For one final word on Banana Bread Muffins (see previous posts), after posting about my Banana-stealing dream, I received a coupon in today's mail for "1 FREE POUND OF BANANAS."

Coincidence?  I think not.

Apparently I think about Banana Bread Muffins so frequently that I had a dream about them last night.

I was at someones house, not sure if I knew them or not, and I STOLE their brown bananas.  In my head I rationalized, "Brown bananas take at least four days to age, I only have two muffins left from the last batch."  I literally lifted this persons old bananas by putting them in my purse.

If this happens to you, while I'm at your house, I have to apologize in advance.  There may be something about these muffins that I just can't control.

Without any real measures of my intelligence, not belonging to the "work force," I'm constantly trying to prove myself and think of new ways in which I am "master of my domestic universe."

One thing I have apparently mastered is the art of Banana Bread Muffins.  Honestly, I'm quite sure that I've invented the idea.  In fact, I'll bet Martha Stewart has been meaning to call me for a chat on baking techniques.

Well, none of the above may be true, but what I do know is that my mother can only make Banana Bread in loaves and has yet to crank out a batch of chow-worthy muffins.  She alludes to it being a silly idea and claims she's "above scrubbing a muffin pan."  I think my dishwasher does a fine job with the pan** and it's not so much the gear as it is the operator.

For the record, the Banana Bread recipe is my mothers, so I had better give credit where credit is due.  Here it is, in-case you get a hankering for one of these delicious treats or feel the need to weigh-in on the debate.  Loaves or muffins?

Banana Bread (Loaves or muffins?  You choose.)
Preheat to 350 degrees.

1.5 sticks of softened butter
1.5 cups of white sugar
1.5 cups of mashed bananas (3 or 4)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
.5 cup milk

Cream together butter, bananas, sugar, vanilla and eggs.  Add flour, soda and salt.  Add milk.

Butter or "Pam" your tins.

Spoon mixture into tins.  Cover the top with chocolate chips.

Bake until the top is golden brown.  Loaves: 30-40 minutes.  Muffins: 15 minutes.

**I meant to take a picture of how clean my pan was after removing the pictured batch of 2 dozen, but I hate to brag.

While locally we're dripping in spookiness, this past weekend we thought we'd check out the seasonal awareness in other parts of the state.

In Stillwater, we met up with some average-looking locals who were showing off their extraordinary pumpkins.  These monsters were so heavy that they needed to be moved with forklifts and pallets.  For Axel this event hybridized his two loves, machinery and the environment.

One by one the giants arrived.  Some were disguised in blankets to keep the weigh-in suspenseful.

The farmers attach bags of water to their stems in order to preserve the water weight until it's on the scale. 

Thank you stranger who took this picture.

A few pumpkins were hollowed out for the "Pumpkin Regatta."  Someone crawled inside and paddled these babies down the Saint Croix River.  (We missed the actual race...nap time.)

What's one season without preparing for the next?  The girls took a few hours to try a new beading technique.  All the stars are wearing wrap bracelets this season...and so are we...and maybe you...if you're on our Christmas list.

I thought this would be such a cute picture...Axel climbing to get at his ghosts, made fresh for our new yard.  I didn't take into account that he may be terrified clinging to a limb with only his tiny hands.  Bummer.

Here's a close-up of a ghost.  Muslin, stuffed with plastic shopping bags, felt eyes.  Total cost of these babies, $0.  I did have all of the materials already, but if I had to purchase the fabric, I would guess about $2 each.

Trees, pumpkins, what's the difference?  This kid will hug anything that grows.

Axel saw a pair of witch legs in a store and thought it was such a funny idea he couldn't stop laughing.  Not wanting to spend $20 on them, we stitched up a pair of our own today. Although I again had the materials necessary, if I had to purchase them, 1/4 yard each of two felt colors, the total price would have been about $1 plus a piece of scrap ribbon.

A pair of old-faithful Smartwools met the fall air this past weekend.  I was lucky enough to ride middle on one very "boyish" canoe trip as the temperatures dropped to sweatshirt-friendly.

Tyler, Jahred, Axel, Oscar and I paddled around Bluff Lake as the leaves turned before our eyes.  Still quite green in this particular part of Wisconsin, we were treated to changing leaves along every part of the two-hour drive.

We had a beautiful time, burned plenty of fallen limbs, cooked a few square meals, and left our cell-phones in the car.

Do you know what I love about sock season?  Everything.

Pictured below are a few abstract photos of the indoor hobbies I plan for when my socks need to hybernate.  Some hobbies are new, some revisited, perhaps I'll talk more about them in the months ahead.

WARNING:  Minnesota winter on the horizon.  Get your feet aired out while you can!

Cheers.

With almost 100% of my friends in the working world, I find it hard to inch my way into "workplace attire" conversations when I have no "day job."  While they may find it hard to believe that I proudly shop at Savers, and I find it hard to believe that people in corporate America aren't allowed to wear jeans, we do agree on one thing, casual Fridays.  (Well, Friday may as well be any day for me, but I completely understand the significance of dedicating a day to an utter wardrobe vacation.)

