Professional Pumpkin Carving at Unversity Village

This afternoon my daughter and I walked by a fantastic display of pumpkin carving at University Village. Dan the Pumpkin Carver was carving a child's face into the gigantic 500 pound pumpkin in the middle of University Village. It was a good rendition of the winning picture submitted in a contest the Village hosted this week. How fun to have your face carved into a pumpkin!

And then I couldn't resist taking a picture of this sweet little bird taking a break from the rain and perched on the railing of the kids' covered playground.

Tomorrow University Village offers Trick-or-Treating from 4-6PM for kids up to 11 years old.

Beautiful Orange Cross Spider

This afternoon I almost stepped on this Orange Cross Spider on the sidewalk but am so glad I missed it! As I reached down to take a picture of it as it quickly crawled across the sidewalk, it must have sensed me. It stopped as if to pose for my camera. It was beautiful with a perfect white cross on its back. After looking it up on the web, I learned that it's common now in the Northwest and across the U.S. and Canada. The University of Washington's Nature Mapping Program website offers interesting information about the spider. Fun facts!

Special Harry Potter Exhibit at The Pacific Science Center

My kids love Harry Potter. I mean LOVE the whole series. One of mine has read every book at least a dozen times. Sometimes as soon as she's done with one, she starts it over again. So when we heard that the Pacific Science Center was hosting a special Harry Potter exhibit, we of course had to go see it. We went on opening night and all received Potter glasses which we dutifully wore in the exhibit. Kids were dressed in their robes with wands, scarves, glasses--the whole bit.

When we went in, a few kids including one of mine were lucky enough to experience being "sorted" into Hogwarts Houses--mine got Ravenclaw. The process was very clever. Throughout the exhibit, there were movie screens with clips from all of the movies relating to the particular section in which we were standing. Each of us had an audio tour device which had behind-the-scenes interviews with the producers and set and costume designers. There were over 200 authentic costumes from the movies and displays with real props from the movie sets. We went through the Great Hall, Hagrid's Hut, the Gryffindor common room, to name a few. We saw props such as Harry's original wand and eyeglasses, the Marauder's Map, Gryffindor school uniforms, and costumes from the Yule Ball. 

There were tons of costumes from different aspects of the six movies. Some of my favorites were the Quidditch costumes, Quaffles, Snitches, Bloedgers, and other Quidditch gear. There were interactive displays where you could shoot hoops with Quaffles, pull out/harvest screaming Mandrakes, meet Buckbeak, sit in Hagrid's huge chair, and see the giant spider. There was a room full of beautiful food from the feasts in the movies, Yule Ball costumes, and lots of the candies and treats from Honeydukes and Weasley's Wizarding shop.

At the end of the exhibit there was of course a store with lots of HP inspired gifts including wands, games, stuffed owls and other animals, clothing, books, and candies such as Bertie Bott's Jelly Beans, Harry Potter Chocolate Chocolate Frogs and Fudge Flies.  My kids came away with a writing set and quill and ink, and they've had a blast writing beautiful letters with them.
 

I have to say I wasn't expecting the exhibit to be all that interesting for me but I was very impressed and had a great time. The details were incredible. Actually I loved it too. It was a great family experience and one which I would highly recommend if you have any Harry Potter fans in your house. The Science Center did a wonderful job with the whole thing. The only downside is that my kids want to go again.

The exhibit runs through January 30, 2011. Tickets are reasonable if you have a membership to the Science Center (tax deductible!), and a family membership almost pays for the difference between full price tickets for a family of 5. 

The Space Needle on a cold, crisp October night with the moon behind it was quite a sight too.

Carving Halloween Pumpkins

I admit it. October with the turning of the weather into crisp, clear days (or in Seattle mostly rainy, gray days), leaves turning orange and gold, and Halloween is one of my favorite months. Decorating for Halloween, carving pumpkins, baking pumpkin seeds and pumpkin bread just says Fall to me. Here are a few of my favorite October activities.

 Of course my teenager had to make a pumpkin being sick--but it's rather clever.

