Finished Knit: Punkin Hats

Sweet sheep. Can someone explain to me where the whole month of October went? At least I figured out what month it was a made the boys a few hats. Punkin hats!

And they have been giggling about them. Silly boys. 

Now I just realized that the craft show is 3 and a half weeks away. Umm. I'm not panicking. Not at all! No need to call the men in the white coats... *bites nails and shakes like a chihuahua*

Small people don't sit still

Pattern: Punkin Hat by me (generic hat with a stem)

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in "Pumpkin" (how appropriate!) - 268 yards / 146 grams

Needles: US 6/4mm Addi Turbo circulars

Knitline: October 10th - October 21st for all three

YTD Mileage: 4.42!

Happy Knitting,
Meg

Pronunciation, According to 4 Year Olds

"Oxapus"

"Cockaracho"

"Barfacue" (even though they like it!)

"Froggy"

Mantle Update

I thought I would post a mantle update. We've had The Sick running through our house since Monday, and while I thought I had caught the bug earlier in the week, I realize now that Friday's bought of "Let's Stain The Mantle!" was my white blood cell high. I was down by yesterday afternoon and it tried to kick my butt during the night.

But I did get it stained, and my sister brought by the little pieces of trim for the sides of the tile which I will get stained, and then we can give it a bit of varnish and we're good to go!

I also ordered this print from my sister, who says it should be in soon and it will be replacing the hideously ugly flower picture. I'm so very excited for that picture to get here, you have no idea. Hahaha.

Happy Weekend! Hope y'all aren't sick,
Meg

Raising Men

As we prepare for adding a fourth boy into our family, I have had many thoughts in my head. A lot of family was fairly disappointed that it's not a girl (and some are still holding out hope, haha) and as I thought about that the thought occured to me:

I have the very strong feeling that God has blessed us with so many boys as a challenge to raise them to be strong, Godly men. I painfully feel the lack of and need for strong men in our society in general. Not to say that we don't need strong women as well. But I believe men should be in the lead for most things (be it father, government, clergy, husband, whatever), and I have seen a lack of motivation in men of our generation to take that needed lead.

Amy at Homestead Revival had a wonderful post on this very thing yesterday, and I wanted to share the link for anyone who is interested.

Raising Boys to be Men in Today's Culture

I am so blessed and thankful to have a husband who is perfectly suited and equipped to raise just such men and I hope we can raise our kiddos to be just as strong as he is.

Happy Weekend,
Meg

My New Favorite Thing

Sorry the pictures aren't great, I was in a hurry.

The benefits of having a Dad that owns a cabinetry shop.

If y'all remember, my husband ripped out and redid the fireplace tile when we moved into this house two and a half years ago. (Gosh, has it really been that long?) And since then we have been waiting for a mantle, going back and forth between making our own or having my dad do it.

Those nails you see are where I hung stockings last Christmas, heh.

So as soon as we paid off our last consumer debt, I asked Ben if I could please get a mantle this year. He's been wanting one just as badly, so Go for it was his answer. In June we set the money aside and I told dad we were ready to go!

He's been crazy swamped and busy so Tuesday was the first chance he had to get out here to install it.

Tada! Isn't it wonderful? As you can see, I've already started decorating it. We just need to slap a coat of stain on it and some varnish and I can decorate to my little heart's content - something I've been dieing to do for so long now. And the best part is this year I don't have to hang stockings on the wall!

I am so very excited to have this newest piece of furniture.

Except now I want to repaint, put up moulding and get new furniture to replace our "college student" borrowed stuff. ;) I'm ready for a "Big People" living room.


Happy Thursday,
Meg

Finished Knit: Zombie!

Now that this little brain eater has reached it's recipient, I can share him with you!

This guy was a surprise gift for a blog friend who I have considered my "zombie cheerleader" ever since I started making the silly things. I get a little worried sending them through the mail, lest somehow they escape and wind up where they aren't supposed to. But so far we haven't had any... incidents.

Pattern: Bill the Zombie by Meg

Yarn: Drops Alpaca in "Dark Lime" and red, Knit Picks Stroll in Dusk - 150ish yards total for all

Needles: US 1 /2.25mm Harmony wood dpns

Knitline: October 4th - October 11th

YTD Mileage: Just a wee 150 yards puts me at 4.27 miles.

Happy Knitting,

Meg

Waste Not, And Then Some

When we went about canning apples last week, I wanted to find something to do with the peels. I couldn't stand the thought of throwing all that good stuff away that came curling off the peeler-corer. My initial thought was to dredge and fry the peeling strings, but we decided to put them in a pot with the cores, add some water, and simmer for a good while to get the goodness out of them.

What I wound up with was about 10 cups of pink colored apple "extract", which I decided to turn into apple jelly yesterday.

I strained the juice through a tea towel to get the settlement out of it, and turned 8 cups of the liquid into 5 jelly jars, 4 pints, and a wee one into the prettiest (and quit tasty) batch of jelly. It's definitely apple when you taste it, but it's not too over powering. I do wish I had lowered the sugar, since I'm finding I don't like my jelly too sweet, but I was afraid it wouldn't set and didn't have any low sugar pectin. So happy with the way it turned out though!

