Birthday cake for a party of "two" - Happy Birthday Jesus!-

Greetings and Holykisses!

2 days until Jesus Birthday! I always think of today as: the day before Christmas Eve-day. I have a few last minute things to get done today, but thought I'd take a few minutes to catch up with all of you. The fire's stoked in the wood-stove, and smoke is billowing out the chimney!

A couple weeks ago, I tried to think of something special to give to the Sisterchicks for a little Christmas present and this is what I came up with. Little Birthday cakes for a party of "two."
I think most of them set aside a quiet devotional time, so I baked these cakes in little jelly jars. Just the right size for a party for two during their personal devotional time celebrating Jesus birthday.

Have you ever baked a cake in a jar? I know; I know, some of you are thinking, "WHAT?... wouldn't the jar break?" But, no... they don't! I've done this several times, and I've never had a jar break. The coolest thing is, when you screw the jar lid down after you take them out of thee oven, they actually seal, just as they do if you were making jelly! After I mix up my batter, I always fill just one jar ...-- just under half full on a baking sheet until it tests done with a toothpick... that way I can see how high it will rise. The idea being; you want to beable to put the lid on afterwards without the cake being too high. You can use almost any recipe but this "Pumpkin spice cake" recipe tastes just like "Christmas," and it's moist and delicious. I don't know how long these jars would actually keep, -- they get eaten quickly around here. But the idea is during your devotional time, you open your little birthday cake, put the candle in it... sing Happy Birthday... and have your own personal birthday celebration.. just you and your Savior!

This recipe, made one dozen jelly jars; "one" jar is missing here, but I already gave it away. I've used pint sized jars before and it works just as well. --So it's up to you. Here is the recipe:

Pumpkin Spice Cake in a Jar

16oz can pumpkin- (I think mine said 15 oz- and it worked fine.)
1 cup oil
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp ground ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup walnuts (I didn't add these... because I didn't know if everyone likes nuts)
1 cup raisins (I didn't add these either... it's up to you... I love raisins but some don't.)

Mix really well.

(Jars- I sterilize mine but if you eat them soon I don't think you'd have to)

Fill one jar just below half- (if you spill any batter on the rim, make SURE you wipe it off with a clean cloth or it won't seal) -- and set on a baking sheet and bake at 350 until tests done with a toothpick. As soon as it comes out of thee oven screw on jar lid tightly, and set on a wire rack to cool. The first one will determine how high to fill the rest of your jars. I like them to be just below the tops... better too low than too high! Then I fill all the rest and set on a baking sheet. Make sure the jars aren't touching eachother. Bake 350 just as you did thee other. When they test done, take out and quickly and screw the caps down fairly tight. You can hear these jars pinging as they cool, just like you do when making jelly! All 12 of mine sealed!

When cool, use a saucer plate to trace around with a pen on your choice of fabric. Cut with pinking shears. Remove jar band, and use it to sandwich the fabric. Tie jute twine or ribbon around and tie on your birthday candle. Walaa! Easy, FUN, and a meaningful gift, that gifts 12 people with just one cake batter!

Jars are hard to find this time of year. I usually buy a box towards thee end of the season at our local farm supply store to save for this occasion. But many of you gardeners will already have your own jars already.


Well, I guess I better get busy. I hope this finds you all well, and enjoying this beautiful time of year. Thank you to those of you who have been signing my guestbook lately! I'm so happy to meet you all, and to those of you who have your own blogs, please drop me a line so I can visit you too!

This morning, I visited Deanna, and Deanna if you're reading this you inspired me to find the movie "The Nativity," today! While I'm out and about this afternoon, I plan to stop by the Movie store and see if they still have a copy! I hope so!

Hope you all have a wonderful day today!

~When Shabby met Chic and Theatre of Dreams~

Greetings and Holy Kisses Yall,

Once upon a time, a long, long, time ago... I was selling some of my extra buttons I didn't need on Ebay. A woman named Jan bought a tin and asked me if I'd do her a favor. She had purchased these buttons for her dear friend Betty, and wanted to give them to her as a gift without Betty knowing it. So, I wrapped her buttons up in style, and sent them to Betty; but my return address of course was Arkansas so Betty was completely confused when she got her box of buttons in the mail.

Meanwhile, Jan and I kept emailing back and forth and a "friendship" sparked. What a blessing to have met "Janie" from California. To add extra sparkle to this "friendship," I started sending
Betty secret Pal notes. Little notes and joybuzzes in the mail from me to her. On thee other end of the spectrum, Jan and I kept emailing back and forth and had lots of giggles over Miss Betty who just could NOT figure out "who" in Arkansas could be sending her things? It was GREAT fun!!! But Betty.... didn't just leave that alone... she started writing me BACK! ;) HEHEHOAOAO Soooo another friendship sparked, and the three of us became friends. One sweet day, Janie shared with Betty who I was, and how we all met. And we've lived happily ever after,.... as friends ever since! It's been AWESOME. We've never met in person, but I know one fine day we will!

