Longing for Autumn

Harvest Apple Bread

• 3 cups flour
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups chopped apples (peeled)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Mix flour, spices, soda, salt, baking powder together in a bowl.  In large bowl, beat eggs then add sugar, oil and vanilla; mix well.  Add dry ingredients to egg mixture and stir just until blended; stir in apples & nuts.  Fill 2 greased loaf pans 2/3 full and bake at 350 degrees for approx 1 hour (or until bread tests done with a toothpick).  Cool in pans for 10 minutes before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely.  Keeps very well at room temp for a couple of days and can be frozen (well wrapped) up to 3 months. 

Here's my plan -- I'm beyond tired of Summer -- so, for the next few weeks I will be baking/cooking all sorts of  'Autumny' breads, casseroles, soups, etc . . . . and, just maybe the weather will actually turn 'Autumn-like'!   Don't know it will work, but if it doesn't -- at least I'll have a freezer full of prepared food !  

Note:  this bread is a 'keeper' !

Random: heat wave, stash enhancement, baby gifts & clean slate

Temp inside my vehicle last Monday after work --

beyond simply hot -- this was entering the realm of

'I'll never wish for summer in the middle of a snowstorm again' -- 

keep forgetting that Mother Nature has a wicked sense of humor.

I seem to be collecting more fabric ::    FQ 'girly' prints for Laney's quilt (it needed more blue & a splash of bright pink), 1 yard of letter print for tote bags (teacher gifts ?), and 3 super-cool basketball prints for Joe's quilt. 

Finished a small 'stroller blankie' for a baby girl due this month -- then decided she needed a large receiving blanket and a soft organic cotton washcloth too.  Now I just need to pick up some baby bath things to go with the washcloth and this gift will be ready for baby. 

Cleaned off my sewing table last night by working my way through the mending pile and tackling a couple of small projects.  Feels good to have a clean slate (maybe I should start another quilt ??)

Summer Stitching :: ' breaking for quick projects '

No matter how much I love piecing all those bits/pieces of fabric into a quilt top -- I find that after a couple of hours - a 'piecing' break is needed.  This past weekend I used my breaks for two 'quick projects'

I'm slowly overcoming my fear of ruffles with this book (purchased with birthday money - 'sweet' !):: 

Little Girls, Big Style ( http://www.amazon.com/Little-Girls-Big-Style-Boutique/dp/1607051885/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312379809&sr=8-1 ). 

The instructions are easy to follow; and, for me, the best part --  there are lots of pictures & diagrams.    Very quick little sewing project and so girlie !  Now to see if Laney-Bug agrees.

 

On my next break, I did some revisions on a Rebeka Lambert pattern, 'Market Bag' (please check our her blog at http://www.rebekalambert.com/artsycrafty_babe/ -- her amazing patterns can be purchased in her etsy shop:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/artsycraftybabe.  

I've made this bag before and it's the perfect size for the Farmer's Market, big and roomy -- but, I wanted to 'downsize' it just a bit -- to a size more suited for a 'tween' grand-daughter.  So very pleased with the 'redux' on this pattern --

Now I need to make 4 more for remaining grand-daughters (and maybe a bag for each of my sisters?!).  The bags will make wonderful gift bags for birthdays and Christmas (a multi-tasking gift!).  Now to dig out more fabric from my stash !   

Summer :: Survival Mode

No matter how much water I sprinkle on --

my poor plants are turning brown & crispy.

Inside (where it's cool) pretty fabrics are keeping me entertained -- 

grandbabe quilt #1 will go to the long-arm quilter next week -- 

and, quilt #2 is well under way.  

Taking my time and savoring the latest George R R Martin book --

it's keeping me awake far into the night with Jon Snow & Tyrion as company --

because 'winter is coming'

Forecast for the next 7 days-

Note to self: 

-- water at night

-- buy more fabric

-- and allocate more time to read !!





Yep - I'm in full Summer 'survival mode' here 

Joe Cool

The 'little man' in our family turned 8 this past Saturday and I can't quite believe it.  I'm sure it was just a few weeks ago that he was a toddler, helping me decorate a cake for his Mommy's birthday. 

But, there he is -- eight years old and such a cool kid!   We love you Joe-Joe Bean !!

Note the reflection in the aviator sunglasses -- Mommy & Daddy (and MoMo with the camera). 

Summer Snapshot : Where the buffalo roam . . . .

Just north east of the Blanchard city limits.

Summer Stitching

Crazy hot here -- yesterday was 108 (as in -- ONE HUNDRED EIGHT DEGREES!!!!).  All that scorching heat means I spend more time parked in front of my sewing machine -- creating super easy quilt blocks - three pieces, three seams.  So much fun - using fabric from my stash, hand-picked by the future owner (grand-daughter - Janalyn). 

Quilt Pattern  ( 1, 2, 3 ) from this book by Amy Ellis:  Modern Basics, purchased with birthday money. 

(I consider it a very good investment.)  Check out her blog - lots of inspiration http://amyscreativeside.com/

 

And, as soon as ' 1, ,2, 3'  is off to the long-arm quilter - there are two more patterns calling my name.
I Love Summer Stitching !!