Tall Tales from Kansas

it might have been in my sisters diary

I officially opened pumpkin baking season the other day by breaking in my new-fangled doughnut pan.

Since it's October tomorrow (or today, depending on when you are reading this), it's about time.

I did not eat all 4 of these, but I definitely ate more than one.  It was breakfast.  That's an important meal.  If you need a serving suggestion I am going to recommend you go with a side of smoky, salty, thick-sliced, bacon.  Little known fact - this is the favorite breakfast of extremely creative types.  I read it somewhere.  I think it might have been in my sisters diary.  When she was 8.  She's never forgiven me for that.  But she has gotten even. 

These are not heavy, greasy doughnuts.  They are light and the cinammon sugar coating gives them the tiniest bit of a crunch when you munch.  Delicious, delectable, delightful.  I think that about sums it up.  I used this recipe in case you want to make your own.

No I am not her agent

"The peppers are coming on strong now" is what the man that sold me these beauties said on Saturday at the market.  I love peppers.  I like them in scrambled eggs, in salads, cut in strips and dipped in hummus... you get the idea.  However, since I neglected to make mediterranean pepper salad even once this summer, that is what these bell peppers are destined to become. 

I chopped and soaked and pitted, then chopped some more and mixed it all together while watching the Ryder cup on Saturday.  It's best to have something to take your mind off things when your team is losing. 

If you have a few more backyard barbeque dinners planned before it gets too cold to get the grill out, make this salad.  You will not be sorry. 

Here's the recipe.  Yes, it's from Smitten Kitchen.  No I am not her agent.  I just always like her recipes.  It's hard to argue with success. 

P.S.  Congrats to all my European friends on the stellar performance by their golfers. 

watching the sun rise at the farmers market over an apple pie on a red and white checked table cloth

Is it just me, or do you also hear angels singing when you look at this?  What could be more beautiful on a Saturday morning in September than watching the sun rise at the farmers market over an apple pie on a red and white checked table cloth?

Positively breathtaking.  And no, I did not buy it.  I did take a bunch of pictures though.  So it can be the pie to which all future pies are compared.   It's good to have something to aspire to. 

Pumpkins and gourds have arrived in all their glory as well. 

And if that wasn't enough, my favorite mum lady was there too.  It's a good thing I took the checkbook. 

I spent all my cash in the first 15 minutes and they don't take credit cards at the market.   Not that I haven't made a run to an auto teller before when I needed to.  But that is so inconvenient. 

whenever I look at these beauties

Caution was thrown to the wind this past spring when I decided to plant a rose bush in memory of Angie.  I decided it was worth the risk it getting infected with witches broom (like my previous roses did) if I could just have one good season of roses to cut and bring inside. 

I have been getting some beautiful ones these last few weeks.   Simple.  With a lovely fragrance.  I love going out to the rose bush with my cutting scissors and finding just the right ones to bring inside. 

I enjoyed looking at these today while I bound off on a knitting project.  Tonight ends will be worked in, followed by a light blocking tonight, and seaming up tomorrow.

Thanks knitting friends.  For the gift of a rose bush.  I think of you all as well as Angie whenever I look at these beauties. 

a phrase you would only recognize if you took typing in high school sometime before 1977

Did you hear that pumpkin baking can begin when at least 2 of the 4 criteria have been met? 
1.   October has arrived
2.  The leaves are changing
3.  It's after the autumnal equinox
4.  You feel like it

By my count 3 of the 4 puts me in good shape for a weekend of some kind of pumpkin baking.  What got this whole pumpkin train started down the track was Leslie putting up this link to soups.  I of course clicked on it thinking it was harmless.  Soup.  How dangerous can that be?

Here's how dangerous.  Get one look at damn delicious and you will see what I mean.  So now here is the dilemma I am facing.    This weekend do I made the french toast shown above (photo from Damn Delicious Blog), OR do I look for a baked doughnut recipe for my new doughnut pan that I have yet to try out?   OR do I lock myself in the art room upstairs and continue to practice my letters with the coral ink I just got for my lamy safari pen?

Such a dilemma.  It may take until Sunday at 6am for me to decide. 

I got tired of writing the alphabet and "now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country", a phrase you would only recognize if you took typing in high school sometime before 1977.  I decided from now on I will write the names of everything on my art table.  The word pumpkin might just pop up in there too.  Because it is clearly on my mind. 

they are waiting for me to give up and tell them I will sleep on the couch

For some reason I opened my big mouth and said that I would "be happy" to try and find the house for the 3rd Annual Winter Art retreat in Palm Springs this year.   "Leave it to me" I think is how I put it when I said I would find a great mid century modern home in the right neighborhood, with a lovely pool that can be seen from the dining room and the living room, with a firepit and a jacuzzi. 

