Welcome to the extended version of the October 7-2018 newsletter. Thank you for clicking that button.
Happy Fall Y’all!
Is it fall where you live? Here in the midwest US, we haven’t had our first frost yet and barely a cool day. It’s still hot & humid. But…the pumpkin spice craze is here regardless, haha.
Big news!!
The Fiber Closet will be open during the Covered Bridge Festival October 12 – 21!! We are behind Cheryl’s house across from the Valero on Route 36 in Rockville, IN. If you are local or one of the nearly a million people coming to Parke County for the festival… stop in to visit. I absolutely love working from home, but I do miss visiting with people.
Hope to see you there!
Are you familiar with the term “easter eggs” used in the computer world (not actual Easter Eggs)? An Easter egg is an intentional inside joke, hidden message or image. I’ve been known to sneak them into my newsletter & blog posts once in a while. It’s like staying at a movie for the outtakes after the credits. Love those little bonuses!
October 7-2018 Newsletter
What to Read
The September Reading List came out last week. Look for it on the blog HERE!
This week I read a bonus novella of the Curse of the Gods series. I love this series. 
Since I am in official Covered Bridge Festival “PANIC-PREP” mode this week my reading will be mostly flash fiction or short stories. I love this genre anytime but especially when I am busy.
Here are a few of my current favorites:
- Fire: An Anthology – I wrote about this in my book list post last week. 12 authors contributed short stories with a central theme of fire. An excellent book.
- The Monster in the Closet and Other Stories by K. Kris Loomis – “These poignant, often humorous, contemporary short stories remind us how important human connections are in this crazy, yet beautiful world.”
- Any children’s book. I find children’s books often have lessons that adults could certainly use a reminder of. This week I reviewed The Underground Toy Society & the Annual Toy Drive
and The Underground Toy Society Halloween Scare
by Jessica D. Adams both excellent books with wonderful lessons while still being quite enjoyable for myself and the grandkids.
- This website is great for finding flash fiction to read: Flash Fiction Online
October 7-2018 Newsletter
What to Eat
This week I plan to prep some freezer meals to use the next couple of weeks. One cannot live on festival food alone. Hah! You do believe that right?
Once I get my Cruller Shack, Montezuma Hog Roast, and bread bowl soup fix, then I will try to eat meals at home & have left-overs for lunch.
Here are a couple of my quick favorites to make ahead:
- Bourbon-Bacon Pulled Pork is great from the freezer. I put it in quart ziplock bags so I can grab just the amount I need.
- Pasta! I make my sauce ahead & freeze it. I simply heat it in the microwave while the pasta is cooking. Pair this with a garden salad & dinner is ready in just minutes. If you make my lasagna recipe…Make 2 – Freeze 1! It’s the same amount of work but you have an extra meal.
- Soups! Once again when I make chili, ham & bean soup, or vegetable soup, I cook like I am feeding a large family/small army. I freeze the left-overs in gallon zip-lock bags. I find the soups thicken up a bit when you re-heat them so I usually add extra tomato juice, broth or water while I am re-heating them. If you don’t tell anyone, they will never know it’s left-overs.
You can throw these in the crockpot & forget them.
October 7-2018 Newsletter
What to Make
I have weaving fever again. I want to start something on every loom from my pin looms to the rigid heddle looms to my 7 ft triangle loom! This always happens when I tell myself I don’t have time to make…I get extreme “startitis”. Seriously, it’s a real thing!
Check out these projects I am working on:
- A pin-loom pumpkin – This is my creation and will be a blog post soon. All you get for now is a WIP (work in progress) picture.
- Wine gift bags! This post from Melissa Hankins of Schacht is so informative. She not only covers the pattern but also the bias against rigid heddle looms by floor loom weavers. There is a tutorial on hemstitching and several important tips. She packed a lot into one post.
I’m thinking Christmas gifts! - If I were a crocheter, this pattern would be on my hook. The Dreamer from The Hat & I showcases using a gradient & solid to create a striking blanket.
- Check out this fun project to make with children: Leaf Handprint Towels.
Read to the bottom. There are many more holidays shown.
Okay… I have to stop. I have reached the point where I think I am just avoiding the work I need to do. Otherwise, I could share stuff with you all day long!
Have a great week & I’ll see you back here next Sunday. But be sure to check the blog for new posts. I am trying to post new items, usually one per category each week.
Talk soon,
Gina
ps. About that easter egg. Check out this video for laugh out loud fun.
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Happy fall Gina! Thanks for the great post and for including two of my books in it!
Thanks Jessica. The book series is great. Even my 9 year old granddaughter enjoyed curling up & reading them with me. That’s a special treat!