This past week, Janie sent me some pictures of her beeeeautiful house. I asked her if I could share them at the Shabby Olde Potting Shed and she happily gave me permission! WhoooHOooo! Yall, Janie, is Victorian, she's fancy, she's CHIC!!! -- I, on thee other hand, am shabby. Funny how well shabby and chic go together! WONDERFULLY! ;) Thanks for sharing your beautiful home with us Janie girl!
It's beautiful!
This is where SHABBY met Chic! haaa
This is part of Jan's snowman collection. She favors "Cody Foster" snowmen and .... now has me absolutely hooked! I love them too! She told me to look at Bayberry Cove, so if you too just went, "WOW... I gotta find me one," .... google Bayberry Cove. I apologize for this because... heehee I know you're gonna want one too. LOL I think this could be a new addiction. I love them!
This is Janies bedroom. Isn't it beautiful? I got a kick out of the primitive santa... I'd forgotten that I made that for her a couple years? ago I think. Janie's been wanting a "featherweight" sewing machine really bad. So I sewed one for her. You can enlarge the photo to get a look at it. I made it out of muslin and painted it, and made the prim santa too. -- I love that flower spray above her bed! Janie- sweetie, that santa doesn't exactly "match" with your decor.. heehaoaoao.. I hope you just threw him on thee bed for a photo? LOL Very sweet of U!!!!!! Another reason Why I love your friendship so much... !
OHOH... here are a few more snowmen. Hey; there's thee ornie I sent her this year, in thee hand of the snowman in front. LOL I love the pointed hat on the snowman in the back row. And check out the red buttons. I forgot to mention .... ahem.. Janie needs to go to AA- Apothecary Anonymous. LOL She has More beeeautiful apothecary Jars in her home than you can imagine. She loves to tie tassels on the tops and she fills them with gobs and gobs of buttons by color.
God forgive me, I'm so jealous.
Her mantle. SEE WHY I'm jealous... I just can't stand it. LOL ahhhh... too cool. She also has lots of ROSE paintings... you know: CHRISTIE REPASY!!! Yes way Jose. I told you Shabby met Chic! I'm not sure if the one above her mantle is Christie's but she has several Repasy rose pictures, I know. Maybe' she will comment on this blog post to tell us if it is or not.
sigh* Pinch me, I must be dreaming. Oh, I didn't tell you that she has incredible collections of McCoy pottery, and also antique and vintage teacups, and chocolate pots... and .... Oh ... those will have to wait for another day... But look at the cute collections here... and that chandelier with all the Christmas balls hanging down... clever!!! (I'm turning green)
Oh yeah, and then there's that other thing... she has all these cloche jars. Ya know: bell jars?
Shanda, I think you'd like these... -- what do you think of the vintage bambi... or the gorgeous Christmas balls in the crock bowl? Are yall drooling like I am?
I love the marble tops, and the plates are incredible. What I really love is the little paper banner that her santa is holding... I might have to make one of those... It's on ribbon and I absolutely love it.

Now, are you ready for my REAL SURPRISE? Yesterday, my phone rings... it's Janie. Yes, Janie from California and she's close to hyperventilating on the phone. Guess where she'd just been? To artist Wendy Addison's shop, the THEATRE OF DREAMS!!! I am so serious!!!!!!!!!
I have seen Wendy in books, I've went to her blog.... my favorite book other than the bible is "Jo Packham's WHERE WOMEN CREATE," AND yeah; Wendy's Theatre of Dreams is in there too.
She has all these glittered BIG LETTERS... that spell things like DREAM, and .... ahhhhh you know how glitter just sparkles and makes everyone so happy? Wendy is so creative, and makes thee most incredible sparkly creations. And Jan was there. JAN WAS THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AhHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! FOR REAL!!!
She even got pictures of her and her hubby "The General Lee" with "thee Wendy Addison." I have pictures to prove it but thought I better not post those without Wendy's permission of course. But I am posting a couple pictures of Janie outside of the building! whooHooOoo

This is the shop. I love to make the picture larger and look in the windows. heehee See the cute skeleton key in that door? I LOVE SKELETON KEYS. My heart is pounding so hard lookin at those green windows and door.
Here is my cute friend Little Janie. Isn't she adorable? STANDING BY THE SIGN: Theatre of Dreams I'm turning greeeen again Janie. Happy for you though!!! So maybe it's not jealousy but plain ole envy. heehee I'm so happy you shared it with me though! With all of us!

Janie said she bought me something in the shop that Wendy made herself, and even autographed for me! whooHoOoo I can hardly wait to see what it is, and I promise, I'll take a picture and show it to yall as well! I'll try to not knock my sweet UPS man down- Janie when he brings my package!

Amazing how God brings people together huh? I can't wait til the day I one day meet Janie and Betty for real! That day will come... I've never been to California, but I will! God willing anyway! Janie promised me we'd call Wendy and go by the shop when I do! Can yall just imagine that? Ohhhh ..... I could go on that thought for a loooooooooooong time! ahhhhh
Thank you sweet Janie for sharing your beautiful home with us, and your fabulous trip to the Theatre of Dreams. I've been visiting Bayberry Cove and drooling a little over there too. Sweet stuff! Thanks for pointing us in the right direction Janie!

Hope everyone has a great Saturday! I am just finishing up my last little "love gifts." My present for my daughter in love... that's from me to her. And, shhhh don't tell... I don't think he'll read this coz he has a lot goin on right now but I'm making a little heart box for "Myguy" too.
I'm filling it with "HOT TAMALES" COZ he loves them, and he's "my" HOT TAMALE! LOL
(he'd probly *blush* if he read that. lol I'm going to write little love notes inside too... and you can just wonder about that! Some stuff we just can't blog ya know. heehaoaooaoao

Have a glorious day!
smoochy