It also needs to have 3 bedrooms with good beds, a security system, views of the mountains, big tables for our art projects, chairs outside for lounging, and it must have an overall pleasing aesthetic. 

I know my sister and Pam think the task is beyond my scope of expertise.   They are waiting for me to give up and tell them I will sleep on the couch and they can find the house.  But they are wrong.  I am on it like a dog with a bone.  I am gnawing and shaking and growling as I review all these impossibly confusing photos that look deceivingly similar yet different. 

As soon as I have signed the lease I will notify you with all the details sister!  Fear not.  You are safe in my hands. 

people and chairs might see seem easier to draw from the side, but they are not

In case you didn't know it, chair legs are hard to draw.  Where to place all those lines for the legs?   Should a line that is closer be angled to the front or the back or the left or the right?  It's like a mouthful of teeth.  Only lines.  Relatively straight lines.  Why so confoundingly hard to draw?

Sometimes it's good to have another go at it.   Just to see if it gets easier the second time.  It usually doesn't.  But it's good to try.  In case one day it might.    

After two chairs, practice with simple letters is recommended.  I refilled my noodler with "Bad Green Gator" ink for this exercise.  Less water soluble than the last ink I had in it, but still interesting to see what you get when you go over it with some water.

I decided to turn the chair to the side after awhile.  Here's a little tip about that... people and chairs might see seem easier to draw from the side, but they are not.  Most definitely not. 

 

She did. I did. We did.

This is the collection of yarn I have been staring at/working on for awhile now.   

Below is a worsted weight wool from  Blackwater Abbey  - it's going to turn into the cabled front panel of the Aran Wrap I have been working on for 2 years!  Really?  2 years?  Did I mention very sporadically for 2 years and I do have the other half of the front done, and 2/3 of the back?

This luscious,buttery, alpaca/silk blend from Blue Sky Alpaca is destined to be used in some warmers for my wrists and forearms for my very cold office at work. 

This tencel tape yarn from Prism Yarn will be turned into a chevron scarf that promises to transform all my gray and black tops this winter into fashion statements. 

And while I was winding all the rest I decided the elegant mitts that are getting made from the 100% royal alpaca below must also get started because they will look so good with my Aran Wrap. 

The first step in getting started is to get it all wound.  I love my nostepinne for winding, but...  I told my sister in law if she brought her swift and winder over, I could wind it all lickety split, and then we could have some drinks.

She did.  I did.  We did. 

I am officially ready to roll.  I mean knit. 

 

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a tool for winding a "cake" of yarn

with the sweep of her hand as she opened the carton

There were some good examples for my pumpkin hooking project at the market on Saturday.   It's important to let the essence of the pumpkin seep into your subconsious mind before you attempt to draw the pattern for the one you intend to hook.  

I also saw 3 or 4 different varieties of sweet potatoes.  I need to buy one of each and bake them up to see what the differences are between them.  I do not intend to hook any sweet potatoes.   They have already been implanted into my mind.  My conscious, cooking, eating, baking, mind that is.  

I love ALL the colors at the market in September.  

Even marmalade colored, ridiculously friendly, cute, miniature poodles.

This week I got zinnias from Josie and Julia.  Plus a dozen eggs.  Julia opened up the carton to display the eggs for me and said "do these look all right"?  And with the sweep of her hand as she opened the carton, and that turn of phrase,  I knew that it would be impossible for me to get my eggs from anyone but her in the future. 

I have no idea what Josie and Julia's futures hold for them.   Whatever it is, they are sure getting some darn good training for success at the farmers market every Saturday morning.  

 

we have a 2 bag candy corn limit in our house

The third Saturday in September marks the opening of candy corn and cocktail peanut season.  We start the season by assembling supplies.

Step two is tasting individual components prior to combining to ensure freshness.

Once you have completed steps one and two, mix the ingredients together in a ratio that is to the liking of your particular household tastes.

Here at Tall Tales headquarters we like a 1:2 ratio of candy corn to peanuts.  When I mixed this for Angie she preferred a 1:4 ratio, being a serious lover of the peanut and all. 

Once these steps are completed all that's left is to enjoy it at will.

Replenish as needed.  We have a 2 bag candy corn limit in our house.  Once we hit that, the official candy corn/peanut receptacle has to be put away for the year.   It's for the best.   We both know it.  

