Finished knits and banana muffins

It's been a very pleasing week for knitting; two nights ago, I finished Cashew's blanket. I've knit six of these in the past three years, four in this year alone. Previously, my average time to complete was about three weeks, or two if I neglected the housework and knitted like a fiend. This time, it took me 11 days, and I don't think I neglected anyone or anything... much. We did throw a birthday party and a bachelor party at our house in that same time span, and cleaned up following both events. Mostly, I just took advantage of any spare time I had, whether in the car, at the park, in church before the service, etc.


Cashew also now has two hats, one of which I had made for a dear friend's little boy (born in April), but I forgot to give it to him, and now it wouldn't fit. So Cashew gets it. It's a simple little cabled hat to match the blanket. The other hat is SO sweet, a little pumpkin complete with stem. Perfect for an October baby. D has requested one for herself and one for "tiny baby Adelaide", another dear friend's child. I have instead cast on D's flower girl bolero to match the bridesmaids' dresses.
(Because I can sometimes get excited about very mundane things, I'll explain why I'm posting a picture of the very beginning of her sweater: see the bag that the pattern, needles and yarn all fit into? That's the bag that Hubby's recently purchased undershirts came in, and it is the perfect size!)

Now that the rain (which, incidentally, they've been forecasting all week but just started today) is here, I think it's a good time to do some baking. I've long been searching for a great banana muffin recipe, and I'm beginning to suspect that my inability to find one is inextricably linked to my inability to follow a recipe. Observe:

The recipe calls for white flour, white sugar, and butter. I use half white, half whole wheat flour, brown sugar, and sunflower oil. I also add a fourth banana, some chocolate chips and a handful of walnuts. I must subconsciously think that ingredients matter less than the mixing and baking process, because I did pay attention to the directions to sift the dry ingredients, and fold them into the wet. The muffins have just come out of the oven, and I have high hopes that they'll be lovely and light. Even if they aren't, they'll be better than anything I could waste money buying.