So how's the '50 Project thing going?

Oh girls, I'd like to be able to tell you how perfectly I've changed!

Ha!

I will tell you this though,

taking the time to sit down and make lists

has kept it in the forefront of my mind and has truly helped.

It has also made me aware of the areas I really need to work on.

 

These are the things I've been pretty good at:

I've kept up with my Gratitude Journal...

now that is life changing.

It makes you realize that truly you are 'living' a blessed life!

 

On the opposite side of the journal I've kept a list of things

I've done for others each day. I did this to encourage myself when I like all women feel like we don't do 'enough'.

But the crazy thing....the side of the pages where I am listing all of the great things that have happened to me or for me....

is leaps and bounds ahead of the other list. Kind of an eye opener for me.

 

I started out pretty good working on my memoirs,

but somehow it is painful to write and I find myself quitting. 

Note to self: Others will be encouraged if I will just diligently keep at it. If I can't do it for myself, do it for others.

Several times on the road, as well as in emails,

some of you have said you've wept when you read my 

About Us Page on the Website 

or have been inspired. So truly you've kept me encouraged.

 

I've done really well on my Reading Lists.

Jaunts to the library,

getting new books ordered from there.

Maybe because this is one of my favorite things to do.

 

And I've happily been playing at home!

I had my first 'company' over last Friday night.

I figured if I waited until I got everything done,

I'd never have anybody over.

The Guitar Man planted rose bushes and hydrangeas 

out beside the front walkway.

I dug around in storage and found some neat brackets I found at an antique store. Hung them and just swooped some lovely

Moda fabric over them. Tied them up with tassels...and wala...

it helped the kitchen a whole lot!

 

 I still need to paint the shelves a raspberry pink. 

(It's on the list)

The set of dishes came from an estate sale here for $35!

The glasses are flea market finds too! 45 cents a piece for the blue and a buck for the pink!

My Whimsy Lane Quilt in Pinks and Lavenders.

I also managed to get a better picture of the bread cupboard for ya...

And now for the things I haven't been good at:

Sewing in my sewing room each day...

More Blog Posts,

but I'm gonna get there!

Don't give up on me!

 

I have been working on the finishing of Buttercream Summer!

Slow go....

 

Thanks for stopping in!

 

Oh and by the way....

for 2 Days Only....

we are having 30% off Hexagons!!

 

And 20% off All Patterns

over at the Website!!

The ole man made up the final Fat Quarter Frenzy Packs too!

These are the last...so head on over there!

Hugs,

A Rainy Day For Baking Bread....(Great Recipe Ahead)

Brown Oatmeal Bread from last week...

The rain is pouring down outside,

candles are lit inside,

soft piano music playing,

and now I'm getting ready to head into the kitchen

and do my weekly bread baking.

I've spent many an hour,

many a recipe,

many ingredients,

to come up with my favorite bread recipe.

Today I thought I'd share it with you all!

John'aLee's Brown Oatmeal Whole Wheat Bread

Mix together and cool until warm: 

2 cups Old Fashioned Oatmeal uncooked

 2 cups Boiling Water

2 Cups Scalded Milk or Warmed Buttermilk

Dissolve 1 Packet of Yeast in 1 Cup of Warm Water

Let Sit for 5 minutes or until bubbly.

Add to above cooled mixture.

Also Add:

1 Cup of Honey (Molasses or Brown Sugar will do too. Each will vary the taste.)

1/4 Olive Oil

1/4 Cup Wheat Gluten (From King Arthur's Website)

1/4 Cup Artisan Flour (From King Arthur's Website) 

 2 Tbsps of Salt

4 1/2 Cups Unbleached White Flour

Slowly add the following flour until a dough forms that you can

handle with your hands.

(Too much flour and you will end up with a dry and crackly loaf)

Approximately 4 1/2 Cups Wheat Flour

Knead for 10 minutes by hand or in a mixer.

I put about a tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl,

slosh it around,

put the dough in it,

turn it over so there is oil all over it.

 This keeps it from becoming dried out as it rises.

Let Rise until it doubles in bulk (About an hour)

Punch Down and form loaves. 

(At this point I also pour more olive oil over the top of loaves. It keeps them from cracking during baking.)

Put in 4 Bread Pans. Let Rise for 25-30 minutes.

Bake in a 375 Degree Oven 40-45 minutes. 

I have learned that my end product is only as good as my ingredients!

Duh!! Right??

Thus, I've been ordering from 

King Arthur's Baking Catalogue

They have a fantastic website and make sure to go in and request their free catalogue.

It's always inspiring when it shows up in the mailbox.

I had to show you the new Baking Table we found at a flea market 

for my bread baking....

 I took a better picture but I can't get it to come up for some reason.

Anyway....
company tonight...
cleaning,
baking,
cooking...

Toodles! 

 

Lost Soldier Boy Quitls

Another quilt is finished ladies!

 This one is for Chris' mom.

I love what Marla did in putting this together.

And look at the block she put on the back for a label....

She also put the tops together for the two brothers.

I forgot to get a pic of one of them before I sent it off to Karen in Pennsylvania who is quilting it...

but they were pretty close to the same.

For those of you new to the blog,

my daughter lost her fiance last September

in Afghanistan

just days before they were to be married.

(Christopher John Scott)

If you'd like to read about it,

Click Here!!

There are several posts about the project and about us losing

our darling soldier boy.

I still weep as I do this post almost a year later!

Thank you all for your generous support

in this great endeavor!

And especially for your prayers.

A huge hug to Marla for helping me get these quilts done,

and for the two sweet ladies finishing the quilting.

You are the best!!

Hugs,