 

some pleasures are meant to be discovered when you are in the right space in life to appreciate them

Each night when I get home from work I go out back and walk around the tomato plants,  carefully evaluating each and every one of the 14 tomatoes left on the vines for signs of the progression of ripening. 

I am not sure if I can expect these to make it to the red stage or not.  My plans for them include fried green tomatoes, green tomato and ham soup, and one more recipe of that tomato relish/jam. This one below though, that will be my last BLT of the season.  I intend to serve it to myself on good china accompanied by a cool glass of sauvignon blanc.  

Several of you have asked what variety of tomatoes we were growing so I got a shot of the tags today.  We have been more than pleased with how they did and will likely do a repeat next year. 

I had no idea that growing tomatoes could be such an enjoyable addition to a summer.   Maybe it's just that some pleasures are meant to be discovered when you are in the right space in life to appreciate them.  

 

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after 47 minutes of discussion and consultation with one tomato expert

I could not keep my eyes on both the television and the blade

 This came in my mail box tonight.

It came on the heels of this, which arrived on Monday.

Both of the above will join the supplies below.

Which I will use to make one of these.  You better believe that if there was any way possible,  I would be sitting in the front row of Mary's class.  Since I was lucky enough to get my own personal lesson from her in June, I will be chanelling her warm creative spirit as I sketch out a shape and put my own spin on a hooked pumpkin.   My first step will be to cut strips out of this lovely wool to use for the project.  I was going to do it tonight while I watched the Roosevelts on PBS. 

Photo credit:  Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library

Are you watching?  I am completely fascinated by it.  So much I don't know about the history of my own country and the people who shaped it.  

Alas, I could not keep my eyes on both the television and the blade so no strips of wool were cut tonight.  Luckily the weekend approaches.  Chris has candy corn and cocktail peanuts on the shopping list.  Pumpkin hooking requires treats.  Special treats. 

For inquiring minds... I got my wools from here, and here (this is where I ordered my backing from), and here.   Amazingly fast and excellent service from all three.  

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no bird should be without a mate

the bran, apple, raisin, vanilla flavors let you know fall is on the way

Poor, poor, bran.  It gets such a bad rap.  Even though it clearly states on the label it's a "friend of the heart".   I am not on a one woman crusade to rescue the reputation of bran, but I did get the impulse to use up a few of my apples yesterday morning and make some bran muffins. 

I also had these cute little muffin cups that I have been wanting to test the functionality of. 

So here are the facts.  These bran muffins are (in the words of tony the tiger) GGGreat!  I have somehow forgotten that uniquely delicious taste that wheat bran gives baked goods.  Not heavy or dense, it's actually more like the consistency of a cornmeal muffin.  Peeled from it's wrapper about 6 minutes out of the oven it was delicious.  This morning it was equally flavorful and texturally pleasing right out of my lunch bag, at my desk, at 7am. 

I jumped up and put some toasted pecans on top of that yogurt with honey as soon as I snapped this picture.  Excellent breakfast with a nice big mug of coffee.  These are not overly sweet muffins and there is no cinammon or nutmeg or ginger in them.  The bran, apple, raisin, vanilla flavors let you know fall is on the way... but not here yet. 

Here's the recipe in case you want to join the "save the bran" movement.  

P.S.  Two thumbs up on those cups.  I just filled them and set them on a cookie sheet to bake without spraying or greasing.  I thought they lent just the right touch of circus atmosphere to the bran muffins. 

 P.P.S.  Those baking cups are from "Sweet! Baking Supply" in downtown Lawrence.  I bought them on a whim last year.  

2 out of 3 ain't bad

This is my most recent stack of three.  One for the car, one for the bedside table, and one to carry around with me because I want to keep looking at it in multiple places all around the house.

My old friend Kinsey Millhone and I are in the midst of a madcap caper.   Just like everytime we get together, we are having fun.  I am not thinking about there only being and X, a Y, and a Z after the W because there will be time enough for that later.  Right now we are digging into details and uncovering clues.  Highly recommended. 

Not being someone who likes it when I am hit with the urge to check under the bed after I turn out the lights,  I don't want to read anything dark and scary right before I go to bed.  Hence, this is the book on my bedside table right now.   If you think you would like reading a book that felt like you were reading the transcript of a stand up comic's act, then this book is for you.  There were some good lines to be sure, but it needed some more regular lines in between all the zingers.  I'll be happy to send you my copy if this is your kind of reading. 

