To My Smallest One

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I can't believe you are a whole year old! We've come all the way from this at three months!

 To this!

 That card plays the 'hampster dance' and it was a bigger hit than the gift!

I have loved every day with you! I'm so glad we are friends!

Out and About

Bryan and I drove up to Woodstock, Vermont yesterday to spend the day with Mike and Angel who were vacationing for the past few days! They spent every Christmas there for years and years and were the perfect tour guides!

 The further North we drove, the more pops of color we saw in the trees!

 The gorge

 which Mike was trying to get Angel to look over the edge of!

 The Woodstock Farmer's Market was so cute with tons of fresh produce and local goodies!

I've never seen anything like this! They were called Swans and I don't know if they are melons or gourds.

 We had lunch outside of the market by the stream.

 We also did a beer tasting at the long trail beer company.

 And of course pumpkin ice cream and pumpkin donuts

 And to end a perfect day we went to the Simon Pearce glass studio for dinner.

 They were blowing the glass wine goblets when we got there.

 I've never seen anything like this! It was so cool to watch!

 The studio location was beautiful. The whole thing is hydro-powered.

 And dinner was wonderful!

We had a great great day and will definitely go to Woodstock again for more exploring!

The Unveiling

We have these friends, Nolan & Elizabeth, who decided to be roommates this year. Before they started moving they mentioned not having any art or anything to go on the walls so I said, "I should paint you. Then you'll have a big painting to go over your sofa!" 

So I did.

They posed against a brick wall one night after a movie in the correct pose and I basically photo-shopped in the clothes and background that I felt truly represented them. They had no idea what the painting would look like. 

They held an unveiling at their house last night and it went swimmingly!

Beforehand Nolan said he felt that it would be a cartoony characature of his dominant physical features. Elizabeth said she knew it would change her life forever but wasn't sure in what way...

(here it is hanging in the living room before the unveiling)

So Drum Roll Please...

As Laura begins to pull the curtain,

their nervous faces anxiously await what lies behind.

The curtain is lifted!!

And their nervousness dissipates into hysterical laughter!

So here it is:

The Weekend of Pumpkin

Fall is here!!!
I intend to celebrate the large, orange, seasonal gourd until it is no longer seasonal.
Pumpkin Muffins:

(please notice my beautiful Brimfield test tube vases in the background)

Pumpkin Beer:

Pumpkin Stuffed French Toast:

(and some not-so-pumpkiny-but-equally-wonderful home fries)

I wish you all the happiest of Sunday evenings and a delightful start to our new week! May it be filled with pumpkin goodness!

Brimfield, My Brimfield

Yesterday was the last Brimfield Flea Market day this year. I'll have to wait until next spring to go again, but it'll be worth the wait I'm sure of it. I recruited Laura, Elizabeth, and Carolyn to go with me on kind of a girls day flea market adventure.

Laura was definitely the winner for extravagant purchases! She bought a wooden sled, old wooden skis, glass hospital jars, picture frames, a whole bag full of keys, and an anchor... like a real deal anchor. Turns out she LOVES haggling!
Elizabeth purchased a few painted postcards and frames for each of them. I think Carolyn only bought snacks? She said she had fun looking, though!
I found some things I was really excited about too. Here's my loot:

keys

This tiny Dutch lady charm is no bigger than the end of my finger!

gold open lined necklace.

5 test tube vases

an old market basket

and a 30's globe

I don't know if the basket or the globe know what's coming their way, but they are each in for a little make-over... I'll put up pics of them in their newfound glory as soon as possible.
And now I must prepare for Brunch Team Spectacular! It's 65 degrees here and I sincerely hope a little Autumn finds its way to you today as well! Happy Sunday!

Everyone Deserves a Cake or Two on Their Birthday

And the next time you are the one supplying the cake(s) I'd like to suggest one of these goodies:

Chocolate Sour Cream Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Peanut Butter Fudge Glaze

OR

Almond Raspberry Layer Cake with Swiss Buttercream Frosting

How delightful! I LOVE to bake and think in my next life I'll figure out a way to that all day every day. For these recipes and tons of others that looked amazing check out SmittenKitchen's blog.
P.S. Happy Birthday, Mom! If we were a little closer you would certainly have a cake or two today!