IT'S FALL & TIME FOR POPPY SEED CAKE!

Happy Fall! It's been a little hard getting into Fall since it has been in the 100s here in Northern California. Since today is a bit cooler, I have started my decorating. But before we take a peek at those pictures, I have sliced a piece of Poppy Seed Cake just for you (recipe at end of post)! We typically eat this cake for breakfast but of course, you can have it anytime. It is very good! (click on pictures for full view)

Hubby and I drove over to Point Richmond, a quaint little area right on the SF Bay. Here are some pics from the day:

Houses right on the water!

The marina surrounded by pretty condos.

A sailboat leaving the Harbor (SF is in the background).

A really cool area where you can take sailing lessons and then take a sailboat out on your own. Fun!!

We noticed this building while walking along the shoreline. These are old buildings from when they would use the pier for loading and unloading container ships. Now they are being renovated into restaurants and such. This building has not been renovated yet. Don't you just LOVE the old green rolling door? And check out those green lights? I would love to have a few of those old lights!

Wait until you see these next pictures! We stumbled upon this very interesting playground in Berkeley. It's called Adventure Playground and is consists of all donated wood, old boats, and stuff like that. The kids play on all this stuff and build things out of the wood, etc. As you can see, you have to pretty much sign your life away due to the liability. However, even with parents signing waivers, I'm still pretty surprised they have this type of thing. The kids all looked like they were having a blast! And the kicker?? It's been there for over 30 years!

Poppy Seed Cake

1 box yellow cake mix

4 eggs

1 small package instant vanilla pudding

3/4 C. oil

1 C. cream sherry

2 Tbsp. poppy seeds

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Mix all the above together with electric mixer on medium speed for 5 minutes. Grease a bundt pan and mix 1 Cup sugar with 1 Tbsp. cinnamon and use like flour on inside of greased bundt pan - pour excess out. Pour cake batter into pan and bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes. I have also made this without the poppy seeds. Once it cools in the pan for a few minutes, I invert it onto a cake plate. Very moist and yummy!

THE WINNER AND A LOT OF SHOPPING!

What a fun weekend I have had! On Friday, a friend from work and I went over the bridge to a little town close by and had tea in a tea room. This tea room is in an old, old building. Here are a few pics (I have to tell you ... the first picture was from someone else's table. I forgot to take a picture of our food before we had eaten it all so I asked some ladies at the next table that got the same thing as us if I could take a picture! :-) click on picture for full view):

It was yummylicious! You should see this place at Christmastime! It is so pretty - they have a huge tree with decorations that you can purchase. While I was there, I bought this:

I just couldn't pass it up!! I love, love polka dots!

After tea, we roamed the streets looking for more stuff to buy! HA!! And look what I found to go with my new teapot! And they were 50% off!!!!!

Here are some more pictures from the stores:

Note the next picture that there is a water bowl? California is VERY dog friendly ... almost everywhere you go, store owners put out water bowls for the dogs.

On Saturday, another friend and I went to brunch for her birthday. But before we ate, we just had to stop at a local parking lot sale that a neat little store by us was having! Isn't this fun??

And look at what I bought (a little yellow child's chair, a yellow American Family kitchen scale, an plant urn and a cool old metal thermos)! I stuffed everything into the trunk of my little Mini Cooper ... the open space was for my friend's box of goodies that she bought.

And now ... the winner of the cute yellow purse is .... Anna from Thimbleanna!!! Boy ... Anna has been lucky this month ... she has won so many giveaways!! She better go buy a lottery ticket!!

Have a great week everyone!! I'll see you back here next week!

ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!!!

WOW!!! I can't believe it is already the middle of September and time for another Giveaway! I haven't posted in the last couple weeks because I have been so busy getting ready for my antique fair, which was yesterday. I did pretty good and had a lot of fun visiting with my friend, whose booth was right next to mine. I had another friend that was five booths down from mine. Here are a couple of pics (click on picture for full view).

Thank you to Lisa, Anna, Dolly & Michelle for your thoughts and prayers for my brother! He got all new medication and is doing well!

And now for the giveaway, hosted by Cindy at My Romantic Home:

Isn't this purse the cutest? It is a Lulu purse from Mervyn's! I originally bought it for myself but decided I needed something a little smaller. I only used it once so it is in just about brand new condition!

Leave a comment on this post and I will pick a winner on Saturday evening after 5 p.m. (pacific time).

Have a nice week everyone!