Carrying this one all around the house.  I love the quilting style of Denyse Schmidt.  The colors and apparent simplicity that makes you sit and study the overall effect asking yourself, "how does she do that?" is very, very, very, pleasing.    I bought this book - that lets you know it is very highly recommended. 

Gasp.  Me follow a pattern.  Could I do it?  If anyone could make me want to try it, Denyse is the one.  The lack of a clearly thought out plan with my first quilt might also have something to do with it. 

No matter if I actually do it or not, I love thinking about it. 

Overall impression of this stack =  2 out of 3 ain't bad.  Especially when 2 of them are stunners! 

if I would have decided to become a lepidopterist

 If I was not a full time worker I think I would take one day during the week to do nothing all day except watch butterflies. 

I would take a break mid-day to eat lunch of course, and then get right back to it.  That seems a worthy way to spend time.  I guess if I would have decided to become a lepidopterist I could have been doing that for the last 33 years.  Unfortunately it wasn't on my radar when I was pondering my life's work.

fortification for the rainy days that are ahead

It's not everyday you see decorative cabbages and yellow pom poms in flower arrangements.   That was reason enough for me to select this one.  Not that I needed a reason.  Flower season at the market doesn't last forever.  You gotta get 'em while the gettin's good as the saying goes. 

I got these 2 cute little acorn squash and proceeded to turn them into a pot of bisque.  I baked the squash, sauted some onion, snipped some thyme, sprinkled some cayenne pepper, and added some chicken stock and half and half.  That's it. 

I resisted the urge to add cumin, nutmeg, or curry.  It is important not to add your favorite flavors to all your soups so they don't all taste the same.   It was very hard for me.  But I perservered.  I'm glad I did.  It has a very mild, pleasing flavor and the texture of liquid velvet.  I am now armed with fortification for the rainy days that are ahead in the coming week.    I used Martha's recipe except I baked the squash instead of microwaving.  Oh and added that little sprinkle of cayenne pepper. 

 

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loaded with vitamin A and 100% good for you

my days of getting up to sing with the band ended in 1981

Hats and coats were the order of the day at the market this morning.   I noted a temperature of 42 degrees when I rolled up to my designated parking spot. 

There were many different styles of hats, and some people had to be reminded to keep their coats on. 

Cold weather + a beautiful selection of squash = soup love coming soon. 

Today I bought some cherry jam from her.   I like my pantry to be stocked with plenty of toast toppings for winter mornings.  Last year I bought ... shall we say at least 6, jars of peach jam from her.  In my defense, Angie was a BIG fan.  I also got a jar of heirloom tomato jam because ... well just because.  I am making one more jar myself with the last of our tomatoes but it doesn't hurt to have a jar in reserve.  In case of emergency. 

He was singing "you can't always get what you want..." as I walked in, and "knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door" as I left.  I did not accompany him on the chorus of either number.   My days of getting up to sing with the band ended in 1981.  And let's face it, that's a good thing.  

to cover or not to cover, that is the question

A long time ago I learned never to criticize or correct the work done by another... unless I want to do that work myself.  So, tonight when I wondered aloud to Chris if he thought we ought to cover up the tomato plant because it's supposed to be in the upper 30's overnight, and he said yes, and I got him a sheet, and he went outside and covered it, and came back in and asked what I thought, I said it was perfect.

the beauty of a harebrained scheme

Ready or not you are about to hear about "the vogue papers".  I alluded to it last week when I showed you the the chair portrait project.   I've got enough projects going that I need a whole filing system to keep up with them.   Luckily my mind is like a steel trap from which nothing escapes.  Ever.  

The vogue papers emerged from the creative mind of  Lisa Hoffman.   We each went out and bought one of these behemoths...

... and I marked all the pages I thought would be interesting to try and sketch

... and started with this.  Kind of a warm up session if you will. 

I thought it best to start with one part of the human body.   Feet are hard to draw.  The human foot has 26 bones and 33 joints.  I like to tackle hard things first.  Get them out of the way and move on to easier things. 

Things like the hand.  The human hand has 27 bones.  Oops.  It's harder than the foot. 

Then of course there is the face which is quite complex in and of itself.  I do not recall from anatomy class with Dr. Sam Zeakes in 1979 at Marymount College of Kansas how many bones are in the human face, but no matter the number, it is quite complex to draw. 

I am starting from the extremities and working my way in.  I don't know what I will attempt next, but I have some ideas.

