~Completed Outfit~

I finished the outfit for my daughter! I love the way it turned out. Adding the little jacket really made the outfit complete! The bow was a gift, which matches the outfit perfectly!



The dress and jacket were from the Ottobre 6/2008 issue. The diaper cover is from the 3/2009 issue. I lengthened the dress by 2 inches, and shortened the jacket 2 inches, and they are just perfect for each other now! :-)



I also had to shorten the sleeves on the jacket, about one inch. They are still a little long to allow for growth but not too long!



The flower on the jacket; it is the little details like this that make me appreciate the Ottobre patterns:


My machine does not like fleece at all. It gave me fits from the moment I started sewing. *Sigh* I've been thinking about saving up for a sewing machine, and this project pretty much made up my mind - I need a better machine!

~Monday's Daybook: November 9~

Outside My Window...a cool, clear November day.

I am thinking...about all the housework I need to do. :-)

I am thankful for...my home here on earth. It may not be the fanciest house, but it is home. And home is better than any mansion!

From the kitchen...whole wheat banana bread - turned out pretty good!

I am wearing...a jean skirt and short sleeved t-shirt.

I am creating...my menu for the week.

I am going...grocery shopping! what else? It's Monday! :-)

I am reading...a novel called Amazing Grace. It is actually three novels in one. It has been entertaining, but I'm not thrilled with the way the stories are wrapped up - the plot is well-developed, and then the end comes with a screeching halt with everything all neatly worked out in two pages.

I am hoping...the weather stays nice!

I am hearing...the hum of the fridge and my computer.

One of my favorite things...knitting!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...not too much going on this week!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...one of my WIP's, a lace scarf.


For more Daybook entries, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.

~Sunday~

1 Chronicles 16:11

Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

Silent Monks "Singing"

Now this is too funny! Enjoy!

~Autumn Leaf~

The winds and rain storms have succeeded in getting most of the leaves off the trees and onto the ground. While this leaf isn't an astounding color, I thought it was a pretty shape. I spotted it while out on a {very cold} walk today.

~Monday's Daybook: November 2~

Outside My Window...a gray November day

I am thinking...about dinner tonight - we're going out for dinner to celebrate my birthday.

I am thankful for...the 33 years the Lord has given me!

From the kitchen...nothing tonight! Woohoo! ;-)

I am creating...several knit projects in the works, and an afghan for my sister's wedding gift.

I am going...no where till dinner time! I already got my grocery shopping done this morning.

One of my favorite things...my new necklace, which was a gift from my husband for my birthday.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...nothing major!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...


This picture is from the website that my husband bought my necklace from, The Vintage Pearl. There are so many designs to choose from, but this one is my absolute favorite!

For more Daybook entries, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.

~Sunday~

Psalm 90:12

So teach us to number our days,

that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

~More Ottobre Sewing~

I did some sewing for my little girl today. This particular pattern was a fun project.

"Dolly" dress, from Ottobre 6/2008:


I made it in size 74, only one size up from the last time I used an Ottobre pattern, but it is still a little big. That's OK though - there is room to grow and it will hopefully last through the winter. I lengthened the dress by 2 inches so it would be a little below knee length.

I sewed a little ribbon tag in the side:


Closer view of the yoke and sleeve:


I'm also working on a diaper cover to go with this dress, and I'm considering sewing a red jacket to match.

A huge plus for me was that I had all the fabric and notions to make this dress. It is always nice to have everything on hand! I bought the fabric for $1.49/yard, and I used just over a yard, so this was an inexpensive dress.

I let my Ottobre subscription lapse. I want to get the most out of the issues I already have, and then in another year or so I'll re-evaluate and see if I want to subscribe again.

~Today~

This morning started out wet, and it has been wet all day long. The temperature was actually quite warm, and at one point I thought it wasn't raining so I was going to take a walk. It was raining. :-P I got about half a block down before I turned back around.

The rain and wind is causing all the pretty leaves to come down. I've enjoyed my neighbor's trees so much. They are a nice bright orange and yellow, and even when the sun wasn't out, the color fooled me into thinking it was sunny outside!

This evening we went to the mall, just to get out of the house. So did a lot of people. LOL The mall was crowded, but we still had a nice time walking around and talking.

Well, those are the highlights from my day! :-) Just wanted to pop on and say "hi". Hope you have a nice day!

~Top Ten: Favorite Childhood Books~

Last night I was thinking about books I enjoyed in my childhood and early teen years. In no particular order, here are my top ten favorite books:

1) Anne of Green Gables (series), L.M. Montgomery

I read the books before I saw the movie. Oh, how I adored Anne Shirley! And then I was thrilled to watch the movie - all my favorite characters brought to life on the screen. Though I still say they missed the mark when it came to casting Rachel. She was supposed to be a little more "fluffy", shall we say.

2) Little House on the Prairie (series), Laura Ingalls Wilder

I wanted to be Laura!

