9/23/11

White Spaces Quilt (Or what I did today).

My back is killing me.
My house is a disaster. 
I over cooked the pot roast.
I forgot to make dinner rolls.
The carrots are undercooked. 

BUT!
I am almost done with my custom dolls list.

AND!
I am almost done piecing my first ever quilt just for me. Very exciting! 


I am kind of wishing I had done a solid border and then the pieced one. But I was trying not to spend money on more fabric and use what I had. The longer I look at the picture the less I like the pieced border. What do you all think?



9/20/11

http://howtonestforless.com/2011/09/15/cute-idea-fall-bucket-list/

Saw this bucket list on pinterest and loved it. Took me a while but I found the original source!!! She actually has it as a printable! Can't wait to down load it and get it printed. Such a cute idea. Today I am enjoying the beautiful of early fall sunshine; the smell of baking bread and fresh baked gingerbread; the hope that comes from peculating dreams.



9/2/11

Favorite Yeast Dough Recipe Ever

I am not sure why it has taken me so long to share this recipe. It is really a major staple in our house. It is hands down the most divers recipe I have ever used. I could go on and on about this recipe. It captures my child hood to me. I love the stories that go a long with this bread. I love the food that you can make with it. So with out further ado....



Refrigerator Dough Recipe 

Ingredients
 1/2 cup warm water
1 package active dry yeast (NOT fast rising)
1 table spoon sugar
3/4 cup vegitable oil
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups warm water
6-8 cups flour

Directions
1. Take the first three ingreddients and combine in small bowl. Set aside and let proof.
2. Mix sugar, vegitable oil, and egg in large bowl until well blended.
3. Add water and 2 cups of flour. Mix with whisk until smooth.
4. Add the yeast, water, sugar mixture. Whisk until smooth.
5. Switch to wooden spoon and add remaining flour a cup at a time.
6. Turn onto a well floured surface and kneed until smooth and elastic.
7. Place in a slightly greased bowl and cover with lid or clean towel. Set in a warm place and let rise until double.
8. Make into any number of items or put into fridge. Dough will last up to 10 days.
Dinner Rolls
To make rolls simply pull off enough dough to form the size roll you want.   
(Small rolls are great to serve along with a meal. Make larger rolls and use as sandwich buns, hamburger buns, or for amazing heart sloppy joe buns.)
Shape into smooth balls and place on greased baking sheet.
Let rise until double. 
Brush with melted butter and bake at 350 until rolls are brown on top. 
(Time will depend on how large your rolls are)
Take out and brush again with butter. 
Enjoy!!








8/24/11

Growing up Sew Liberated

Enjoying a low key day here at home with Hubby having the day off and not having to be any where. But I thought I would throw this out there.
I am  looking for copies of "Growing Up Sew Liberated" and "Little Things To Sew" if any one has copies they haven't used and would like to trade for dollies or dolly stuff let me know. :)

8/16/11

The Need For Community


My amazing older sister with my two little girls!


I don't often blog about current affairs. There are plenty of other blog writers, new writers, radio talk show hosts, news anchors ect. who are more than willing to discuss the current hot topic to no end. But lately there is one topic that has been heavy on my heart so I am listening to this tug and sharing some thoughts that have been on my mind.

It was only a few weeks ago where you couldn't log onto the internet, flip on the tv, or tune into the radio with out hearing about Casey Anthony. It seemed like the entire country was up in arms when she wasn't found guilty for the death of her daughter Caylee Anthony. It seems every one but the jury was convinced of her guilt. However, the out come of the trial is not what has me saddened. The question on my mind is how on earth did she get there?

Guilty or not guilty of murder Casey Anthony clearly was not in a normal state of mind. I don't think any one would doubt that this woman was seriously disturbed. How on earth did no one see this earlier? A woman doesn't just wake up one day and hurt her children. It's a process you get to slowly. It's a build up of pain, frustration, and hurt that eventually erupts. Raising a child is not easy. Doing it a lone is even harder. Doing it with out some kind of support system is nearly impossible. My point is not to excuse her behavior, pass the buck or expunge her of responsibility.

But rather to pose a challenge.

Reach out to one another. Mother's, wives, business women, sisters, daughters. We need each other. You never know when a hug, a phone call, a helping hand may change some one's life.

8/4/11

A Trip To Nana's

Goose enjoying one of Nana's famous cinnamon rolls.

It's been a busy summer. Especially with Josh's new job. But last weekend we manage to slip away to my parents for a couple of days. We played in the neighbor's pool, cooked out, went to church, hung out with new friends, ate cinnamon rolls and German Chocolate Cake.

The girls slept for most of the trip there and back making it a perfect time for Josh and I to catch up. Eight hours with nothing to do but visit, be quiet together, listen to music, pray ect. It was the first chance we had in a while to really sit down and take stock of where we are and where we are going. We are both very introspective people and every so often with both need a good "take inventory" conversation.

Josh challenged me to be writing more. Especially devotional type stuff. When we first met I had a devotional blog (Back on xanga. Any one else remember xanga?) I had quite a few followers and updated on a regular basis. Josh claims that blog is one of the things that made him fall in love with me. A year ago I tried to start up another blog of the like here on blogger. I posted once and gave up. I am hoping to pick it back up again. I have no idea where I am going with it. But, if I have learned nothing else in the past five years, I have learned that Josh sees things in me I don't even see myself. When he pushes me to do something, he is usually right. :)
So you can check out my second blog Grace and Manna  if you are so inclined.

7/29/11

Dolly Love













Some Dolly cuteness I have been working on this summer.