Punkoooon!!

Hicklen Farm

Peter had school this Saturday so we convinced our friends Emily and Sam to go with us to a pumpkin patch.  Emily knew that there was a really good one in Nolensville but for some reason, we couldn't remember which one it was.  We decided to drive out there and take our chances.  First, we came to Hicklen Farm.  This is a really sweet little farm and a great place to buy your pumpkins.  I talked with one of the owners, a very old lady who said that she had lived on the farm since she was nine months old.  She showed me pictures of her great-great-great-great Grandmother.  That's a lot of greats!  In fact, I typed it so many times, it looks funny.  Does that ever happen to you?  While at Hicklen, Emily said, I'm sure that there's another place that's much bigger.  So, after buying a few pumpkins and petting the farm dog (a pug!?!), we loaded up and headed down the road.  We found the patch that Emily was thinking of; it was Walden.  The reason that we didn't put two and two together is because the farm is actually in Smyrna but you can get there through Nolensville.  I'm terrible at geography so I can't even imagine how this is possible.

Walden has lots of animals to pet and feed, slides, some really yummy fried sweet potato ribbons, corn mazes, and more.  We had a great time and Charlotte was so worn out that she went down for her nap at 2:30 and didn't wake up until 8pm!  We fed her a little dinner and put her back to bed 45 minutes later and she slept until 7am the next day.  She's like her daddy, needs lots of sleep!  Oh, and my title?  That's how Charlotte says pumpkin.  It's pretty darn cute.

Yep, I made that skirt!

If they get married, I'm totally putting this on their wedding slideshow!

Fall break.

It's fall break and I've been stuck with the kids enjoying spending quality time with the kiddos.  We finally recovered from our illnesses after about a week in the house!  In addition to fall break, I've also had to begin a low-iodine diet in preparation for my radioactive iodine scan.  This is to check to make sure that my thyroid cancer is still in remission.  The diet is very restrictive; I'm not allowed to eat any dairy, any processed foods including bread, and can eat limited amounts of meat.  So, I've made a couple loaves of bread using non-iodized salt and have been cooking up a storm so that I'll have things to eat and snack on.  I am lucky in that the thyroid cancer website put together a low-iodine cookbook so that those on the diet don't have to think too much about what to make.  There are lots of different options so I don't feel too deprived.  I did make the cranberry-pumpkin muffins (recipe on page 99 of the current book) from the Thyca Cookbook and have been enjoying them.  Often.  I'll probably start to look like a baby with jaundice soon, due to the amount of pumpkin I've consumed.
I've been busy doing lots of sewing but have a lot of unfinished projects.  One project that I did work on, with the help of the sweetest little five-year-old, was organizing all of my thread.  I think that it was a great project to work on today, my mom's birthday.  I got the idea to put the thread in jars from my friend, Amanda, who never reads my blog.  I thought I ought to give a shout out to her since she's one of the people who really inspired me to start sewing.  She's very talented!  On the off chance that she actually does read this, I don't want her to think that I ripped off her idea without giving her credit!  Here's a picture of the finished product (note my awesome birthday present from Peter on the right-hand side of the picture)!

 Below are a few of my unfinished projects.  I told Alexander that I wasn't going to start any new projects until I make a good dent in these.  Hope I can stick to that because there are a bunch of things in this pile!

 This is one of the things that is in that pile of 'things to do'.  Luckily, all it needs are buttonholes and buttons and then it will be ready to wear.  It's made out of flannel and it's oh-so-comfy!  Wish I had one in my size to slip on during the chilly winter!

 I couldn't get this picture to turn around so you're going to have to turn your head.  It's heading to my friend, Amanda's house tomorrow to get a monogram (wow, Amanda is in this post twice!).  This will be Charlotte's birthday party outfit since the theme of the party is ice cream.  Thanks so much to Melody for the ice cream idea.  She suggested it several months ago and I started planning from that point forward.

Illness.

 Yes, illness.  That has been the theme of our house for the last week or so.  At the beginning of the week, Charlotte had fever.  At the end of the week, Alexander had an upset tummy and fever, and at the very end of the week, I had fever and aches.  I think we're all on the upswing now and are ready to greet this new week with  healthy smiles.  We're never this sick this much so it's taken a lot out of me!  Say a little prayer for Peter that he stays well since work and school are so busy right now; he can't afford to be sick.  I did want to jump on here and show you a few photos of what we've been up to.

Even when sick, Charlotte managed a smile.  I think she knew that she was living on the edge!

Alexander and I took a trip to Gentry's Pumpkin Farm one afternoon while Charlotte was sick and taking a nap.  We had a great time!

A pair of pajama pants for Charlotte to match Alexander's

 Below is a skirt that I made using Moda fat quarters purchased at the Village Mercantile with an old high school buddy, Jenny Allen Wampler.  She made me spend lots and lots of money!  Can't wait to finish up another outfit using the snowman fabric that we found!  Quick note on this skirt, I used my new serger to roll hem the bottom of the skirt and I also used it to do the gathering.  I think it turned out pretty well, just have to get it on the girl to check it out!

Yay for cute skirts!

And, because I know that you're just itching for some cute Halloween...here's the dress that I made for Charlotte's Candy Corn Costume (say that 5 times in a row)!  I hope to make some matching barrettes but that may fall by the wayside if I can't get the boys and my costumes finished. I'm not sure the photo does this justice but I promise you, it's cute.  It's even lined so the felt won't be scratchy!  

Serger!

Just so you don't feel like I've left you in the lurch, I am so busy playing with my new birthday present, a Babylock serger, I haven't updated in a bit.  I am still doing lots of sewing but I haven't done much cooking lately.  I hit a cooking block and haven't felt motivated to make anything.  Now that the cooler weather is setting in, I'm in the mood for soups, stews, and chili!  If you have a good recipe that you want to share, feel free to send me a link or a copy of the recipe.  I won't say no to some good inspiration!
I haven't photographed my latest projects because I've not yet completed them.  I'm totally out of elastic.  I'm all but finished with a cute skirt made of Moda fat quarters and a pair of pajama pants for Charlotte.  I used the same monkey flannel that I made Alexander's out of but I've added a ruffle to the bottom of Charlotte's for a little bit of a girly twist. I'm also putting the finishing touches on the Quiet Book for Charlotte.  I can't wait to show you all when I finally bind it all together.
Let me just tell you, I don't know how I lived without my serger and I've only been using it for a few days!  It will be fun to learn all the different things that it can do, even though the lady who taught me how to do the main stuff told me that it's basically a dumb sewing machine (no zig-zag stitch, no back stitch, only sews in a straight line).  I have a feeling that my serger and I are going to be great friends!  Thanks, Peter, Alexander, and Charlotte for this great gift!!