Homemade with a Twist

Weekend Whirlwind

We were anxiously awaiting the arrival of our guests on Friday (my stepmother, Mie, and sister, Anneke),  when I noticed our heat hadn't come on yet.  To sum it up our furnace ended up needing to be replaced but they wouldn't be installing the new one until Saturday.  Mie and Anneke were great sports about the less than balmy temps in the house and we managed to have a great afternoon.  Tiny was intrigued to find out what was in the box.  I was thrilled that it is a vintage bread maker, crank style,  along with some fabulous books and fun alphabet soaps :)

Tiny roped Auntie Ani into reading some stories toot sweet. 

Saturday,  Keith was such a sweetie and stayed home with the furnace guys...all day while the girls headed off to the zoo.  Auntie Ani pointing out the monkeys,  chillin' with Auntie Mie, and making new friends (In an unprecedented act, Tiny just went over and took this adorable boy's hand).

Sunday, we made bucket bread.  Lots of fun and very yummy.  We made two loaves into cinnamon raisin bread and left one as a sandwich loaf.  Check out the cool bucket.    

 

 

We had lots of playtime, read a zillion stories and thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  Hopefully we'll be able to get together again soon:)

 

 

Fall Reading Lineup

I must confess I adore Barnes and Noble, both the store and the website.  I often find that they have some terrific sales and or course the free shipping over $25.  I ordered my fall reading a couple of weeks ago.  Here it is minus the one I have already finished and the in process one on the nightstand.  I have always loved books and remember in elementary school the thrill of ordering from the Weekly Reader book lists, where most selections were under $1 and I still would manage to find 20 or so books I couldn't live without.

Weakness

  Those of you who know me know that I have a weakness for books and bargains.  This was the best of both.  I have placed an order or two at the After Holiday Sale to enhance my knitting reference library and a couple just for the nightstand.

My first scarf...for me that is

So with winter coming although you wouldn't know it with this gorgeous weather, more on that in a bit, I decided it was high time that I knit myself a scarf.  Christine was working on this pattern during her visit back in September and it seemed the perfect pattern.  It is the Herringbone Rib pattern from Life's A Stitch and it is such a great knit.  I used Manos color 106 and size 7 needles.  In the interest of full disclosure, Keith and I went by Shuttles yesterday to pick up a couple more skeins for a hat and some wrist warmers. We had a bit of cake in honor of a book signing, chatted with the author and picked up this delightful new book, Knitspeak: An A to Z Guide to the Language of Knitting Patterns. 

Since this is the first November we have lived in the greater Boulder area,  I must say we are certainly enjoying this phenomenal weather.  It has been in the 70's most days and brilliantly sunny.  Here are a few pictures from our bagel breakfast, that we enjoyed sitting outside (note Keith's short sleeved shirt).   

Muffins and Rolls

  I have wanted to make muffins a couple of times since we got here but up until this weekend did not have the proper ingredients. My last shopping trip fixed that and yesterday I made a batch of Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins.

I was a bit inspired last week with Aunt Mary's biscuit making and decided to give dinner rolls a go.  I have been reading through this fabulous book that the ever so talented Julie gave me as a going away gift.  However,  due to the last minute nature of my decision to make these they are the Parker House Rolls from this book.      

Turns out Keith, my dear husband is warming to the blog and was incredibly endearing in documenting the roll making and snapped this shot of my ever present helper.  She likes to keep up on the blogs too :)