My, how the summer has flown by!  Josh and I are at heart a couple of homebodies, but having a baby around sure has livened up the way we spend our time.  This summer we’ve had trips to the zoo, the park, across the country and visits with friends and neighbors.

Picking flowers at the park.

Recently I’ve been able to tackle projects that have been waiting in the sidelines for a long time.  We cleared out the baby’s nursery closet and got that organized, I printed photos and organized the baby album, and for the last few weeks we’ve been digging through boxes in the basement and Saturday we had a big yard sale and got rid of stuff.  It feels so good to have those things done!

I hope that you all have had a terrific summer, too. : )

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I was watching Cook’s Country not long ago and they had an interesting segment on cinnamon.  Apparently, the cinnamon that we use today is not the cinnamon that our forefathers used.  That cinnamon (which is derived from evergreen tree bark) is too costly. So while the rest of the world refers to Ceylon cinnamon as “cinnamon”,  here in the US we use Cassia cinnamon, a less expensive substitute.

Cook’s Country taste tested 10 different types of cinnamon. You can read more about the Cook’s Country findings *here*.

I decided to do my own little cinnamon taste testing (with the help of my adventurous husband).  I ordered two cinnamons from Penzeys Spices online.  I got a small jar of Vietnamese Extra Fancy Cinnamon and Chinese Tung Hing Cinnamon.  We tasted those two and McCormick’s Ground Cinnamon.

From left to right: Vietnamese, Chinese, McCormick

We could not believe the difference in flavor!

Seriously.

Go to a nice grocer or online shop and order some new cinnamon today.  Taste it, then go to your cupboard and taste that flavorless, dusty powder labeled “cinnamon” …and then toss that stuff.

Then make some cinnamon rolls. Your taste buds will thank me.  ; )

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Looks like I last posted about making *iPhone cozies*.  Since our trip east I’ve also embroidered up a batch of *Passport Covers* which are now in the shop.  Next I’ll be listing little clutch purses.  I didn’t hold back on the cute with these.  But they are still being sewn up and photographed, so I’ll post a photo soon.

‘Til next time!

(Go get some good cinnamon!)

Jenn : )

…and through the woods” is how the song goes.  But for us it was “Over the mid-west and through the air”, as we flew back to the east coast for a long overdue visit with family these last two weeks.

Josh and I and baby M spent almost two weeks visiting and socializing and going here and there in Pennsylvania and New York.  We were so busy – we could use a vacation!

The highlight of the trip for me was that, for the very first time, my little baby girl met my grandparents (her great-grandparents).  And that was one of the most wonderful, joyous times of my life.  They just couldn’t get enough of her.  They called her “Little Bits”.  I am weepy just thinking about it.  : )

We returned home with many treasured memories and lots of photos, as well as some unexpected gifts from family.

Here is one that I’d like to show you – I’ll have more to share as the days go by.

This is a crib quilt that either my grandmother or her sister hand made.

Grandma gave it to me, saying “Maybe you could teach Little Bits her animals?”

Dotty Kangaroo.

Plaid Puppy.

Dainty Donkey.

Gingham Elephant.

Flowery Kitten.

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And I did finish those iPhone Cozies from my last post.

They are in my shop!

Click *here* to see.

Cheers,

Jenn : )

A shop update:

New tasket sets!

Pom Pom Fawn

(I only made one with this small pom pom trim.)

Our House.

Pretty Forest.

Dotty Birds.

Happy Thursday.

The weekend is almost here!

Jenn : )