Hello everyone! It has been a long time since I last wrote a blog post.
A belated Happy Saint Patrick's Day to all of you!

An Irish Blessing:

May the blessing of light be on you—
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

New Bread Recipe

Saturday I made home made bread using a new recipe given to me by Erudessa Aranduriel.

The results were much to my liking, I think I may have a new favorite bread recipe.

Sometimes you have to be willing to get your hands dirty. 

I also had a lot of help from my sister, this is rare because she does not like cooking or baking.
Thank you!

The dough, rising. 

I get somewhat attached to my projects. 

Two of three beautiful loaves.

The third loaf was consumed so rapidly that this is the best picture I could get of it.

A very big thank you to my sister for helping, and to Erudessa Aranduriel for the best bread recipe I have come across.

Here is a link to Erudessa's blog:http://thefloweringvales.blogspot.com/

Today I was doing my planting to get ready for the growing season.
I planted twenty-four tomatoes, transplanted some broccoli, planted Sage, Sorrel, Rosemary, and Basil, and I am soaking some Squash and Pepper seeds.

Broccoli, Sage, and Rosemary.

Basil.

Transplanted Broccoli.

The back row of pots contains Tomatoes, and the front row is Sorrel.

Pepper and Squash seeds soaking. 

Thyme thriving.





   
 I am very excited to see how well they do, I hope we will have a good start for our crops.  I would also like to thank our friend Barb for the beautiful Thyme.

Soap Balls

 My sister and I made soap-balls on Sunday, with my favorite recipe. They are Lavender, with just a hint of Vanilla. They turned out very well; I could not have done it without my sister, she denies it but she is a great help to me. I was only able to make seven, and yet I exhausted my entire stash of un-scented soap.
 Two of them have rope in them made from scrap yarn. We also made Lavender Water, for linen waters, pefume, icing, and all the other wonderful things to be done with Lavender Water. Making scented water is really very simple all you need are a few ingriedients and a little time and you're set to go.


Scented Water                 what you will need: A resealable bottle or mason jar, A handful of the leaves or petals of the plant you wish to use, and enough water to fill your container.

What to do: Place the leaves or petals in the jar, boil the water, and pour over the petals/leaves, seal the jar, and leave for twenty-four hours, strain, and there you go, easier than pie. You should probably refrigerate your scented water after you strain it.                                                                

Lavender Water

Home Made Bread

The smell of warm home made bread, wafting through the kitchen, is one of the best smells in the world. It reminds you of family, home, maybe it might remind you of your ancestors, who used to make thier own bread every day, but over all it is a wonderful, warm feeling of home. Today I have a bread recipe for you to try on your own, please no electric mixers, just good old fashioned muscle power.

Home Made Bread

What you will need:

2 teaspoons of instant yeast,

2 tablespoons of sugar,

2 tablespoons of melted butter,

1 1/2 teaspoons of salt,

1 cup of lukewarm milk,

3 cups of all-purpose flour.

Place all the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until evenly blended. Knead the dough, then move to a greased bowl, cover, and place in a warm location to rise. When doubled in size knead, and replace in greased bread pan to continue rising. After about half an hour move pan to oven and bake at 350º F for  35 - 40 minutes, and get ready to enjoy that home made bread smell.  

Dear Pioneers of life,
Welcome to my blog, I have started writing this blog because I prefer to do things the old fashioned way while still embracing new ideas. I love to make things with my own hands, and feel that wonderful sense of achievement that comes with hard work, feeling that sense of accomplishment that comes with doing things the old fashioned way. I am writing this blog for those of you who also find happiness in doing things all on your own hook.         ( On your own hook means on or by yourself. )


                                                                                                 PioneerGirl