The Cupcake Caper…A Crime of Passion

Last Friday I made cupcakes to take to a birthday party for Firstborn’s girlfriend. They were a little labor intensive, but I wanted them to be special. I had been wanting to try ice cream cone cupcakes for a long time and had recently seen a photo that “one-upped” the basic sprinkle decoration. So I bit the bullet and turned on the oven in this miserably hot weather we are experiencing….a labor of love.

I just used a basic white cake mix. They baked up perfectly—cake all the way to the bottom with perfect little round tops. I melted chocolate; I chopped nuts; I drained cherries; I made cream cheesing icing…..now for the fun part.

The result is darling cupcakes that resemble soft serve ice cream cones and sundaes.

Pretty cute, huh? Alas, that is not the end of the story….and it doesn’t have a pretty ending. It seems in my jubilation I forgot certain laws of physics. Ice cream cone cupcakes ( I seem to have forgotten) are TOP HEAVY and are sitting on a base a little larger than a quarter. In moving them, the ENTIRE pan fell to the floor.

Now, you may remember Charlie—seen here in much happier times…before he em”bark”ed on a life of crime….before he swooped in and ate the cupcakes.

Mug shot

Charles Rainbow

I hear he’s pleading insanity….me too :)

I am joining Hoosier Homemade for Cupcake Tuesday (if she doesn’t kick me and Charlie out). You can find her here for delicious cupcakes that people actually got to eat!

Thanks for sharing my tale of woe. Don’t forget to say hello and send Charlie a little support. Don’t worry— he didn’t get sick and he’s been released on his own recognizance :)~~Susan

SHhhhh.....Sometimes We Break the Law

I live in a beautiful community and the reason for that is, in part, we have rules and laws--lots of them. We have rules about parking, rules about grass length, rules about businesses, lots of rules about signage. And recently, I heard that we have a law about the number of pets you can own...uh oh. Kelee over at Katillac Shack is having a Pet Parade on Wednesday. For each link $3 will be donated to care for needy pets. I thought it was a good time to introduce you to the furry part of the family.

Meet Shelby. We are trying on our Halloween costumes a little early--just to make sure they fit. Shelby likes treats and is prone to put on a few pounds. Shelby is a Maltese. Beloved gave her to me for Valentine's Day one year after I lost my fourteen year old fox terrier. I had said I thought I might like what he calls a "fifi" dog--a prissy little lap dog. Shelby is in no way a "fifi". She is happiest when she is dirty and running through fields. She thinks she is a hunting dog. She is, however, fiercely loyal-- a real one-person dog. I, however, am NOT that person. She is strictly Beloved's dog--no ifs ands, or buts. I do love her. When Beloved goes out of town, I am very conscientious about taking her on long walks. I make sure that she is suitably outfitted for the weather. See?

This is the old man of the family--Hershey. Hershey is a Boykin spaniel who adopted us. He had been bought as a gift for a two year old and it didn't work out---imagine that. So Hershey stole our hearts and came to live with us as a ball of brown curls. He is old and a little arthritic now. He has lived through three children and two puppies. He has earned a rest and and our respect.

If you visit me often, you've already met Jessie. Jessie is mine-- I am her person! She is a three year old shih tzu who takes every step I take and sleeps by my head. We are ,as my godson says "like peas and carrots"--we go together!

Jessie has decided to be a ladybug for Halloween. And up to this point, we are okay legally on the number of pets. But from here the water gets a little murky. We are frequently called upon to babysit "granddogs". You've met Hannah before.

She is the product of a broken home. A former girlfriend gave her to my oldest son several years ago--Hannah lasted; the girlfriend didn't. Hannah is the funniest dog I have ever met and absolutely a daddy's girl.

This is Cooper. You may remember that Cooper and his mom (our daughter) got married this summer. He is adjusting beautifully and adores his new dad and new last name.

And finally meet Charlie, our baby's baby and the newest member of the family. Our youngest son got Charlie, a springer spaniel, in June. When "the baby" comes home, so does Charlie. Are you counting?...are you a government official?....I hope not. Shhh....don't tell anybody....sometimes we break the law. Join Kelee and lots of other pets on parade here!

Pink Saturday in the Garden

I had something else in mind when I signed up to join Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday. But, I was out watering pots , beds,and window boxes and thought I might share these blooms with you before the summer slips away and takes all this glorious pink with it.

Pink hydrangea



Pink impatiens planted with sweet potato vine, asparagus fern, varigated ivy, and pink and green polka dots. Something is munching on the sweet potato vine! It must be tasty--our son's dog like to eat the part trailing on the deck!

Charlie-the culprit, but with a face like this he escapes retribution!

One perfect deep pink rose bud

A concrete basket- shaped pot filled with two shades of impatiens, pink geranium, trailing petunias, green and white polka dots, and lantana

Crape myrtles surrounding the deck and pool area

Window boxes filled to capacity with impatiens, verbena, and geraniums

A pink hisbiscus tree loaded with buds

Not bad for a girl who thinks her favorite color is blue! Please join Beverly here for more Pink Saturday fun!

Outdoor Wednesday and a Porch and Patio Party

I am so glad to be back at my computer after a whirlwind couple of weeks with our daughter's wedding. In fact, I am so happy that I am going to link this to Susan's Outdoor Wednesday and to Barb's Porch and Patio Party. This is my first time to contribute to both. You can visit Susan at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/. Barb is having her Porch and Patio Party at http://gritsglamour.blogspot.com/. I hope you'll take time to visit them both!

I was really late getting my bedding plants in this year. Later than usual cool weather, frequent trips out of town, and wedding plans got in my way. The one thing I could not let slide was planting my pots! I love pot gardening! It is such an easy way to incorporate lots of different colors and textures into your outdoor living space. Another thing I love is the wide variety of plants and flowers it allows me. Most of my beds are shady, but I can move pots around to accomodate the needs of almost any plant. Another advantage is that I can try out new plants without as much labor or financial investment as flower beds require.

This is a very large pot filled each year with a tree form hibiscus. Unfortunately, hibiscus will not live year-round here. They are too big to move, so I am forced to replace it each year. I do keep variegated monkey grass (lariope) in year-round as a grassy backdrop and the variegated trailing ivy lives from season to season. I experimented this year for the first time with angelonia. That is the blueish purple plant as the base of the hibiscus. It is surrounded by pink and green polka dots and the green and white polka dots. Of course, these do not bloom, but the foliage makes a colorful and impressive show. Hot pink impatiens and dark leaf begonias with white blooms are also tucked in. With pots, I think the more, the better! I always add a trailing plant and sweet potato vine with either the green or dark leaf does well. Be careful; it will trail all over your patio or deck!

You may remember my 10 dollar flower boxes from Big Lots. The geraniums, verbena and impatiens have really taken off. I do have to make sure the impatiens gets enough water since this usually gets a lot of sun.

In the middle of all the wedding plans, Beloved decided we should completely "redo" the deck furniture. I have plans to show all of it to you later, but I wanted you to see this pot of caladiums. I love the red stripes of the leaves with my new cushions!

This wicker chair has been more colors than I care to remember---ahhh, the magic of spray paint! A good friend found this cute red polka dot pot and thought it was perfect for my deck. I think so too!

Finally, I just had to show you the newest member of our family and he IS outdoors! This is Charlie. Charlie, a springer spaniel is a gift for our youngest son from his girlfriend. Tomorrow "the baby" will be 23!! Charlie will not live with us, but I am sure he will be a frequent visitor.

Now head on over to visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer and Barb at Grits and Glamour! I know there is a lot more to see!