Baking, Decorating for Fall, and Camping or How to Overcome the Isolation Blues

 Rick and I may not come out of 2020 without having gained a few pounds, but baking this time of year is one of my favorite things to do.  We are enjoying each and every bite too!

Yesterday I made these Candied Pecans from Lauren's recipe that you can print from her blog. 

"Tastes Better From Scratch"

I quarantee you it's fabulous and tastes exactly like the warm Candied Pecans you purchase from vendors at festivals!  It says to let them cool completely and store them in a tight container, but they were extra good while they were warm.

I also made some very yummy gluten free pumpkin bread the week before.  I used my regular recipe but substituted Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free 1 to 1 flour.  I've used this recipe for years and it makes one bundt cake and a loaf.  It's perfect if you want to gift one!  I don't think this happended this time though, Ha!

A rather large crack developed in the center of the loaf, but tasted great!  

My only fall decor has been limited to my crocheted items and a few other pieces.  This black and white plaid pumpkin I crocheted a few years ago goes perfectly in my kitchen with my new curtains, therefore I placed it on this old scale.

My living room had a few more pumpkins made with yarn wrapped over cheap pumpkins from 

The Dollar Store.  Simply cut a hole in the top and bottom of the pumpkins removing the stem.  Wrap the thick chenille like yarn through the top and bottom all the way around and add a stick for the stem.  

 I did crochet a Halloween pillow for myself and my daughter, Amber.  You can find the pattern for the pillow here at TLB Patterns.

This cute plaid garland came from either Michael's or JoAnn's.  Isolation is messing with my memory!

These little wine cozies were crocheted using a pattern from 

The Midnight Stitcher.  I got the leather "Wine O'Clock" and "Whine Not" tags from

Angie & Britt.

To keep us from losing our minds this summer we got out and went camping at local state parks every month.  Even though the last trip this fall was rather rainy, it was still good to get out of the house and into  nature.  Get creative, bake, or get out and enjoy the beautiful parks around you.  You'll be amazed how much better you'll feel.    

We like everyone else have had some tough things to go through lately and I won't dwell on that here, but how are you doing and what are you doing to overcome the Isolation Blues?

Autumn Painting and Crochet Shrug Project

This morning I woke up to temps in the 40's.  I made my way down the stairs and went straight away to the thermostat and turned on the heat for the first time this fall.  I love the scent the furnace gives off when you turn it on.  I'm sure that aroma is hot dust, but I love it just the same.

I made my daily trek (this is now considered exercise at my age) back upstairs and sat down at my paint table to work on one of these two projects.  I keep my sketch on top of my painting to protect it while I crochet.  As I slid it down to remind me what I started working on over a year ago, I realized the colors in my crochet shrug match my painting!  I think I'll just paint for a while and then go back to working on this shrug later in the day.

What are you doing this fall?

Crocheted Fish Hat

I've been out of town for a couple days so I haven't had time to finish up my table and chair from the previous post.  Hopefully I'll get those finished soon.  But, in the meantime, I keep forgetting to share this cute hat that I crocheted for a sweet little boy that has a birthday coming up.  If you'd like to try this for yourself you can order the Fish Hat PDF instructions on Etsy.

Mary offers a wide variety of adorable crochet patterns at her shop Angels Chest.

I just ordered her new Bee Hat and can't wait to get started!

My Craft Night Project Crochet Cowl

I realize this is not a cowl in the photo below, but guess what?  I finally finished this afghan that I made for our queen size bed.  It took months and months to make this, but I'm so glad that I stuck with it. 

My husband makes the bed each morning (yes I know how lucky I am) and was shocked at the weight of it.  It will feel good this winter though when the temperatures drop to freezing and the wind is howling outside.

I had several balls of these colors left over and decided to make a cowl.  If you've never worn one of these, you need to get you one.  Besides keeping me cozy and warm it hides my lovely aging neck.  Now if I could just find a picture of a hip hairstyle for an aging gray haired lady, I'd really be happy.  No kidding, if you have an image of a hairstyle you think I'd like, send me the image link. 

Does this look like a granny afghan wrapped around my neck?

This cowl is made using several different granny squares and a variety of stitches and crochets up very quickly. 

You can find the instructions here.

Vee, here are the instructions for that crocheted pillow

I'm in desperate need of a haircut, so send me those ideas ladies!

Crochet and Knitting Projects

Lately I have a new addiction.  I can't sit still without having something in my hands to work on.  I've crocheted these colorful new pillows for our bed....

I'm learning a new stitch and making this mustard cowl (possibly a Christmas gift)...

I made two new cowls from a washable wool on our trip to Branson this week... (one for me and another possible gift)....

A knitted dish cloth from white, turquoise, and red cotton yarn and some crocheted scrubbies....

and I worked on this granny ripple afghan on our trip to Eureka Springs a few weeks ago....

where we spent the weekend with this fun group of young friends.  Our daughter and son in law were married in Eureka and we all returned to celebrate their anniversary.

I promise I'm still painting.  I should be finishing a large Christmas painting of a local establishment in our home town.  I'll share it soon. 

What projects are you working on?

Seaside Cupcake Painting

Yesterday I started out thinking I was going to be working on a "Plain Jane Cupcake",  when my painting took a different direction.  I usually start out with a pretty clear picture in my head of what I want, but as I started picking out colors and applying them to the canvas, I realized these colors were more suited to a "Seaside Cupcake".  This idea just popped into my head and here are the results.   I listed it on eBay last night for those of you who are interested in the original.

Tiny bubbles pour out of the mouths of cute little fish accenting the top of this tropical cupcake. What a cute cupcake painting for your seaside cottage retreat!

A brown and aqua dotted ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and ties in a bow at the top.

I finished my crochet rose pillow:

I'm not sure where it will go because I don't have any pink in my house. I'm sure I'll figure it out though. 

Ruby's Red Shoes Cupcake Painting

"Ruby's Red Shoes"

I finished this fun little painting today and listed it on eBay. 

Ruby just bought a new pair of red Mary Jane's and they have quickly become her favorite pair of shoes. Most days are spent baking for customers wearing her favorite strawberry apron and bib overalls. She loves waiting on customers and sharing her love of indulgent creations.

My craft night project last week was a rose pillow.  I just love how dimensional it is.  I will share the finished project soon.

This is made from a free tear off instruction sheet from Michael's.

This is such a fun project and I've already started a smaller red pillow to go with this:

 Hopefully I'll finish this afghan before winter.

Baking Day Cupcake and Apron Painting

It's finally finished.  As mentioned in the previous post, I've been working on this painting for quite some time and it just never really struck me as finished.  Yesterday I added the apron and that seemed to be just the finishing touch that this little "Baking Day" painting needed.  Check it out on eBay!

Saturday is baking day in Bell's kitchen. She ties her favorite apron around her waist and quickly whips up a batch of chocolate cupcakes for the ladie's prayer group that meets at her home every Saturday evening. A red and white dotted ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and ties in a bow at the top.

Our son, Eric, surprised us with a delicious meal this week.  It was a spicy chicken pasta dish that I can't pronounce.  He collected cookbooks from each place he visited while living in Spain.  My review:

Yummy!!!!

I thought these two items that I finished in our "Craft Night"  get together last night would tie in well with this baking and cooking post. 

I finished my crocheted ripple apron and....

as my daughter, Amber, calls it, my Harry Potter tea towel.

As you can clearly see, I'm still spending most of my time in doors out of the extreme heat.  My yard is living proof that I'm staying inside.