News from the Nest, October 14

October is a busy and fun month in our family. There is cooler weather and football, and we celebrate three birthdays in our immediate family! We celebrated Kate’s birthday last weekend, Terry’s this past Friday and will celebrate Mom’s tomorrow.

October also seems to be the runway for all the excitement of the next two months. This weekend, I started making serious plans for Thanksgiving and started nibbling around the edges of our Christmas plans.

The change of season and cooler temperatures also give me a little extra energy, helping me rebound from the heat of summer. I’ve been busy working through my lists and feeling extra productive.

October

O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
To-morrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
To-morrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow,
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know;
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away;
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.

Robert Frost

Here’s a quick update on Elsa for those who asked: She’s doing great. We hope to start weaning her off of the anti-seizure meds at the end of October. I called the maker of Simparica Trio, and while the chemicals have an average life of 60 days, they can last up to 90 days in our dogs’ systems. The end of the month will be 90 days. Of course, we will consult with our vet, but that is our hope.

It seems she really grew up about a month ago. While we are still cautious, we have laid down all the carpets we rolled up when we got her. We just finished our first round of obedience training and start the next round in two weeks. She has a thing for just-folded laundry, which isn’t bad. I can no longer fold our laundry and set it on the bathroom counter to put away later. If I do, she’ll nab it off the counter and come proudly parading her latest finds. She also forces us to pick our shoes up and not leave any clothes on the floor.

New on the Blog

• I hinted at these last week, and here they are! These Pumpkin Pie Spice Cookies are everything you NEED right now. They are soft and chewy but with just a wee crunch at the edges. They are buttery and filled with all the spices that smell and taste like fall: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Go ahead and bake a batch. If you are anything like me, you’ll give a good bit away so you don’t consume them all in a day or two.

• I also have a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Spice, a much-demanded spice blend around this time of year. Of course, you can buy it in the store, but if you run out, the chances are pretty good you have what you need to make it at home.

From the Knit + Crochet Studio

• This is the baby blanket that started it all! My daughter and I ‘designed’ this Eyelet Baby Blanket for her mentor then, so it has a special place in my heart. The crochet trim is optional, but I encourage you to try it—it just adds that special ‘je ne sais quoi.’

• The simple knit and purl stitches of this Waffle Stitch Dishcloth result in a reversible washcloth…and you know I love my reversible knits! The simple stitches also make this a great project for new knitters looking for ways to stretch beyond stockinette. And not for nothing, the waffle stitch results in a knit fabric that doesn’t curl!

• This post shares illustrated directions and a video on adding a crochet border to a knitted piece of work.

From the Kitchen

• This easy-to-make crockpot pumpkin soup recipe combines the rich flavors of fall, blending the sweetness of carrots and leeks with sage and thyme. The pumpkin and potatoes create a naturally creamy base, so there’s no need for added butter or cream. A touch of cayenne adds just the right amount of warmth, while a dollop of crème fraîche and a sprinkle of pepitas make the perfect finishing touches.

• I started canning our stocks, broths, and soups when my husband was diagnosed with high blood pressure, and we needed to dramatically reduce our sodium intake. Not only can I control the sodium and other additives we consume, but the taste of the homemade broth, stock, and soups just can’t be replicated! This post shares my recipe for canned Chicken Stock and explains how to can it so that it is shelf-stable.

• Why is it that a bowl of chicken soup is like a big, old, comfy hug? In my opinion, the simpler the ingredients, the better when it comes to chicken soup recipes. Chicken and chicken broth can be somewhat neutral in flavor, so we want our ingredients to complement and not overshadow the flavors. This chicken vegetable soup recipe is simply delicious, easy to make, and ready to eat in just over an hour.

• Need something to serve alongside your favorite soup recipe? This Cheese Puff Recipe is based on a simple choux pastry recipe using flour, eggs, water, and butter. Substituting tapioca flour for wheat flour results in a gluten-free choux pastry (essentially what Brazilian cheese puffs are) for this delightful and easy-to-make Gluten-Free Cheese puff recipe. I use Gruyère in this recipe, but you can substitute your favorite hard cheese. I make it frequently with cheddar.

