blanket in use

Sometimes moms will ask me if they should hand wash the baby blankets I make for them. In a way, it's flattering that they think so highly of my art. There certainly isn't anything we own that gets hand washed for Atlas. On the other hand, it's even more flattering to see a blanket I've made get good use. I've seen this one show up at parks and playdates and even the beach! So cool.

sweets for the sweet

Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting my old office - it's not actually the office space I used to work in, but the people matter so much more than the location. I miss parts of my old job this time of year, so seeing the Linden ladies was nice, and of course I love the attention they give Atlas, even while he tried to knock over their drinks and stick his fingers in their ketchup while we ate lunch.

I brought personalized treats!

This was the first time I made cake pops and didn't eat any. Not one. Go operation lose that pregnancy weight!

I would also like to put in writing (keep me accountable) that I will not be making holiday treats until Thanksgiving. There are occasions between now and then that I'm happy to bake for, but "the holidays" don't count as a reason until they are here. So now when I don't post scrumptious pictures of fudge and cookies for the next two months, you know why.

Pinterest Tuesday: fall food edition

This weekend I was excited to try out a few fall recipes. I know it's still a little early in the season, but with a storm blowing through and temperatures dropping, it felt right.

The first was for meat loaf muffins, which appealed to me as a concept. I'm not a usual meatloaf maker. It's not something I ate much of growing up. Ground beef was on sale at Safeway and supposedly these little loafs bake in 15 minutes. I was sold.


Unfortunately, it didn't really work out. I don't know if the problem was the recipe I used or what, but my mini meatloafs epitomized the bad stereotype. They were dry and tasteless and ultimately inedible. I'm not even sure how to fix them for next time, so I won't make them again unless someone can recommend a fail-proof recipe for me to try.

The crock pot apple sauce I tried was everything I hoped for. The slow cook method left our apartment smelling of delicious fall spices, and warm apple sauce served with ice cream makes for a great treat.

I reviewed the recipe linked to the pin, and decided to go with my own. I added the peeled and cored apples (10 small), about half a cup of water, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and a splash of lemon juice to the slow cooker. They spent about two hours on high before I added spices. I used a teaspoon of cinnamon and dashes of nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. I was tempted to use fresh ginger root because I had some on hand and love the kick it gives the apples, but decided to stick with the McCormick variety this time. After one more hour in the crock pot, I stirred enough to mash some of the apples, but left the mix pretty chunky. I like chunky applesauce, but I would have blended it had Atlas not been asleep for the night (and prone to night-time wakefulness).

granny stripe boutique bag

Update: now for sale on Etsy

My name is Jesse, and I have a crochet problem. It wouldn't be a problem, but my focus on crochet projects has started to threaten my ability to finish a baby shower project in time for the baby shower. So this is the last piece I will post until the other project is complete.

This little Granny Stripe Boutique Bag is quick and easy. The bag pattern can be found on Tangled Happy and the flower tutorial is here, though just about any crochet flower would look nice on this classic crochet look. I left off the center piece of this flower because I liked how it turned out with just the orange.

As cute as this little bag is, it's not practical for anything more than keys, wallet, and cell phone - which is all I need sometimes. However, I think I will adjust the pattern to make a slightly larger bag and try lining it and adding a zipper to the top. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes.


Crochet appeals to me because unlike many of my other projects, it really only requires one material and one tool. Even if I use multiple colors of yarn or multiple gauges of hook, I only need one of each at a time. So my work space can be anywhere - no need to spread out across the floor where curious babies and attention deprived cats wreak havoc on organization. No need for an ironing board or pins, another set of hazards to little ones. No noisy sewing machine to wake Atlas from a nap or Patrick in the middle of the night (when many of these projects get their finishing touches). I can set it down and pick it back up again without missing a stitch. It's the perfectly simple medium for a currently complicated life.

hats

So I started on hats, and I just can't stop! Also, Ravelry is the best thing ever. Free patterns!