A New Friend and A Fall Festival

My husband Charlie reconnected with a couple of childhood friends on Facebook.  Long story short.....Janet has been coming to see Charlie weekly for him to work on her shoulder.  Charlie had mentioned to me before I met Janet that she was a fabulous artist.  She does oil and watercolors and loves painting portraits.  She worked as a graphic design artist for years.  We began talking about making jewelry.  Janet is not limited to painting in her creative abilities. What is really neat about this new friendship is that she can teach me so much about techniques and tools and I can teach her about selling online and blogging.  She is very comfortable with a paint brush and blank canvas.  The computer.....not so much, so we are working on that together.

Both our husbands play guitar and sing. Last Saturday they came for dinner.  The guys had a jam session and we set up a blog and Etsy shop for Janet.  That night we talked about being ready next year this time for the fast approaching holiday season. 

The following week our computer tech at the office mentioned to me that his son's school was having a festival and they were signing up vendors if I was interested.  This was like 3 days after Janet and I had the holiday season talk planning for next year.  I understand this festival had 750 attend last year and they are expecting over 1000 this year.  Sooooo....Janet and I decided to go for it.  This opportunity was put in front of us.  We need to take it.

Greenville Classical Academy Fall Festival and Holiday Market will be October 15th from 10:00-2:00.   Check out the website at greenvillefallfestival.com.  There is a long list of vendors as well as all the items in the Silent Auction.

Janet and I were planning to start stocking our Etsy shops this week.  I think us newbies at this business will just focus on this event for now.  I tend to take on too much at a time.  Not as easy to do at the age of 55.

Hope to see you at the festival.  What a fun way to do some Christmas shopping.

Great Fall Weekend

My husband and I started the weekend with dinner outside at a Greek restaurant.  Friends came for dinner Saturday night so we cooked a Fall dinner.....chicken, stuffing and wild rice in the crockpot, wholeberry cranberry sauce with nuts and raisins, green beans and apple crisp for dessert.  I used the last of my apples, time for another trip to Sky Top. 

Today I have been finishing some jewelry pieces and making some new ones.  I will have pictures to follow soon as well as the opening of my Etsy shop.  Time permitting I hope both will take place this week.

I have also been enjoying the Cup of Bead Soup Blog Hop Party today.  If you are not familiar with this blog hop party check out http://www.prettythingsblog.com.  Lori Anderson is the founder, hostess and organizer of this party.  This is the fourth Bead Soup Party, almost 400 people participated.....an international event. 

Hope you are having a great Sunday afternoon.

Apple Cobbler

My family loves this recipe with any fruit.  Since it is apple season and my favorite fruit I will use apples.

Peel and slice 6-8 apples and place in saucepan.

Add 1 teas. cinnamon, splenda, sugar or brown sugar to taste (amount depends on how sweet your apples are), a splash of vanilla flavoring and 2 tbs. of butter.  Cook until apples begin to get tender, maybe 10 minutes.

Pour apples into a casserole dish and top with a box of jiffy cake mix.  Melt 2 tbs. of butter and pour over the cake mix.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly around the edges and topping is browned.

This recipe is really called Quicky Fruit Cobbler.  If you need a quick dessert.... put a can of pie filling in a casserole dish, top with Jiffy Cake Mix and melted butter and bake.  Quick, easy, inexpensive, and always a hit.

Dreaming Big

What would you do if time, money, or job was not a concern?  I would open a shop called Decompress.  After all isn't stress a huge issue for us all? Combining my love for coffee and jewelry, picture this. A relaxing little coffee shop serving homemade baked goods, great coffee and of coarse free WiFi on one side and a bead shop on the other. There is another component to Decompress I am saving for last.

How about those days when you just want to go somewhere have a cup of coffee, open your laptop and not talk to anyone.  Just unwind.  Or meet friends for coffee and dessert after dinner or my personal favorite...,coffee and dessert for dinner.

And on the other side of Decompress.....a bead shop.  Grab a cup of coffee and hang out with friends and make jewelry.  Let's say we have 6 ladies at the table making jewelry.  Each one brings their own style to the table.  Motivation, inspiration, and encouragement to step outside the box.  That's what I see happening as well as making new friends that share a love for creating jewelry.  We could offer classes, sell homemade components and beads as well as factory made.  Jewelry made by select jewelry designers for sale.... The possiblities here are endless. There is not a business like this in our town and only one bead store here.   

Now for the third component to Decompress.  My husband is a theraputic massage therapist.  Yes, you guessed it... how could you have a business called Decompress and not have a massage therpist in the building.  We have always enjoyed being together and have often talked about one day working together.

Dreaming Big.....

Cindi


 

Sky Top Orchard

There is nothing better than fresh apples from the orchard.  Even if the weather is still warm in South Carolina you can feel Fall in the air.  So what better way to kick of the season with a trip to Sky Top Orchard.  Less than an hours drive we can have a great family day trip we make at least once, but usually 2 or 3 times during apple season.  We go early to get Honey Crisp apples.  They come in early in the season and are gone quickly.  Around October you can get all the usuals...... red delicious, golden delicious, winesap, mutsu.  The end of October is usually the Arkansas Blacks.


When you get out of your car the smell of apple cider donuts draws a crowd.  The donuts are made when you order so you receive them hot.  We went with the kids and grandkids.  We polished off a dozen while my son in law was ordering 2 more dozen.  No we did not eat the other 2 dozen but it would have been easy to do.

 Hayrides through the orchard, all the fun playhouses, swings and slides the kids have a great time and so do the adults.



Apple recipes just scream Fall and holidays. I have a great collections of apple recipes. Here is one of my favorites.


Fresh Apple Cake

2 ½ cups self rising flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

4 eggs

1 ½ cups cooking oil

1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups chopped apples

1 cup chopped nuts

Mix dry ingredients, add eggs. Slowly add oil, beating constantly. Add vanilla. Fold in apples and nuts. Bake in tube pan, 350 for 1 hour.