Not what I was going for

But I love it! There are not a lot of male scarf wearers in my family so I debated taking it apart and trying to achieve something a bit more like my inspiration. But the votes were counted so I finished it. I was planning on listing it in the Etsy shop since I didn't have anyone to give it to.  My husband decided he would keep it...and wear it!

I kept telling him he didn't need to and that it wouldn't hurt my feelings if he didn't. I know he doesn't wear scarves. He insisted he liked it and he will wear it. We will see. It's sitting on the kitchen table this morning :) 

Remember this scarf ???

This was my inspiration....

I am still having trouble mimicking the pattern. Any helpful hints or thoughts about the scarf?

Christina has sent an email out to a friend...but I am being impatient.  I get completely obsessed over figuring something out when I can't. It is a very bad and annoying trait of mine. I am learning to deal with it :)

Happy Monday!

Santa's Helper

Inspired by this. http://www.anntaylorloft.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=21765&N=1200019&pCategoryId=3361&categoryId=242&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_242&loc=TN&defaultColor=Stone%20Grey%20Heather&defaultSizeType=Regular

Happy Friday :)

Cleaning Vintage Linens

How to Clean Vintage Linens | eHow.com

I may have to give this a try with some of the recently acquired linens I have.

Does anyone have suggestions or has tried any of these methods?

I am trying to get out some brown/yellowish spots.

Complete With a Pattern

I finished the project for Colin...

That's right...mom went all out...it even glows-in-the-dark :)

Main fabric is 100% linen and super soft. I love how it wrinkled after washing. It helps to notice the star quilting when they are not glowing.

Featuring:

Amy Butlers wonderful Full Moon Dots

Planets in blue from the Rocket Scientist line by In the Beginning fabrics

American Jane “Basic Building Blocks” numbers in red and blue

More pictures here.

After finishing the Brooke's quilt I knew I had to make one for Colin. I love this quilt and I am so glad it gets to stay here with me and not be gifted away :)

Alas it is to cute to keep to myself

You can find a copy in my Etsy shop or in the right side bar of my blog.

Warming up

Fall has definitely set in and you can feel the chilled air even in the house. I have been trying to stay away from the thermostat. Colin and I wearing extra layers of clothes but sometimes it is just not enough. On days like this I bake. The house has to be warm enough for the dough to rise, not once but twice. And then the oven has to pre heat and bake the delicious doughy goods. Before I know it the house is toasty warm and filled with the delicious aroma of baked bread....or cinnamon rolls as it turned out.  And I am guilt free of turning up the heat. The guilt of consuming all of the delicious calories is another story :)

Happy Friday and stay warm.

Mittens

I finished the second mitten on November 2, I just realized I have not shared my success. Remember my first mitten? The second turned out much more like it was supposed to. It is amazing how much my knitting improved from one glove to the next. I am going to have to knit another set. That way they match and am going to add a little length to them. They don't seem to be long enough for Colin's fingers. He likes them anyway :)

Progress

I am almost done and ready to share the project with the stars on it.

I have a lot on my to do lists right now so I am going to try and cut back on my internet time :) Sarah is joining me. In fact she suggested it. Our original plan was once a day but now we are already thinking maybe just a certain number of minutes a day. I am going to try for once a day and see how it goes. Either way I am hoping to get a lot more items crossed off my list. The internet has a scary way of sucking me in and detouring me from being productive :)

Homemade Applesauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

Recipe~ Makes 5 quarts of applesauce

30 Apples- a variety of different apples is best

4 Cups of R. W. Knudsen (Apple) Cider & Spice

1 Lemon

Instructions:

Core and cut the apples into chunks place in a large stock pot. Squeeze the lemon juice over the apples. Pour 4 cups of cider over the apples. cover with a lid and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cook  apples until tender, 10-15 minutes. Push apples thru a sieve. Taste your applesauce, if it is too tart return to the pan and add sugar and cook until dissolved. 

*If using a food processor to mash your applesauce it would be easiest to peel your apples before cooking them.

Add the apple sauce to hot sterile jars for canning. Make sure to leave 1/2" of head room in the jars and the lids are on nice and tight. Place in water bath, cover. Bring to a boil and boil for 20 minutes. Carefully remove jars onto the counter and let them cool for 24 hours, makes sure all the jars are sealed.

Enjoy applesauce all year long.

 

This applesauce is perfect for cooking with or just eating :) My little helper couldn't get enough of it. And it is just right for him since there is no added sugar, not even in the apple cider I used.

Practice Makes...

Stars

I am taking full advantage of nap time today. I hope to show you more very soon :)

German Banana Pancakes

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of butter

2 large eggs

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 thinly sliced banana

1. Pre heat oven to 400 degrees. Place butter in pie plate. Place pie plate in the oven. Once butter is melted remove from oven and spread around the pie plate making sure to coat the sides too.

2. While butter is melting mix the next 5 ingredients together in a bowl.

2. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the pie plate.

3. arrange your banana slices on top of the butter and brown sugar mixture.

5. Pour your pancake batter over the bananas, make sure to evenly distribute the batter.

6. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until puffy and deep golden brown. You can serve it as it is, use powdered sugar and a dash of lemon juice, or use maple syrup.

 

Colin and I had this for breakfast yesterday morning. It works up quickly and you just place it in the oven to bake. I don't think it's too fancy for a Wednesday breakfast :) We eat our pancake plain. It is surprisingly sweet from the bananas and brown sugar. I love the added crunch that the brown sugar gives the bottom of the pancake (pictured above). I will have to make these again this weekend so Brett can have some. Plus I wouldn't mind eating them again :)

Are You Feeling the Christmas Spirit Yet?

It seems like every year the Christmas and Holiday cheer arrives earlier and earlier in the retail stores. I have been thinking of Christmas for a good month now :)

And I am not the only one. Look at what my mom made...

My grandma is already handing them out as gifts :)

I stick to my fake diamond earrings, I don't even venture to my gold hoops often, but I will be wearing these starting the day after Thanksgiving. I just love how they sparkle but are not over the top. She made them with Swarovski crystals, which is probably why they sparkle and glisten so much. For a closer look see here.

"Boom! Momma"

That's right Coin went "Boom" yesterday. He was playing with the remote and leaning on the chaise and all of sudden he was going head first towards the fire place.

The picture was taken a few hours after the accident. The knot is even more colorful today. I am not sure who this was harder on Colin or myself. I think myself. There is just something about having to watch your child fall and know there is no way you can prevent it, if only I had super powers and could run like a speeding bullet.  The wonderful blankets are back on the fireplace step again. And at the rate he is going today I should bundle him in bubble wrap :)

Colin's Upgraded Hat

I bought this hat at Joann's for $1. It is just a basic, cheap, navy blue stretchy knit hat. I think the added Heather Ross Gnome fabric makes it 100x more adorable. Especially when I see Colin wearing it. The hat is plenty big and will last for a long time, which made me feel less guilty about using this adorable fabric on it :)

I used a light weight Steam-A-Seam adhesive and I also stitched it on the hat. This gnome wont be going anywhere on his own :)