Trick or Treat!

Trick or Treat
Money or Eats
Smell My Feet or
Give Me Something Good to Eat

Are you all ready for Halloween! I still need to decorate the house. If you are like me, then check out these goodies for your house, your pup and you!

This set is from DianaDesignsNY.etsy.com. She makes the most adorable doggie clothing frequently using her two pups as models (this is not one of them). Check her out store and don't miss her great Christmas creations too.

Next on the list for your pup is a new collar from CodyCloset.etsy.com. This is rather tame however it will certainly add fall and Halloween spirit to every pup. It is an orange collar with spirals in a softer orange and gold dots. Once you have your pups dressed in style, don't forget about decorating your house. There are many, many options and here are a couple of favorites.











First is an amazing Evil Queen crown by InMyBlueRoom.etsy.com. Perfect for that special Halloween event! Denise's shop is full of surprises from vintage Halloween decorations to custom banners for every occasion.

The spider web candleholder is by JSGlassart.Etsy.com. She is a glass artist and creates some of the most beautiful fused glass plates and jewelry. Next is a spirited sweater bottle cover which is nothing more than self promotion as it is from my other shop anniekdesigns.etsy.com.

Adding more fun with a little decor and cards are whimsicalpaperdot.etsy.com. The roundies add festiveness without going over the top. Next up are cards from ShannaMicheleDesigns.etsy.com.

Don't forget some decorations for yourself. First we have QueenBeanJewels.etsy.com with a Black Cat and Jack O Lanterns - Halloween soldered Pendant. A little T to wear is an owl Tshirt by PupandPony.etsy.com followed by TMPenrose.etsy.com beaded Pumpkin bracelet.

In my opinion I have saved the best for last! Do not miss GuthDesigns.etsy.com stunning Halloween Quilt.

Happy Halloween!

Apple Butter

One of the best things about living in New Jersey is the apples. We would go to a farm and pick them ourselves. Other times we would head down to Colts Neck to the produce store and buy them. Either way it was always fun.

Once home we would peel, peel and peel more apples. I would freeze 3-4 apple pies so when we wanted apple pie, just needed to bake one.

I also learned to make apple butter. I found a recipe in the canning and freezing section of the Betty Crocker cookbook. Of course I changed it. One thing is that I don't add any sugar. There is plenty in the apples. Apples also contain a natural pectin insuring they they will gel without any additional ingredients.

Apple Butter

4-1/2 pounds of apples, cored and quartered (about 14 medium)
Water to just barely cover the apples
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground allspice

In an 8-10 quart pot, combine apples and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat. Cover. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Process through a sieve, food press or blender till you have 9-1/2 cups. Return to the pot. Stir in spices and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook uncovered over very low heat for 1-1/2 hours or until very thick, stirring often.

Lade into hot, sterilized half-pint jars, leaving a 1/4-inch headspace. Wipe jar rims, adjust lids. Process in boiling water canner 5 minutes (start timing when water begins to boil.) Remove jars and cool ion racks. Makes 8 half pints.

I also found that using a combination of different types of apples made the best apple butter.

Enjoy!

Vote for Cody!

I have had Cody for over 5 years and I am his third owner. He's a lab/weimaraner mix and he's a great dog! He is very smart, sometimes too smart; retired working dog and now he is trying to train Copper, a black and white springer, how to behave.

I grew up with labs so I was familiar with their behaviors. However I was not ready for the weimaraner. I did a lot of reading and Cody has many characteristics and you can see his dual personalities. He is energetic, wants to go, go, go. Prefers to sniff the beach, dog park, wherever for at least an hour before he will play or hang out. Cody has far too many qualities and stories for me to include here and I don't want to bore anyone.

I recently joined the Pets Jubilee Team on Etsy and we are having a Pet Talent Contest. Of course Cody is entered! He is contestant number 5. Please vote for Cody by leaving a message on the Pets Jubilee Blog under his video. If you want to vote anonymously, you must leave some type of name or store name, etc.

Here's the link and thanks for voting. You can vote every day too!

http://petsjubilee-furbabies.blogspot.com/

Help! A Friend's Father is Missing - Finality

My friend's dad has been found and unfortunately he has passed away of natural causes. My deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Korda. I read a brief bio of Mr. Korda and he was a concert violinist who played for 6 presidents. He talent and music will live on as will the memories for all.

My friend's father is missing and need help locating him. He lives in the Van Nuys area and left around 7:45 AM on July 9 and never made it to work. Major cross streets are Woodman & Victory heading towards Gower Studios in Hollywood on Sunset and Gower.

He was driving a 1993 white Geo Metro license plate number 3GPJ453. He would have taken Victory t the 170 to the 101 to Gower. He wouldn't disappear and if he went someplace else, he would have told someone or called work. This is very unusual.

Thanks for your help.

Christmas In July Sale

Tomorrow, which I guess it is already, begins my Christmas in July sale through July 23. All items in the Christmas in July section are discounted 35%. There is a nice selection of table runners and placemats and even a few pillows. More items will be added so check back frequently.

No other sale prior to the holiday will offer such a large discount. An added bonus is that shipping on the first item is $1.50 and each additional item is $1.00. By shopping now, you can save and be ready for the holidays.

This sale pertains only to the items in the Christmas in July section. Please include "CIJ" in notes to seller and a paypal refund will be promptly issues.

Shop anniekdesigns.etsy.com and Christmas in July section.

Rhubarb Cream Pie

My mother is a fabulous cook, baker, pie maker, canner, etc. Just what you would expect for someone who grew up on a farm with a large garden and lots of fruit trees. She came across this recipe for a Rhubarb Cream Pie. It's delish! Here's the recipe:

Melt: 2 TBSP butter in saucepan
Add: 2 cups divided rhubarb
1 cup sugar

Cook slowly until rhubarb is tender.

Combine: 1/4 cup sugar
2 TBSP corn starch
2 egg yolks, well beaten
1/4 cup light cream
1/8 tsp salt

Add to rhubarb and cook until thick. Cool. Pour into 8 inch baked pie shell. Top with meringue. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-16 minutes.

Meringue is basically egg whites, NO yolks, 1/4 cup sugar with 1/8 tsp cream of tarter.

Oatmeal Pie Crust
1-1/3 cups oatmeal
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup butter

Mix ingredients together in mixing bowl. Then put in pie pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Cover while baking.

Enjoy!

Never Stop Learning

When I started selling on Etsy, I thought it would be a good way to destash my fabric, sew up a few things and all would be well. Somewhere along the line, I decided to make it into a business. I didn't realize how much work it was going to take. First of all there is the creation of the product, the shopping, the sewing, listing and pictures. Then there's the advertising, marketing, pr, twitter, facebook, blog, wholesale, etc etc etc.

Then Etsy recently provided information on Web Analytics, SEO, tags and Google Base. Tags I pretty well understand but what is this other stuff. I am clueless and wasn't certain I wanted to learn. Would I understand, what if I had problems, do I really want to do this.

Fortunately I belong to CCCOE, which is a very strong team. After several discussions regarding SEO, I decided to actually read the storque article and did it with no problems and it was not nearly as difficult to understand as I thought. Web Analytics was easy as well. Then Google Base which I set up this morning. Once I went through it, resolved an issue and voila, it was done.

I don't know where I thought it was okay to stop learning. Maybe I just thought it was over my head. I am not stupid but there are certain things such as physics and a lot of techie things I don't understand. This is not physics and if I simply apply myself, ask questions and think things through, I can do this. By asking a question, I was able to help someone else who had the same problem.

Now if only I could get Copper to stop barking so much!