3) The Borrowers (series), Mary Norton

These books certainly spark your imagination. Wonder where all your safety pins and buttons disappear? The Borrowers have them, of course! I recommend all the books in this series, except for the last book. In it, the Borrowers move into a haunted house.

4) Eight Cousins, Louisa May Alcott

This is my favorite book by Louisa May Alcott. I know that Little Women is her best-known novel, but she wrote some excellent books that get passed over, I think. There is also a sequel, called Rose in Bloom.

5) All of a Kind Family (series), Sydney Taylor

I loved these books! So much! The books follow a New York Jewish family through the children's growing up years. When we first meet the family, all the little girls dress alike. I loved that, because my mom dressed my sisters and me in matching clothes too!

6) Mary Poppins (series), P.L. Travers

I debated about listing this series, but it was a series of books I enjoyed. As a child, the books were quite innocent, but rereading them when I was older made me realize that Mary Poppins is more witch than nanny.

7) What Katy Did (series), Susan Coolidge

All about a little girl and an accident that changed her life forever. My sisters and I checked this book out of the library so many times, and found the sequels online, since our library didn't have them.

8) The Boxcar Children, Gertrude Chandler Warner

Four children, recently orphaned, and fearing their grandfather who will now be their guardian, run away. They find an abandoned boxcar and set up house. This book was a model to our play when we were little. My sisters and I were lonely orphans living in a boxcar (the bed of my dad's truck), until, that is, my mom called us in for lunch.

9) Love Comes Softly (series), Janette Oke

Not technically written for children, but I read the first book when I was 8 or 9 years old. I loved anything "old fashioned" and this fit the bill!

10) The Trumpet of the Swan, E.B. White

E.B.White is better known for Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, but this book was my favorite. It is about a trumpeter swan who cannot trumpet. A sad plight for a trumpeter swan, indeed!

What about you? What are your favorite books from your childhood/early teen years?

~WIP Wednesday~

I finished the baby bonnet that I started last week, and decided to make some mitts to go along with it.


These little mitts work up so fast! I just have to knit the I-cord to attach the two, and then they'll be done.


I am using the pattern My Magic Baby Mitts, with the following modifications:
:::knit in the round, rather than flat
:::two inches of ribbing, rather than one and a half
:::closed the end with kitchener stitch, rather than gathering through all the remaining stitches

I'm pleased with how they're turning out.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The weather is incredible for late October! I hear we're in for colder weather soon, so I took a little walk this afternoon, and enjoyed every minute! Here are some pictures from my walk:

~Hedge fruit~

Kevin and I were at a farmer's market on Saturday, and I spotted a curious green fruit. I stepped in closer for a second look, and saw a sign that proclaimed that these mysterious fruits would keep away spiders and centipedes. Be still my heart! Something natural to keep those nasty creatures out of my house???

I bought four of them, with plans to strategically place them in the basement and attic. I hope these work!

Now, at the farmer's market they were calling these "hedge fruit" but when I looked online, it appears that they are more commonly known as "hedge apples". In fact, there is a whole site dedicated to hedge apples: hedgeapple.com.

From what I've read, it is considered "folk lore" that these repel insects. There have been lab tests done and they don't know how or why they keep insects away. Honestly? I really don't care about the hows or whys! If these work, I may consider growing a hedge apple tree! LOL

Have you gotten the idea that I detest centipedes? My hero, known to the world as "Kevin", knows when to put on his hero cape and come to my rescue. He can tell by my scream and/or tone of voice when I call out his name that he has a centipede to kill! So here's hoping that these truly do work and are more than just folk lore!

~Monday's Daybook: October 26~

Outside My Window...a dark, rainy evening

I am thinking..."dishes, go away!"

I am thankful for...for the food we ate for dinner and the fact that I have a family to do dishes for!

From the kitchen...zucchini ginger stir fry for dinner.

I am wearing...a patterned t-shirt, navy skirt, sweater, and slippers.

I am creating...mitts for my baby, to match the hat I made.

I am going...nowhere tonight!

I am hoping...for a good night's rest.

I am hearing...nothing much! The Baby is down for the night, and we're having a quiet evening.

Around the house...dishes and laundry to be done.

One of my favorite things...cherry cough drops! Wish I didn't need them though!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...pretty quiet week!

For more Daybook entries, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.

~Sunday~

Psalm 118:28

Thou art my God, and I will praise thee:

thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

~Simple Granola~

This recipe is very versatile. You can add dried fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, or other grains if you desire. I like it plain though!

5-6 cups rolled oats
1 stick butter
3/4 cup brown sugar OR honey

Melt butter. Stir in brown sugar OR honey. Pour mixture over oats, mix well. Spread in a large tray or stainless steel bowl.

Bake at 300* for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

The fewer oats you use, the chunkier the granola will be. I'd take a picture and show you what it looks like...but the batch I made is all gone! :-) It looks like normal granola though, so I'm sure you can picture it in your mind. ;-)