News From The Nest, September 28
Good Morning, friends.
I’m writing this Sunday evening, hoping we will be on a ferry to Hyannis Port bright and early Monday morning.
At this writing, we are ‘stuck’ on Nantucket. I know, poor, poor, pitiful us. We had a hard time getting here last Wednesday and, after several canceled ferries, ended up on a 9-seater Cessna, where they factored each of our weights into the flight calculation. That was a new one for us.
We landed in ACK just in time for the Nor’easter that plagued much of the East Coast this weekend. We definitely got the rain; however, it was more a wind event than anything else for us. But that wind is what is making it a challenge for us to leave! All departing ferries have been canceled and, luckily, our Airbnb is being very accommodating.
We did get in a little sightseeing, but we need to come back to take full advantage of exploring the island by bike.
On our way to Nantucket last week, we attended a wedding in NJ and visited friends in Boston. We rode a Duck Boat, which gave us a good dose of Boston history we hadn’t known about!
It’s been a good 10 days, but I’m ready to get home and see my furry babies (not to be confused with furries 🤣)!
I took this sunrise picture from the plane, you can see the front moving in.
Table of Contents
New On The Blog
Just in time for scarf weather, we have a new crochet scarf pattern for you. This pattern uses a modified spike stitch (the how-to is well illustrated) to add texture and detail to the scarf.
From the Knit & Crochet Studio
This is one of those “Why didn’t I think of that!” products that make knitting all the more efficient and precise!
Of all the throws I’ve knit over the years, this Diagonal Basketweave Blanket is the one that has stayed at the foot of our bed through every bedding change and headboard swap. The stitch looks like woven cane but isn’t much trickier than stockinette, and chunky yarn keeps it moving along at a nice clip. Anne knit one for her husband and said it was super easy, fast, and makes a wonderfully warm throw!
If you’re anything like me, most of what comes off your needles ends up wrapped for someone else. Our roundup of Knitted and Crocheted Gift Ideas and Free Printable Gift Tags gathers one-size-fits-all favorites like washcloths, blankets, potholders, and trivets, plus printable wraps and “handmade” tags that give any gift a finished, boutique look. Start now, and the holidays will feel a whole lot calmer!
The Chinese Wave Knit Washcloth has a lofty, textured feel you just don’t get from most knit stitches (though I see diamonds more than waves!). A crocheted picot edge dresses it up for gifting alongside a pretty bar of soap. Alison, a longtime crocheter who swore she couldn’t knit, tried this one and was amazed at how well it turned out.
From the Kitchen
Some cocktails never go out of style, and the Classic Old Fashioned is proof. Demerara sugar adds a soft molasses note that plays so nicely with bourbon, and two kinds of bitters give it depth. Mom has her favorite bourbon for it and I have mine, so pour what you love and enjoy!
When figs are in season, a jar of fig preserves does something wonderful in this Pork Tenderloin with Fig Preserves and Roasted Garlic. A garlicky fig coating clings to the roast as it cooks, and a port wine syrup drizzled over the top finishes it off. Reader Kathleen loved the sweet and savory combination, and it looks like you fussed all day even though you didn’t.
The first cool evening of fall means one thing around here: a pot of White Chicken Chili. White beans add creaminess without heavy cream, and it freezes beautifully for nights when dinner needs to come together fast. And not for nothing, you can enjoy it without guilt, as it’s quite healthy! Reader Rita made it the very day it landed in her inbox!
This post, How to Make a Sourdough Starter, walks you through the process day by day with nothing more than flour and water. We help you troubleshoot, as well as set you up for success! Reader Eileen said the details made it easy to follow, and by day eight hers was bubbling away beautifully. Bonus: the discard makes terrific crackers and pizza dough, so nothing goes to waste!
Reminiscent of apple-filled doughnuts, these Apple Cider Muffins hide a spiced, buttery apple center and come out of the oven ready for their cinnamon-sugar coat. One reader called them her new favorite muffin, and I’m not surprised at all. Pair one with a cup of coffee and a good friend, and you can solve most of the world’s problems!
No frying, no yeast, and no fuss: these baked Apple Spice Donut Holes can be prepped the night before, so that warm, sugar-tossed donuts hit the table before anyone is out of their pajamas. I grate the nutmeg fresh with Grandma’s old grater, and trust me, it makes all the difference.
Cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger turn golden plums into a jam that tastes just like fall in our Spiced Golden Plum Jam. Reader Lori’s batch was such a hit that she and a friend are making more to give as Christmas presents. Tie a vintage spoon to the jar, and you’ve got a hostess gift nobody will forget!
From the Arts & Crafts Studio
This Pumpkin Succulents Planter with Moss and Twigs may be the easiest DIY I’ve ever shared. As soon as you start, you’re finished! Moss, twigs, and berries foraged from the yard join a few succulents for fall decor that costs next to nothing, and it makes a fun girls’ night craft…with a mug of warm cider.
Nothing says “Welcome Fall!” like a pot of Simmering Fall Potpourri bubbling on the stove. Oven-dried apples and oranges join cinnamon sticks, cloves, rosemary, and bay for a scent that beats any candle at a fraction of the price. Bag some up with a little simmering tag, and you have a neighbor gift ready to go.
In the Garden
I collect container garden ideas the way some folks collect recipes, and this post on Fall Container Garden Ideas and Tips shares five favorites. Since mums only bloom for a few weeks, the tips show you how to keep planters colorful all season with kale, ornamental peppers, pansies, and grasses. Tuck in a little pumpkin for whimsy!
Around the House & Home
Sometimes a new sofa just isn’t in the budget, and sometimes it doesn’t need to be. Our Quick and Inexpensive Sofa Refresh brought saggy, decades-old cushions back to life for less than the cost of a dinner out. Just like a new bra, it lifts everything!
Whatcha Reading?
It’s the end of the month, so our Books Read in 2026 list has been updated. The Mad Wife fizzled left me, ‘eh’, but All the Broken Places, the follow-up to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, earned a full five thumbs-up. I’m currently reading Something in the Water, and it’s keeping me turning pages!
A Few Fun Finds
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I’ve been a Kitchenaid stand mixer devotee for 30+ years. I’m on my second one, which I only got because I wanted a bigger one (and I worked at Williams-Sonoma at the time and got a great discount). Kate now has and still uses my original Kitchenaid Stand Mixer. Anywho, all this to say, there’s a nice 24% discount on the 5-Qt Tilt-Head Stand Mixers.
We stayed in an Airbnb on Nantucket, and they had the nicest linen sheets; even Terry commented on them! I checked the label and wasn’t surprised they were from Quince.
On our way to Nantucket, we stopped to spend a few days with long-time friends, and again, Terry and I both commented on their lovely, plush bath towels. About a year ago, I took a deep dive to find really nice bath towels (ended up with Pottery Barn’s), but we’ve been rather underwhelmed. So I did a little sleuthing and discovered that our friend’s towels are Brooklinen’s Super Plush Turkish Cotton Towels. They are the fluffiest towels, and they are on sale right now! It’s that Kismet thing.
Well folks, if all goes as planned, we will be on the mainland, heading back home by mid-Monday morning.
I’ll see you next week…I have a really fun knit-and-felted project for you! Don’t want to give too much away, but it rhymes with dlippers.😉
Until then…
