Falling in love with Autumn

I love all of the seasons for various reasons, but fall is probably my favorite.

The world is changing colors, the days are getting shorter, the air is getting cooler, and you get to a place where curling up with a hot cup of cocoa and a blanket sounds really good.

It's the time I love to be outdoors and the time I kick hand crafting into high gear.

Currently in process? A lap quilt to donate to the nursing home, to be followed by a shawl and a few pairs of leg warmers. After that? Let the Christmas gift making frenzy begin!

When making my gifting list this year, I started to feel overwhelmed. I was thinking about how I have so many people I feel obligated to. And then it hit me: screw that.

I think this should be about showing the people who meant a lot to you during a particular year how much you love and/or appreciate them. Obligations be damned. So, with a considerably lighter--but much more meaningful--list....I'm all smiles. What can I make each of you, I wonder, that will be as special and awesome as you deserve? We shall see.

I'm also tired of stressing out about every other blasted thing on earth, lol. Relationships, my work, my future, etc. So I'm going to try something new for a few weeks. I'm going to wake up early, enjoy each day as it comes, and not try and force resolutions on anything. I'm not good at relaxing. You almost have to MAKE me to even get it to happen, but maybe this is the next best thing? Not 'relaxing' per se, but rather 'taking everything in slow stride, not planning everything.'

Here's hoping.
So here's to a month of no big changes or decisions ;)

Also, best tip ever? Make your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, but instead of eggs, use sweetened condensed milk. Then you can eat the unbaked dough worry free! Also, roll into balls and coat in chocolate for killer truffles.

And lastly, because EVERYONE loves Irish Soda Bread:::::BEST RECIPE EVER:::::::

3 1/2 C flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 C sugar
1/2 tsp soda
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 C whole fennel seeds
1 C golden raisins (I soak mine in rum and microwave for 2 mins)
2 C buttermilk
1 large egg.

Heat oven to 350.

Mix together dry ingredients, add fennel and raisins last Mix.
Whisk egg into milk. Add milk and egg into dry ingredients and stir until JUST combined. Do not overwork.

Scrape dough into greased 10" round pan (like you use for layer cake)

Bake for 50 minutes.

Serve warm or cool, toasted or not, sliced thin, with butter. SOOOO GOOOD!!

ENJOY FALL!!!!!!!!!!!!