(Sorry ahead of time for some of the slightly blurry pictures! I took them quickly before packing this gift up and should have checked them, but, alas. . .)

It's really not like I need another hobby to become obsessed with and to litter my house with scraps of some fiber-based material while I totally neglect to unload the dishwasher, but it may be too late. Why are baby quilts the best thing ever?! This was a gift for my husband's sister-in-law, Kate, who is due with her first baby in December. The gender is a surprise, so I tried to lean more gender-neutral (I think it turned out a little more on the "boy" side, but look! there's some flowers in there!) The pattern is the mod circle applique baby quilt, but instead of a charm pack I picked 6 different quilting fabrics I liked. Unlike my last quilt, this one was applique instead of patchwork, which I found to be a slightly quicker process but still with a very rewarding result. I also made my own bias tape this time (I'll never go back to pre-made again!) and I used a single layer of plain flannel instead of cotton batting in the middle, to make the blanket softer and more flexible. Can't wait to meet another little niece/nephew!

Late Thursday night we got back from spending six days in the Palm Desert in California, visiting Alan's Nana and Papa and most of his extended family. The four hours we spent in traffic trying to get from the Desert to LA for our flight confirmed one of the main reasons I could never live in California, the other main one being the lack of real seasons. Sure, it was a little brisk stepping off the plane into 40 degree weather when we boarded in 80 degrees in LA, but man did that chill feel good. I need the forced adaptation that the changing weather and light insists upon; it's an opportunity for growth. The only downside, I suppose, is the feeling of scrambling that often ensues as I try to adjust my routine and recultivate cold-weather hobbies and remember how you keep kids occupied inside all day long. So it goes with this space as well, as I try to figure out what a blogging routine looks like in the colder seasons. Anyways, forgive me that some of these photos are all the way from back in September (!) I have another quilt project and photos from a birth I shot before leaving for California to share here, so I will be back with those over the next several days, but for now I'll leave you with the above snapshots.

1. First try at homemade ricotta

2. Truly epic bed-head

3. Soy and maple glazed salmon over beet thinnings from the fall garden

4. Proof that kids will eat said beet greens

5. So many salad greens!

6, 7. Our new wood-stove and a sick sleeping babe

8, 9. The last of the zinnias