The carving templates offered by Spookmaster are simple and fun to use like the trick-or-treating monster.

 Make sure to save and roast your pumpkin seeds after you clean out your pumpkins. It's so easy to do and makes a delicious, healthy anytime snack. Here's a recipe but I just spread the seed out on a foil lined baking sheet with a little olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt and brown sugar. Mix and stir periodically at 300 degrees for about 45 minutes and voila!

My all-time favorite chocolate chip pumpkin bread recipe. My kids love it and it makes a great hostess gift or dessert.
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
***************************
3 cups white sugar
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
4 eggs
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine sugar, pumpkin, oil, water, and eggs. Beat until smooth. Blend in flour, spices, soda, and salt. Fold in chocolate chips. Grease and flour three loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until knife inserted comes out clean. Cool on wire racks before removing from pans.  Freezes well too!

Savvy Bake Sale Tips from Amy Atlas Events

I'm always being asked to bring baked goodies to the frequent bake sales that my daughter's orchestra holds at every concert. They rely on the proceeds for that extra needed funding for instrument repairs, competition trips, sheet music, and more. As I love baking, it's an easy way for me to contribute.

I just ran across this article in the October 2010 issue of Parents Magazine with tips from Amy Atlas for making your next bake sale more successful. Amy's basic message is that smart and beautifully presented packaging (she's a pro) can add to your bottom line. Some of her ideas are shown below. Click on the link below to see more. I'll definitely try the darling cupcake cones. The mini rice treats and bar cookies (who knew that bar cookies are best sellers?!?) are easy ones too, and packaging them with my favorite wrapping paper in neat little wraps is brilliant. Plus, it's great for my kids to help bake or make the treats and design the packaging so that they see how their efforts can help a cause that has meaning for them. Love it!

Click here for great Bake Sale recipes and display tips from Amy Atlas.

Cupcakes and Water Art at University Village

University Village, an outdoor shopping mall in Seattle's University District, used to be an outdated, dreary place. Over the past 15 years, it's been totally reinvented into a destination shopping experience, with high-end retailers, chic coffee shops and restaurants, gorgeous flower baskets, pots, greenery, sculptures, and water features. It's a place where people young and old want to spend time shopping, meeting friends, dining, and relaxing.

Yesterday it was my go-to place for birthday party supplies for my youngest including cupcakes from Trophy Cupcake. I love, love, love the Coconut Snowball cupcake--little piece of heaven! We brought home several to share and sample after dinner that night at Blue C Sushi (her favorite restaurant). Normally I bake her favorite cupcakes for her birthday party (and still will), but it seemed like a fun surprise to try some of the fabulous ones at Trophy such as Red Velvet, Hummingbird, Triple Chocolate, Chocolate Graham Cracker, Tiger Tail, and of course Snowball. She was delighted, and we all enjoyed sampling them.

On the way to the cupcake store, we walked by the sweetest water sculpture/fountain which was comprised of 6 bronze frogs spouting water at different intervals and then all together. It is so sweet to see and especially to watch the delight and squeals of little children as they notice one, then another, and another frog spout water from its mouth to the other frogs. Wish I had one in my back yard!

Recycled Plastic Water Bottles Make Amazing Anthropologie Flower Display

They've done it again! The creative geniuses behind the window and store displays at Anthropologie have come up with an outstanding and gorgeous store decor--Recycled plastic water bottles. It looks like they put drops of paint in plastic water bottles and shook or spun them to coat them with an array of bright colors, cut them in half and made flower petals out both halves, and hung them by the hundreds from the ceiling of their store. The combined effect is truly lovely--a hanging garden! It's a must-see. Plus, there are many great finds at their annual summer sale!

Another blog I just found that has the prettiest pictures and ideas is called a creative mint. I just love putting flowers--whatever's blooming--from my back yard into little cups or jars or a glassybaby to make a sweet centerpiece for my tables inside or on my patio.
 Icelandic Poppies and a Birthday
Isn't this just so sweet?!?


The colors are so bright and cheery.

Flowers from my garden in a Glassybaby--always pretty!

