Apples

One of the things we used to love doing was going to the apple orchard; when we lived in Michigan.  Nowhere else that we have lived in any state has good apple orchards. (I haven't technically checked here, but..)  Well when my Mom recently went to Michigan, she brought us back some Michigan Apples!  :D   It might sound like a strange thing to be happy about..  But, after living in Nevada for six years, and eating fruits and vegetables with no taste at all, you might understand.  These are mostly Cortland.  They even smelled good. I put them in the pantry. And every time I opened the door, they smelled so good.. 

I wanted to make something more special than just Apple Rumble, or Apple Pie or Apple Bread...  So after looking through my cookbooks, I decided to make Bavarian Apple Torte, first.  It was sooo yummy.   It is really fattening, though.     Next, I made Apple Pie Breakfast Bars.  I thought they were okay (I didn't take a picture.)  If you think, oatmeal squares.  I'm not sure if I would make them again.  

Then yesterday, I made Apple Spice Cake.  This used up almost all the apples (there are two left, which we will just eat).  It's pretty good.  I have baked almost every day this week. I am glad all the apples are gone. Lol. I am tired of baking for a while.  But I'm also glad we have/had the apples.  

Some of my favorite memories are going to the apple orchard, riding the tractor and going to pick apples. They also had a play area/barn for kids to play in.  Then there were the cinnamon sugar apples, and apple cider.   This was the only picture I could find of "us" (minus me, since I was taking the picture) drinking cider.

One of Eon sitting on the pumpkins.  :)  He was so little then..   :)
Maybe we will be able to find a new apple orchard or pumpkin patch, here.

My "New" Kitchen

When we first moved here, our house was not finished. (It's a rental.) They were putting in all new skylights (the old ones were leaking-- some spots on the ceiling are stained still.)  Part of our rental agreement was "No down payment/do some work on the house"..   (Why do we always get into these situations?)  So my husband has to finish the sklights.  Which also means re-doing the whole ceiling.  and paint the whole room.. (Sooooo not worth it, IMO.)  But, it is what it is..    This weekend, he worked on the kitchen.  One skylight is done.   (This one was the biggest one/biggest job.)

Ceiling.  Just has to paint it.

The new paint- "Vanilla".  

Goodbye, "E"..

Goodybe, "F"..   (This one is technically in the kids bathroom... Which is next..)  BTW, whoever did this, had to climb on top of the bathroom counter, and stand up on it; to write an F on the wall ABOVE the mirror. You can see it is almost to the top of the door jam. Monkey. There is also pink paint (or marker?) on the cupboards, and door in the bathroom. :/

The finished kitchen.  Not bad for a tiny rental...   Amazing what a new coat of paint does! The whole kitchen (and laundry room) look so much cleaner now!  And, I have more counter space. :D   Makes it a little nicer.

A Couple of F.O.'s I Can Post About..

My pen pal (one of my pen pals) finally got a box I sent her. So I can post a couple things I sent (only the things I crocheted).  This tea bag pouch, to bring your favorite tea bags with you...   And I put some of my favorites in it.  

When it's closed.  

And a Tea Bag Ami I made her. I just thought it was really cute.  The color is washed out, the heart is pink.   I sent lots of other goodies, too. And a "Happy Bee~Lated Birthday" card I made her. Which I thought for sure I took a picture of, but I can't find it anywhere. :(  It was similar to this card, but instead of "Bee Happy", it said "Happy Bee~lated Birthday". I made it long enough to fit into a standard letter size envelope.  I am so glad she got it and likes everything. It was fun getting everything together.

I Have Counter Space!! :D

I know.... Who cares?  (I do!) One of the things I do not like about this house (I am trying not to complain too much, but..) ` The kitchen.  Besides the ugly (disgusting) counter tops, there is no counter space.  So...   My husband made me a new shelf to put things on, so I can use one of the counters at least.   The coffee pot, microwave, and knife block all took up space on two counters.  

Now I have a whole counter space, free.  :D  Before, I had to use the top of the stove, or else clean the whole counter where the coffee pot and dish drainer is, off. Just so I could bake.   Now I don't have to do all that.  :)

My yellow and grey baby blankie I have been working on. Same pattern as the last blanket I finished.

Duke, about ten minutes ago. :P   It has been raining all week here. This morning it was lightning-ing, and then a big BOOOOM (long thunder, really loud). Duke jumped. Then he looked at me, like "Mama? I'm scared.." And he started whining.   Awww.... Dudie Doo is afraid of storms..  He isn't afraid to go out in the rain, and get soaking wet, though. :/  Lol

More Baby F.O's

I finished this set last month. But I wanted to make a fleece blanket to go with it. (I don't think I have posted my fleece blanket yet?) But...  I couldn't find any yellow and grey fleece anywhere.  

So...  I started a Corner to Corner blanket. I am not very happy with it.  It looks too narrow/triangular to me.  And, it is holier than others I have made.  :/  So now I will have to sew some kind of backing onto it, anyway.  (Can't send holey blankets to the OB Ward.)  Maybe I will just put it away, and start a different one.

This is the pattern I should have started.  :/   I had originally intended to make this one yellow and grey. But then I decided to make it all different colors.

It is very warm.