Bread

While surfing blogs I ran into a recipe for homemade artisian bread. Found the original recipe and printed it out. Wow! Fantastic! We both love this recipe!


DH has made several batches of it so far and every time it's scrumptious. I even brought a loaf to share with my Artist's Way meeting this past Sunday with some cheese and butter. Was I surprised, every morsel of bread was eaten and there were cheese slices still left. Usually it always seems like it goes the other way around. Anyway, several friends have asked for my recipe, so that I thought it might be best to share my link here with the original recipe and who to credit:

ARTISAN BREAD IN FIVE MINUTES A DAY
by J. Hertzberg and Z. François
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 0312362911

The Master Recipe: Boule
(Artisan Free-Form Loaf)
Makes 4 1-pound loaves

3 cups lukewarm water
1 1⁄2 tbsp granulated yeast (1 1⁄2 packets)
1 1⁄2 tbsp coarse kosher or sea salt
6 1⁄2 cups unsifted, unbleached, all-purpose white flour
Cornmeal for pizza peel


Tips to Amaze Your Friends
The “6-3-3-13” rule. To store enough for eight loaves, remember 6-3-3-13. It’s 6 cups water, 3 tablespoons salt, 3 tablespoons yeast, and then add 13 cups of flour. It’ll amaze your friends when you do this in their homes without a ­recipe!

Ouch, OOOHHH! Fell off my No Buy Wagon!

Hi all, while reading some favorite links I ran across a notice of a $50 gift certificate for Superior Threads. They have the best thread and are the best thread makers around. Anytime I go to a quilt show, I always treat myself to more thread from them. I think I have all their thread charts too and would love to get the stitched out examples they offer. King Tut is nice, but I'm starting to favor the lava thread line, it seems smoother and so nice to fall into the fabric.

Well today is a mixed up kind of day. Yesterday, I did not feel well at all. Wasn't sure if it was the flu on top of my neck back injury. While visiting Mom in FLorida, my pain had lessened. Now that I'm back at home, it seems worse. Why? I think because I need to do more. Dishes, laundry, shopping, etc..... I really and truly relaxed while on vacation and was actually spoiled too. The only "House work" things I did were to make our bed and dishes after dinner. Mom was so organized that all meals were prepared well in advance (even before most of us were awake) in her house. But back to reality.

Yesterday DH and I went to a LQS named Dreamcrafters for their annual 25% off sale. I had a list of needs (fabric and stabilizers) for completing UFOs and quilt kits that were already in my stash. It seems great that I'm shopping my stash first. I have many mediums and prints, but the stabilizing pieces of solids and such are surely missing. I am trying so hard to behave with quilty purchases. Despite behaving, I still spent $160. Yikes!

With the traveling, I think the frost heaves on the road trip were horrific for my spine. I hurt so bad with the trip that when we got home, I went to bed after taking my meds. Contiued to hurt throughout the night and even this am, I am in pain. Need to watch our 2 month old grandson (PGS#3) this am and this evening. Well off to lie down again while I can.
Stay Well
Jane

Lost a friend.

The big C is a horrible disease. A good friend succumbed to this disease after being under under hospice care. He left our world very quickly, his diagnosis was first mentioned last fall and now he is gone. Words are not adequate for how I feel and with trying to express all the feelings I have for him and his wife, both I consider good friends. His wife of 55 years is battling her own health issues and is very confused at times.
I do feel that "T" made up his mind, that his time was over and not to linger. Almost as if he was willing himself to die. The little bit of time he had left to share with family and friends, he was a very different person than his "living" self was. Normally he'd be very communicative and receptive, but after the diagnosis, he seemed different. He was just as gentleman like, but seemed to be very reserved, so that I feel like we lost part of him even then.
I hope I never have to experience a disease like that close to my life again, all the while realizing that I know I will. Psychologically, there are many different aspects of one's own demise. So when trying to assist someone, without trying to subject them with your own views, is a very difficult position to hold with grace. Trying to allow their dignity to stand on it's own, yet hope they realize that caring and love is offered and extended in what ever manner they need. My thoughts are many, and as you can see by my tortured english phrases, I really am having a hard time in trying to articulate all that I feel.
With Belief in the ever after, I remain
Jane

Happy Valentine's Day!

What a nice surprise! While sifting through our huge stack of mail, (son said he's never seen somebody get as much mail as we do)it must have piled in an area of 10" high by 2' by 3' wide, I found these two postcards.
.

I received this one
from Pat L. in NY





This one I received from Kim.


Aren't they both beautiful. It's always amazing to see the creativity of the different members of stashbusters. I also enjoyed the creative process making postcards for 2 other members and my Mom. The one below is just one of the 3 I created. I find that it's a challenge to come up with a plausible idea. For mine I pieced fabrics stamped desins, chalked and painted backgrounds besides adding a few free formed hearts. I was pleased with my final results but I hope the recipients wil be as well.


