News From The Nest, September 15
Good Morning, Friends.
What a week! We’ve run the gamut from the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
Since I prefer to end on a positive note, let’s start with the Ugly and work our way up. We have a problem here in the United States; we are an angry people right now. We are way more interested in pointing fingers than in coming together. And sadly, this anger is costing our citizens, young and old, their lives!
It’s no secret that much of this division is fomented on social media, but here’s the thing. Social media algorithms prioritize negative and emotionally charged content over positive posts. Because outrage, anger, and sensational news drive higher engagement—such as likes, shares, and comments—platforms tend to push those posts to a wider audience. That engagement is how social media companies generate revenue. They don’t care what drives engagement, just that it does. This creates a feedback loop: the more negativity circulates, the more users see it, and the more they react to it. Over time, this can make online spaces more divisive and more draining than uplifting.
The only people who benefit from you getting angry at a post online are your blood pressure medicine manufacturer, your therapist, and the social media company.
That’s why it’s essential to step back and remember that these platforms are designed to keep you scrolling, not necessarily to make you feel good. Taking intentional breaks from social media helps you reset and refocus. Swap the screen time for a walk outside, tending your garden, or catching up with a friend face-to-face. Fresh air and real conversation do wonders for balancing the constant noise online and bring back a sense of calm that no algorithm can manufacture.
This won’t stop the Ugly news from happening, but it will help us lower the temperature and regain our sanity and compassion.
O.K., on to the Bad. Poor Elsa was diagnosed with yet another issue! She is 1 and 1/2 years old and pretty much through her lifetime, she’s had relatively frequent bouts of unexplained diarrhea and now, vomiting. A comprehensive GI panel shows that she has Protein-Losing Enteropathy, which is more of a symptom than a disease. Now we need to figure out the disease. But in essence, currently her intestines are leaking protein, which is causing the vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy we see. We made an appointment with a specialist at NC State to nail down the ‘why’, but the soonest they can see her is December 30. My task today is to find an earlier appointment elsewhere. Keep your fingers crossed.
Finally, let’s focus on the Good!
I met with an ENT Specialist at Duke last week about my Sudden Hearing Loss over the summer. Since I’m already down to only one ear, I need to know how to protect what I have left. In a nutshell, there’s nothing I can do or, for that matter, can’t do. I am slightly more predisposed to it happening again, so I will now always have steroids with me that I can start the minute I sense the symptoms. But, he gave me the go-ahead to fly, so we are planning travels for next year!
Another Good thing was that we got together with great friends for a lovely dinner and caught up last week. He is the architect who designed the addition we put on our home this year, and this is the first time he has seen the finished product.
And the last Good thing is that we checked out for a solid five hours yesterday, taking my mom and a friend of hers to see the Downton Abbey movie and then a great dinner. As fans of the series, we enjoyed this Downton Abbey movie much more than the previous movie.
Terry just snapped this quick behind-the-scenes look at my current situation as I write this newsletter to you this morning. Windows wide open for the fresh air, but I need a sweatshirt to be comfortable… pure bliss. I’ve got a delicious pumpkin-y candle burning, but need to replace the dying dahlias and zinnias in my vase today! And two calendars going as we are closing in on 2026!
I have to keep my feet up on a stool so that Peep can rest easily on my lap while I type. Poor Peep doesn’t like the cold weather and seeks out my lap whenever she can when the temps start to fall. She has a resting mean face, but is truly the sweetest kitty on the planet.
Table of Contents
New on The Blog
As game day season ramps up, ditch complicated hors d’oeuvres and rely on a slow cooker Queso Blanco that takes five simple ingredients—white American cheese, cream, garlic powder, a jalapeño, and a serrano—and transforms them into a creamy crowd-pleaser. No stovetop babysitting required; just set it on low for an hour, stir until velvety, and keep warm for grazing. Kick off your next gathering with this Queso Blanco recipe.
From the Knit + Crochet Studio
First off, for those of you frustrated by the missing pattern link for the Knit Pumpkins last week, I apologize and have fixed it! So pop on over to get the free pattern delivered to you so you can proceed with your precious pumpkins project!😉🎃
Cooler evenings are made for warm feet and cozy crochet, and these super-bulky yarn slipper socks come together fast with an 11.5 mm hook. Step-by-step instructions start from a magic-ring toe, then build the cushioned sole, and finish with a stretchy rib that hugs your ankle. They’re perfect for gifting, and you’ll find the pattern at crochet slipper socks pattern.
