Canning, baking and sewing baby stuff

I've begun my annual slide into late-summer depression, feeling sorry for myself that summer is almost gone. Where we live, the cottonwoods are always the first to turn and their leaves are picking up a yellow cast. Ah, where did the summer go?!

This week I did more pickles and worked with apples - making pies and applesauce. I have more apples in the garage and I think I may can some apple pie filling. Tammy's grapes aren't quite ready but getting close - we're thinking grape jelly.

Along the lines of 'where did our summer go', I got the delightful task of picking up my charming little friend Maddi from her first day of pre-school. (Let's clarify that's this year's pre-school, she'd be offended if y'all thought she was a first-timer.) Maddi is one of Rusty's biggest fans and couldn't wait to get home to see him.

These are gifts for a baby shower this weekend. I've been sitting on that onsie phrase for some time now and this new momma has the perfect sense of humor for it! I picked up her colors from a registry page and found the perfect combination of brown and dusty turquoise - at Jackman's of course. Did I mention I have a teacher's discount card? (Yippee!) Reminder - you can double-click photos to zoom in.

Matching reversible bibs.

Another shower also this weekend:

This denim/bandana bag was a custom order. Can you guess the new parents are horse people!? The appliqued ponies are fleece so they are touchable-soft. I was pleased with how it turned out. Then I got the SWEETEST note ever from the grandma-to-be. (An adorable handmade note, I must add!) That is why I do this -- I am hopelessly addicted to the feeling you get from making someone happy. I hope that doesn't sound nearly as self-serving as it feels to say it!