Happy Halloween 2010! I sure hope that everyone is having a very nice weekend. Here in my neck of the woods, there have been Fall Festivals, several parades, costume parties for adults and of course "Trick-or-Treat" night for the kids to shine in their cute costumes. It's sad for me to let October go, but November and December bring in all of the family gatherings, good food and another Season.

In case anyone is having a last minute Halloween party tonight, I found the most gruesome entree' idea. It's called the "Meat Hand" ~ actually a meatloaf shaped like a hand with onion slices for the nails and bone. The ketchup and sliced cheese on top give it a really gross appearance to say the least. I found the picture and the recipe over at http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2009/10/27/meat-hand/

I'm sure if you get past the shape, its a delicious meatloaf which would be a hit at any Halloween party! So with that in mind ~ Happy Halloween....BOO!

Okay, I don't know where I was when this recipe became popular back in the 80's, but I'm glad I ran across it today! With the Holidays approaching, I like to have a few breakfast recipes on hand to make for any over night guests who wake up hungry. They look to be an ideal sweet offering for a brunch. You can find the recipe at the Pillsbury Website. Enjoy!

When I saw this shawl collared baby sweater, I KNEW I had to make one for my little grandbaby-boy, due to arrive in a few months. Its a Debbie Bliss Pattern that is available for FREE on Ravelry. What a fun and easy knit....I love the way the stockinette stitch curls on the sleeves and bottom, with the wide ribbing to finish the front. It was really hard for me not to add a 2x2 ribbing at the sleeve edge and bottom of the sweater, but the curled up edges add to the charm. The super huge button was a personal choice. ( It snaps, the button is sewn on top.)

I used Bernat Baby Coordinates in the Soft Blue color. I also chose to use size 8 (US) needles for the entire sweater, as the pattern called for size 7 for the ribbing. All in all, it was a very enjoyable knit. My only wish would be that it was available in adult sizes! Can't wait to see the little fella wearing it.... :>D

Here is a picture of some of the outdoor decorations I put up for Autumn. The scarecrow in the picture is made from wood that was cut to shape which I painted and assembled. I added the embellishments to give the little guy a bit more personality. Unfortunately, I can't take credit for the bale of straw, the mums or the pumpkins and gourds... those were purchased at a local farmer's market. I hope it all holds up until the day after Thanksgiving!!

I'd love to hear about how others have decorated for fall. Enjoy the Season, everyone...

I thought I'd share a pix of our tree in the front yard. It is one of the prettiest in the neighborhood, if not in our whole town, during this season. In honor of my favorite month of the year, here is a poem that expresses my sentiments about the month of October:

"October's the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down -
October is red
And golden and brown."
- Can Teach Songs

( Courtesy of http://www.egreenway.com )

If anyone is looking for an easy Halloween/Fall Decoration to get their "craft on", this one is it! I loved making this one and its do-able in an evening. All you need are some different fall colors of felt, a needle, some thread, along with a few beads and buttons to construct one. In a short time you can create a Candle Cozy for your home or an Autumn gift.

Since a picture speaks a thousand words, I'll just show the picture. You can measure your particular candle's height and circumference to make up your own pattern. Use your imagination on the stitches and embellishments. Most of all, have fun with it!

In case some of you haven't heard, I'm going to be a "Grandma"! This will be our first grandchild, so you can imagine how happy and excited we are. I've been so busy all summer and fall making little outfits, trimming receiving blankets and knitting little goodies for our first grandson. I saw a little tricycle diaper cake that would be perfect for the baby shower and had to share the idea. Isn't it cute?

If you are interested in how to make one of these, I found some basic instructions here:

http://www.baby-shower-ideas.org.uk/diaper-cake-instructions/tricycle-diaper-cake.htm

Soon I will post a pix of the yummy green cables and ribbon baby sweater FINISHED! One more sleeve to go and then it will be on to a Baby Blue sweater for my little grandson!

The Gals over at Opus Gluei fired me up this week with their Challenge....anything crafted for Halloween. I wanted to share a shadowbox decoration I made a while back to sit on my mantle during this Season. Using a 5" X 5" chunky pre-stretched canvas, some paint, vintage clip art and other bits, it was finally finished! I think it turned out really cute! I also used several coats of decoupage medium and a final coat of crystal glitter to give it a frosty look. Oh yes, the "frame" was made from a free yardstick that just happened to be a tiny tad wider than the chunky canvas, which was perfect for the shadow box effect. The fake leaves, gourds and pumpkins are epoxied to the frame.

Here it is:

Opus Gluei Challenge #74

Lasagna is a favorite around our house. Unfortunately, I haven't taken the time to make the "real" thing for several years. When served around here anymore, its of the frozen variety offered at the local supermarket. So... as a special treat for my Daughter's birthday dinner this weekend, I told her I'd make a big batch of home made lasagna for the family's celebration. I'll serve it with split loaves of french bread drizzled with galic butter/shredded cheese and a simple tossed salad.

In case any of you are interested, I am posting the recipe that I always use and always with fantastic results. Enjoy!

Lasagna ~ Serves 8 - 10

Ingredients:
1 pound Hamburger or Italian Sausage
1 clove garlic, minced (or to taste)
1 tablespoon whole basil
1 tablespoon oregano
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 qt. Tomatoes
2 (6-oz) cans tomato paste
10 ounces lasagna noodles
2 eggs
3 cups Ricotta, cottage or feta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 pound mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions:
Brown meat slowly, spoon off excess fat. Add next 5 ingredients; simmer uncovered 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook noodles in large amount of boiling salted water till tender; drain; rinse. Beat eggs; add remaining ingredients, except mozzarella. Layer half the noodles in 13X9X2 inch baking dish; spread with half the Ricotta filling; add half the mozzarella cheese and half the meat sauce. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees F about (or assemble early and refrigerate; bake 45 minutes.) Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

(Recipe Courtesty of the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook I recieved as a wedding gift 30 years ago!)

Once again, I picked up my needles to knit (not like I've ever really put them down!) Thought I'd share the newest project, a baby sweater. Yes, a baby sweater for my grand-baby in waiting!!! This will be our first grandchild and I can't wait to meet her/him. So, in the meantime, I've been sewing and knitting lots of yellow and green until we know for sure.

Here is my current project, a Cables and Ribbon pattern for a baby sweater I found on the internet. It's an easy knit, the cables are what slow me down. I started it last Thursday, so with only working on it an hour or two a day, I'm already to the point I can divide it into fronts and the back on holders. Hopefully, I'll have it finished in a couple of weeks. Love the yarn, Simply Soft....can't beat it for beautiful baby things.

Greetings to All!

Its now fall and after a few months of respite, I feel renewed; ready to join the blogging world once again! The Spring and Summer were a whirl-wind of activities and travel. I let my mind have a much needed rest after several months of work and intensive writing. This new season brings on a new revitalization in my psyche and my creativity. I have been working on many projects which I hope to share with everyone in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more posts... I'm back!!!!