Cooler nights and a Fall baby

What a relief! The nights are finally getting cooler in Colorado, and this German gal can sleep again. I have had fall on my mind for a few weeks already. Wishful thinking.

 

 

To celebrate the colder temperatures I dressed up this Waldorf style baby doll in her sweet fall garb. Is it too early for the pumpkin patch? I don't think so. Anyways she is ready for the cold mountain air. Her sweet little brown sweater will keep her cosy ans warm. 

Fall baby with needlefelted pumpkin toy

The pumpkins and squashes are growing nicely in our community garden. It won't be too long before we can make some pumpkin pie and soup again. Ahhh, how I love this time of year.

Pumpkin Rolls / Kuerbisbroetchen

In my desperate search to find more recipes to use up our organically grown Zucca Barucca squashes, I found a recipe for rolls in one of my German bread baking books. Have you ever heard of pumpkin rolls? They sell them in German bakeries this time of year. The perfect side to go with your Thanksgiving dinner! It's not too late! You can still whip some up!

I changed up the German recipe slightly since I did not like that it used all white flour.

• 300 grams of pumpkin puree
• 250 grams of whole wheat flour
• 250 grams of regular flour
• 1/2 tsp. of salt
• touch of nutmeg
• 200 ml of milk
• 3 tsp. of dry yeast

1. Sift flour, add the salt and nutmeg.Put milk in microwave for one and a half minutes and warm up to a little warmer than room temperature. Add yeast to milk and stir until it is blended in with the milk.
2. Add the milk yeast mixture to flour. Add pumpkin puree. Knead together until it stick together. You want a nice dough that is not too sticky. Add more flour if needed.
3. Place dough in bowl and place towel over it. Let rise in a warm spot. I like to put mine on the radiators. Works great this time of year...
4. Once the dough has about doubled in size knead again. Shape into 15 little rolls and place on greased cookie sheet. While the oven is warming to 400 degrees let the buns rest and rise once more.
5. When the oven has reached temperature put buns in and bake for about 20-25 minutes. They are ready when they are turning brown and sound hollow when you tap on the bottom of the bun!

Delicious! I got to run and whip up another load for the feast since the kids have been chewing them up already...You need lots of buns for Thanksgiving. But they can be enjoyed throughout the season! It also helps keep the house warm...

Happy Halloween!

Last minute preparations...
A witch of sorts and a ranger from the North...

The Harvest: Part Two

Can somebody here please tell me the difference between a pumpkin and a squash? I'd like to know.

Remember our gardening project? The wait is finally over! No worries about frost. It's been so warm in Colorado, we lost fear of imminent frost destroying our crop. 110 days to mature? No problem!

We went and harvested 8 giant ugly squashes on our community patch. How can something as ugly as a Zucca Barruca taste so yummy? It looks like the skin of a witch covered in warts really...But oh, the things you can make with this squash.

Last week we cut a single squash in half. It weighed 20 pounds and provided food for our two families for several days. We roasted it and ate it on the side with dinner. We baked it in the oven, and from the pulp I made: pumpkin gnocchi, pumpkin soup, and 3 panfuls of muffins. Delicious. I will share my recipes soon! For now just enjoy the pictures of the harvest!

Dolly Diaper Dilemma

I am having a hard time taking pictures of my dolly diapers. I have been making them for a few years now. I just can't figure a good way to get Photos of them. What do you think looks best? How should I lay them out? Just on a plain white background?

Or should I display them on the doll themselves?

Celeste, A new Fall Friend

I am so delighted with this new doll! Pictures can't convey how sweet her face is. She loves orange, can you tell?


Check out the cool pumpkin decor on her green slippers! Celeste was jumping for joy when she saw I was making them for her. They are such a treat...

Pumpkin Baby Number 2, 2010

I told you about my addiction to cute little pumpkin patterns... So here is Pumpkin Baby number two for this year! This doll even has a little nose. I normally don't do noses. Maybe I will have to get away from my purist ways. I love how this doll turned out with nose. What do you think? Nose good or bad?

Name this New Fall Baby

I have another baby without name. Please, help find a name for this little cutey pie! This could be a boy or girl doll. Nope, I don't make dolls that are anatomically correct. Somebody actually asked me to return a doll once so I could attach a you-know-what. I refused. Waldorf dolls are all about the imagination!

No noses, no ears, sometimes not even a face...So I'll leave the gender up to your imagination, too!

Can't wait to hear your name suggestions for this cute baby. Baby is ready for the fall in her sweet warm sweater, knit by Elaine, the best knitting granny , I know on Etsy! My new doll purse/boy bag goes really well with the knit cable design. I think this doll will have lots of fun collecting acorns and treasures from nature with her new doll owner.