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News from the Nest, August 7

Hello from Charlottesville, VA! I’m helping a friend do some heavy-duty decluttering before her upcoming move. I think we can all agree no matter what you need to do; it’s always good to have a friend’s help!

Like many of us, she is a serious crafter, and we spent all day Sunday in her craft room. I don’t know a crafter who doesn’t have unfinished projects. Some of the questions I’ve been asking her as we come across unfinished projects are: “What stopped you from finishing this project?” and “What has changed that will allow you to finish that project?” We made phenomenal progress yesterday and will continue today! We’ve got boxes of donations going to the local elementary school and a local organization that accepts craft supply donations to give them to local artists!

new on the blog

  • When I typed up this Air Fryer Zucchini Fries post this week, I began hankering to have them for dinner again that night. Sadly, I didn’t have zucchini then, or I would’ve jumped up and made them again. They are very tasty and really easy to make. Just set aside a little time to let them sit to draw out their moisture. And definitely make the horseradish sauce!
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries with horseradish sauce.
  • When I return home this week, I will start kale, broccoli, lettuce, and spinach seeds indoors under grow lights to plant later in the fall. Can you believe it is time to start thinking about your fall/winter garden already? If you are planting a fall garden, make sure to read this article on Kale Companion Plants. We discuss general tips for growing Kale, plants that should accompany kale and plants that should not.
Kale with a sign that says, 'kale.'

from the knit studio

  • This Diagonal Basketweave Blanket sits on the foot of the guest room bed. It is a relatively quick knit due to the chunky yarn and large knitting needles. And I love the pattern that the diagonal basket weave stitch creates.
Blanket on a bed with a blue pillow in the background.

from the kitchen

  • Did you know you take any of my jam, preserves, or jelly recipes and freeze or refrigerate them if you don’t feel like water bath canning? True story! They won’t be pantry-stable, but they will taste just as delicious. Just put the lids on the jars, let them come to room temperature, and refrigerate them. If you are freezing the jars, make sure you leave a good inch of headspace to allow for expansion.
    • Cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon combine with yellow plums for the most delicious Spiced Golden Plum Jam. This recipe has been quite popular lately and for good reason!
Golden Plum Jam in a cup and on a spoon.
  • This lightly Spiced Pear Jam seasoned with spiced rum, cardamom, and cinnamon is a delicious little jam that tastes like a fall day.
jars of pear jam.
  • Making apple butter couldn’t be easier. At its core (get it?), you put several pounds of apples with their peels in a pot and cook them until they’re soft. Then you mush them up (you have several options to do that), add some fall spices, and cook them for a bit more. That’s it! That’s all you need for homemade apple butter! This apple butter is healthier than many, as no sugar is added!
Apple butter in a glass bowl, with fresh apples on linen.
  • And you don’t need a reason to make it, but you can use some of your apple butter to make these Apple Butter Oatmeal Bars. It’s an easy-to-make dessert that is not too sweet, perfect for after dinner or after school.
apple butter bas with jar of oatmeal, nuts and apple butter.
Overhead of Jar of Pumpkin Dog Treats

from the craft room

candlewick towel on wooden plank.

in the garden

A close up of a flower
Cold frame.
  • As they are both brassicas, you might want to keep your broccoli and kale separated. Take a look at some good broccoli companion plants as you think about your fall and winter garden.

in the house + home

cherries in sink.

bits + bobs

  • Have you checked out the Karma app? It won’t be long until I need a new computer and want to keep my eyes out for sales. I tagged some that I would like and supposedly, it will notify me when they go on sale.
  • If you have problems sleeping, I highly recommend the Boring Books for Bedtime app. The soothing voice of the narrator reading The Wealth of Nations, by Adam Smith, or On the Origin of Species, by Charles Darwin, put me to sleep, without fail!

a few fun finds

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We treated ourselves to the Barbie Movie last night to reward our hard work, and tonight we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner. Then I head back south, picking up my mom on the way.

I’ll ‘see’ you next week!

Signature of Lynn

Thanks for making my day by SHARING!!

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4 Comments

  1. made the zucchini fries & yep they are yummy. Thanks for another way to use it. Another way is like a stir fry using bite size pieces of zuch, tomato, onion & a bit of garlic. At any rate thanks for all your posts. I just wish I had the time to try every thing

    1. Hi Leslie, I am so glad you made and enjoyed the zucchini fries. It’s always nice to have lots of zucchini recipes in your arsenal! Your recipes sounds delicious as well and lets you use both tomatoes and zucchini from the garden. Thanks for sharing.

      Hugs, Lynn

  2. Hello Lynn!
    While on a driving vacation, I read Demon Copperhead. Although I generally enjoy any Barbara Kingsolver book, this was not my favorite. It did highlight a problem in our society that needs more help, definitely. Guess I just didn’t enjoy being in the mind of a teenage boy!
    I would like to recommend West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. It was a fun read, also based in fact. It allows one to experience that era and see how far we have come. Plus giraffes! My favorite exotic animal.
    Thanks for all your wonderful posts. You have revived my interest in knitting!

    1. Hi Norene,

      Curious what you said about teenage boys. I’m not sure what it says about me, but you made me realize that some of the books I’ve enjoyed most have teenage boys as the protagnist…Lincoln Highway, Cider House Rules, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell and now this. Hmmm….maybe in another life….?

      And thanks for the book recommendation! I’m adding it to my library queue!

      And you are so welcome and I am so glad to get you back into knitting! Made my day.

      Hugs, Lynn

      Thanks for the suggestion!

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