whatchabuildin

welcome, november

What a georgous weekend it was! It was all about "batman" around here though ... for the past three weeks that is!  My little guy was soooo into Halloween this year! Mostly the costume, and, thankfully not so much the candy. I started making the costume in early October, and just finished up the day before Halloween! No, I don't have too much time on my hands, do I?

 

 

 

 

 

See, batman was everywhere! Those pointed ears and flowing cape.... scary, very scary! The best thing about the costume is that I made it out of a black sweatshirt and sweatpants, then used Wonder-under to iron the batman logo on. The hat was made of polar fleece and I used this "Martha" pattern which, by the way, I plan on making a few more of those hats for him this winter. This pattern is just so cute! Maybe I'll even make one for myself.

And, so starts the giving season around here. I've been looking at a few Etsy shops this weekend, taking notes on gifts ideas. Here are a few I am looking at right now:

Geninne's Art Store

Skinny Laminx

Tsk Tsk

Painted Fish Studio

I will also have a shop update, finally, by the first week of December, so keep a look out for that. Have a great day!

peak

Anyone who lives in Vermont knows that when you say "it's peak this weekend", you know what they mean. This weekend was peak foliage season here in Vermont, and it was a beauty. Leaf peeping, apple picking, walking in the woods. Autumn smells were everywhere. It was a weekend where all household chores were set aside and we "played" outside all weekend long. 

 

 

 

 

last hurrahs...

The month of September was filled with doing a lot of things "one last time" before the days turn cooler, darkers and shorter (ugh!) Here is a recap of the fleeting days of summer and the awakening days of autumn.

Visiting family at the cottage in Maine on the lake...

Annual lobster dinner at the cottage...

The awesome Portland Children's Museum. My little guy thought the "fire truck" was the best thing there!

Hiking Mt. Philo. Overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. I never tire of this view.

Running barefoot in the grass...

Making forts and having picnic lunches in the forts...

Art project for the "Art Fits Vermont" community art project...

Fresh colors of autumn...

Hello October and welcome autumn!

making for me, again

Well, I have successfully carved out enough time to make this little top for myself. I really like it, except in my excitement to have a little time to myself, I forgot to line up the stripes on the material before I cut it out and, well, they don't match! You would think in all the years I have been sewing I would remember to do this, always. But I don't, obviously. Anyway. I will still wear it because it is really comfortable.

I used a cotton seersucker fabric that is so soft and cool. I am so glad that seersucker has come back in style! When I was a little girl my mom and grandma made lots of outfits for me out of seersucker. Love it.

 

This is the pattern that I used. The only hangup that I had was, there is a side zipper and for some reason, I had issues sewing it in. I think it was the weight of the material, how flimsy it was, but I eventually got it.

Well, off to cut out another pattern, for me! Smiles!

  

tomato junk

Wow! The days are flying by here. Where did the summer go? Labor Day is just around the corner and harvest season is starting. I love this time of year. The abundance of everything. Vegetables, fruit, smells, sounds, sights. Farmers Markets are chock full of the best of the best. County Fairs, bike rides, camping, swimming, running, playing...pack it all in before the crisp autumn days start. Here in Vermont, we are already experiencing the cool, very cool, August mornings. Thick dew on the cars and grass, foggy and damp. The days still sing "summer", busy and always fun. 

Within all this last minute, pack it all in before summer goes craziness, I am making Tomato Junk. Yes, you read that correctly, Tomato Junk. It is another one of my fast and easy recipes that you are rewarded months from now, deep under winter's blanket, while making Chili for a crowd. The recipe comes from the book,"Stocking Up". It is one of my favorite "putting food up" books. It has a lot of recipes for canning and freezing, and great recipes to make food gifts, now, for the holidays. My copy is well worn with notes and splatters from my kitchen creations. Here's the recipe.

Tomato Junk (to freeze)

8 quarts tomatoes, quartered. I use a mix of plum and regular tomatoes

3 large onions, chopped

3 large green peppers, chopped

12 cloves of garlic

4 hot chili peppers (optional)

3 stalks of celery, chopped

Blend all in the food processor. Pour into a large stainless steel pot and cook for 45 minutes. Let cool, then freeze.

This recipe easily doubles or triples. And, true to my character, I don't follow this recipe exactly all the time. Sometimes I add some yellow and orange sweet peppers, basil, oregano. I experiment. When I thaw the Tomato Junk in the winter, I usually add some tomato paste to thicken it for sauce. It works great for chilis, soups and stews.

Have fun!

right now

Wow. Where have I been? It seems since I came back from my mini vacation, I have been on the go! Do this, do that ... catch up with laundry, gardening, baking, playing with the little guy, more laundry...and more laundry! It's always like this isn't it? Life. I remind myself daily to slow down, Watch. Listen. Breath. Lay in the grass and feel the warmth of summer around me.

Take a walk. Notice colors, textures, sounds. Just be.

++++  ++++  ++++

This week, midst this craziness, I am making a small batch of Current Jelly. I have two beautiful bushes that produce plump, juicy currents. I use current jelly on my toast and English muffins and rolled into crepes. It is also great on chicken or pork. Take a few tablespoons and spread it on top the meat before baking and you will have an easy, elegant dish to serve with a fresh salad and maybe some corn-on-the-cob. Yum.

Have a great rest of the week and remember to breath.

back home

We're back! We had a very relaxing, stress free little vacation in Maine. Now we are back home, and into the swing of things again. I'll be back in a few days!

basil : basil

Basil is one of my favorite herbs. I love to make pesto and store it in the freezer for winter. When I don't have time (or the ingredients) to make pesto, I save it this way.

I take the basil and chop it up in the food processor with a little olive oil. Then I fill an ice cube tray with the mixture, and put it into the freezer. When it has completely frozen, take the individual cubes out and place in freezer containers. This is the perfect size to add to soups, stews or take a few out and use it to make a pesto in the winter. Have fun!

++ I am off to Maine with the family for a long weekend. I'll be back mid next week!

shop update today

I finally got some goodies made to put into my Etsy shop. There are some pretty tote bags and a work-n-play apron for that busy child. I will have another update in a couple weeks with items that I did't get done this time.

Have a great day!

not today : : shop update change

Well, I tried really hard to get things buttoned things up this weekend, but it didn't happen. I am moving the shop update to Wednesday, July 23rd. Check back in then!