whatchabuildin

spooky treats

Today we spent the day preparing for Halloween. As usual, my little helper spearheaded each project we did.

:: Ginger cats, bats and owls. I used a regular gingerbread cookie recipe, and we cut them into scary Halloween shapes.

...Oh yeah, made a loaf of Banana Bread too! That recipe later.

:: Silly pumpkin head. This was a free download over at Angry Chicken, so much fun!

:: Yummy "gourmet" pumpkin seeds. At least I think they're gourmet, nobody else in the house likes them. But I'm OK with that, more for me! 

-wash seeds and place in bowl. Drizzle olive oil over them, about 2 TBS. 

-spread onto a baking sheet.

-sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

-Bake 350 degrees for 15 minutes, then change temp. to 300 degrees for another 15 minutes or until golden, and crunchy. So very addictive!

:: And finally at the end of the day, the pumpkin!

If you look close, you can see that Colin signs our "names" to the pumpkin. You'll notice my name is "Mom", he said that's my "other" name. Cracks me up! 

Hope your having a spooky start to your week! 

lately...

Yesterday morning we started the day by making these incredibly yummy muffins. I got the recipe over at Angry Chicken. We have been making these for quite some time now - and I believe my little guy and I have decided this is our favorite muffin recipe. There is something about the pumpkin and chocolate together that makes me want to, literally, eat the whole batch-seriously! Oh, such goodness!  But, there is one more person in this household, and they decided that the recipe is better without the chocolate, go figure! So, because it was still early, and I am still trying to stay off coffee, which means I'm a little groggier than usual, I took the picture of the non-chocolate ones instead of the incredible chocolate ones - duh.

Anyway, don't take my word for it, try these yourself! I changed it slightly by using 3 eggs instead of 2 eggs and 2 egg whites, and they turn out just fine.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2/3 cups apple sauce
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 can (15oz) pumpkin
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flours, spices, and all the other dry stuff together. In a different bowl mix the eggs, oil, applesauce and pumpkin. Add the dry stuff- to the wet,then stir in the chocolate chips. Bake 20 min. 

+ + + + +

On the crafting front, we are loving Amanda's new book! Over the weekend we made these paper mache bowls. We still have to paint and decorate them, but what a fun project! 

 

These bowls are the beginnings of a Christmas project we are working on for family and friends. I'll post later showing how we are finishing up these cute gifts!

Lastly, there is a really great giveaway over at GardenMama's blog! You can win five beautiful handcrafted toys from Down In the Meadow  and a beautiful autumn garland. Oh, I just love the mushroom, and the sweet Hedgie... and the adorable owl...Oh, I just love them all! Hop over there and check them out! 

weekending

A couple weekends ago we made a quick trip to visit my 83 year old aunt at her cottage in Maine before she left to be a "snowbird" in the southern states. Looking back at these photos this weekend, brought to mind this beautiful poem by Jacqueline Bouvier. From the book, "A Family of Poems". by Caroline Kennedy.

Thoughts

I love the Autumn,

And yet I cannot say

All the thoughts and things

That make me feel this way.

I love walking on the angry shore,

To watch the angry sea;

Where summer people were before,

But now there's only me.

 

I love wood fires at night

That have a ruddy glow.

I stare at the flames

And think of long ago.

I love the feeling down inside me

That says to run away

To come and be a gypsy

And laugh the gypsy away.

 

The tangy taste of apples,

The snowy mist at morn,

The wanderlust inside you

When you hear the huntsman's horn.

Nostalgia - that's the Autumn,

Dreaming through September

Just a million lovely things

I always will remember.

-Jacqueline Bouvier

a good morning

Ah, the weekend. It was been so busy around here lately. It's the end of summer season rush to eek out the last beautiful days of summer before the autumn season begins. Last weekend we went to the woods for camping. Oh, so much fun, relaxing and gorgeous weather made it an epic weekend!

::  ::

Now. This weekend is here, and we are back to our regular routine. On the weekends, I like to make pancakes or french toast then relax over the meal, talking about our busy week we had. This pancake recipe I've been using for a while now and is very well received around here. This morning we cut up some fresh picked peaches and put them on the pancakes, then of course poured that wonderful Vermont maple syrup on top. Heaven. That's all I can say about that. Oh, and...yum.