Hope your Valentine's day was shared with all that you love.

Jane

I'm back.....Long post

Just got home Friday night from visiting my Mom in Florida and having a little vacation with "DH". What a wonderful trip. Despite my last post of our ticket purchase for a flight with Allegiant Airlines, the flight was smooth, nice and rather quick. Much easier than driving all that way. We rented a car after landing so while visiting Mom and her Boyfriend, we were able to come and go without having to rely on their vehicle. This was so much nicer. I can relate now more easily with Mom (Which I really never have had a problem doing) of how she felt her first year in Florida without her own set of wheels.
The time flew, Mom and I didn't get as much alone time as I had hoped for. I told DH I could see him any time at home, that I wanted to spend some more time with Mom. He understood, but my Mom wasn't feeling the best the last week we were there. Regardless, I was glad to get there to see her and reconnect.
While traveling in Florida, we went to the Keys.
The Keys are such a beautiful area and the weather was tropic even for January! Since we were only there 2 full days, we left with quite a tan. I was pleasantly surprised. I did use a 30spf lotion so I wouldn't burn, which I didn't. Luckily though, neither one of us has peeled either.
One of our days was spent sight seeing Key West. The 1 1/2 hour ride took us about 4 hours since we really enjoyed the journey. Robbie's Marina allowed you to go on their docks for $1.00 each. It was unbeleivable the number and sizes of the tarpon that swam aroung the docks. Of course, since fish was the menu, quite a few feathered friends were trying the "all you can eat approach to". Baria Honda Beach for a little hike before crossing the 7 mile bridge. A beautiful day in Key West taking a trolley tour, seeing Ernest Hemmingway's house, the Southernmost point in the "Continental USA", shopping, Mallory Square with many artists sharing their talents, a beautiful sunset off the wharf, Marguaritaville, Slopppy Joe's establishment even a drag show which was really quite funny! So we successfully did the "Duval Crawl". Of course, I switched from alcohol to soda or water. That being said, you guessed it , I was the DD. We returned to our resort in Key Largo at 3:15 am! Glad we had the next day to play - lounge lizards.




The resort we stayed at was luxurious. 2 pools and a jacuzzi with Tiki bar, and at the ocean beach with another tiki bar. Swam, drank, used jacuzzi, drank, sunshine, drank, swam, heaven! This is the view from floating in the pool. The bougainvillia were hanging over the waterfall flowing into the pool after a 10 foot drop. Beautiful! I miss swimming in the North during the winter. I'll have to try to fit in the YMCA this week for swimming. It was so wonderful. My plan on swimming with the dolphins though was crossed off my list on this trip. The temperature of the ocean was a little too cold for me.



We were also able to see most of the Everglades. We saw every type of animal that resides there, with the exception of snakes and the cougar, THANK GOODNESS! I never knew cougars were so far south and was surprised to see signs warning people of them being in an area. So we hiked several trails, rode the rental car to the southern most point called Flamingo Point and then proceeded back north and to the western side of the state via Alligator Alley and Cypress National Park so we could find our lodging in Everglade City. Toured that side of the glades in a Carolina boat. It was only DH and I as passengers for the tpur, so the captain (owner) was able to really personalize our trip for us. It was gorgeous weather and pleasant. Saw dolphins and even a mother and youthful Manatee. Such shy creatures. Only the tip of their snouts were evident besides the cloudy trail they left behind while negotiating the waters. Mangroves, shell islands, fishing, ospreys, pelicans.... all were wonderful.
By the time we traveled up the west coast, visited a beach, transversed the "Sunshine Bridge going into St. Petersburg and back to stay with my Mom, I was thouroughly rested and recharged. A good thing too, since The Villages were having their Quilt show. How outstanding it was.
The talent that was evident was truly amazing. Especially Mom. Her quilt "At Last" won a ribbon as an Honorable Mention. This quilt is beautiful.



While reading the label printed for the show, I started crying because she mentioned that this quilt was coming to me. I know my Mom loves me, but seeing what was written really touched my heart. The amount of time she has invested in this quilt is unbelievable. It's has celtic knot blocks, besides appliqued vines with roses, and celtic knot center medallion with vines and roses too. The borders also have Rose and vines appliqued on them. Her quilting is beautifully done. Besides hand quilting a gridwork, she hand quilted stippling within her blocks' celtic areas. The detail! I'll be posting some photos when I get a chance. Even now, just talking about it, I have a little too much moisture in my eyes.

Well, I'll catch up more in a future post and what else that has been going on. Sorry this has been so wordy, but I wanted to relay a little of what I had been doing in the past several weeks in my absence. Enjoy!

