The Happy Dance

It is that time of year again, when the kids prepare for the start if school.  The final BBQ with family before school starts. I have to confess I for one will be doing the happy dance in the driveway as Tabitha leaves for her first day of 1st grade. We have had Tab since May and I have to say that on any given day she says Aunt Pat about a hundred times. I am tired just from answering. LOL  We have practiced reading and she will be starting with some good work skills and hopefully enjoy this new teacher. Also this means it is craft show time again. Crocheting mainly hats, I find that summer shows are very slow and so I wait for fall and the pre Christmas shows. My first show will be a week from today in Waupun Wisconsin at Volkfest. Great polka music all day, delicious food and spending the day new a good friend Marlene who owns #Country Soaps by Marlene. We get to chat and catch up while selling, listening to music and an occasional beer. I have been behind with my hat making due to my new kid duties so will have to step it up. This is alos the same time that orders increase in my Etsy shop due to Halloween orders for the animal hats and early Chrsitmas orders. So far the most asked for hat this season would be the minion and for the littlest ones a rhino. You can never tell from year to year what will be the hit so I just keep on crocheting and go with the flow.

My newest favorites have been the little fox and boston terrier, so much fun and my new motto is  "LET NO EARS GO UNCOVERED"  so I must find a hat for everyone. That means I should get off the computer and crochet. 

But to leave you on a sweet note I would like to share a page link for a cinnamon roll bundt cake that I found. After making this maybe you will also be doing the happy dance! Have a great weekend 

http://sixinthesuburbsblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/cinnamon-roll-bundt-cake.html

Things Falling Into Place

Well, the big kids are back at school and I am finding ways to work around the little guys.  Going has been slow but I did find something fun for them to do this morning. A photo shoot for the new scarf I listed on Etsy.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/81369181/snake-scarf-kids?ref=sr_gallery_5&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=snake+scarf&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_ship_to=US&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

what a nice bunch of mug shots.  No, they were not forced to do this, not afraid of the Snake.  But the little guy is definitely planning something evil .  We have bread rising and my plan for dinner is chicken soup since the weather has cooled.  Kluski noodles from the Amish Store will make a nice addition. This weekend you can find me at Volkfest in Waupon having a great time.http://www.facebook.com/pages/Waupun-Volksfest/205501786163640 So, I am off to finish hats and tag some items for my table. All with the help of the little guys. 

If You Could See Me Now

What a sight , sipping coffee and doing the HAPPY dance. The two teens are at school.  Quiet at last. I am hoping to soak up all this calm and quiet. Maybe even get some work done. I have decided to schedule my time, between unpacking boxes, crocheting and the Internet. In hopes of getting so much more done now without interruption.
I just received another order for a turkey hat, last weeks hat was in school colors and turned out so cute. In checking the shop I found a photo of turkey hats sent out last fall for adults, take a look!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61539242/turkey-hat-teenadult

As the temperatures drop people begin thinking fall and Halloween so I have received a couple monster hat orders a pair of adult skunk hat orders for a photo shoot and a frog hat and sweater set.  Much to do but glad to see the orders arrive.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80702670/monster-hat

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80397643/fox-hat

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80843594/skunk-hat

Also to celebrate I am baking this afternoon, I looked all over yesterday for an apple cake recipe and this is the one I am going with...

My first stop in looking for a recipe is Pioneer Woman Cooks and then off to Tasty Kitchen, so far they have never let me down.

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/fall-spiced-apple-cake/

Fall Spiced Apple Cake 

Ingredients

• FOR THE CAKE:
• 1 cup Vegetable Oil (or Oil Of Choice)
• 1-½ cup Sugar
• ½ cups Brown Sugar
• 3 whole Eggs
• ¼ cups Milk
• 2-½ cups Self-Rising Flour
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoons Nutmeg
• 2 cups Peeled And Chopped Apples (3-4 Apples)
• 1 cup Chopped Pecans
• _____
• FOR THE GLAZE:
• ½ cups Brown Sugar
• ½ sticks Butter
• ½ cups Milk

• Preparation Instructions

  Preheat oven to 350F.
  Using an electric mixer on low speed, combine oil, sugar, brown sugar, eggs and milk. Sift together flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Gradually blend creamy mixture with dry mixture. Add chopped apples and pecans.
  Grease and lightly flour a Bundt pan. Pour batter into pan and bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of cake comes out clean. Cool.
  In saucepan, combine all ingredients for glaze. Cook over low-medium heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is smooth (it will be liquidy). Drizzle over cooled cake (or warm if you can’t wait that long).