Four-Grain Flapjacks

Prepare and preheat your griddle

Whisk together into large bowl:

1 c. whole-wheat flour

3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1/3 c. cornmeal, preferably stone ground

1/4 c. old-fashioned oats (or quick-cooking rolled oats is fine)

2 TBS. sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Whisk together into another bowl:

1 3/4 c. milk

4 TBS. (1/2 stick) butter, melted

1/4 c. honey

3 large eggs

:: Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and gently whisk them together, mixing just until combined. Spoon 1/4 c. batter onto the griddle for each.

This makes a huge batch of pancakes. They freeze very well, and I do that a lot. Place wax paper between the pancakes and store in an air tight freezer container. It is so nice on a busy morning to be able to take some pancakes out of the freezer, heat them up and have a great breakfast before I start the day. These are great for snacking too. They are quite tasty alone or I also top with applesauce, or yogurt. Enjoy!

Unrelated: 

I will be posting later today, showing some more dolls that I have been making lately - they are so cute!

Happy Saturday! 

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!

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!

a strawberry weekend

Our Fourth of July weekend was fun filled, but mostly it was....

...filled with berries! Strawberry picking...

 strawberry freezer jam...

 Oh, so yummy, strawberries and cream scones...

Recipe follows:

Strawberries and Cream Scones

Preheat oven 425 degrees

2 c. flour

2 T. sugar

1/2 t. baking powder

1/4 t. baking soda

1/2 c. butter

1 c. chopped, fresh strawberries

3/4 c. buttermilk (I use whole milk with 1 T. vinegar for sour milk)

Heavy cream for brushing on top

------------

- In bowl combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder.

-With pastry cutter, cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.

- Gently mix in strawberries.

- Add milk and stir in gently.

- On a floured surface, knead for about 2 minutes. Dough will be a little wet, so knead in a little of the surface flour.

- Pat into a 3/4" thick circle and cut into 8 pieces (like a pie)

- Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

- Brush with heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar.

- Place in prepared oven for 25 mins. or until golden brown on top.

ENJOY! ~ excellent with coffee of tea.

... and a strawberry quilted picture! I am still trying to find my "voice" with these little fabric pictures, but I really love making them! Stay tuned for more down the road!

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!

bunting, birthday and just busy!

Wow! Well, where have I been? Sorry for the long absence. I meant to post over the past few weeks...um months, ...but my time has been devoted to family stuff lately, and that has taken me away from my blog world! And I have to say, I really miss it!

My mom visited us for almost a month back in March and early April. We sewed, baked, went fabric shopping, laughed and just caught up on "things". Also, Colin turned three at that time and we were preparing for that monumental event. Three. I can't believe sometimes that he has already been on this earth for three years! I've discovered that motherhood is a very bittersweet journey.

So, I have lots to post about. Hang on, here we go!

First, the bunting. I've wanted to make a "happy birthday" banner for a long time now. So I finally decided to make one for Colin's birthday. I still have to machine stitch around the letters so they stand out more, but basically it is done.

The background fabric is vintage paisley that my mom gave me a long time ago. She said that Grandma was going to use it for a duvet cover and never did. That was back in 1955! Wow, this fabric has been in our family for a long time! I had to use it for something special. I think I did.

 

And the birthday. I made these really cute "car cakes" for my special boy. He really loved them. The car cake molds are from William Sonoma, but I am afraid to say they don't seem to be available anymore!

These were a couple gift bags that I made for Colin's birthday. The friend that came for his birthday has the same initial as Colin! What fun to watch them open the goody bags at the same time!

Fabric, fabric and more fabric! When mom is here she goes a little overboard (oh, in a very good way) in buying fabric for me. She helped me buy the rest of the fabric that I need for the quilt I am making for our bed (more on that later)

And books! My mom also bought me some really great books that I had on my "to buy someday" list. Now to find the time to read through them all!

Well, I think I am caught up now! Whew! I feel better! Now back to my regular programmed scheduling of busy...busy and busy!

I'm back to the garden...planting that is. Have a great day!

snowy joy

Today we went out and played in the snow. There were lot of giggles, laughs, and eating snow. Do you like our snowman?