Stitches | September

We went shopping for my little girl this month. She needed some new outfits. Here are two combos. Next month I should have two more ready to show you. The skirts we found all needed alterations to work. 

I had/have to tighten elastic waist bands, add elastic waist bands, and shorten hems.

I also sewed two buttons: one for a pair of little boy pants and one for my dress that I have replaced buttons on before (you may recognize it.)

I have also been sewing patches on my son's overalls that he has worn to death. He has pleaded for me to patch them so I am working on it.

Nature In September

My favorite picture in this batch is the frog. Mostly because it was a funny situation. The Comma Butterfly picture is close second favorite. Which picture do like the best from this month? What are your favorite things about this time of year?

Our last Monarch caterpillar went into it's chrysalis. It crawled onto our door jam to make it's transformation.

Metamorphosis!

We took it outside to let it's wings finish drying.
 

I saw a whole bunch of turkeys during my morning walk this month. I couldn't get very close to take a picture. That is why this picture is grainy. I was surprised to see so many birds!

I was sad to see this snake crushed one morning.

I was amazed to find dozens of these caterpillars crawling down our road one morning. I have no idea where they are going or why they are going together or where they came from, but I took a short video clip to show you.

A lot of mornings I take a picture of sunrise down at the end of our road where it joins the highway. I can tell the sun is working it's way in a southerly direction across the eastern horizon. Sunrise doesn't happen before 6:30 anymore either. 

Our resident Garden Spider is getting quite fat!

We acquired a jumping spider this month and are keeping him in a terrarium. Here he is eating a fly.

This is one of the frogs that was hanging out in our RV water tank. I got three of them to jump out when I refilled the tank last time. The stinkers! I had heard them singing down there in their echo-y chamber so I wasn't too surprised to find them blocking the water inlet pipe.

This Comma Butterfly came to sample our watermelon mess. I don't see Comma or Question Mark Butterflies too often. I was glad that I had my camera handy.

Seasons are changing! From the later sunrises to the goldenrod blooming, Autumn is here!

Coleslaw Dressing Recipe!

 

I cobbled together this coleslaw dressing a couple weeks ago. It turned out really good. I am going to write it out here for future reference. I think it could be improved by the addition of a little black pepper. I'll include that in this this ingredient list even though I did not use black pepper in my version.

Coleslaw Dressing for 2 1/2 lbs. Shredded cabbage 

1 1/2 cups Mayonnaise 

1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar 

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 t. Ground Mustard 

1/4 t. Celery Seed

1/8 t. Black Pepper

Mix well and pour over shredded cabbage right before serving.

Peanut Butter Fudge Cake Recipe!

I made this cake last week for my birthday. It is one of my mom's recipes. I doubled the cocoa because I love chocolate. Talk about rich! Three sticks of butter in total, 2 cups of sugar and 3 cups of powdered sugar. I was afraid it would be too sweet, but it wasn't. It was delicious! And I would make it again without changing a thing (except that cocoa thing which I already did.)

Peanut Butter Fudge Cake Recipe 

1 c. Butter
1 c. Water
1/2 c. Cocoa 
2 c. Sugar
2 c. Flour 
1 t. Baking Soda
1 t. Salt
2 Eggs, Beaten
1/2 c. Buttermilk 
Peanut Butter Layer:
1/2 c. Peanut Butter
Frosting:
1/2 c. Butter
1/4 c. Cocoa Powder 
6 T. Buttermilk 
3 c. Powdered Sugar 
1 t. Vanilla Flavor

Boil butter, water, and cocoa. 
Mix together flour, baking soda, and salt together.
Pour boiled mixture over dry ingredients. Stir until smooth.
Combine eggs and buttermilk in measuring cup.
Add eggs and buttermilk to to batter, stirring constantly to prevent eggs from cooking.

Pour into greased 9×13 pan.
Bake at 350°F. 45-50 minutes.

While cake is baking boil butter, buttermilk, cocoa for frosting. Remove from heat, stir in powdered sugar.
Spread peanut butter over cake while still warm.
Pour frosting over peanut butter.
Allow to cool before serving.
Enjoy!

This is the same recipe as my mom's Texas Sheet Cake except you put it in a 13"×18" sheet pan.  Bake at 350°F. 25-30 minutes. Use the same frosting. Leave out the peanut butter.

Mr. In The Mid-west's Favorite Coffee Cake Recipe

 

This is Mr. In the Mid-west's favorite coffee cake that I make on Saturday mornings sometimes and for birthday breakfasts often. I thought maybe you'd like to try it sometime. It is super easy to throw together in the morning.

Betty Crocker Coffee Cake 

3 c. Flour

1 1/3 c. Sugar 

1T. +2 t. Baking Powder 

1 1/2 t. Salt

1/2 c. Oil

1 1/2 c. Milk

2 eggs

In a bowl mix together dry ingredients. 

Separately combine wet ingredients. 

Stir the two mixes together.

 Pour into a greased 9×13 pan. Sprinkle with TOPPING.

Bake at 375°F. for 25-30 min.

TOPPING:

2/3 c. Sugar 

1/2 c. Flour

2 t. Cinnamon 

6 T. Soft Butter 

Mix together until a crumbley texture is achieved.

I make a half size recipe and bake it in a smaller pan to fit my toaster oven.