I can't help myself and yummy muffins

Sadly for Brandon (how I miss calling him Pretty, but it really pisses him off when I do that) there is a Brocante near our house every couple of months.
I always make a loop around to see first and then I go back for my purchase.
However, this time I just had to have certain things.
For example this,
It just spoke to me is all I can say for myself. Do you remember the movie, "The Incredible Mr. Limpet"? For some reason I think this fish looks like him.

The best part, it's a lamp too. I'm telling you, I love it.
Then there is also this,

I can't stand florist vases, but I like unique things like this.
Plus, I see a tea party in my future, even though my little girl likes Pink more than anything else right now.
I bought this little vase a while back at an antique book store for a Euro and I have flowers in it every week. Best Euro I ever spent.

You would have a flower obsession as well if you could by 50 tulips for 10 euros. I love Spring in Paris for that reason alone! I have no idea what I spend in flowers every week, but they make me really happy.

How about those muffins? There is a reason for multiple baked items a week. The heating is OUT. Yes, we've had some sun, but it is still COLD! So I bake like crazy to keep this place warm, since the guy downstairs could give a rip if I'm cold or not, due to his construction. They are completely gutting an apartment on the 2nd floor. I'm all for renovations, but heat is cut on this side of the building all day, the hot water is sporadic at best, if there is not a notice on the door downstairs saying it will be back on by 5:00!! City dwelling. So here is the best pumpkin bread recipe you are ever going to eat. My cousin Laura makes this for me every year, she has increased the loaves to two, because Brandon I fight so much over it. Then, I went and had two kids who apparently share the pumpkin bread love as well, plus lets not forget Gramps who loves it too! So she was kind enough to send me the recipe and now I'm going to spread the love as well.

Cream 3 cups of sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1 cup salad oil together
(note to everyone, Laura is a Texas girl and we say, "salad oil" for canola, count that as your Texas lesson today).
Add 4 beaten eggs and 1 can (16oz.) pumpkin
*I substitue 4 tablespoons of ground flax seed blended with 12 tablespoons of water for the eggs. After it sits for a while and becomes thick I add it. Works like a charm. Plus if you're in Paris and don't feel like breaking the bank over pumpkin in a can, go down to Picard and they have fresh pureed pumpkin, nothing added just frozen little nuggets of pumpkin goodness, less than 2 euros. Makes me just about as happy as the flowers!!
Mix together

3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. nutmeg powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
Add these alternately with 2/3 cups water
Pour into two well greased and floured 9x5 loaf pans and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours. Or, go to Ikea and get the very cool, mini muffin tins with the way stylish paper liners and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes. Whichever, you chose, let them stand for 10 minutes.
Now go forth and bake and use this recipe, because it's good! Trust me, Laura is by far the most intelligent person I know (yep, she is a Mensa girl and if you could not tell, that gene skipped this girl!) Damn genetics.
It skipped this girl too, because as I took this picture she said, "Aidan, get on my elbows!"

Cheers!