When you need last-minute hostess gifts or everyday kitchen helpers, this library of knit and crochet patterns has you covered. From durable dishcloths to padded pot holders, you’ll save money by making essentials that usually cost more in stores. Access the full collection at Kitchen Knit and Crochet Patterns.
Nothing says “handmade warmth” like a chunky knit blanket you can make in an afternoon using large needles or flagpoles and jumbo yarn. The oversized stitches add instant texture, and the entire throw comes together without needles or pattern headaches. Prep for movie nights or porch reading sessions by whipping up this cozy blanket.
Swap paper towels for practical, quick garter-stitch dishcloths that work up in under an hour. The sturdy stitch cleans up spills like a pro, and these cloths make thoughtful gifts when paired with baked treats—plus they’re washable and reusable. Cast on and knit your own using the easy dishcloth knitting pattern, which is perfect for beginners.
From the Kitchen
Hanging a printable measurement equivalents chart in your kitchen saves time and prevents guesswork when holiday baking kicks into high gear. This watercolor-lemon–themed chart converts cups, ounces, teaspoons, tablespoons, and milliliters at a glance, so you won’t have to calculate it every time. Download and tuck it into your recipe binder or pin it on the inside of a frequently used cabinet door.
Late-summer plums shine in a moist yogurt cake that’s perfect for book club gatherings or afternoon tea. The tangy yogurt keeps the crumb tender, and the fruit caramelizes on top for a beautiful finish. Sheila raved, “This was the perfect cake to share at my book club and was adored by everyone!”—get the easy recipe at yogurt plum cake.
As autumn breezes arrive, a bowl of creamy tomato soup, free from dairy and gluten, hits the spot. Pureed white beans lend the necessary creamy texture without upsetting lactose-intolerant tummies or adding unwanted fats, and it comes together in under 30 minutes. Heather shared, “We will definitely be having this again. Thanks for another great recipe!!”
Hearty beans simmered in savory broth become a versatile staple when the temperature dips. Dulke’s been making these Brothy Beans nearly every week with everything from cannellini to black beans, fresh garden herbs, and plenty of garlic—and they shine in quesadillas, salads, or straight from the bowl. It couldn’t be an easier recipe and has multiple variations. I keep a 5-lb bag of Cannellini Beans in my fridge and in my Amazon Subscribe and Save account so that I can make this on the regular. And roasted tomatoes add a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to a bowl of these beans.
Bake chewy cranberry oatmeal cookies that balance tart berries and hearty oats for a treat that’s equally at home on holiday platters, tucked into lunchboxes, or just because! They freeze beautifully, so you can bake once and enjoy fresh cookies all season.
Skip store-bought crackers and bake flaky cheddar cheese crackers using just a handful of pantry staples. Make them even more fall-perfect with leaf-shaped cookie cutters. These crisps take under 30 minutes and taste far richer than any pre-packaged version. And, homemade means you control the quantity and quality of the salt and cheese!
Keep sourdough discard from going to waste by turning it into banana muffins that stay moist and tender thanks to overripe fruit and a hint of cinnamon. Throw in chocolate chips or walnuts if you like, and you have breakfast covered all week.
From the Arts + Crafts Studio
Add texture to your table with these cotton-cord coasters and trivets tied in the classic Turk’s-Head knot. They’re sturdy, stylish, and cost almost nothing to make. A video and a printable pattern walk you through the process, step-by-step.
Elevate holiday meals with a ‘handmade’ linen tablecloth and matching napkins that soften over time and outlast seasonal trends. Sewing your own saves the premium price of store brands. This project creates the fringe by simply pulling threads…LOTS OF THREADS. Bing your favorite show while you mindlessly pull threads.
Bring autumn indoors with mini needle-felted pumpkins that cost next to nothing in wool roving and time. A simple video guide walks you through shaping each gourd, and Jannabeth raved that this free tutorial made felting easy and fun for beginners.
In the Home
Clearing clutter isn’t just about organizing closets—it’s about freeing your mind for what matters most. This deep-dive into the psychology of decluttering explains why we hang on to stuff and offers gentle, actionable steps to break those mental roadblocks.
Thanks for spending a few minutes with me today!
And take care of yourself! Give yourself permission to unplug for a bit. Step outside, notice the breeze, pull a few weeds, or sit on the porch with a neighbor. Real conversations, fresh air, and quiet moments do more for our hearts and minds than any endless scroll ever could.
Hugs,
