A Little Heartwarmer

A while ago I discovered this charming heartwarmer pattern. I have always been a fan of shawls and heartwarmers. They are so cozy and old-fashioned. There is nothing quite like wearing a shawl while drinking a cup of tea on a cool autumnal morning!

 The idea of knitting a heartwarmer for my little darling was definitely appealing to me, as a shawl was not really practical. The little side button added extra charm to the piece, and heartwarmers always make me think of "Little Women". : )

My mom gave me these sweet little wooden button with etched flowers. I thought they were the perfect choice!

 The pattern was very easy to follow, and offers two sizes. However with the adjustable buttons you could probably adjust the sizing even further. Mostly the pattern is comprised of a garter stitch and easy increases, excepting some subtle patterning a few rows before finishing.

Jemimah is enjoying her little heartwarmer, and it certainly warms my heart to see her wearing it over her calico dress! In fact I enjoyed this pattern so much I have another on my needles right now in a soft white alpaca blend.

Autumnal Sale

 Mornings and evening are growing cooler where I live. Our thoughts are turned towards preparing for the winter ahead. Adam has finished stacking all of our wood, I have been busy canning tomatoes and hope to can apple sauce within the next week or two. Purple asters are growing along the edges of our property and the leaves are beginning to fall from the trees, much to the delight of our two cats.

With this season I find myself spending more time in the kitchen as I try new recipes. A couple of recipes I recently discovered are quite interesting. They call for chick peas in place of flour or butter. Both treats were surprisingly delicious! These cookies have become a favorite! The other evening I baked this brownie recipe, and it too was a success. Last night, for dinner, I made popovers to go with our soup. The popover recipe I used was simple and tasty.

Speaking of baking... I added two new aprons to my shop last week. : ) The pattern I used is a vintage pattern from the 1940's. This time I used gingham bias trim and embroidered the aprons to coordinate with the trim.

To celebrate this first day of autumn I am offering a special sale of 15% off everything in my Etsy shop this week. To take advantage of the special offer use coupon code LILAC15 when checking out.

Be sure to check out the variety of aprons, just perfect for your fall baking, canning and cleaning! Also, I am offering a lovely selection of dishtowels and potholders to add cozy charm to your kitchen this fall.

Cheddar Pear Pie

This is a recipe my mom would sometimes bake on a chilly fall day. She discovered the recipe in a "Taste of Home" magazine when I was a child, and it was always a favorite with our family. It had been several years since I last had this pie, and when I saw pears for sale I just knew Adam would love it.

Cheddar Pear Pie:

• 4 large ripe pears, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1  pie shell (9 inches)
• TOPPING:
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
•  

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the pears, sugar, cornstarch and salt; toss gently to coat. Pour into pie shell.
2. For topping, combine the cheese, flour, sugar and salt; stir in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over filling.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted. Cool on a wire rack for 15-20. Serve warm. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 6-8 servings. 
4. 
   I split the recipe between two smaller pie plates, so that I had one to share with my mom. It is a truly delicious recipe; the perfect combination of sweet and salty!

 

Calico Rompers

Earlier this summer I sewed two calico rompers for Jemimah using McCall's 7107. Is is an easy and adorable pattern. I love the added detail of little pockets, so sweet!

                      I found the perfect little flower buttons in my collection to coordinate with the fabrics.

McCall's 7107 did not include a peter pan collar, so I used a collar from another baby pattern. I embroidered a rose bullion and leaves on the collars in colors to match the flowers in the fabric. I do enjoy seeing little embroidered collars on baby clothes!

Snaps make for easy diaper changes. In the future I would like to invest in a proper snap setting tool, as I found my hand sewn snaps don't stay snapped as securely as would like, especially when my little one is crawling.

Here is my little darling wearing her romper in our garden last month. I think she has enjoyed wearing her rompers almost as much as I enjoyed sewing them, and seeing her wear them. : )

Nighttime Lullabies

Sweet bedtime lullabies and prayers . . . just before you turn out the light.
A case-bound padded board book from the Really Woolly^® brand gives children sweet lullabies to help them fall asleep. Little ones will love the charming Really Woolly illustrations, engaging verse, and Scripture from the International Children’s Bible^® that allow them to drift off in sweet dreams, knowing they are loved and safe. Prayer starters also encourage children to end their day talking to God.
 ************************************************************************

Really Woolly Nighttime Lullabies 
By: Bonnie Rickner Jensen
Illustrated by: Donna Chapman

 "Nighttime Lullabies" is truly a sweet and calming read. Each page includes a lovely illustration, a scripture, poem and prayer. Each verse is meant to remind the little reader (or listener) that Jesus is watching over them and promises to guard them and give them His peace. It is the perfect book to open up before bedtime to remind anxious little ones of God's constant care and that there is no need for fear. I found the poems to be well written and soothing.

It is hardcover and the pages are thick board as well, making it a great book for my little one to enjoy on her own too. I was truly blessed by the beauty and simplicity of this book! I would highly recommend "Nighttime Lullabies".

*I received a complimentary copy of "Nighttime Lullabies" from Book Look Blogger in exchange for my honest review*

Rose of Sharon

For years now I have admired the beautiful Rose of Sharon bushes I would see this time of year. It seems that many people in our area plant several Rose of Sharon bushes in a row in their front yards. Sometimes in varying shades of pink, white and lavender.

Recently while visiting a farmers' market I found an absolutely lovely Rose of Sharon. I was thrilled! The color is so delicate and pretty. Plus the bush looked fairly well established, so I am hoping it will thrive, and over the years perhaps we can plant more.

It is such a pleasure to enjoy the LORD's beautiful creation, especially this time of year. It is bittersweet to see all of the gardens flourishing at the end of August, knowing that soon autumn will be here. We have had one gorgeous day after another, and I am enjoying each moment; savoring the beauty of summer while it is still here. 

Earlier this summer my sister found this wee frog while we were visiting my mom. Isn't it adorable?! I have always liked tree frogs. : )

"The earth is the Lords, and the fulnesse thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." 
 Psalm 24:1

Plum Jam

While shopping the other week I saw these beautiful sugar plums. I couldn't resist purchasing some for plum jam. Never before had I made or tasted plum jam, but I had seen some recipes for plum preserves and jam on Pinterest and felt inspired.

It was such a beautiful day I decided to pit the plums outside at the picnic table. When making plum jam you don't need to peel the plum, just pit them. Being outside definitely made it pleasant work.

And having such an adorable little companion while working made it an even greater joy! She just loves spending time outside. I had a hard time keeping her occupied on her little blanket. The flowers were far more interesting.

 I just loved the vibrant color of the pitted plums. It was hard not to eat too many. They were so sweet and delicious.

The jam is quite tasty too. It has been a treat to eat in plain yogurt or spread on an English muffin.

Have you made any jams this summer? What is your favorite jam to make or eat?

                                                 May you have a blessed day!