The Ringing Of The Shells

I called this "the ringing of the shells" because the shells with the pearls look like bells to me.

When I was making this necklace, I happened to look up from my work and out to the lake to find it quite serendipitous that the water was the light blue grey and the waves the stark white of the shells.

Friday the 13th

So, did everyone survive Friday the 13th? 

Some quirky things happened to me, but quirky things happen to me all the time.  I've got to believe it had nothing to do with the dreaded day. 

I even ventured out of the house.  No black cats crossed my path, no mirrors broke, no ladders to walk under...pretty uneventful.

The sun is shining and it's looking promising to be able to spend some time outside today, so I guess I'd better get to it.

Have a lovely weekend.

Veterans Day

Thank you all who have served and who are serving our country.

Change is Good....Right???

Is anyone else out there still having trouble with the time change?  I know it's been a few days, but I just can't seem to get it together.  Up before the butt crack of dawn, but either too tired or too wound to be creative.  Oh, well....it's always something.

Needed some comfort yesterday from all the "behind the scenes" stuff, so I dug into the shells that we brought back from our FL trip and got a few ideas for some new necklaces. 

Well, I can finally see the sun coming up.  It's shining through the trees and burning my eyeballs, so I guess that means I should get crackin' on my day (either that or stop looking at the sun!).

Snap the Magic Dragon

Taken today, November 3rd....clearly my flowers are on their own blooming schedule.

Roll Into November

Okay, one more recipe involving pumpkin.  Pumpkin rolls are way easier to make than they seem.  Honest.

Pumpkin Rolls

Grease & line a jelly roll pan with wax paper.  Leave about 2" on each end (long ends).  This makes it easier to get the cake out of the pan.

Mix:

3 eggs

2/3C pumpkin

1C sugar

1t baking soda

1/2t cinnamon

3/4C flour

Pour onto wax paper lined pan.  Sprinkle with chopped nuts, if desired.  Bake in 375 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Sprinkle tea towel with powdered sugar.  Turn cake out onto towel to cool.  Remove wax paper. 

Frosting:

2T butter

1C powdered sugar

1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese

3/4 t vanilla

Mix all ingredients together, spread over cooled cake.  Sprinkle with nuts, if desired.

Using the towel to help, roll up cake from short end.  Wrap in saran wrap.  Roll can be frozen.

~ I've found that the cake won't crack when you roll it after frosting, if you roll it in the towel while it's still warm, let it cool, and then unroll it to spread with frosting.

~ Also it's easier to remove the wax paper from the cake if you do it while the cake is still warm. 

1 small can of pumpkin will yield 2 rolls.

Pumpkin roll is a nice alternative to pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving or just a yummy treat at any time.