I got lucky too!  I won a giveaway from Inge at PinkePinke.  What a wonderful surprise.  I recieved this lovely package from Belgium (love the bunnies!)…Inside that package was the cutest bag with tag……. Inside were these most wonderful Artist Trading Cards…

and this lovely pendant….

Inge is quite a talented paper artist and I just adore the ATC’s and pendant!

It has been a real summer around here with all the super hot weather but I am already looking forward to the Halloween Blog Party!  I do love Halloween!   I just don’t want the summer to fly by any quicker than it is!!!  It’s hard to believe that it is the end of July already.

Sand Cat

Sand Cat

I haven’t seen sand cats at any other zoo.  My pictures of them are a bit blurry because they do not stay still for more than a second!

They have Meerkats….

Meerkat

Then they had this cute baby monkey with these super long arms!…..

Baby Monkey

They have orangutans like most zoos but I was impressed with the one.  She was chewing gum and she can even blow bubbles!  How neat is that!  I took a video but can’t upload it

They have a nice carousel …….  Dane and his grandma rode and I took pictures.

Erie Zoo Carousel

Erie Zoo Carousel

Erie Zoo Carousel

There is a small train that takes you to an area you can’t get to by walking where they had deer, big horn sheep…..

We had a very nice visit at the Erie zoo.  I think we will go again sometime in the future.

I searched on the internet for a recipe that would be like what I wanted.  What I wanted was the tiramisu from Tony’s Town Square Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom.  Their version is so light and fluffy and yummy but I can’t just jump on a plane and go eat at Tony’s though, darn it.

This recipe came very close.  It was light and fluffy like Tony’s and I cut down some of the fat even more by using fat free cream cheese.  Here is a picture of the results…..

Cooking Light's Tiramisu Recipe

If you want the recipe or you are looking for any recipe for tiramisu click this link for  Heavenly Tiramisu where you can find this recipe for Cooking Light’s Recipe.

Can I Pick The Winners?

The First Winner is……

Winner #1

Winner Number Two…..

Winner #2

Congratulations to the winners!

….

Remember to be entered in the give away to just leave a comment after the Mad Tea Party.   Thanks! 

“Who are you?”

Who Are You?

Who Are You?

Don’t mind Caterpillar……

I am so excited!  This day has finally come and there is quite a buzz around the Tea Parties.  I have been busily preparing a fanciful Mad Tea and expect to have a great day of party hopping with everyone……

So come on in….. Hurry it’s time…Don’t be late…..

Party Time!

Grab a refreshment and a bite to eat…..

Take your pick…….A cupcake and a cup of tea?

Tea and a Cupcake

Those are  Strawberry and Mascarpone Filled Cupcakes!  My Favorite!!!!  Look at the filling…..mmmmmmm  If you want the recipe just click the below picture!  Trust me they are delicious.

Strawberry & Mascarpone Filled Cupcake

You better get a cupcake now, I see Rabbit showed up and he’ll be making short work of them!

Rabbit and Cupcake

Maybe you would like a Buttermilk Blueberry Scone too.

Tea and a Buttermilk Blueberry Scone?

Buttermilk Blueberry Scone

The scones are yummy too and if you want the recipe click the above picture.

Lets grab a tea….so many choices maybe some iced tea, green tea, black tea, or herbal tea….

Take some tea!

Iced Tea

Lets have some iced tea on this beautiful hot summer day and let’s mingle.

I would like to introduce you to some of our other guests……

There is Shadow……our Halloween kitty who is now as big as a whale!

Shadow

There is Leo…..our gentle soul……

Leo

He is not impressed with his tea….

Leo Doesn't Like Tea

And Molly our sassy girl…….

Sassy Molly

She’s just joining in all the fun!

There with Molly is the Garden Gnome and Ibex having some tea..

Gnome and Ibex

There’s the gnome again by the pond….

Gnome by the pond

Over there at that table is a silly lot……

The Mad Hatter and Rabbit

There coming through the foliage is Brandon’s  creation, the Mountain Climber Nutcracker.  He climbed up here to have a quick tea before he makes his journey home next week!  He is finally going home!

Mountain Climber Nutcracker

Over here are some of Brandon’s other creations…..

Greyhound, Skull, Bear and The Mad Hatter

Well, I think the guests are getting restless.

Bear Eating Teacup

Thanks for stopping by!  I am so delighted you came by.  Leave me a quick comment and you will be entered to win either this Teacup with Watermelon Mint Iced Tea and a hand painted tag….

Tea Cup Giveaway

Or this Basket with Berry Basket Iced Tea and a small canvas I painted with hydrangeas….

Tea Basket Give Away

So don’t forget to leave a comment and I will randomly draw two names Tuesday night.

I hope you enjoyed our party and have a great day!!!  I also want to thank Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist for organizing such a extravagant Mad Tea Party!  She is so creative and her blog is just beautiful and amazing!

Have fun attending all the Tea Parties!

There were lots of sellers with really nice antiques.  The only downfall to the day was the heat.  Around here we consider ourselves blessed when it gets hot but this was oppressive humid hot.  Other than that we had a really good time.  Dane wasn’t to keen on going but he even managed to have a good time.

When we arrived there was a band of Pirates singing and dancing…..What they have to do with the Antiques Fair, I don’t know?  But Dane found them quite amusing.

We made our way around the fair grounds and here are just a few of the things that caught our eye…

A Find!

Awesome Mobiloil Sign

Vintage Fire Truck

Box of Neat Old Cars

Vintage Halloween Noisemakers

Cool Esso Mailbox

Beautiful Stained Glass Window

A Wienermobile

The Men With Their Purchases

The Marx Sportster car really got a lot of attention when from people when we walked around.  A few people asked where we got it and how much we paid for it.  We don’t know too much about it , we just liked it.  The Little Kings sign just reminds us of younger years………And no.  We didn’t buy the Wienermobile.

We went to a convention for the Nutcracker Collector’s Club….if you want to see more about that pop over to Brandon’s blog!

Time is just flying by.  Only a few more weeks of school left!!!  I know Dane is excited about that!  I’m going to get busier.

I have lots to get done for the Mad Tea Party.  I have been working on a few ideas and getting together some giveaway items too.  Now I just have to get everything done and put together for the big day.

I also am finally getting to planting flowers, planting our garden and getting the outside ready for the summer season.  It seems like I started later than everyone else around here but it had been pretty cold and I hate dragging plants back and forth from the garage and covering those I have planted.  So I bought a mess of plants today for my planters and plan on getting them planted today!

Potting Bench

Annuals For Deck Planters

Black Eyed Susan Vine

It is a dangerous thing going to the nurseries around here.  I could spend sooooo much money on all the beautiful flowers.  Good thing I am running out of room.  We only have one more area to get to.  We had some trees taken down and now there is an open area that definitely needs some clearing out and planting.

Well, I am off to get some of this work done!  Check back soon for some Tea Party updates and I am working on some Halloween items too!

The  Halloween Blog party was so much fun that I have been eagerly awaiting this announcement.  It is going to be an awesome event!  If you haven’t experienced a blog party this is one you should attend.  All the bloggers that participate are sooo creative  you are bound to be amazed at everyone’s party posts.

If  you want more info on the party just click on the above invitation and you will go directly to Vanessa’s blog for the details……

Just click on the giveaway banner and sign up.

Back soon with some new projects!