Mint Julep Recipe

I found this downloadable Mint Julep recipe from Amy Ormond. They'd be fun to make for a cocktail party or when friends stop by for a visit. I think I'll try these tonight on the patio when I get home with some fresh mint from my garden that I often use in flower arrangements--and of course it smells so good!

More Beautiful Spring Flowers

More beautiful Spring flowers on my walk today.

First rose bud.Bleeding hearts are so delicate and sweet.Rhododendron. The last of the cherry blossoms. 

Beautiful purple rhododendron. 

I love succulents in pots. They're so interesting and green all year long.

Just planted my geraniums. . . hope it's not too early.

Planting My Victory Garden

This Spring my girls and I made a few raised beds and planted bunches of pots with lettuces, kale, spinach, beets, carrots, beans, peas, tomatoes, herbs, strawberries, squash, and pumpkins. It's been so rewarding to watch everything start to sprout and grow. If we can fight off the ever-present snails and my vegetable and fruit-eating cairn terrier, it will be fun to harvest and eat them this summer.

 

Our seeds are sprouting in one of the raised beds we built.

 

Snap peas will grow up and over the trellis. Too many in the pot and will have to move a few.

It's hard to believe how big these strawberries are getting. Now if we'd get a little sunshine, they might just ripen enough to eat!

Abby the Cairn Terrier snacking on chives. She also loves strawberries, peas, and beans and will pull them right off the vine. Funny dog!

Great Shopping in Seattle's University Village

Seattle's University Village open-air shopping center is vibrant, busy, and a treat for the eyes. The hanging flower baskets, unique potted plants, artwork, tempting restaurants, and high-end retailers make this a fabulous shopping experience. It's a great place to shop for Mother's Day gifts and cards. Today I noticed the adorable frog fountain which sends shoots of water into the air to the other frogs in different timed arrangements.

 Even the construction sites are artfully disguised--reminds me of a Roger la Borde card!

My favorite candy store...How can I resist going in with such gorgeous and colorful window displays?!? I can't! 

Spring Flowers in Bloom

An early morning walk is the perfect start to my day. This morning my friend and I saw so many Spring flowers in bloom....red roses on her front porch, yellow daffodils, purple lavender, clematis on a trellis.... I love Spring!  Even our dogs, Abby and Frannie, enjoying smelling the flowers. So cute!

New iPop Giveaway!

Check out the new iPop Giveaway at http://babyelandaily.com/2010/04/27/ipopgiveaway/. These super strong magnets make great gifts--Mother's Day is coming soon. Plus, they'll add some style to your fridge or bulletin board! Available at http://www.parksidepapers.com/.

Perfect easy dinner for tonight

I subscribe to Real Simple's daily recipes and often find them to be just what I'd like to make for dinner. Today's recipe is perfect for tonight's dinner at my house. Easy, simple ingredients, one-dish dinner. Saves me more time to spend with my family on a night when I need it most. Enjoy!

Roasted Chicken and Carrots with Olives and Lemons

David Prince
http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/roasted-chicken-and-carrots-with-olives-and-lemons-recipe-00000000023176/index.html?xid=dailyrecnews-04-14-2010

Serves 4 Hands-On Time: 10m Total Time: 1hr 00m

Ingredients

• 1 chicken (3 1/2 to 4 pounds), cut into 10 pieces
• 2 pounds carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces (halved lengthwise if thick)
• 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
• 4 bay leaves
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika

Directions

1. Heat oven to 425° F. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the chicken, carrots, olives, bay leaves, lemon, oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Arrange in a single layer and sprinkle the chicken with the paprika.
2. Roast, tossing the vegetables once, until the chicken is cooked through and the carrots are tender, 45 to 50 minutes.

By Sara Quessenberry,  November 2009

Beautiful Day to Be in the Garden

It's a beautiful, crisp, sunny day in Seattle and perfect weather to get out in the garden. Weeding, spreading mulch, setting up my raised vegetable beds...I'm looking forward to it all. I'll consult my Linnea Garden Journal  for ideas and jot down a few notes to keep track of what I've planted and where--a perfect day!