News From The Nest – March 10
Good Morning from our hotel room in Charlotte, where we will leave as soon as I hit ‘send’ this morning.
We drove up on Saturday to spend time with our son, who lives here. We had a lovely time with him and his girlfriend, and we fit in time to take Elsa to the Off Leash Dog Park at the Whitewater Center. If you are anywhere near Charlotte, you must go to the Whitewater Center. Saturday, we ate a fabulous lunch while watching kayaks and rafts navigate the turbulent waters. But there’s much more than water activities there; ziplining, wall-climbing, and biking are a few other activities the center offers.
The Dog Park is without equal. Acres of fenced-in property with ponds and trails are a dog’s version of Disney World. I laughed regularly at the antics of many of these incredible animals as they lived their best lives. I’m sad I didn’t take one picture, but you can interpret that as me thoroughly enjoying the moment.
We did get to NC State Vet School for our visit with the Animal Behaviorist Team. It was exhausting but very informative and helpful, lasting two-plus hours. In a nutshell, Elsa does have OCD as it relates to shadows and light. It can’t be ‘cured’ per se, but we hope to minimize it with medication and training.
Table of Contents
New on the Blog
If you love the combination of ripe bananas and the tangy depth of sourdough, these Banana Sourdough Discard Muffins are a must-try! They’re moist, tender, and subtly sweet, making them perfect for breakfast or a mid-day snack. The sourdough discard adds a unique complexity to the flavor without making them taste overly sour. But, if you don’t have sourdough discard, I’ve suggested some alternatives.
From the Knit + Crochet Studio
- Head to your local fabric outlet store and grab some linen for these gorgeous Linen Cocktail Napkins. We walk you through sewing these miter corner napkins and adding a simple, but lovely crochet edge.
- This Checkerboard Crochet blanket is comprised of thirty squares (fifteen in each color). This makes it easy to work on the go, as you can make one square at a time. Once complete, the squares are sewn together, and a simple border is worked around the edge.
- Looking for a new Crochet or Knit Project but not sure what you want to make? As a subscriber to Nourish and Nestle, you have access to ALL of our Knit and Crochet patterns. Head over to the library and browse to see if anything inspires you. Forgot your super secret password? It’s at the bottom of the email you received this morning. Still can’t find it? Email me!
From the Kitchen
- If you are looking for easy, cheesy recipes, these Gruyere Cheese Puffs should definitely be added. Let me tell you why:
- Super simple to make
- Gluten-free
- Can be made ahead of time
- Cheese
- Chives
- Cheese
- Yummy!
- Oh, and did I mention Cheese?
- Very versatile…add your favorite cheeses, herbs, and spices to make them yours.
- At this time of year, when it can be warm one day and bone-chilling cold the next, a good pot of soup can warm the body and soul. This split pea soup recipe incorporates a slow cooker into the traditional recipe, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify over hours of gentle cooking. Dried, split green peas offer a creamy texture and earthy taste, while the ham hocks infuse the soup with a rich, smoky depth.
- Meat and vegetables gently simmered with wine, broth, tomato sauce, and milk offer a depth of savory richness that’s hard to match. The best Authentic Bolognese Sauce will simmer for 3-4 hours on the very lowest stove setting, but you’ll only need 30 – 40 minutes to get it on the stove, so don’t be intimidated!
- This easy insalata mista recipe is perfect for every night, but especially with grilled meat, pasta, or soup. I also share what I learned about olive oil while visiting an olive oil producer in Tuscany.
- You could very quickly bake these Vanilla Tea Cakes and leave them as is, but this easy-to-make Lavender Glaze complements the buttery, vanilla-y flavor of the mini cakes so nicely. And if you are feeling extra-bougie, sprinkle a few lavender buds over the wet glaze. Talk about the perfect treat for Easter or any spring celebration!
Arts + Crafts
- This easy goat milk soap recipe uses a melt-and-pour goat milk soap base, shea butter, and essential oils. It is an excellent first-time soap-making recipe.
In the Garden
- Are you planning your summer garden? In this post, we discuss the benefits of companion gardening and how it can enhance your vegetable garden this year. Download and print our Companion Planting Chart for easy reference throughout the gardening season.
- What are good flowers for bees? Is your garden bee-friendly? What makes a bee-friendly garden? The information in this post will help you help bees and create a bee habitat with bee-friendly plants and flowers. Save the bees!
In the House + Home
- Learn how to make a grommeted counter skirt to dress up a counter or table and, possibly more importantly, hide the storage space underneath!
Some Fun Finds
- After seeing this mat at my girlfriend’s home, I treated myself to a new chair mat. It is such an improvement over my cracked, duct-taped, and yellow plastic chair mat.
- Then I treated my backside to a new desk chair, which is also a major improvement. I hadn’t realized that my previous chair had basically lost its padding (where does it go, anyway?), and I was sitting on the metal frame.
Well, kiddos!
It’s time to pack up and hit the road. I must get home for mom’s appointment with a foot surgeon. Wish us luck.
Hugs,
What a lovely visit your Monday musings are. Am loving the lemon peel washcloth a d have a few finished to,put with soap fir Chrustmas. Love your ideas. Hugs to the pep. Happy Spring
Hi Barbs! It is so good to hear from you! The Lemon Peel is a fun one to crochet! I’m glad you are enjoying it and getting a head start on your gift stash! well done!
I will give Sweet Elsa a hug from you!
Lynn