Many Mondays are quite awful around here. I wake up too late. I'm too lazy to eat breakfast - then regret it later, followed by hours of stalling on the computer before finally submitting to the sewing machine and lastly feeling guilty for not getting much of anything done.

But today I'm feeling spunky, alive, and happy to get back to work. Happy to spend the majority of my day with the Juki and happy to be surrounded with green. The effect of a new work zone is invigorating.

Today's spirit might have something to do with my weekend too. It was so lovely. We had a funeral on Friday which -yes absolutely was sad- , but also I think a bit of a relief for the family. When someone spends half of their life suffering with physical pain it is a comfort to know that though their body failed, they now are enjoying the kingdom of God. We got to spend the whole day with loved ones which really was a blessing.

The weather was really nice this weekend. It almost reminded me of summer. We spent an evening around a campfire, with friends who bought their first place just around the corner. I love watching them and recalling that feeling of being a first time homeowner. Before the bills really set it. Before anything breaks. It's beautiful. It's bliss. 

And lastly we enjoyed breakfast on Sunday, snuggled on the same side of a booth meant for 6, with a live musician serenading our french toast. It was comforting and for some reason as I sipped orange juice with my future husband's arm around my back I had one of those moments when all the bad feelings dissipate and you realize just exactly how lucky you are. So today I'm seeing life on the sunny side. 

Photo credit minato

I'm having a pattern sale to promote handmade giving this Holiday season. All PDF patterns are 2 for $10.

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Sale ends 11.15.09

My whole obsession and jealousy and lust for an industrial sewing machine began when Allyson got hers. I'll admit it was on my mind for probably over a year before that, but I had always put it off and really my Bernina is such a dream most of the time that I never seriously flirted with others. But upon seeing Allyson's it got my gears turning again and I delved deep into a research period followed by about a week of knowing it would happen, but trying to decide how and when. Then like all great decisions in life I just jumped on it. 

And I couldn't be happier with my decision to get my Juki. My love. My soul mate...*clears throat" umm well... my friend and partner in crafting crime. She's model DNU-1541 and she's a gem. This girl rips through layers of heavyweight fabric backed with interfacing like none other and I'm hoping to spend some time in the next couple months becoming familiar with leather as a new medium. The absence of the sound of a steam roller plowing through our house every time I made a gusset in a heavy weight bag has both John and I amazed... the juki just hums. 

The Bernina still has a strong place in my heart too. Where the Juki has strength and speed, the Bernina can be delicate and has great precision and so she will always have a place in my craft room too. 

Today I am thankful...

1. That Fall finally did show her face.

2. That I'm sitting in my new studio. Even though I'm surrounded by stuff awaiting organization up to my elbows... I'm still IN!! 

3. For a temporary excuse to get a sugar high otherwise known as Halloween.

4. For finding a greater sense of community in a town that used to seem so big and anonymous.

5. And lastly finding last years slippers under the bed, just in time to enjoy them.

Today I partook in a great tradition. Lefse making. 

At our church it is a yearly practice to meet on Tuesday mornings to mix, roll, and flip. Everyone has their job and everything has it's place. These batches of lefse are then sold at a yearly bazaar where they are so sought after that they have had to put a limit on how many a person can buy. It's truly a delicious treat made even sweeter by knowing the effort and care that was put into it.

There is something so fascinating to me about learning a skill like this. It's something that will stay with me forever. Not just the physical skill itself, but the memories of those who made it before me... those who labored with love to make things by hand and those who took the time to cherish it, preserve it, and know the value of passing it along.

Ops. Sorry to leave you hanging with that pumpkin post. My internet has been on the fritz and no matter how much I shake my fist at the computer, things are still on the down. 

So after you roasted your pumpkin I hope you didn't throw away all those gooey seeds. Clean them up and roast them too. You'll be thanking me as you much away on those crunchy, delicious and healthy snacks.

Here is how you do it. Wash or brush off seeds. Most people say don't wash them, but I've found you can as long as you let them dry for a while before roasting. Mix in a teaspoon or two of olive oil and your favorite salt or seasoning. We like pure sea salt, but ranch seasoning has been popular too. Roast for about 45 minutes in a 300 degree oven.

I like to eat them when they are still warm and toasty from the oven... preferably next to the fireplace, under a blanket watching the world turn white around me. Snow in October is still a novelty so I'm going to enjoy it the best way I know how.

PS. Because things have turned so cold around here I thought it was time to warm up the blog too. Do you like the new look??

As news of the seasons first snowfall is whispered across the state my mind turns to the kitchen. It's a seasonal awakening to foods that are forgotten in the heat of summer. Chili, soup, stroganouff, pie, pastry, pudding. Things that warm the soul and give us a reason to turn on the stove.

This week I was inspired by Pam to try my hand at making homemade pumpkin puree. We already had an extra sugar pumpkin from our CSA and instead of letting it go to rot on our front porch I wanted to make use of it.

So I cut it in half, seeded it, and placed it cut side down for 1 hour in a 350 degree oven. Easy as pie, as Pam would say. And now I'm trying to decide what to do with all my puree. Pie, bars, loaves, cookies even... What's your favorite pumpkin recipe?

And don't forget to save this gooey mess. I'll show to a yummy way to make use of those too!