advent

December 1st is right around the corner, which means it's advent calendar season!

from the archives

Even though I've given away two advent calendars, I still have just plans for my own. Not sure whether I'll do another stocking one (or mini knitted toques or mittens or...) or whether I'll try something different. This round-up of 30 advent calendars gave me a few more ideas to toss around.

My favourites were this house and ornaments one, the one made of beautiful (and sentimental) cards, and this page-a-day one for the fridge (but I don't think I'd want to remake one every year...)

Good thing December 1st comes around every year so I can be reminded to dream up grand schemes for my own perfect count-down calendar.

cozy cabin socks

These are for the MIL for xmas -- the aptly named 'log cabin socks' from Handknit Holidays. The recommended yarn was so incredibly soft, warm, and beautiful in the light ash blue, that I didn't even bother hunting down a suitable substitute. This is probably one of the few times I've used the yarn in a pattern, since I usually try to use something from the stash (feeling lazy) or find an 'on sale' option (feeling frugal).

One down... one to go...

pumpkin bread

I've got Christmas on the brain. But before I get so far into thinking about upcoming holiday goodies that it hardly feels like the season for pumpkin, may I recommend a moist pumpkin bread?

Sorry, I'm not sure where this recipe came from -- copied from somewhere on a scrap of paper.

pumpkin bread

1 loaf

2 C all-purpose flour

2 teas baking powder

1/2 teas baking soda

1/2 teas salt

1 C packed brown sugar

1 teas cinnamon

1/2 teas ground nutmeg

1/2 teas ground cloves

2 large eggs

1/2 C butter, melted

1/3 C pure maple syrup

1 C canned unsweetened pumpkin (or pureed, fresh steamed pumpkin)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x5x3" loaf pan and set aside.

Mix flour, powder, soda, salt, sugar, and spices in large bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, butter, syrup and pumpkin. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and fold together. Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-55 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Carefully turn out onto wire rack and let cool a bit before serving. Serve warm or room temperature.

yay for handmade holidays!

I love November. It's awesome for many reasons, but for the third year in a row, I'm loving the fact that November is when the Sew Mama Sew blog churns out great crafty gift ideas every single day.

Head on over. I already want to make the incredibly cute and edible pie in a jar and also this top for next summer.