Baking, Birthdays, and Such

I've discovered a new baking book....I'm in LOVE! Dorie Greenspan's "Baking: From My Home to Yours" This is a comprehensive, easy to follow, baking book for all of the home-style goodies I like to make for the family. I haven't tried a recipe I didn't like yet!

Also, Monday I turned 30...though the main event of the day was Yom Kippur, we had a birthday break-fast celebration at the end of the evening. Just a couple of friends over, with lots of noisy kids running around....and Haim did a very "interesting" Hawiian Luau version of happy birthday on Maya's lap-harp.

Otherwise, slowly creeping towards the end of pregnancy....only a couple of weeks to go now! And our garden is growing nicely...though I do think Haim has gotten a bit overzealous with the corn.

Lastly, I finished the curtains and pillowcases for Maya's playroom. I'm really happy with how it looks, though once haim hangs the curtains I'll really have an idea of how it looks...and I've started on a new and very simple project....napkins. Ours are getting a bit ratty, as we only use cloth and have had them for 5 years...too many wine stains ect...so I found a great homespun fabric that should hide lots of abuse....and then I found a lovely tutorial online at the purl bee and I seem to be golden...though I've not completed one yet. But I have discovered some new tools (rotary cutter, self healing pad, line ruler, bias tape maker) in the process, that I think may revolutionize my minimal sewing skills.

All in all, it's been a lovely September!

Rosh Hashanna

(yes, I made the Challas....Haim, however, did all of the yummy salads)

Planting

Grandma's feeling better...and we've got a bit more time to fool around the house again. For a week I was going down to N Miami (not the end of the world, but 18 miles round trip none the less) every day, and then my aunt Lynn was in town managing grandma a bit more, but I was still going down to visit daily. Now Lynn is gone, grandma is feeling good, and I've had a bit more time to devote to both feeling like a pregnant whale (and frequently laying "beached" on the couch) and doing household stuff like getting our garden started, restocking the freezer, unpacking and organizing remaining boxes from the move, and just keeping things clean, tidy and orderly....with the daily house explosion that comes from having a toddler!
I started some seedlings Sunday a week ago, and we planted a decent portion of them in some prepared beds. Spaghetti squash, corn, peas, cukes, watermelon and tomatoes...still have peppers, broccoli, fennel, herbs and flowers to plant, maybe next week. Also, will direct seed some onions and carrots. We'll see how it all turns out. I loved planting with Maya, she "tucked in" and kissed each plant as she helped me set them in the ground. Very cute!