Birthday Pound Cake | So Good

My mother had a great birthday today. She decided she wanted a pound cake and I made the one I featured recently. Recipe here. I have to say it was delicious. We ate it with Breyer's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Yum.

The people on the food network are always talking about baked goods with a great crumb. I think this cake would send them to the moon bragging. I heavily buttered the pan using a big pat from my cow butter dish and baked it at 375 instead of 325 for one hour. I have a gas oven and it cooks a lot cooler than an electric one. I always crank it up an extra 50 degrees on almost every recipe. I used a big round pan with a removable bottom instead of a loaf pan. Mother and I both ate a huge wedge and decided this is the recipe I should use again and again. It was easy and the only ingredient I had to shop for was the pure lemon extract. Try it, you'll like it!



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Blue Shutters with Fall Foliage

Such a beautiful scene. I love the color of the robin's egg blue shutters and their peeling patina. I wish I could see the rest of the house. via TrekEarth



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Whoooo Looks Cute? } Owl Wearing A Hat

This photo of an owl in a hat is so cute I can hardly stand it. You know how much I love owls; especially baby ones wearing knitted caps.

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Colorful Maple Leaves

>It's Tuesday and as usual I'm in a rush because I haven't even started getting ready for my weekly office meeting. It rained overnight and it is still very overcast. Today is my mom's 90th birthday and I gave her the main present at bedtime last night. She loved her new electric blanket. We are off to get our flu shots after lunch at the township health clinic. Free is good!

I photographed this colorful maple leaf several years ago. The leaf on the blue board was fresh off the ground and the one on the black background is the same leaf several days later after I pressed it under some heavy books. The maples have the best fall color, don't they? See you later.



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'Mad Men' Final Episode | Season 4

I really enjoyed last night's final episode of AMC's 'Mad Men'. My how time flies -- I can't believe Season 4 is already over. I don't want to spoil it for you in case you haven't watched it yet. Here's a recap: "There Is No Fresh Start"



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Jack Skellington Halloween Hat + Mask To Knit | Free Pattern

Get out your knitting needles -- you still have time to make this wonderful hat/mask for Halloween. It's great for skiers and snowboarders as well as Trick or Treaters since it adjusts to all kinds of winter weather. It makes for a very original, warm and practical Halloween accessory too.

The design is mostly inspired by the character Jack Skellington from the animated movie 'The Nightmare before Christmas’ by director Tim Burton.

Download Free Pattern from Knitty Magazine

The Fall 2010 Issue of Knitty Magazine is available here.



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Boat House with Fall Foliage

I took these a little after 6 o'clock last night and it was almost too late to get a good shot of this wonderful stone boat house reflecting on the lake. It's very close to my house so I can go walk over again when the light is better.

Beautiful Terrace

This looks like the perfect place to sit in the sun and read the Sunday Times. I love the stonework. Croquet on the lawn after brunch would be nice too if the set hasn't already been put away for the winter.



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Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 26

Enjoy the day. I think it's going to be a lovely Sunday here at the cottage. By the way, the only thing unkind anyone ever says about Webster is that he's a little too friendly but he calms down quickly.



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Barbara Billingsley } June Cleaver on 'Leave It To Beaver' Dies at 94

Barbara Billingsley 1915-2010
Image: Everett Collection

I just learned about the death of one of my favorite TV personalities while watching the nightly news. "Leave It To Beaver" ran from 1957-1963 and I honestly think I've seen every episode multiple times. Barbara Billingsley portrayed June Cleaver, the perfect stay at home mother of the time. I can still hear that theme song in my head. She handled all of Wally's and The Beaver's problems with such love and grace. RIP. Read more in The Wall Street Journal.

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

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Vintage Halloween Images

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Have you picked out or made your costume yet? I found the two vintage Halloween post cards on Google Images. The two early photos are ©stevechasmar on Flickr. He finds the most amazing old photos and he has posted sets with a Halloween theme for the past three years. They are so much fun. Are you scared yet?



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Vintage Tin Carousel for Books } I Want One!

Somebody should start manufacturing this carousel now! Isn't it wonderful? What a great idea to use it for books and magazines. I love seeing vintage store display items used in interior design. Have a great organized weekend.
via desiretoinspire.net



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Have A Great Weekend Just Hanging Out

HaHa . . . Have a great weekend just hanging out. via



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Designer Pumpkin | Louis Vuitton

Make this delightful Louis Vuitton pumpkin by drawing the logos all over with a brown oil-based Sharpie pen. Instructions here. Happy Crafty Friday.
Photo by Colin Cooke.

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