"HAPPY HALLOWEEN"!

"EAT DRINK AND BE SCARY"

"When Black Cats are seen........It's near Halloween."

This black spider on my console table actually screeches, makes noises and crawls around. It really scares some kiddies but we keep it away from the lil' ones.

This use to be one of my favourite holidays when I was a child........easy to figure out why, with all that candy. My favourite costume was either get dressed as a Gypsy or a Hobo...........that was in the old days. Now the costumes have changed over the years.

"Happy Witches........." home from The Wicked Witches Convention.

"FREE BROOM WITH FLYING LESSONS"

Here are just some of my decorations that I manged to put out. I have tons more but they are buried in my basement and I ran out of time to go hunting for them.........

Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy Halloween!!!!!!!

Nutella-Swirl Poundcake

Thanks to our wonderful Hostess Susan for hosting this "Foodie Friday". Stop by for some fun and exciting recipes and fabulous pictures at http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

This cake recipe is from my friend Linda.........who is a fabulous cook and baker at .http://linda-howtocookawolf.blogspot.com/ A couple of weeks ago she had this recipe posted and a picture. Well it looked so good and since in my home we are fans of Nutella and I had this huge jar of it in the pantry trying to get my attention...... I decided that I better whip this Nutella pouncake up since pouncakes are my husbands favourite and my daughter loves anything with chocolate........well it was so good that in two days we had finished it off. I know that anything Linda makes is always a keeper. ...........with a nice cup of tea.

Nutella-Swirl Pouncake

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

4 large eggs, at room temperature

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 1/4 cups sugar

One 13-ounce jar Nutella

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°. Lightly grease and flour a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan, tapping out any excess flour. In a glass measuring cup, lightly beat the eggs with the vanilla. In a medium bowl, whisk the 1 1/2 cups of flour with the baking powder and salt.

2. In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer, beat the butter with the sugar at medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. With the mixer at medium-low speed, gradually beat in the egg mixture until fully incorporated. Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, beating at low speed between additions until just incorporated. Continue to beat for 30 seconds longer.

3. Spread one-third of the batter in the prepared pan, then spread half of the Nutella on top. Repeat with another third of the batter and the remaining Nutella. Top with the remaining batter. Lightly swirl the Nutella into the batter with a butter knife. Do not overmix.

4. Bake the cake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Invert the cake onto a wire rack, turn it right side up and let cool completely, about 2 hours. Cut the cake into slices and serve.

Make Ahead
The pound cake can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Love those 'Nutella' chocolatey swirls.

Thanks for stopping by and have a 'Happy Halloween'!

Be sure and stop by http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/ and visit the other participants for some 'Foodie Friday' fun........

Scarecrows and Pumpkins........

Today is 'Outdoor Wednesday" be sure and visit http://http//asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/. and see the fun everyone is up to.

Thank you to our Susuan for being a wonderful Hostess for this fun "Outdoor Wednesday", everyone is so creative.

This scarecrow display in the corner of my front lawn.

...........what a face.

My friends display of pumpkins in fron of her home.

During Halloween my husband likes to sit in the middle of Mrs. Old Crow and Missy Pumpkin Head...........when the kids come around for 'trick or treat' he shines the flashlight in his face and moves, they all get scared and some scream and run away. BUT they always return to get their candy. I must mention that he wears a mask and costume. We can do this because here the kids come out after it gets dark in Toronto........so it is more spooky and scary. My street is so busy that last year after 275 kids we had to lock the doors. This year I'm prepared for more kids, but so far rain is in the forecast........it's still early so the weather might change.

This beautiful Maple tree is just down the street from me, the colours are so beautiful.
I remember my friend Irene and her husband planted this tree, that was 8 years ago. I thought it will take forever to grow.......well it has grown to be very, very tall. It is the only one with that gorgeous red colour the other maple trees are a golden yellow.

Hope you enjoyed the tour and have a great "Happy Halloween!"

Be sure and visit http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ to see the other participants in 'Outdoor Wednesdays'.

Teacups and saucers and dessert plates.

Hi to everyone visiting 'Tea Thinngs Tuesdays' at http://shabbypinkandpretty.blogspot.com/.

Thanks to Kim for hosting this and be sure to check out everyone and all their 'tea' treasures!


