News From The Nest, October 6
Happy October!
“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” – George Eliot
I LOVE this month! Cool, crisp weather, but not too cold! Of course, all the colors of the changing leaves are a treat for the eyes. And, I’ve lost track of how many October birthdays we have in our family, but there are quite a few, so it seems we are always celebrating someone which is a good thing!
Today is actually our daughter’s 29th birthday, which is a real shock to the system. And Saturday is my husband’s. We, including Elsa, are heading to Cleveland this week, so we can celebrate both of them this weekend. While it is a good 12-hour car ride, we will be going through the mountains of West Virginia, so can soak up all those gorgeous changing leaves.
Have you watched “Happy Valley” on Britbox? It’s worth a month’s subscription to binge it, and then you can cancel. Easily one of my favorite TV series! It’s only three seasons; we’ve finished it, and I find myself missing the main characters!
Table of Contents
From the Knit + Crochet Studio
If you regularly knit gifts for those in your orbit, these Knit Care Tags are a must-have. The free printable tags attach easily to your handmade gifts and provide washing and drying instructions, ensuring your carefully crafted items receive the care they deserve. With so many of us knitting gifts for others this holiday season, these tags ensure our work stays beautiful for years to come.
This Diagonal Basket Weave Washcloth pattern creates a stunning woven effect that looks far more complicated than it actually is. The diagonal basketweave stitch mimics the look of woven cloth and is surprisingly easy to master once you get the hang of skipping stitches and working through the front and back loops. These washcloths knit up quickly and make wonderful gifts, especially when paired with a bar of lovely soap or bath salts and bundled in a spa-themed basket.
Get started on your holiday crafting with these adorable Tiny Knit Sweaters that work up in just one day. These miniature ornaments are perfect for your Christmas tree, garland, or wreath, and they’re a great way to utilize your yarn stash. Knit from the neck down using double-pointed needles, you can personalize each one with embroidered initials or festive designs.
If you’re in the market for a quick knitting project that delivers big results, this Chunky Knit Blanket knit with the Broken Rib Stitch is calling your name. Using Bernat Blanket Big yarn and large needles, this cozy blanket works up much faster than you’d expect. The broken rib stitch creates subtle texture without requiring advanced techniques, making it perfect for newer knitters. Don’t forget to attach one of those Knit Care Tags when you gift it.
From the Kitchen
These classic Pecan Sandies are light, delicate, and crisp thanks to the overnight refrigeration of the dough. The recipe, which originated from Food & Wine magazine, utilizes fresh pecans to create a buttery cookie that pairs perfectly with afternoon tea. One reader remembered loving the store-bought version from childhood vacations in the 1960s and was thrilled to discover these homemade versions are even better.
As the days grow shorter, this Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup brings all the comfort of fall to your table. The naturally creamy soup combines pumpkin, potatoes, leeks, and carrots with sage and thyme for an autumn-inspired meal that requires no added butter or cream.
Looking for innovative ways to use up leftovers while keeping meals interesting, these Wrap Filling Ideas will transform last night’s dinner into today’s lunch. The guide includes tips for choosing healthier wraps by checking the carb-to-fiber ratio, techniques for wrapping your fillings snugly, and countless filling combinations from Greek chicken to blue cheese steak. One helpful tip is to lightly toast your filled wrap in a skillet for extra flavor and texture.
When unexpected guests stop by, this Gorgonzola Cheese Spread comes together in minutes. Born from a refrigerator raid before an impromput cocktail hour with neighbors, this spread combines cream cheese, goat cheese, gorgonzola, and fresh chives for an earthy, tangy appetizer that pairs perfectly with crackers. It’s a great way to use up garden chives and partial containers of cheese from your freezer. This spread quickly became a family fav.
This Smoked Pulled Pork recipe, perfected during our years in Nashville, will fill your house with a fantastic aroma all day. The key is in the dry rub that sits overnight, the low-and-slow cooking method, and finishing with that tangy Homemade Barbecue Sauce. The recipe includes helpful tips on preventing overcooking and storing leftovers in portion sizes for easy future meals.
Every great pulled pork needs a great sauce, and this Homemade Barbecue Sauce delivers. The slightly tangy and slightly sweet sauce uses bacon for smokiness and can be customized to your taste by adjusting the vinegar for more tang or the cayenne for more heat. Use it on pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, chicken, or as a base for barbecue pizza.
Nothing says fall quite like the aroma of this Cinnamon Apple Swirl Bread baking in your kitchen. The brown sugar gives this easy, quick bread its distinctive dark color, rich taste, and moist texture, while the cinnamon apple swirl running through it delivers seasonal flavor in every bite. One reader even substituted a peach when she ran out of apples and reported it turned out fantastic, proving this recipe is wonderfully adaptable.
From the Arts + Crafts Studio
These DIY Garden Markers made from polymer clay are both functional and beautiful. Using letter stamps and a simple brown paint wash, you can create custom markers for your herb garden or gift them to your favorite gardener. The clay is water-resistant once baked and will last for years in outdoor conditions, making them a sustainable alternative to plastic tags. And what a great gift for the gardener in your world!
Create charming fall decor with these Needle Felted Acorns. Each acorn takes just 5-7 minutes to make and can be displayed in a bowl, wired to a branch, or fashioned into napkin rings for your Thanksgiving table. The tutorial includes detailed instructions and helpful tips.
Around the House + Home
Getting ready for the holidays often means touching up all those nail holes and scuff marks, and this House Paint Touch-Up Kit makes the job so much easier. Store everything you need in one small plastic container in your laundry room: a mini paint roller, spackling, putty knife, brushes, and small containers of your wall paint.
I’ll be coming to you next week from Cleveland, but until then, I am wishing you a week filled with cozy moments and colorful days!
Hugs,
