Jottings from Our Time with "A" along the Alphabet Path

~Apple Prints~

~Painting A~    

~Chalkboard  and Sandpaper~

   

~Wooden A~   

~ Sculpting A~

    Sculpted with lavender play-doh.

~An Apple Poem~ 

 

~Wool Fleece Angels~

    Tutorial here.

~Fleece A~

~The Annunciation~

Playset available from St. Luke's Brush.

 ~Apple Picking~

 Much more here.

~Apple Crisp~

Recipe here.

~Apple Pie

 

Recipe here.

Detailed lesson plans and lots of book suggestions here.

~A~ is for Apple (picking and pies)

First, there is apple picking.

 

 

And then,

~Apple Crisp~

Grain-free, recipe:

In a greased 8X8 pan, toss:

• 6 - 8 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
• 1/2 c sugar (substitute  2 TBS maple syrup if you want sugar-free)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 T arrowroot powder
• 2 T almond flour
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp grated lemon rind

Toss all ingredients together well and put in greased 8" X 8" pan. 

Mix together in a medium bowl:

• 1 1/2 cups almond flour
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp coconut oil or unsalted butter
• 1/3  cup maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Crumble over the top of the apple mixture. Bake at 350* for about 45 minutes.

 and

~Apple Pie~

• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
• 2 1/2 pounds firm, tart apples  peeled, cored, and sliced 
• 1/2 cup sugar plus 1 tablespoon for sprinkling
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in an iron skillet saute pan over medium heat. Add the apple wedges and saute until slightly softened, but holding their shape, just 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook. They're going to be baked. Add the 1/2 cup of sugar and stir to combine. Add the sugar and spices and stir.

In a bowl, combine the lemon juice and cornstarch. Stir  into the apple mixture and remove the pan from the heat. Let cool completely.

Use refrigerated pie crusts. They usually come two per pack. For the bottom crust, follow the package directions to put it in the pie pan. Fill with the cooled filling. Dot the top with the other 3 tablespoons of butter, cut into little pieces.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Roll out the other refrigerated crust and help your little learners cut the letter "A" with cookie cutters. Arrange on top and lightly brush with egg wash and sprinkle with about a teaspoon of sugar.  

Put the pie on a cookie sheet to catch any dripping and bubbling. Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20 minutes.  Rotate the pie 180 degrees to move the front edge of the pie to the back of the oven. Bake until the top is golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. Watch carefuly throughout to ensure that the crust doesn't burn. Cover loosely with foil if it seems to be browning too quickly.

Remove the pie from the oven and let cool for 20 minutes before slicing and serving. If you slice and serve to soon, it will be runny.

~Happy Appling!~

needle & thREAD

Well, hello there! Is it really Thursday already? I'm afraid I haven't any sewing to show you. I've been creating in my sewing space, but nary a stitch was sewn. I have, however learned a very important lesson.

If you find a fabric you love and you want to design a project around it, buy everything you need right away. Everything. Really. Even extra is a good idea. What I didn't know about the modern designer fabric sewing world is that a fabric might be available only for a season before the designer introduces the next thing and the first fades into oblivion.  Well, now, that is certainly an excellent reason for a stash. Having been well schooled in this fact, I now understand all those serious sewing ladies who have shelves crammed full of fabric. One must hoard, I think.

Remember last spring--early spring it was--when I asked you about a fabric to make an anniversary quilt? I decided upon California Girl. I ordered my fat quarters, but I left the borders and sashing and binding and backing fabric to wait for another payday. My initial thought was to embroider the centers of every log cabin block. I made three. Then I realized that I could do this or I could finish the quilt sometime this year. And then, we went to California for our anniversary. Not only that, we went to the very same places that inspired this fabric--the very same San Francisco Bay area where the designer lives. (Click. it's really cool.) Serendipitously, my choice all those months ago became even more perfect. I would cover our bed in California hues, keeping memories fresh forever. Happy, happy thought.

Last week, all aflutter with renewed zeal for this project, I consulted my notes and went to order the remaining fabric. I could find it no where. Actually, I found and ordered it at Fabric.com, planned everything around the whole 9 yards (literally) of backing fabric only to learn that they didn't really have the backing fabric. They have messed up every order I've ever made. No more from them. Ever.

Now, I had sashing and borders coming from elsewhere and no backing any where. I spent a ridiculous number of hours searching. In the end, it was the Fat Quarter Shop who came to my rescue. [Note: They are a blog sponsor. Also note: I am eternally grateful and would have told you this story any way.]. So, now I have a stash of adequate backing fabric (different from my original plan but still good) and I can sleep at night.

After my anniversary quilt fabric experience, I cast a wary eye at the fabric stashed for Mary Beth's quilt. I'd originally planned to make this quilt to throw over the back of the couch in the family room. Mike was not a fan. Mary Beth, however, loves this fabric. So, it was decided that we'd make her bed quilt from it. The problem? I bought enough fabric for a 64"X 64" square quilt. Standard double bed quilt size: 80" X 80". I have yet to solve this problem because--again--I'm learning that I should have over-stashed when it was hot. My plan is to get the whole thing cut and see how much fabric I have left. I'm open to suggestions. Actually, I'm begging for suggestions!