• Last week, I shared this recipe for Sugar-Free Apple Butter. One of our readers shared a brilliant idea to add a little more depth to your apple butter: “Stew up a small pot of prunes and raisins. When softened, drain out most of the liquid, puree the fruit in a blender, and then mix into your apple butter. This adds a nice richness to the taste.” Thanks, Marcy! 🫶🏼
• Use your apple butter to make these Apple Butter Oatmeal Bars! Slightly tart apple butter laced with cinnamon, cloves, and allspice is sandwiched between brown sugar, cinnamon, and oatmeal streusel for an easy-to-make dessert that is not too sweet. Add in a few pecans or walnuts to elevate that streusel just a bit.

• Why should kids have all the fun on Halloween? Unless you are a big fan of Dum Dums and Milky Ways, you are a bit out of luck. THAT IS UNLESS…you’ve got some fun little Halloween cocktails up your witchy sleeve! You will happily let the kiddos indulge in their Smarties while you sit back and enjoy this Cherry Black Widow Martini.

From the Arts + Crafts Studio

• This is just a little PSA for all my fellow crafters who loved to make Loom Potholders when younger and had forgotten all about them! Guess what? They are back! This post isn’t as much of a ‘how to’ as it is a reminder of how fun and quick these potholders are to make. I stumbled upon a larger loom that makes 8″ square (versus the original 6″ square) potholders, some gorgeous colored loops, and patterns that help create lovely and ever-useful potholders.

• This tutorial teaches you how to make a homemade heated neck wrap using buckwheat and lavender. The wrap can be microwaved for warmth or kept in the freezer for a cold neck or shoulder wrap. The lavender added to the heat pack makes it very relaxing.

• Recycle a cotton candlewick or chenille bedspread into hand towels with this easy sewing and upcycle project.

In the Garden

• While summer is waning here in the Northern Hemisphere, your lawn and garden may still need some maintenance. This post is a little refresher on essential garden maintenance for daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal upkeep. These tips are available as a printable, in addition to the very helpful Pruning & Fertilizing Log to help you remember each plant’s fertilization and pruning needs.

Around the House + Home

• With the change of seasons and before you decorate for Fall and Winter, it’s a great time to look around your home for any small touch-ups your walls and paint may need. After too many years of going into the garage and finding the right paint can, a brush, the spackling, the putty knife, and the sandpaper I finally had a lightbulb moment and decided I needed a mini House Paint Touch-Up kit that I could easily store in my laundry room. This has been a game-changer! Having everything I need at my fingertips makes keeping my walls in good shape a breeze.

• Here are some ideas for displaying your favorite things on your Kitchen Hutch.

A Few Favorites + Some Fun Finds

Some of these links may be Amazon affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from the sale of these products to help defray the costs of operating this site, but the price you are charged is not affected. You can see my full disclosure policy here.

• I’ve tried several of those meal kits that deliver either the prepared meal or the makings of a meal to your home, and Purple Carrot is hands down my favorite. We haven’t had one meal that we didn’t really enjoy, and we find them to be creative and well-prepared. We try to eat plant-based four to five nights a week, and they have many options that work for us. I finally cooked with tofu and have been beyond pleasantly surprised with how good the tofu recipes are. Right now, they are offering $25 off your first four orders, which is a savings of $100.
• One of my all-time favorite kitchen appliances is on sale right now. The Breville Smart Oven is 25% off. I could write a great deal about this appliance, but will try to keep it short. In a nutshell, I had no idea how much we would use this oven, which I found space for in my pantry. We use it to toast bagels and perfectly roast our Thanksgiving Roast Beef. The pizza function makes every pizza brand so much better by crisping the crust. I use the dehydrator function for dog treats, apples, and other things, as well as the proofer when baking bread. It is our go-to oven, which keeps energy expenses down.
• This is perfect for your indoor home paint kit. It’s a patch, putty knife, and sanding pad all in one!
• This digital tape measure is for all surfaces, including curved and irregular ones. It makes a great stocking stuffer gift.
• I’ll never tire of velvet pumpkins! You can support a small business owner while indulging!
• I love the retro -look of this portable Bluetooth speaker. Great gift idea.

Well, my friends, enjoy the day and the week!

Many Hugs,

Thanks for making my day by SHARING!!