Houston, I Think I Have a Problem!

Last summer Dear S set up a table in our unfinished basement for me to sew in.  It never was perfectly organized but it worked . . . till winter came and it was too cold to spend time down there.  So my sewing machine moved upstairs with my notions and some fabric.  The bulk of my fabric stayed downstairs.  Then crazy things in life happened (nothing serious) and the basement became a holding cell for all the things we didn't have time to put away. (Great example: the closet under the basement stairs is where we store our holiday decorations.  But for 4 months all the Christmas decorations sat in the hallway.)

All that stuff was piled onto my sudo-organized fabric.

Fast forward to this summer.  Grandma and Grandpa are coming in 3 weeks.  This year they will stay in the basement "guest room".  (The first time said guest room, unfinished 2x4's and all, will be used.)  So I have a basement that needs serious work.  And I am doing it.

And through the course of doing the work, I realized that I have TONS of fabric!!  Obsessive amounts of fabric.  I have a problem!!!  A very serious problem.  (Dare I breath the possiblility that I am a *gasp* hoarder? Or compulsive shopper?)

So, here is my challenge to myself:

I will not buy more fabric until I use or give away the bulk of my stash.

A few minor adendums:

a)  If I have a specific need, ie Halloween, I can buy more.

b)  If I find cotton knit on the cheap, I am totally picking it up.  I can't find it anymore and I L-O-V-E that stuff.

c) Wish me luck. I usually buy a few yards every time I go shopping!

There you have it.  Yesterday as I was "cleaning" I found several yards of fantastic 1970's print.  They are screaming for a maxi-dress.  But they are so bright they might be offensive.  Do I dare?

I will post pics of my new sewing space once we get it all cleaned.  It won't be pretty.  Not like Robyn's.  But it will be a space that I can sew and hopefully teach D how to use her machine.

Doughnuts

We cooked up 500 doughnuts last night on our front porch. At times the line went to the sidewalk (we have a pretty long front yard).  Great friends came and helped throughout the night.

It rained at the beginning of the night and that was miserable.  My hands were frozen to the bone. However, the weather improved and we had tons of fun seeing our neighbors.

Many people asked, so I will let you in on my doughnut secrets.

First the dough:  simple old buttermilk biscuits that come in a can.  The cheaper the better.

Next the fat: I think Crisco does a lot better.  I love the butter flavor.  Make sure it is at 375.  I use an electric skillet--it keeps it at the perfect temp. and I can cook outside and not stink up my house.

Now, the part you've all been asking about: The Glaze!  I use the glaze recipe from here.

Doughnut Glaze

• 1/3 cup butter
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 4 tablespoons hot water or as needed

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in hot water one tablespoon at a time until the icing is somewhat thin, but not watery.
The struggle is to keep it warm (on a cold Halloween night it just didn't work).  We are going to try something new next year to keep it warm.
Make sure you take your hot doughnut straight from the oil to the glaze or cinnamon sugar mixture.  You need that heat so your topping will adhere.
Have fun and Happy Halloween.

***I just realized I left out some important information!!  The hole!  When I was a kid, my ma used a small medication bottle to make the hole.  Our first year making these, I ran around the house trying to find one.  No luck.  Then I dug through my utensil drawers.  I found my apple corer. It is PERFECT!!  I can pop the middle out and then make doughnut holes.  It is the best! Happy frying.***

Halloween Memories

For the past month, my husband has been working on this:

Every time he gets a chance he adds something more to it. 

Over the course of the month I've been wondering why. 

Is it pride?--the best looking house in the neighborhood? (We've seen strangers taking pictures of our house) 

 Did he do it to relive some childhood fantasy? (That's him there tweaking it after a costume party)

 Yesterday, after we had traveled to the different schools to parties and performances I figured it out.

He did it for these pirates:

And all the other kids in the neighborhood.  He wanted to create memories.

This will be the third year we've cooked doughnuts on our porch.  Last year we added homemade root beer.  We do this for our son.  He is allergic to most candy (Smarties is about the only candy he can have).  So we have a party on our porch while the other kids are Trick or Treating.  We bring out a chimnea, light the tiki torches and have a blast.  If you are in the area, stop by.

I love listening to the kids as they walk to school--that's the pirate house, ooh, can we drive by the pirate house, etc.

So, my husband, built this (it is really something that should be seen live--pictures don't do it justice) for the community.  To show them that his favorite holiday can be magical (without blood).

He is my hot pirate.