One day as I was driving around the block from my house I noticed a Yard Sale in the middle of the week, which was strange because we normally only have them on Saturday mornings here. Well I couldn't hold myself and stopped...... it was two nieces whose lil' old Great Aunt had passed on and they didn't care to keep anything of hers because it looked 'granny like' they said and they were not in the least interested. Well.........I came across this set all dusty in a worn old cardboard ripped box. I counted six cups, six saucers, six dessert plates and a matching cake plate. [I didn't take a picture of the cake plate as I don't know where it is in the house in my basemnet storage room. But it looks exactly like the dessert plates but bigger.]

They saw I was looking it over and they told me $2 and it's all yours. I said you mean a cup and saucer they said ......."no, the whole box" So I paid them and skipped to my car.

Hope you enjoy my tour..........

This was stamped on the bottom of the saucer.

............dessert plate.

Design in the middle of the dessert plate......beautiful cornflowers.

This is stamped on the bottom of the dessert plates.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to look at http://shabbypinkandpretty.blogspot.com/ for other Tea Things and some fun!

Have a great "Tea Things Tuesday"!

"Blue" Evil Eye

Thank you Hostess Sally for hosting "Blue Monday" for some fabulous inspirational ideas and fun!

Be sure and visit the other participants at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

Today I'm showing for "BLUE MONDAY" my collection [some of it] The Blue Evil Eye from Turkey. I'm not Turkish but my husband Dogan is. When I made the first visit to Turkey with my husband over 20 years ago I was fascinated by this Evil Eye, I had never seen or heard of it and there it was everywhere........and I mean everywhere. There were little shops and stands just loaded with these trinkets.........so me being a collector I managed to collect a vast amount. Everytime my husband made a visit or me or his relatives came over they added to my Collection. I hope that you enjoy my tour of these blue trinkets.

"Blue"Evil Eye"

Turkish Eye - throughout the centuries it has been believed that the Eye is a protector.

Whether in the office, home, car or on your person, the Turkish eye will protect you from negativity. It is said that any negative wish placed on you will turn to a positive wish through the power of the eye.

Jealousy, fear, anger, along with any other negative emotion will be transformed into positive emotions when the Eye is in place.
In Turkey, all homes display the "Blue" Evil Eye [Nazar Eye] for protection.........it is placed in gardens, windows, cell phones, doors, hanging in most rooms, airplanes, cars and offices, etc...... It is believed to protect both young and old, and bring good luck to those that possess one.

In Turkish it is called The Nazur Boncuk-Turkish ‘Blue”Evil Eye .

In Turkey ,Blue evil eye jewelry and trinkets are particularly common. A nazar or evil eye stone is an amulet from ancient mythology that protects against the evil eye. Colourful beads, bracelets, necklaces, anklets, and all manner of decoration may be adorned by this particularly popular symbol. It is said to protect the wearer from misfortune and hexing.

Saly and pepper shakers and a mini vase.

.......a silver tree with lil' evil eyes.

Every morning my husband has his coffee in these mugs.

Assortment of key chains, good luck charms, etc........

Jewelery.......

The best "Blue" evil eye charms are hand-crafted of blown glass in Turkey, and appear in many shapes and sizes. You'll see them on sale in Turkish bazaars and handicraft shops.

For more "Blue Monday" be sure and visit at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ to see the other participants and join in the fun.

Thanks for stopping by! I love reading your comments!!!!!!! Have a great "Blue Monday"

"Occupied in Japan"

Thanks to Cindy at http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/ for hosting "Show and Tell Friday".

"OCCUPIED IN JAPAN"

I collect little figurines that are stamped on the bottom"Occupied in Japan". Through the years I've collected them at flea Markets, yard sales, etc...........some I've even bought for a dime :-) They are only a couple of inches high.


"Occupied Japan" was printed on pottery, porcelain, toys, and other goods made during the
American occupation of Japan after World War II, from 1945 to 1952. Collectors....like me now
search for these pieces. These items were made for export.

Thank you Cindy at http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/ for Hosting. Be sure and stop by and see the list of participants.

Thanks for stopping by my post! I love reading your comments.......have a great 'Show and Tell Friday'.