Applesauce

(Image from foodblogga.blogspot.com)

We have an apple tree with green apples that are almost ripe. I'm trying to figure out what to do with them. Anyone know an easy way to make applesauce? I think my mother-in-law has an attachment to a Kitchen-Aid that somehow spits out the seeds of quartered apples, and I'm hoping to borrow it. However, I have never made applesauce before and would appreciate some help or links to helpful websites.

Little Splurge

Last week we did something we (almost) NEVER do. We bought something that we didn't actually need but really wanted. Aaauuggghhh! Part of me still feels guilty about it.

In our bedroom we have a lovely bay window area that up until now has been a big vacant patch of carpet. When we were moving in, several people in my family commented how cute a little bistro table and a couple of chairs would look there. At the time I thought, Yeah, right. Like we'll ever have money for something like that. Anyway, last weekend we drove by a yard sale and saw this fabulous little trio for sale, brand new and still in the box!! (Never mind the fact that the whole reason why we stopped at the yard sale was because we saw bookcases for sale--something we need more and didn't actually end up buying. Ha!) It was just such a fabulous deal that we were quite positive that we were never going to find something we liked better for cheaper. I think that this little set makes such a lovely addition to our bedroom. Don't you?

Jared's Stocking

This will be Jared's third Christmas, and he finally has a stocking!!

Alan and I got beautiful machine-knitted stockings for wedding presents, so I have delayed getting Jared a stocking because I wanted it to semi-match the ones we already have. Since it would have been expensive to order one just like the ones we had (like $50!), I have spent a long time looking for a free crochet pattern online for a stocking. Since I didn't find any that I liked, I finally decided to just make up a pattern myself--something I have never done before!! It is quite obvious below which ones were machine-made and which one was hand-crocheted, but I am still quite pleased with the result.

I even found yarn colors to match, so at least they-re the same color. :)

As I was working on this, I was trying to teach Jared about stockings. I will ask him, "What are stockings for?" and he'll say "Christmas!!" Then I'll say, "Who is going to fill your stocking with presents at Christmas?" and often he'll say "Jesus!" instead of Santa. :)

Trying to catch it on video

Jared does soooooooo many cute things, but of course, the minute I pull out the camera he stops. This is my attempt at getting Jared to sing "I am a Child of God." It is very quiet. Once he sees the camera, he stops the song and says "Cheese" because he thought I was taking a picture.

Oh, well. Maybe I'll have better luck next time.

Finished!

So, if I can't show off on my blog, then where can I do it? Ha ha!

I just finished a blanket that took me months to complete! I honestly wish that I could crochet faster (or just have more time to crochet!) so that I could give more blankets as gifts, but by the time I have put so many hours into a project, I get selfish and want to keep it myself.


In case you can't tell, the alphabet is stitched onto the squares using a popcorn stitch. There is a star in the bottom right corner. It is such a huge, cozy blanket!