Apples, fabrics and some yarn...

I cannot believe it is the middle of October already.  I sit here trying to gather my thoughts for all the little gifties I have in mind for gifts by December end.  My mind is frozen - so I decided to update on what I have been doing.

Apples galore.  Every year this time finds me heading to North Georgia for my delectable Winesap apples.  We will be blessed with Grandson #3(aka micro orange boy) in just a couple of weeks so it was necessary to restock my homemade applesauce! 

One day, whilst visiting my Trader Joe's, I came across an over abundance of apples.  Cortlands, MacIntosh, Jonathan, Rome, Delicious, and the list went on.  What if I didn't go to NGA for my apples and bought locally instead?  That is exactly what I did.  I bought the equivalent of one bushel (7 square bags) of Cortland apples and made from it:  5 quarts of canned just sliced apples, 9-1/2 pints apple butter, and 7 pints of applesauce, no sugar please.

I was thrilled.  So I treked back to TJ's and bought approximately one more bushel - this time Honeycrisp and MacIntosh.  Little Mommy came over (yes!  Orange boy and family moved to Marietta from the Rocket City which also took place end of September/1st of October) and we made more applesauce with the MacIntosh.  The Honeycrisp I put up for apple desert delights over the next year.  I. love. canning...

Next up I finished a quilt for Micro Orange Boy (see blue quilt below left) who should arrive on or around November 3rd.  Each of my babies has to have their own quilt.  I also found this adorable panel at my local quilt shop with trains and roads on it.  I added a border, some flannel "nuts and bolts" fabric for the back and my long-arm quilter quilted it right up for me. Mini Orange Boy will get this at Christmas time. 

As for the knitting front?  I finished this hat for which I bought 2 kits.  It is Techno Hat from Blue Sky Alpacas and I got them at KPixie. Love the yarn - so soft, fluffy and alpaca! 

And to end it all are some most precious Baby Booties.  This pattern hailed from Churchmouse Yarns and the pattern is Stay On baby Booties .  Fun, quick and easy, I made these with Karabella Aurora 4 which I had leftover in my stash.

In shop news, I have put in a pre-order with Hiya Hiya needles for their new Sharp needles - both in fixed and interchangeable.  Hiya Hiya anticipates that these needles should be ready for distribution on or around the first of December or shortly after...  I have a pair and let me tell you, they are the best yet...

So I guess I have been busy. I'll end this by saying the next items up on my sewing/knitting agenda will not be able to be shown until after the holidays...