IT has begun...

IT has begun:

....wood stacking.  Ugh.  This is one of the big difference between Paul and I.  He finds it relaxing.  I find it boring.  And tedious.  And BORING.  Part of my job in all this is to drive the lawn mower with the little cart attached, to bring the wood from the back to the front.  And yesterday?  Here's what I did:

I HATE trying to back up with the cart attached!  It just doesn't go the way I want it to no matter how many times I try (the above damage happened on the 6th time I had readjusted to try and get it in the right spot).  I would much rather just go forward all the time, but yesterday the cars were in the way.  Next time, i will move the cars.  One might think I would persevere and just get some practice with the backing up thing.  But, nope.  I've tried this SO. MANY. TIMES.  Life is too short to waste it on practicing this and fixing downspouts.

In other fall-related activities....I made THE yummiest thing to bring to a party on Saturday....  Apple Fritter Cake.  It is from the Cookies and Cups blog, and is a little involved (as she states) but it is VERY yummy.  Made with my favorite Honey Crisp apples that I got from Indian Ladder Farms.  Forgot to take pictures while I was making it, but here is the final result:

Oh and did I mention this is the first one, of two, that I made because I messed this one up?  There is a batter layer, then an apple-y layer, then you are supposed to sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon and then another batter layer, then just a little sprinkle of brown sugar.  I forgot the brown sugar layer in the middle so I put it all on the top and tried to swirl it in.  Then I was so mad that I forgot and wanted to make sure it came out the way it was supposed to, that I made another one.  After I ran to Stewart's for more sour cream.  This one still tastes excellent.  I actually don't know how the other one came out!  I brought it to the party and then ate other dessert(s) since I had this one at home.  Speaking of which, I need to get the recipe for the yummy S'mores Bars that were there.


In Knitting News:
I made this in two days!:

It was quick quick quick!  And so easy.  It's a pattern called Time Warp, which is a slip stitch pattern and can be modified to make a shawl or a longer cowl.  I used Cascade Casablanca yarn and the color striping works really well with the slip stitch pattern, don't you think?

And I've discovered something to help with my horrible impatience with blocking.....

That rack sits in the dryer so that the item won't tumble around.  I put the dryer on "no heat" and in about 40 minutes it was dry!  How did I not know what that rack-thingy was hanging next to the dryer all this time????



In Book News:
I had a shopping "accident" at Barnes & Noble the other day...

I was just passing through to get to the candle store across the hall at the mall and just couldn't pass up the buy 2 get 1 free table.  I saw 2 books that I had wanted to get already, then found another that was recommended on the Books on the Nightstand podcast.  Usually I can't find 3 books that I want to buy, so I saw this as a sign that I should do it.  Stay tuned for the book reviews!

AND, I'm subscribing to Paul's theory that you can never have enough motors books.  Especially since we went to Rome, NY last weekend to pick this up:

There are a couple more already in the garage I think.  Doesn't it look awful?  Like you wouldn't want to/couldn't do anything with it? Apparently that is not the case and apparently it was a good buy - good enough to drive two hours to get it - and you just never know when you will need another one.

In Gardening News:
The garden is done.  Picked all the green tomatoes that I could and pulled up all the stakes.

 Now to mulch and till for the winter... Can't wait for next year and a bigger garden and doing all the things right that I did wrong this year.


And check out the cute little critters we saw playing in the yard the other day (picture quality not great since they were so far away):

In case you can't tell - foxes.

Last week we saw the blue heron in the pond. Love that about our yard.