The problem I've been having lately is that my scarves, while all autumn worthy, aren't dressed down enough for couch-slouching/rolling in the leaves.  I spent some time browsing the archives of my favorite blogs recently and found this little idea, that has completely turned my t-shirt days into something drool-worthy, to even my most formal friends.

Here's how.

Attack your husbands t-shirt stash.  Take anything you figure he won't notice.  I bought a few t-shirts at Savers, since my husband is particularly fond of ALL of his t-shirts.  A mother once told me that, "Girls need a lot to keep them happy.  Boys just need their FAVORITE t-shirt, EVERY DAY."  So, not wanting to upset the apple cart, I bought a few used t's.

Arrange each shirt so it fits on your cutting board, and cut off the bottom hem.  You can use a rotary cutter or a scissors.  No need to buy supplies for this no-sew project.

Save the hem, you will use it later.

Cut the t-shirt into 3/4" strips (or there about).  No need to measure, just eyeball it.  Do this to several shirts of different colors.

Give the strips a good stretch.  This will cause them to curl slightly.

Wrap these big circles around your fingers until they look like little nests.

Make lots of little nests.  You will need about 32 to make one scarf.  Each t-shirt should give you at least 10-15 nests.

Take those hem pieces (that I told you to set aside) and cut them into 5" pieces.  Line up the nests and tie them together using the hem.  Alternate colors, making a pattern or a random eclectic scarf.

You will end up with something like this.

And I am a dork.  Ready for casual Friday.  Which is tomorrow.

With autumn on the horizon and the days getting shorter, we spent our Saturday cramming all we could into the dwindling daylight.

Two art fairs, one playground, a pumpkin patch/petting zoo and one busy apple orchard.  Capping off our day was the most gorgeous hot air balloon, about to set sail before our eyes.  Axel was intrigued to say the least.

Thought I would post a few links to some of my new favorite artists, discovered along the St.Croix river, showcasing their talents.
Tru-Leigh Yours Designs
Sue Rowe
Jeff Boutin

Lots of Minnesota and Wisconsin talent out there.  Just getting some ideas for x-mas, which is right around the corner.

It takes a stalker to find great thrifty deals.  I've been hitting up Savers, Goodwill and Once Upon a Child every day for the past week, waiting for them to put out the kids winter gear!

Seriously, have you priced kids winter coats?  A Columbia can run you upwards of $150, other brands coming in at slightly less.  Honestly, for the few times these jackets receive rough and tumble snow action, it is hardly worth parting with a pay check for a one-season-wonder.  Kids grow so rapidly you simply cannot count on a coat that fits for multiple seasons.

I hit it big at Once Upon a Child today as I saw this NEW Woolrich coat hanging in the "size 7" section.  I knew it looked to be just the right size and TA-DA...it was a 5!  I love when things are hung in the wrong spot!

It's seriously adorable.  Chocolate corduroy on the outside and completely waterproofed on the inside.  The hood has a HUGE closure with cinching mechanisms on the sides, it features lots of pockets for Lightening McQueen and friends, a bottom waistband with rubber/ adjustable snaps to keep it pulled over his hinder, and best of all are the Ninja Sleeves!  As Axel put his arms in, his little hands threaded into thumb and finger compartments.  What a lovely invention to keep the sleeves in place and prevent snow from biting that precious skin around his wrists.

"It's like a ninja mom!"  He came up with that on his own...I'm going with it.

The Ninja was less than thrilled about his modeling gig, but I had to brag a bit about my $16 find.  Bring it on Minnesota.

I realize it's been a while since I divulged what my nook and I are paging through.  To name a few I'll give a quick book review of my current favorites.

After being highly advised by my editor to "immediately stop the use of semicolons," he followed his harsh words with a strong recommendation to read Madame Bovary.  "It's the most perfect piece ever written." 

Apparently Flaubert was such a perfectionist that he could be heard shouting each line out loud until it was flawless.  I began reading this for the editorial aspects but fell in love with the story line as well.  It transcends decades, centuries, and I find many hints of myself in Emma Bovary.

As a side note, the column I submitted to Dennis this week received this comment: "I love this column. It's my favorite you've written so far. I think it's the "ideal" column beause it's conversational, it's personal, it's gently funny, it's full of great visuals and it makes points everyone can relate to. It's also the perfect length. Love it! I can guarantee you readers will enjoy the hell out of it."

Those comments don't come free, or ever.  Let's hope the publisher feels the same way and runs it this week.  I'll send a link when possible.

A super quick read.  Man runs his car into girl on a bicycle.  Man lives to deal with the fallout.  It's very real, very "what if" and very "no turning back."  I admire this piece and the courage he has to tell it, just the way he wants, in a short but powerful memoir.

I chose this book for my new book club this month.  Gustavus, my alma mater chose it as well for their "reading in common" program this fall.  I was interested in Nerburn as a Minnesota author and for his unbelievable storytelling skills.  A beautiful read, a wonderful journey, and one you won't put down.

For good measure I threw in Jane Eyre.  It's maybe the fifth time I've read this one and have never fallen out of love with her.  Here's to the classics!