Jane

Baby It's Cold outside!

Nostrils freezing with every breath, car tires crunching the snow, whiteness has enveloped everything. At first light in the morning, the earth has an erethral, glistening quality to it, seeming to shroud all life with it's spirit. It seems magical, but Brrrrr! Baby it's cold outside. The temp read -28 degrees farenheit this am.

That being said, I am so happy to be travelling to visit my Mom down in Florida. DH and I are leaving Monday! Yippee! The funniest thing though occurred when we were purchasing our airline tickets at the ticket booth in the airport terminal.

Me: We'd like to purchase round trip tickets to Florida leave on Monday and return in February. (Of course I gave the specific dates).

Ticket Agent: Okay, yes it's available for 2 adults, price going down is $79.00 and the return trip is $29.00 each (I knew this, because we checked out the best prices on the internet before we went there).

Me; Great, we'll take them

TA: Seats are $15 - $25.00, where do you want to sit?

ME: Your kidding, (I was discreetly looking around thinking there was a hidden camera somewhere) Could I look at the schematics of the plane, then I'll let you know?

TA: We don't do that, just let me know if there is any where specifically that you'd like to sit.

ME: Well, we would like the emergency exit seat to have leg room (I broke my ankle a couple of years ago and being long legged, I truly love to be able to stretch out my legs for a 3+ hour ride especially).

TA: Okay, that'll be $25.00 each, for each direction. (By this piont, I'm laughing, I can't believe that when you buy a ticket, you then have to by a "seat".) Are you bringing any luggage?

ME: Yes, we'll have 2.

TA: Okay that's $30.00 per piece of luggage, what about him (as she directs her attention to my DH)?

Me: Yes he'll have luggage too, but we each will have 1 bag to check and 1 bag as a carryon. I'm still chuckling, I can't believe all the add ons)

This rapport continued in this vein with several other items. Sufficit to say, the total came close to $400.00 for 2 people with round trip tickets and having SEATS as well as carrying luggage. Hehe! I still find humor in it. It really isn't a bad price, but what a racket. Why don't they just charge a fair price and call it that without all the extras that need to be added.

So, with the trip coming up so quickly, I've been setting all up, travel arrangements, car rentals, travelers checks, prescriptions with over-rides, etc..... Next on my list is cleaning my house. I love travelling, but I also love to come home to a clean house, including fresh sheets. So tomorrow, paper work, house work, recycleables returned and make a soup out of the leftover vegetables in the fridge, besides watching a 1 month old grandson in am. Sunday, will take care of the laundry, make lemon poppy seed muffins for my read and bead group which meets in the afternoon, need to make 2 valentine postcards and send out some mail to friends as well as my penalty squares for buying fabric when I was on the No-Buy Challenge list in Stashbusters. Leaving the packing and changing the sheets on Monday before we leave. Ooooh, I love being organized! Sunshine state, here we come! Stay Well and Warm!

Jane

Happy New Year 2009!

Have been feeling really good about finishing some UFO's that I've been concentrating on. I just finished my 12th Redwork Santa. Yippee!
I've carried these embroideries all over the country as we have vacationed and even on the back deck. The plan is to create a Christmas Quilt with them since DH collects Santas. Besides the red and white in the santa blocks, I'll be using a black and a yellow-orange fabric in the quilt too. EQ5 helped me to create a quilt that appeals to me. Now that the embroideries are done, I'll be working on the rest of the top shortly. Need to finish some other UFO's that are already on the sewing cabinet first.
Another finish is a counted cross stitch bread cloth. I think this was started about 10 years ago and was put aside for some reason. Can't remember now why! When I pulled it out, it only needed about 3 more hours of work and it was finished. Another WhoooHoooo! I think I'll be giving this to a friend that does alot of baking.

One other finish is the jungle print fleece throw that I hand stitched the hem on the edge of using a DMC#8 thread for my new grandson, here I lovingly call him PGS#3. It is about 1.25 yards by 60" wide, so really too large for an infant, but while checking with my daughter on what size she wanted me to make it, this is what she requested. TaDah.....DONE!


Currently, I'm working on a Noah's Ark Embroidery. I'm on the 3rd block. Have all the patterns except for the last two that Lynette Anderson has shared. The other two will be coming out in the next month or two, so am hoiping that I'll catch up now that the Santas are done.

The following quilt is a kit and that my friend Catherine from Montreal did. It is a beauty. Her colors are fantastic! The quilter, I call "a sister, from another Mother, from another Country" which is our own personal joke when we reconnect, she's a treasure. If I don't call her this first, then she calls me by that name too. What a hoot.

