Pure Beauty!

My husband bought these for me a few days ago...they were beautiful!

Artisan Bread!

One of the most satisfying and rewarding things to bake is home made bread!
Check out this blog: Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day and watch a few of these videos to show you how its done. We always think making bread is such a long and tedious process but not this one...Here is the recipe:

3 c. Lukewarm water
1 1/2 T yeast (1 1/2 packets)
1 1/2 T Kosher salt
6 1/2 c. unbleached all purpose flour ( I did 4 c. whole wheat & 2 1/2 c. white)

In 5 qt bucket with lid, combine all ingredients and stir with wooden spoon until well combined. Dough will be wet. Cover container and let rise about 2 hours. You can use the dough after the 2 hours or you can store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Over the 2 weeks you can take the dough out bit by bit as you want to bake it.
On baking day:
Prepare a flat cookie sheet sprinkled with cornmeal or flour to prevent sticking. Sprinkle a portion of dough with flour and scoop out a grapefruit size portion. Use as much flour as needed to prevent sticking. But not too much to make the dough dry. Form a round loaf by pulling surface of dough around to the bottom turning the dough as you go. Let dough rest on a cornmeal/floured surface for 40 minutes. Preheat oven to 450 for 20 minutes. If you have a baking stone preheat that at the same time. When dough is done resting sprinkle surface with flour and slash the top with sharp knife or serrated knife. From your baking sheet slide the dough onto the baking stone or just place the baking sheet in the oven. After bread is in oven quickly pour 1 cup of hot water into a broiler tray in bottom of oven and quickly shut oven door. This is to create and trap steam in the oven, key to having nice crusty bread.
Try it! It is the simplest recipe for making great bread.

As the dough sits in the fridge for several days it takes on a sourdough taste... the longer you wait the better, real yummy!

Grandma & Grandpa Moo's visit

My Mom & Dad, (lovingly called Mama Moo and Popop) were here for a few days...Silas could hardly contain his excitement. Here he is waiting by the window for their car.

We had the NJ gang over for dinner with G&G Debel.
Could have been 4 generation picture if I was there

Silas helping Popop do the dishes

Cute little Eric
Now, besides coming to see us, the other reason my parents came out was to put together the pantry cabinet my Mom made for me. It took every spare moment of our time to get it up before Thursday. It was well worth it! This is just the bare shelves.It started out as just a passing comment, "oh Mom you can make something for me" but she took it seriously. So I drew a picture of what I had in mind, and she was up for the challenge! We had many things to figure out as we went, in order to make it all work out but we now have the finished product!
Now the painting and staining is in my hands...someday you will see it completely finished!
Thank you Mom! I can just see the canning jars all lined up come fall!!!

Simple Pleasures

We are really enjoying our new home, we finally are able to eat dinner together, we don't have to all sleep in the same room anymore, having more space is pure delight!

Tia is enjoying a bath in our new sink...

Since we had no bread in the house, Phil made some rolls to go with hamburgers. They were great! I love when my husband works in the kitchen!

We are finally here!

After 6 1/2 months of work we are finally able to move in...last Friday (the 30th) was move-in day. As much as the day was hectic, everything went really well, even the kids went with the flow.

Thanks Duane for all your help!

Just needed to pause a bit and capture the beauty.

Living Room

Woodstove

Island in Kitchen (It hasn't been that clean since the picture was taken)

Dining Room