And today I needed to make bread to go with the jelly, of course (well, and we were out). 2 loaves.

And I figured since I had the mixer out and was making bread anyways, I might as well make up a batch of the Cinnamon Swirl Bread I saw over at Life At Cobble Hill Farm (thanks Staci! It's wonderful). 3 loaves.

And a batch of Oatmeal Cookies. You know, since the mixer was still out. 4 dozen.

If you give a mouse a cookie, and all. ;)

Happy Thursday!
Meg

Finished Knit: Baby Ruffle Hat

Oh gosh. Someone give me a baby to put this on, quick! This turned out so stinkin' cute. And I finally found something to do with this yarn.

Pattern: Top Down Pi Hat - with added ruffle* - by Meg

Yarn: Knit Picks Essential in "Peacock" - 130 yards/28 grams

Needles: US 2/2.75mm Harmony wood dpns

Knitline: September 29th - October 4th

YTD Mileage: 4.18 miles!

*To make the ruffle: After the last set of increases (to 108 sts) work until hat is desired length. Triple the number of stitches by working k1fbf (k1 into front leg of stitch, k1 into back leg of same stitch, k1 into front leg of stitch again, slip off needle) into every stitch. Knit for an inch or so, then bind off. Tada! Ruffle!

Happy Knitting,
Meg

Apples, Apples, Apples!

Oh gosh, never mind the Campbell's. I bought them and never used them and am ashamed to have over-sodiumed canned soup in my pantry.

On the very first day of October I joined my mom and grandmother on their trip to go get apples from a neighboring town.

What I came back with was about 32 pounds of apples - A big box of Empires, a large bag of Jonagolds and a small bag of Braeburns.

The following Thursday we canned apples and my one box made 12 quart jars of beautiful appley-goodness to put up.

We have been enjoying apples for snacks, stewed apples with dinner (apples simmered in a bit of butter and spices) and of course....

Apple Pie!! I don't know why, but I was so scared to make a pie this year. I haven't made an apple pie in over two years. I've made plenty of chicken pot pie, so it didn't make sense. But my crust never turns out quite right and for some reason Apple Pie just needed to be perfect.

Well. I'm just gonna toot my own horn here for a second and tell you this crust turned out AMAZING. Hehe. I knew it was good when Ben started cutting into it and it made the most delicious, crispy, flaky sound I've ever heard. We both kind of stopped and giggled about it.

The trick I finally found? Once you cut in your fats you add the water in while fluffing the dough with a fork. Not a spoon, like I've done. Not mixing it with your hands, like I've done. Fluff with a fork so there's as little smushing as possible. Now, the sad part is the Betty Crocker recipe I've been using for years actually says this, but since when do I listen, eh? Teach me... Do it like it says next time. Turned. Out. Perfect.

The only problem with the trip is I wish Ben could have gone (working) and I had gotten more to put up (trying not to be greedy/overwhelm myself). But I think I might just go back and get more.... ;)

Happy Tuesday,
Meg

Guess What

It's a boy! Heeheeeeeee!

Love,

Meg

P.S. Yep, you're counting right. That makes 4 boys! :)

Blustery Goodness

Today looks like this and it makes my little heart sing with contentment!! What a wonderful, beautiful way to start off October.

It held off while the boys and I ran to the store this morning. But about 30 minutes after we got back it started sprinkling, then drizzling, the pouring! It has now, 4 hours later, stopped but I so hope it starts up again and we have rain for days.

We have been so, so busy lately. I don't think I've been home for more than a day in the last week. Between doctor's appointments, getting apples, grocery shopping, and people coming to visit it's been a whirlwind.

Do you notice your desires to do things change with the seasons? For me I go crazy about cleaning in the spring. Today's weather though, puts me happily in the kitchen.

This morning was 7 quarts of chicken stock and the whole chicken from it that is now shredded for future meals, a batch of rice for tonight's dinner,  and two loaves of bread. This afternoon will be Chili Verde sauce for tomorrow's dinner and if I can get to it, tomato sauce for Friday. I'll be busy the next few days so planning ahead it is! Maybe next week I can be home for more than a day. :)

You know what else this weather means?

Zombies.

Mmm hmm.

Happy Stormy Day!
Meg

Finished Knit: Templeton Mittens

Yes, you just saw all these pictures on the pattern post. But I realized I hadn't done a finished post yet! 

Pattern: Templeton Mittens by Meg

Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll in "Ash" - 50grams / 1 ball

Needles: US 2/2.75 mm Harmony wood

Knitline: September 20th - September 27th

YTD Mileage: 4.11. Well, I'll at least make 5 by the end of year!

Happy Knitting,

Meg

New Pattern: Templeton Mittens!

Here it is! I was finally able to get some pictures and finish the pattern. I've named it the "Templeton Mittens" - partly for the way the pointed ribbing reminds me a bit of a temple, and because it just seemed fitting. I don't ask questions when things pop in my head. ;)

You can download the pattern for free here:

Download Templeton Mittens

Happy Knitting,
Meg