Time to Make the Donuts!

I hate making donuts. No, not really. I used to dislike it.

The request for donuts came last night. I did groan. Making donuts is such a process. First the dough has to be made and refrigerated over night. Then in the morning the dough has to be rolled out. After that they get cut into donuts and holes. Meanwhile the oil has to be heated to 350 degrees in preparation for deep frying the donuts.

I was tired when the request for donuts came in. It was already after 8 PM. I mentioned just wanting to sit down. My son asked why didn't I just sit down at the table and make the dough. (Sweet boy) I said fine, get me all the ingredients and I will. I did not expect him to do it, but he did. So of course I did make the dough.

This year I went to the Common Ground Fair, like I always do, and usually I see the same stuff and the same people, which I did, but I did see something different this year. I saw how to make donuts on an open fire in a cast iron pot.

So last night while I was thinking about how I had to get up and make donuts I remembered The Fair and the donuts. I remembered how cooking them on an open fire probably eliminated the smokiness in my home and in my lungs.

What I didn't realize is that cooking the donuts in a cast iron pot on an open flame makes them so much better than ever. I spent over an hour outside on a beautiful fall morning cooking donuts for my family. The day could not have started any better.

I made a huge bowl of these babies. Plain and chocolate. They were very yummy!!

Piecing a Quilt is Harder Than Knitting (IMO)

I joined a quilt along! Thanks to Corey at http://www.littlemissshabby.com/. I love her blog and I really like her too. She always answers any questions I have. This is the second sew along I have done with her. I also did the Birdie Stitches. Those were embroidery squares, and so much fun.

This is what I have worked on so far. It is the first block. I am not much of a 'read directions' sort of gal and it has been challenging for me in a good way. As I was sewing along last night I got to thinking how quilting or piecing is much harder than knitting.

I just learned to knit last year. It took some effort on my part to stick to it and I am happy I did. I love to knit! It is so relaxing and meditative. I can knit while watching a TV show. I knit while my girls are doing their math. I can knit in the car. I even bring my knitting to meetings!! As much as I love sewing and piecing and quilting I cannot say I find it relaxing. It is fun for me because it makes me think and it is sometimes difficult to make something fit right. Many times I have to cut something again and redo things. When I decided to stop for the night I really felt satisfied that I had accomplished something nice. I am now at the point in the block that the little pieces get sewn together to finish the block. I am excited, and nervous about it.

Now if I could just narrow down my projects to just two or three or even four I may get something finished!!

It is a mess. I know right where everything is though. It is an organized mess and it is so much fun!

Whoa! October!!?

Can it really be October? I really cannot believe it. I am not finished harvesting! I am not 'feeling' it this year. What is up?

I do love the light that is coming in my windows this time of year. I love the temperatures. So nice. So sunny. So very warm in the day and cool in the day. I do live for this time of year.

With most of the putting food up for the year done (still have applesauce and pickled beets to do) I am starting to feel that October might be here. Really though, maybe it is global warming but it just doesn't seem like it.

The leaves all look so pretty though. Our weekly ride through the hills and fields were so pretty today. (Pictures to come at a later post)

What is really exciting is that I found this tomato flower in bloom in the greenhouse. I wonder if I keep it closed up will more tomatoes form and grow through fall and early winter. That would be so cool!!

Look at that pepper! There is more coming too. I am just so excited that I am still getting veggies and it is October!!

Here are my Everbearing Raspberries. FEDCO seeds said they should ripen in late August or September. Well, here they are ripening so nicely in October. I may have to cover them so they do not frost. I think it may be a sun issue, not a false advertising issue. I will be checking into it.

Really, I do more than just gardening. The kids keep me very busy. I am working on several different hand work projects and I am teaching a class this year!!

Oh October, I can't believe you are here but there is no denying it.