I love the connectedness of the internet. I'm inspired by many crafty and talented quilters. When contemplating what resolutions I would have for 2009 I realised that I am spending too much time on the computer.....so my plan is to limit my computer time. Perhaps to only 1/2 hour a day. If alot of mail, maybe another 1/2 hour after DH retires. He's usually in bed by 7:00pm and I'm awake until 11-12. so I try to be quiet. Read. watch TV, hand sew....
Besides that, I need to reassert myself with my movements. With the hospital events last month between DH, our daughter and myself, my fitness plan was shelved. DH was sick for a week starting at Christmas time and then he passed the "flu" to me. I feel okay but I sound like a barking seal while coughing. It seems to have slid into my lungs and botheing my asthma, so will be contacting the Dr's tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to be seen while in town for my hair appointment.

Stay well and create,
Jane


PS: Adding this on March 1, 2009:
Realizing I need to clean up the front page of this blog journal, so I need ot list the completed projects done in 2008.
They are:

Beaded counted cross stitch candy dish
5/4 apron
Halloween Sweatshirt
Flying chicken pincushion
Autumn Song Quilt
Stippling Skillbuilder POstage Stamp Basket Table Topper
Dance Bag for PG#1
Simpson's Pillow case for PGS#2
Beaded set; necklace and matching earrings
Wove basket for quilts in Living Room (Also doubles as a doll basinet)
Wove Basket for ongoing knit projects
The Professional Tote

There probably is more, but with starting the blog in the fall and reading what I had listed, this is all I can truly remember. We'll see if 2009 is more productive, I hope so. Stay Well and CREATE!

Tribute to a gentle giant

My dear Uncle Don passed away yesterday. He was a kind, dedicated, honorable, large and very determined man. There are so many attritubes that he collected in his 81 years young, that it is with relief and sadness I am posting this. Gainfully employed his whole life, with the traditional dedicated wife and children. Thereby followed with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. For the most part he was a man who kept to himself. Sharing a few intellectual and insightful words here and there, BUT don't anybody even think of crossing that man. That would be when the determination that runs through our family line will rear it's head very quickly and THAT is THAT! End of subject.
His life ended without him really knowing all who loved him. Alhzeimers is such a terrible, unforgiving and encroaching disease. Robbing a family of a person well before the body starts giving up. He will be missed. I'll end this as he always did when we were parting. "Janie, You be good now."

Holiday Gathering Successful

I hope all of you had a wonderful Holiday, whatever religious traditions you lean towards. On Christmas Eve, we were able to attend the candle light service for church. Our daughter and her family also went, so it was even more special with our precious granddaughter at church with us.
Christmas day was uneventful and normally paced. All of our family came for dinner at 5:30, that was followed by gift exchanges around the tree shortly afterwards. A splendid time was had by all! Our menu was super easy this year. Not trying to outdo any recipes, we purchased frozen lasagna and garlic bread. Yummy and easy! Perfect. Note to self....keep things easy so you can really enjoy without any added stress!
With the Near Year coming along so quickly, I am thinking about what, if any new positive changes I chould/should embrace, besides trying to maintain the healthier life styles choices I've already implemented.
The guild my Mom belongs to is having their UFO challenge again this year. I'll be posting my UFOs on a future posting. Hopefully with this year's challenge I'll be able to keep up with the pace. Last years', I did complete 1 UFO (the postage stamp basket stippling skillbuilder)and attempted to finish one other UFO, I still need to finish that one though! Total count was five, so most people would say I failed horribly, but being the optimist I am, I say yeah! 1 more UFO down! How's that for self delusion! HeHeHe. Stay Well.

Jane

Merry Christmas!

Getting ready for the Holidays have always been very hectic and tiring for me, but not this year. All the packages have been sent and all are wrapped, now to get to the Christmas cards today. Usually I have multi-tasked to get everything done but this year, I've been able to stay with one task until completed where then I'll get to the next project. It is very pleasing to say...thats all done, now this is all done... I love this time of year. There is a Christmas Coral this evening at a nearby church that I want to see this evening.

Much has happened since my last post. My DH had a pacemaker replacement, I've had 2 different surgical procedures and my daughter has a new son. What a large little guy he is. He weighed over 9lb! Mom and he are both healthy and happy. Our computer, in the den has hit a wall and our digital camera was broke on our way home from my brothers house over the Thankgiving Holiday. So was able to purchase a new camera, BUT the computer won't allow any more increases in space for this type of software program to run. It is being replaced since it's over 9 years old. So I'll post pictures of PGS#3 when our electronic woes are fixed. I think I may hold on to the old upgraded computer for my sewing room. I will have to rearrange all of it to accomodate it, so we'll see. Just a muse at this point.

Creatively, was able to rip out all the stitches of the waffletime runner, however haven't made the time for much sewing with every thing else going on. Hopefully I find a little time today for some. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.

Jane