Happy Halloween!

Hope you have some fun plans for this Halloween Thursday! I've been a bit MIA this week because I was trying to finish a project before this morning. What project could be so important? Oh, only just an entire Charlotte's Web barn display for Trunk or Treat. What'dya think?







I'm Wilbur. In case the nose, ears, and tail don't give it away.

What is your Halloween costume? Did you make it? I'd love to know!

Sheila :) 

Do you write down recipes anymore?

How long has it been since you've written down a recipe, instead of just bookmarking or 'pinning' it?



Every few months I pull out this recipe book and add in my favorites. Not just anything that looks interesting, but a recipe that's been tested and enjoyed multiple times. If it makes it into the recipe book, there is something special about it that deserves to be recorded the old-fashioned way.



This book in particular is special because my Mother gave it to me. My parents celebrated their wedding anniversary this past week, which made me a little nostalgic and sentimental. Mom gave this recipe book to me with a few of our family favorites written in already so anything added has to live up to the standard. Most recently, this recipe for personal-sized baked oatmeal lived up to the bar (I write this as I eat one right now. No joke.)



I also love recipe cards. For some reason, they seem perfect for cookies and baking recipes. There are few simple pleasures I enjoy more than giving someone a recipe written on a cute little card, instead of emailing a boring ol' link.

Do you write down recipes? Do they have a certain standard to live up to before you record them? I'd love to know!

Sheila

Crochet Pumpkin Patch Garland

TINY THINGS. Do you loves them as much as I do? I stand by my choice to adore things more for the simple fact that they are smaller than their full-sized counter parts. This love has most recently manifested itself in this little crochet pumpkin patch that even a beginning crocheter can make in less than an hour.

You will need:

Orange yarn
different shades of green and brown yarns
crochet hook

The size and gauge of the yarn/hook don't matter. Use whatcha got. I made about 10 pumpkins for my 3ft garland.

Start by making your pumpkins:

Chain 3.
Row 1: Double crochet 9 stitches into 3rd stitch from hook (the first chain you made). The last 2 chain stitches will count as a double so you'll end up with a circle of 10 double crochets. Slip stitch to join.
Row 2: 2 single crochets into next 3 stitches, 2 double crochets into next 2 stitches, 2 single crochets into next 3 stitches, 2 double crochets into next 2 stitches to make the oval shape. 20 stitches total.
Finish it off by tying and weaving in your ends.

Time to add them to the vine:

Use your first color of green or brown to chain at least 15 stitches. Add a pumpkin in by single crocheting through the top few stitches. I did each one a little different but used about 3 or 4 stitches each time. Chain anywhere from 15 to 30 stitches in between each pumpkin for desired length and variation.
Add other colors to give your vine dimension by chaining with 2 pieces of yarn at once. No need to tie in a new color, it seems to stay just fine. Occasionally, I would chain a few of one color and wrap the other around it then pick it back up in the chain. Leaving the ends loose looks cute.

You could add more variety by crocheting leaves along the vine as well. Or make little jack-o-lantern faces! I'm thinking about adding some acorns when it gets closer to Thanksgiving.

Do you decorate for the holidays? Living alone, I'm the only one who enjoys it but I still love to do it. Do you decorate for yourself or for family and visitors? I'd love to know!

Sheila

Smells like Fall!

Actually, it smells like rain outside but I would never complain about that! In my apartment this weekend the scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and fresh baked cookies filled the air. It was pretty fantastic.



These happened. These amazing Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies. The recipe is here. The only difference between their's and mine is that I didn't include raisins (because they are the ultimate cookie fake out amIright?), and I replaced 1 cup of white flour with whole wheat flour. Now, they're healthy right? With the grated carrots they're basically a vegetable.

I skipped out on the cream cheese because they were so good on their own. Just make them and thank me later :)

Have you started any fall baking? It's my favorite way to make the apartment cozy. Are there any scents that seen quintessentially autumnal to you? I'd love to know!

Sheila

PS. If you follow me on Instagram you already saw this picture. If you don't... then let's be friends! @beyondcookiecutter