You gotta love the shadows on that face, not to mention the outfit.  Stay tuned for future episodes of the vogue papers and go visit Lisa to see what she's been up to.  We have 2 very different approaches to this project.   That's the beauty of a harebrained scheme - it's not supposed to be serious, orderly, OR well thought out. 

as the course of the river changed over time

Just outside of Lawrence Kansas, off the scenic river road, there is nice little spot called the lakeview fishing and shooting association. 

Founded in 1892, it apparently started out as some sort of men's club, but is now a more family oriented private community.  One of the women in my knitting group is a member and invited us all out to sit on the screened-in porch and have a dinner of salad followed by cheesecake topped with fresh peaches.  We were serenade by the cicadas in the surrounding trees and if I didn't know better I would swear we went back in time for a few hours.   If that sounds good to you, trust me, it was even better in person. 

The lake used to be a big U-shaped bend in the Kansas river that got cut off as the course of the river changed over time.   These are referred to as oxbow lakes.  Who knew?  Not me.   I learn best when I get to experience something.  Truthfully, I do my best acquiring of new knowledge when I experience it alongside friends while eating cheesecake with fresh peaches. 

I did not get a decent photo of the harvest moon on Monday night at the oxbow lake but I did get this sweet little shot of the pink sunset.   Oh the places that knitting will take you. 

I have all kinds of baked alaska ideas swimming around in my head

If you have a brulee torch and have just been dying to find another way to use it, may I suggest this recipe.  I did not want to make a whole cake so I did 2 servings in ramekins instead.  And I added a dash of cinnamon to the crust and left the sugar out.  You know I can't leave well enough alone. 

I bought all the ingredients except for the marshmallow topping.  It was pretty easy to make (from recipe above for cake) and I even kept it in the refrigerator for 24 hours so I could do the second ramekin one day later.  Worked great.  Oh the deliciousness of that very toasted, almost burnt, marshmallow cream. 

I will do this again.   I have all sorts of cake and ice cream/baked alaska ideas swimming around in my head. 

the perfect setting for a lively post-exhibit discussion

Saturday we went to the Alexander Gardner exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City.  It's a collection of photographs from 1867-1868 and focuses on his work in the American west. 

Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, Kansas 1867. 

This is a lovely textural composition that is made from the caps of liquor bottles.  It has absolutely nothing to do with the photography exhibit but I liked it very much all the same. 

The exhibit is free and runs until January in case you live in the area.  May I suggest Cafe Trio as the perfect setting for a lively post-exhibit discussion.  It's just a few blocks away and if you get there in the next several months the patio is a lovely place to sit. 

a cherokee purple, a costoluto, and a nebraska wedding

The mornings were chilly this weekend here in Kansas.   Fall is definitely in the air.  I am not sure where August got to, but as we slip into fall I am ready for time to s-l-o-w down just a hair.  

I am in the midst of an Heirloom tomato tasting experiment.  Last weekend at the market I picked up a gold medal - yellow and rosy red.  Low acid.  Sublimely delicious.  I had sandwiches with it.  Sandwiches with this spread.   Flat out good. 

This nice young couple is from North Lawrence.  They can always tell me the names of the heirloom tomatoes and a little about them.  This week I selected a cherokee purple, a costoluto, and the yellow one is a Nebraska wedding.  They are going to turn into BLT's this week for dinner and what is left will be added to batch #3 of fresh salsa.  

I don't know the name of this flower below.  That did not stop me from getting a bunch and mixing it in with the zinnias.  Some things I want to know the names of, for others pretty flower will do. 

 

my coffee cozy mannequin

In the wee hours of the night last night, after having taken a 3 hour sewing class during the day,  I started a new sewing project.  A teeny, tiny quilting project actually.  It's important to reinforce your learning by practicing shortly after you acquire a new skill.   For me it is anyway. 

In the light of day this morning  I was still happy with it.  I have been threatening to make a new one for some time now.  I've had these fabrics for ages and think they are perfect for my "end of summer - beginning of fall - likely to still be using in a year" coffee cozy.  Oh, and no, starbucks holiday cups are not here yet.  This is my coffee cozy mannequin.  I saved it several years ago when I made my first cozy to be sure I got the button in the right spot.  A too tight or too loose cozy is plain no good.    

This is my favorite coffee cozy tutorial should you decide you need a teeny, tiny, one-hour, sewing/quilting project.  Thanks Erin Harris for sharing your expertise for free!

the chair portrait project

When Lisa and I met for coffee last week, she came with a brilliant idea for us to do chair sketches of each other.   The thought took hold in her mind as she was flipping through a magazine.  So I told her of course I was up for the project... knowing that the human form is quite a challenging subject for me.   