Finally, a new fabric:-). This time, I think I overbought from Leisl Gibson's new line, The Ladies Stitching Club. I was treated to gracious kindness by the proprietor of the Intrepid Thread who supplied me speedily. This fabric is intended for Fairy Tale Dresses--one in each colorway. Right now, I'm only at the sit and stare at it stage. I can't even bring myself to wash it. It's so lovely. I bought some of the border print. I haven't decided on it. Bows? Collars? I don't know. And... all the reading this week? The instructions inside those patterns--I'm reading and re-reading and working up the courage to begin. 

~~~~

Does autumn call you into your sewing space? Are you thinking flannel pjs or cozy quilts? Or are you embroidering? Pulling a needle with thread through lovely fabric to make life more beautiful somehow? Would you share with us just a single photo (or more) and a brief description of what you're up to? Will you tell us about what you're reading, also? Would you talk sewing and books with us? I'd love that so much.

Make sure the link you submit is to the URL of your blog post or your specific Flickr photo and not your main blog URL or Flickr Photostream. Please be sure and link to your current needle and thREAD post below in the comments, and not a needle and thREAD post from a previous week. If you don't have a blog, please post a photo to the needle & thREAD group at Flickr. 

       Include a link back to this post in your blog post or on your flickr photo page so that others who may want to join the needle and thREAD fun can find us! Feel free to grab a button here (in one of several colors) so that you can use the button to link:-)

That Sweet Sunday Sweater: Pictures & Knitting Notes

 

Hi, there! What you see above is my progress on the Sunday Sweater. I wanted to test knit the sweater for Ginny, but I wasn't quite at the ready. The yarn you see? I purchased it 18 months ago for a sweater for Sarah. But 18 months ago? Sarah was 18 months smaller. I'm awaiting more of that really wonderful yarn and I'm praying the dye lots won't be too terribly off. When one is limited to plant fibers for knitting, yarn acquisition can take awhile. (Oh, and I'm reading Christopher's Harvest Time every chance I get. I love, love, love this book, this time of year.)

What Ginny really wanted, less than a week ago, was someone to test knit the smallest size. And I knew just the person. I made an introduction between two of my favorite, most creative people and in return I had all the fun of watching Ginny's pattern come alive in my dear friend's hands.

Since there aren't too many completed Sunday Sweaters in the world just yet, my friend--who doesn't blog--has graciously agreed to let me show you her Sunday Sweater. 

~ ~ ~

Knitting notes from this finished sweater:

~Yarn: Wooly Wonka Aerten DK, a merino, cashmere, and nylon blend. The color is Dark Roast.

~ The pattern leaves no guess work. Each step is fully explained; even when telling you to look at right or left side of the garment, Ginny tells you whether you're looking at "my left or your left."

~The stitch count is given throughout. You won't knit rows and rows and then suddenly realize you're off count. She calculates the count after every increase row.

-~There is very little finishing work since it's knitted top down and seamless.

~ It's so easy to size! Ginny gives industry standards for arm length and tells you how to get just the right fit.

~Beautifully laid out and easy to read:-).  (I honestly thought no one could write a pattern more clearly than Georgie Hallam...Ginny's is right up there with her.)

- My friend will be knitting another.

...and I can't wait to start my first!

Join Ginny for more knitting and reading yarns here. 

Forever In the Forest

He took my hand as we started down the path and I couldn't help but think how strange it felt. Try as I might, I could not think of any other time within the last quarter century that I had walked a wooded trail without a baby within, or strapped to my chest, or holding my hand. Or all three.

And still, it felt really right. If I were asked to pick a moment when I first knew--really knew--that I was in love with this man, it was on a wooded trail. The man was a boy back then. Those woods, those dear, familiar east coast woods, were so very young compared to the woods we were about to walk that day in California. 

How fitting then, that this clear September day found us in the woods again. The grown-up woods. Even the grown-old woods. For nearly half the Septembers of our marriage I have been round with child. But not this September, or the three just past. It's been a process of letting go. I was the mom with the baby for so long and I loved being that mom so much. The letting go has not been quick or easy. I am painfully aware that the seasons of autumn babies are no more. Slowly, I see glimpses of what lies ahead, in these years after babies. More than anything I am struck by how full they can be of that first love, the one that set the rest in motion.

He's still here. My heart still skips a beat every single time I encounter him again after he's been away. It's not that young, green love of the forest by the lake in the town where we were children. It's a big, grown up love, the kind you find in a forest with scarred trunks and soaring treetops. So we set off down the path, just us, beginning a new season of our lives together.

The trees were breathtaking. They are massive, old trees, trees with a history that stretches back a full 2,000 years. My camera was no match for their immense presence. I could not begin to capture the essence of that forest. 

I stood and stared long and hard inside the burned out redwood. Trees created to last forever? Truly made of resilient stuff. The fire burned within, but it didn't kill the tree. Instead, the tree grew anew. I thought of the grave realities we met so early, the really scary stuff, the heated words, the tired anger, the every day hard work of figuring it all out. The fires of us. And there he was. Still. Tall and strong against the sky. New life, new love growing still, reaching heavenward. Always reaching heavenward.

He delighted in my awe, watching me dance along the shaded path as if I were a character in an Elsa Beskow book. I could tell he was well pleased with himself for insisting we go all that way to see the trees. I told him I could stay there forever. He suggested we send for the children. The children! They would love the giant forest we discovered. We'll bring them back there, I promised myself. And we'll get them out in their own eastern woods more often. 

I left with great reluctance, inhaling deep the scent of that rich forest as if I could keep the big wonder of it inside of me even as we went. Trees. Trees put there by the Creator around the time the Son walked the same earth. Forever trees. It's a mystery, really, how anything can last forever in this disposable world. Some things do, though.

Forever.

A mystery.

And a grace.