Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Do you ever get inspired in the checkout lane at the grocery store? I picked up a small book of fall recipes and just saw a picture of caramel apple cupcakes. Then it was my turn to checkout, but the idea stuck in my head. Then I was looking through the fall issue of Phyllis Hoffman's magazine and she had a recipe for apple cupcakes. I didn't even have a pen in my purse, though now as I am writing this, I have a place on my phone to take notes! I am trying to be good, I have a magazine problem. Anyone else with a compulsion to purchase many high priced magazines, raise your hand. All I remembered from that recipe was that it started with a spice cake mix and they used apple juice instead of water called for in the recipe. Then on a trip to my favorite Wisconsin big box store, I found the Duncan Hines Caramel Frosting, and it all came together. I rolled the frosted cupcakes with chopped salted peanuts, stuck a stick in them and wrapped them in clear bags from the Hob Lob. I tied each with raffia, and added a tag I made to celebrate my niece's 10th birthday. They looked so cute and were delicious. Sweet and salty!

Our holiday weekend went by in a flash, but it's a beautiful windy day today, and I have all the windows open. It's hard to feel bad about the end of summer on a day like today. I'll be sewing this week and clearing out my son's closet so I can take it over. I hope you had a great weekend, and thanks for visiting and for your kind comments and emails. Enjoy this beautiful blustery day.

Weekend update...

I'm really looking forward to the long holiday weekend. I started yesterday in a baking frenzy, made 16 small zucchini loaves, 2 large loaves and a couple dozen cupcakes for my niece's birthday favors. The weather was BEAUTIFUL, so with the windows open to the cool breezes, I could have baked more...but I ran out of eggs. The guys wanted to know what was up, bake sale, company... Just the joy of baking. I'm giving away most of the bread, and if you noticed, one of the loaves disappeared. Quality control. My husband wants to keep the English Valley Bakery up to the standards he's become accustomed to!

Just a few cool finds from last weekend. The three carved wooden bowls will hold pine cones, acorns and dried fruit potpourri for the fall.
The wash pan is already hanging in the laundry room with the one I found a few weeks ago. The Charles Wysocki Christmas bowl still had floral foam and tape on it. It was a bargain at 50 cents. The small book is about Herbs.

How about this, it has Walter E. Smith Furniture engraved on it.

Here is my Currier and Ives Winter tray. I'm sure I'll find Summer someday, I know it's out there! Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend dear friends, and enjoy this BEAUTIFUL day.

My Studio WIP

I moved my studio/office to the east side of my home, the room where my son lived until recently. I've been blue since he left, and needed a project to lift my spirits. One morning my dear husband brought a folding table up from the basement and placed it in the room. With this gentle nudge, I started to set up my new space. Using only things I already had, inspired by Jayme, I went to work. It's still a work in progress, though I've been sewing a little. I couldn't wait. The space is working great for me. The room is much larger and filled with light. The first photo is of my old office. With an Amish inspired quilt I made and a favorite photo my dear son took as a starting point, here's how it went.

Historic Methodist Camp Ground

After finding 3 rummage sales in DesPlaines, (A few towns over from mine) my honey filled the Tom Tom and off we went. What we found was the Historic Methodist Camp Ground. I've lived in the Chicago area for my whole life and had never heard of it. It was purchased in 1865. Before there were established congregations and churches to house them, circuit preachers roamed the countryside carrying the message. The circuit riders traveled from small settlement to settlement and hatched the idea of bringing larger numbers together in one location for extended services. Thus the summer camp was born. I found all this info on the Historic Methodist Camp Ground website. If you're local, and have never seen this camp, you have to visit. It was a trip back in time. The grounds are lovely, the cabins, though many in disrepair charming. Everyone we met was friendly and proud to talk about the long history of this amazing place. With the jets of O'Hare overhead the only reminder that we were in present day DesPlaines, we wandered the grounds and imagined what it was like 150 years ago. The songs of Oh Brother Where Art Thou were humming through my head. I found it all magical, as did my husband.

The rummage sale was in the Dining Hall. I read that they rent out this space. It would be amazing for a wedding. So ROMANTIC.

This building is called the Waldorf Tabernacle.

I was charmed by these shutters, and the whole camp. Talk about stumbling upon a treasure. In case you're wondering, I purchased a tray. A Currier and Ives tray. Remember a few weeks back I found Spring and Autumn? Well, I found Winter. I also found another dishpan, at the same wonderful price as the other,$1! I hope you stumble upon something wonderful today.

The Hostas are Blooming!

When friends and family visit, they never mention the hostas, until this time of the year. They always say, when did you plant these flowers? To me they signal the end of summer. What signals the end of summer to you? Do you go kicking and screaming into Autumn, or welcome it?

I've made some changes around here that I'll share with you next week. Until then my friends, enjoy this beautiful weekend.

P.S. Happy Happy Birthday dear Carmella!