesha Expo center....it was a flea market type with a smattering of newer items....the first time being held. Crowds were good on Saturday with Sunday a bit slow.

I found a great jar of buttons, a vintage celluloid head jester rag-style doll, a snowman display piece, gumball charms for my bracelets and vintage doll clothes for my bears.... finding treasures always make the show more fun...lol.

Just a few treasures found in my booth ....

* The Five Harlots *

They will do anything for a charm bracelet !

* Necklaces & Bracelets *

* Pop Art Bracelet & Necklace *
A charming extravaganza....

~ Bracelet $ 56.00

~ Necklace $ 98.00

Whistles, compass, tiny cereal boxes, animals, false teeth, toothpaste
tube, tiny soda cups & cans, hot dog, hamburger, 4 leaf clover,
baseball, hairbrush, lantern, pirate ship, pair of feet,
crayons, monopoly pieces, telephones,
birds, helicopter, wine
bottle, monkey,
tiny light
bulb

...just to name a few charms and trinkets
found on either piece.

Yours in a whimsey,

Karen