October Table Toppers

 

I have two daughters, so I made two of these October table toppers.  Sorry, I can't remember the name of the Moda charm packs that I used, but I know I used Cupcake Mix Recipe 4.

I've realized that my new machine has a wider default three-step zig zag, and I like that.  It adds a little interest to the edges.  And it was fun to find just the right binding fabric in my stash of Halloween fabrics.  It has a subtle candy corn print.

And so, on this rainy day, a trip to the post office.  Maybe I will see if they have Christmas stamps.

And maybe I will walk around just a little and check out the new music venue across the street.  It's huge, part of a new development along the Ohio River.

If You Are Weary

Thanks to Liz Lamoreux for her email yesterday with this poem/story.  If you are weary of our world sometimes and just plain despair, give it a read.  It's a quick and easy feel-better piece.

read Gate A-4 by Naomi Shihab Nye

It's a lovely break from our politics and discord and violence.

Corn Pudding

 

Corn Pudding

• 1 box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
• 1 can creamed corn
• 1 can corn, drained
• 1 cup fat free sour cream (or you can use regular)
• 1 stick melted butter

Mix together and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes in an 8" pan.

I like to add an egg too.  And then freeze some for other days. 

One of these days, I'll channel my Berea days and make some spoonbread from the Boone Tavern recipe.  Someone even gave me a lovely pottery bowl just for that.  The recipe is a little more complicated so I'll let you research that.  Eggs, milk, corn meal, butter, etc.  It's definitely worth making.

Dinner at Boone Tavern just isn't dinner without the server putting a scoop of spoonbread on your plate. 

Wall Hanging Redo

 

I liked this Christmas tree wall hanging enough that I made a second in a brighter color palette.  I do have two daughters, after all.  The pattern is by Fig Tree & Co. and uses a charm pack plus a little yardage.

My friend just emailed that she is having her furnace serviced today.  I've hardly thought about that yet.  The unit has been blessedly quiet in that magical space between ac and heat and my budget appreciates that.  

Last night I started to make corn pudding, happy that I'd bought the sour cream that I needed to complete the recipe.  And then realized that somewhere along the line I'd used up the Jiffy Mix that is the basis for the whole thing.  Maybe tonight there will be corn pudding.

Folks in Cincinnati tend to not be Steelers fans, primarily because of the Bengals/Steelers rivalry.  The Bengals played on Thursday night, so last night I watched Green Bay win over the Steelers and felt pretty happy about that.  My dad was such a football fan and he passed the love of that sport on to me.

Orange Sculpture

 

While waiting to go upstairs to visit my grand girl, I spotted this armadillo sculpture in the Cincinnati Children's Hospital lobby.  Such a whimsical guy.  One of the orange discs says "Can you count how many toes I have?"

Nora had appendicitis and is being treated with antibiotics vs surgery.  Fingers crossed for her.  Life is hard for teens sometimes.

She was able to perform her drum major duties for her band competition last night.  This was a very big deal for her, only two competitions this year.  We can only hope that next year will be a more normal year, whatever that looks like.  Last year there were no competitions at all.

The band placed fourth overall.

And so.  With my visit to Asheville and Nora's illness and taking Aaron to golf matches, which I love, I haven't touched a sewing machine in a long time.  Well, not really, but it seems that way.

Yesterday I actually went to the grocery store with a list.  I really, really want to do better with food preparation.  I have a couple of new recipes torn out of magazines and another marked on my laptop.  Once again, fingers crossed.

Skytop

 

At Skytop Orchards between Hendersonville, North Carolina, and Greenville, South Carolina.  Way up a mountain, great views on the way.

In Winnie's arms, little brown dog Milo.  In my hands, wonderful cider donuts.  The line for those was so long, with good reason.

There was also coffee and cider, a store, pick your own orchard, maybe even a petting zoo.  It was crowded, so we didn't stick around to see.  Scored those warm donuts and made our way back to the car.

Last night I ate the last donut, a few minutes in the oven at 250 degrees.  There are other orchards that have cider donuts, just not warm from the fryer with the whole experience.  Sarah and Winnie did find some gluten free donuts at another orchard, and I got a wonderful gluten free apple pie.

And a bright green pumpkin with little bumps, which is now turning more orange every day.  Still pretty.

Arbor Evenings

 

It's been a month of blogging time-out.  Sometimes, I feel like I have little to say.  And when I was working on the sampler quilt it seemed like every creative day was like every other.

You know that I love the North Carolina Arboretum.  When I visited last week there was a lovely Arbor Evening event with music and a chance to visit the big outdoor sculptures that had been on exhibit.

No one bought Big Al, who was a large alligator and one of my favorites.  His price tag reflected the work that went into making him.  And this week he has gone back home.

Right away, work has begun on the Winter Lights exhibit.  I'm sure it will be glorious.