Lisa Hoffman you are full of GREAT ideas.  The chair portrait project was something I would never have thought of on my own.  I had the best time doing it.   Yes, your shoes need some work, but the practice I am going to get on the "Vogue Project" should take care of that.   Right? 

Link above to Lisa's blog provided so you can see Lisa's rendering of me in the chair... and see what I mean about our next project.  Those of you in Sketchbookery already know Lisa from seeing her sketches that Mary Ann showed in class.   I love her style, and the way I always find something, or someone, new and interesting each time I visit her blog. 

When they go for the 3 note ascending - descending call

I've got a bevy of mourning doves that are calling my back yard their home these days.  I don't know if it's the combination swimming pool/drinking fountain, the all you can eat buffet, the nice selection of beds in that tree,  or the flower arrangements I have put out for them that make them like it so much. 

I'm glad they like it here.  I like having them.  They and the goldfinches make for good entertainment.  I spent a morning watching them last weekend.  I could be a full time birder.  As long as I could just sit in the rocker and look, listen and take scientific notes about my observations.  For example I learned this weekend that the goldfinches keep their beaks closed and their throats pooch out when they make their one note sound.  When they go for the 3 note ascending - descending call they open their beaks up.    I know, it's fascinating stuff right? 

It smells like the upstairs of an old bookstore

This is the pile of "reading" I just finished going through. 

The Art of Hearting Heartbeats is a story about a woman who travels to Burma in search of her father.   It's a heart-warming tale.  I dislike that phrase, but really, it sums it up perfectly.   I have requested the sequel from the library.   Nothing wrong with 2 helpings of heartwarming back to back.  Besides, my curiosity will simply not allow me to miss finding out what happens next. 

I read in Brain Pickings Weekly that Florence King would select The Prodigal Women as her desert island read.   That was reason enough for me to try it.   I got a copy used from Amazon for a grand total of $6.99 including shipping.  It was published in 1943 and smells like the upstairs of an old bookstore (that's a good thing).   It's the story of 3 girls growing up in the 1930's and 40's.   Characters unlike any I have read before.  I'll be thinking about them for a good long while.  If you have read it I want to know what you think.   

Uppercase magazine is, as always, a visual treat beyond compare.   This issue features Janet Hill,  Jennifer Orkin Lewis (August Wren), and Jennifer Mercede... and much much more. 

The next pile of 3 is ready to go.  I hope they balance each other out as well as this trio did. 

complete ignorance of the rules of quiltmaking

As my friend Frank used to say.... "Amen brother Ben, crack a louse, kill a hen!" 

She said this when she was excited.  I have no idea what it means.  I say it when I am excited too. 

Today I am beyond excited.  I have finished my quilt.

I am very happy with how it turned out.   I am pretty sure I am going to have very pleasant dreams sleeping under it.  As soon as I forget how sore my hands are right now and how many times I got stuck with a pin today. 

There is no pattern for this quilt.  I approached the project with an idea in my mind of the quilt that I wanted.  It changed as I went.  That, plus complete ignorance of the rules of quiltmaking, can make things interesting.    I am looking forward to looking at some quiltmaking books now.  Before I start my next one.  Which won't be for a year or two.  I want to tackle some smaller projects first.   Like maybe a pillowcase.

melt in your mouth nutty maple goodness

This morning at Tall Tales Headquarters I had a scone breakthrough.  I baked a batch of the worlds best oatmeal maple scones.  I saw a recipe in the Farm Chicks cookbook and started to make that until I realized the recipe did not call for any salt and I got suspicious.  So I went to the bible of cooking (Cooks Illustrated) and did a combination of two recipes.  Here is the KEY to this recipe ...  toasting the oats before you add them to the mix.  Incredible oat flavor! 

In a nutshell, these scones are flaky and soft, not heavy.  Crispy bottom and crunchy top, melt in your mouth nutty maple goodness from the walnuts and the glaze.  Meredith, please make these for your mother and convert her from her "non-loving scone" ways. 

Served with fresh fruit it makes the perfect long weekend breakfast. 

Happy Labor Day!  Recipe for scones below.  I used the glazed maple pecan version except I used about 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts instead of the pecans and I used the Farm Chicks glaze recipe.  It is 1 T. melted butter, 2 T maple syrup, 1 T heavy cream, and confectionars sugar, I just added the sugar until I got the consistency I wanted - maybe 3/4 of a cup.