I Made Hats

I was bored this week and in need of some instant gratification. The Spud and Chloe, that I bought while in New York City, was calling from my stash hidden deep under my bed. I also knew just what project to cast on. Leslie's Chunky Knit Beanie. Easy, fast and oh, so satisfying. So satisfying, in fact, I made another. With Rowan Big Wool. I'm in love with both of them!

I have to say I really enjoyed knitting with the Spud and Chloe. My stitches were a bit loose due to the cotton content but I love the feel of the hat on my head. I'm not wishing for winter weather anytime soon, but when it comes, my head will be very warm indeed.

Five Things...the weekend version

1. A Friday night seventh grade dance. I ran the photo booth. The kids will get their pictures in homeroom this week.

2. Our yearly visit to a local corn maze.

3. and 4. Children of the corn

5. and a wonderful squishy alpaca!

Two Down

and two to go! A while back I participated in a pay-it-forward activity on FB. I commented on one of my friends notes and she made me something. The hitch, I needed to make something for five other people.

Our yearly trip to Florida was fast approaching and being the ambitious person that I am (all of you who know me, please stop laughing now!), I set to work and made this Amy Butler hat for my sister-in-law. One down and four to go. That was back in April.

The person who started all of this, for me, was Kerstin. She sent me these beautiful reading gloves. I wear them everywhere and have had so many nice compliments when people see them. So, since she fulfilled her end of the bargain, I knew I needed to get started.

So, the Wisps are growing.

And so is my Nuss from Berroco. I'm using Debbie Bliss Luxury Tweed instead of Berroco Blackstone Tweed . The back is almost done. It's an easy knit which I take to the hockey rink with me. Although, with my husband not traveling as much anymore my rink time has been cut dramatically. Sorta feels strange....

5 Things...

1. The boys and I went apple picking. We decided to pick local this year and are glad we did. Because the weather has been so rotten, no one has come out to pick so they are practically giving the apples away. Ten bucks for a bushel.

2. So I came home and made applesauce and this. I couldn't get a picture of the pie fast enough...it was that good!

3. I have begun the hibernation process around here. Cleaning, organizing and throwing away. Looks like the squirrels have begun too. Found these piles (five in all) in my garden. I have never seen anything like it before.

4. It's way too early for that white stuff...but it surprised us on Friday morning! Thankfully, it had all melted away by noon.

5. This couple made me smile. The Sartorialist is taking a lot of pictures of couples lately and I'm intrigued.

Happy Weekend to all!

Go Ahead...Make Them!

I found this recipe in this month's Country Living

Grandma Mollie's Oatmeal Raisin-Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

1 1/4 cups chocolate chips

1/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Stir in eggs until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients, plus raisins, walnuts and chocolate chips. Add dry mixture to wet mixture and stir to combine. Stir in milk. Drop dough in heaping tablespoonful, about one inch apart. Bake until golden brown and slightly crunchy. About 15 minutes.

I didn't add the walnuts and did not let them get too crunchy. I like soft oatmeal cookies.

I hope you enjoy these as much as my husband did!

5 Things

Every.single.day. I put Flickr and my blog on my to-do list. AND every.single.day. I pass over these two items, to say, clean the bathrooms or do laundry, you know, stuff that makes the house run a bit easier! As the washing machines spins and the bathrooms smell (briefly) like lemons I have a few minutes to update.

1. October will be a busy month. Matt has decided to tackle: cross-country, hockey and the school play. Con: I'm in the car a lot! Pro: the boys are separated, leading to less fighting!

2. I love my dinner plate dahlias! I buy them from here each year. I tried digging them up and saving them from one year to the next, but they rotted in my basement. It's easier to buy new each year.

3. I'm reading this in between reading my MORE magazine. One makes me feel like I should be out climbing a mountain or starting my own company. The other validates how I've been handling my middle schoolers. Both make me feel tired.

4. Ryan, when he's on, which means, he's not complaining, his stomach is full and his homework is completed, is a pretty funny kid. The other day,when we were driving to his ENT (Ryan is an ear kid. I don't think I've told the story of Ry's ears yet..on another day I will.) doctor, we drove pass a mega-church. We talk about it a lot when we go to the doctor's and I think it has Ryan truly perplexed. Evidenced by the sentence I heard muttered from the backseat, "God, that's a helluva church!"

That's my boy!

5. A look that caught my eye from The Sartorialist's site. Love the bag, jeans and sneakers. The jacket reminds me of what I wore in the '80's. It even looks as if she has the shoulder pads to complete the look!