If you want to eat some apple crisp...

Then you've got to buy the apples. Preferably at the Farmer's Market.

Where you'll see a bike you've just GOT to have, because of course, everything you buy would fit in that perfect little basket.

And there will be bright and sunny flowers that would look great on your table...

But remember that you came for apples, so go buy your apples and go home. But buy a pumpkin and cream cheese muffin first, because it's going to be de.li.ci.ous.

And when you get home, try out the cute little bowl your mother just picked up for you, because it looks so lonely when it's empty...

It's not that Duncan loves apples or new bowls, he just loves to scratch his chin on anything nearby, in an attempt to distract you from a certain "too much apple crisp-eating coma".

Remember that your Husband is helping you to take pictures, and stop yelling at him for taking ones of you, because you can just delete them later (ah-ha!).

Wash the apples...

Peel the apples...

Cut them up and pour them out...

And this? Well, you can just ignore this:

Yes, it's a potato masher. So sue me. I thought that just maybe it would work. That just maybe it would cut up my not-soft-enough butter and I wouldn't make a mess. *sigh* I don't think I have a picture of the part where the Husband cleans up the kitchen as penance for taking pictures of me...

Meanwhile, someone has be patiently waiting for you to stop baking and play with him...

"I brought you my tiger toy 15 minutes ago and it still hasn't moved."

"Puh-leeease?"

I think in exchange for not getting to play he may have had some ice cream. Oh wait, of course he had ice cream, or else he'd stare at you as if you'd just informed him "dogs don't eat ice cream anymore".

Mmmmm... enjoy your apple crisp-eating coma.

Poor Pumpkin!

Okay, so I don't have a vendetta against our squirrels. I'm sure that's how this blog reads though, because they always seem to be up to no good whenever I'm getting ready to write a post. I was warned by our neighbors, prior to buying a pumpkin, that a mess of seeds and pumpkin pulp would be strew across our front stoop, but I decided to risk it anyway.  They didn't notice the bright orange globe for quite a few weeks, but soon it was nibbled away until it became this:

It has now been moved to the backyard by the bird feeder so that they can continue to feast on my attempt at festive decoration. 

As I was taking a picture of my sad pumpkin, the perpetrator decided to try to scare me off.

It almost worked.  

I have been sewing, baking and crocheting though, along with having started a new job. I think I'm getting used it though... slowly... but I'm getting back on track. I hope to be posting on a consistent basis soon, but be patient with me!  If you are, I may make you this:

From this:

I tell you what. Chocolate Truffle cheesecake with Chocolate Ganache is fine by me anyday!  Although that's definitely an "after the attack" photo, I think you might be able to tell that the filling is creamy, light, and smooth.... and that I feel I should make another soon.

Anyhow, with my pumpkin now ruined, I believe it means I'm allowed to put up all of my Christmas decorations. I have a hard time doing so before Thanksgiving, but Husband already has up the outer lights.  

Plus, I think the mantle has been waiting all year for me to bring out the lights again.

I sense that there will be pictures of Duncan playing in the Christmas tree box posted soon. 

More Hours in the Day, Please!

I believe that there may be nothing better than being wrapped up in a quilt and a sweatshirt on a cold fall day.  In case you haven't noticed, it's my favorite time of year.  Yes, I love Christmas too, but falling down because of ice, having the cuff of my jeans get wet from snow, and being broke from buying gifts does mark it down to maybe third place. 

Dax loves fall just as much as I do.  Probably because it means I'm more than willing to take him to the park to make new friends.

But, I promise that going to the park has not been the only thing I've been doing!  I've been mainly working on a wedding dress and birdcage veil for a friend of Husband's. She had her alterations done at a national wedding dress chain where she purchased her gown, and they did a horrible job "fixing" her dress.  I was amazed at what I saw when I took it apart! 

This is a (poor quality) picture of her birdcage veil in progress.  I drew out a 10 second sketch of what her floral lace pattern was, and re-drew it onto freezer paper.  That was then ironed onto satin, cut out, and sew onto muslin to give it stability. The end product was beaded to match her dress, and I'll post pictures of it after she, well, gets married!

I still haven't free motioned quilted yet.... yes, I'm scared. I think I may be too much of a perfectionist to just "go for it".  But, I'll keep practicing and let you know when I work up the courage to use it on a project.  

Here is a quilt top that Husband says looks like a pantone book:

I have to agree with him, and I like it that way. Gradating colors make me happy! I appliqued the circles on using a blanket stitch, and I've backed it with a piece of thick cozy fleece.  I want to try something that doesn't have as much weight as a quilt, but still has that quilt "look".

I think Dax approves.

Oh Fall...

You know those days when it's cold outside, but all you have to wear is a sweatshirt and a pair of worn jeans and it's perfect?  I. Love. It.  I can't get enough of fall, and leaves, and even the noisy little squirrels who throw things at me when I go outside.  They probably do it because I throw sticks at them when they taunt my dog.  Not in a "I'm going to take you down" sort of way, but in a "Find someone else's yard to dig up" sort of way.  It's a hate-hate relationship, and I'm putting a squirrel-resistant bird feeder on my list of things to find on sale. 

I used to be a big list person. I would have sticky notes all over my mirrors and desk, and then I would forget to look at them.  Lucky for me, my lovely little iPhone can give me reminders through my calendar to do things like "get my life together", and "find chocolate".  Today I had one that reminded me to "get my butt moving on that Etsy shop". 

I've been an avid Etsy and blog stalker for quite some time.  You know that job you had where you never wanted to be there and avoided doing anything productive until the last minute? Well, that was my previous job, and all of that wasted company time led to my discovery of the world of craft and sewing blogs.  I've sewn for quite some time, and I am finally ready to part with my fabric stash through the making of baby quilts, among other things.  My Etsy shop name is Jellybean Soup, and I do hope you'll come see it when I open my doors! 

But, I'm sure I'll also be letting you in on Indiana life, and my other

 loves: baking, painting, Husband, Dax the Wonder Dog, and our cat, Duncan Nonuts.   

Now Dax is good at many things, but his favorite talent to show off on cold fall mornings is...................

Sleeping.