Winter Interlude

My sister Nancy and I have just returned from a week long,

winter interlude which included a few days in Florida.

Last Monday we drove to Atlanta,

did some shopping,

(Pottery Barn, Ballard, Ikea--yeah!)

visited with an old friend of Nancy's,

Dodd, who graciously shared his

home with us for the night.

Dodd has just purchased a mid-century house

in Atlanta and it was fun seeing it and

hearing his all his plans for it.

The next day, we drove to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

My dear friend Carolyn (you can read more about her here)

had rented a condo for the entire month of January

and had invited us for a visit.

Santa Rosa Beach is on the Gulf.

Although the weather was not warm enough for swimming,

it was fine for walking on the beach.

Seaside, Florida is just a few miles from Santa Rosa.

I have heard about Seaside for years and it was fun to finally see it.

The houses are all varied and charming.

This is the view from Carolyn's condo.

We spent several lovely hours sitting on her balcony

enjoying the blue sky, blue water and warm sunshine!

All good things must come to an end and

we made our way home on Friday,

staying the night in Chattanooga.

We had planned a stop in Montevallo, Alabama

which is the home of Nancy and my alma mater,

the University of Montevallo.

However, as we left the sunshine state,

the sunshine left us.

It was so rainy, gray and foggy

we opted not to stop.

Last night it was home again, home again,

jiggity jig!

I always love going,

but I always love getting home again too!

View from My Window Today

We had our first snow fall last night.

And although it wasn't a lot of snow,

it's a bitter cold, with a howling wind blowing,

kind of day.

And, they're saying on the news there's black ice.

I can attest to that.

When I took Daisy out for her first walk this morning,

it was too slippery to walk on the sidewalk.

It's a good day for staying inside and

maybe doing a little photo shoot.



Maybe, just maybe it would also be a good day to

tidy up a little.

I'll probably just spend my time knitting.

This is my current project,

a Fusion Yarn scarf in "Plum Pudding" colorway.

Yum!

Whatever you're doing today,

have a nice one!

Cookbook Collections

google images

Recently I've done a little reorganizing of my cookbooks

and came across this one I had forgotten.



It was my grandmother's and copyrighted in 1933.

A real "vintage" cookbook...

...with "vintage" ideas.

Can you image this spread as a morning's baking???

I have to admit I never reach for this book when I'm

searching for a recipe.

When I moved into Buttermilk Cottage

I did a MAJOR downsizing.

One of the things to go was a

huge cookbook collection.

I was recently divorced, Kate had gone off to college,

I was starting a new life in a smaller home

and decided the cookbooks could go.

However, Grandma's book stayed with me.

Here are a couple I have used a lot over the years,

which were also spared the cut.

You can tell by the torn cover,

this is a very well used one.

My high school home economics class

sold these as a fund raiser.

The recipe book I most often reach for today is this one.

It's a red, loose leaf notebook that holds all my "keepers."

Rather than a bookcase full of reference cookbooks,

I now seem to get new recipes from friends, blogs,

cooking shows, magazines, and the newspaper.

Once tried, if I think I'd ever make the dish again,

the recipe gets typed up and added to my red notebook.

It's a "keeper"!

I know this looks nice and tidy,

but I have to admit the number of recipes that inspire me

come along much faster than I can get them cooked or baked.

Tucked in under my notebook is a file folder with all those,

"I want to try that...someday" recipes.

So many recipes, so little time.

Do you have a favorite cookbook

for which you most often reach?

This week I'm linking to a vintage cottage cooking party at

Etsy Cottage Style

French Script Fabric

Google Images

Yes, it's everywhere.

And it's been around for quite a while now.

But I'm still loving it.

Google Images

Pillows are probably one of the most predominate uses for it.

Google Images

Even the humble burlap with some French words stamped upon it

is elevated to a higher level.

On a recent fabric buying trip I finally acquired some for myself.

This is from Waverly, called "Pen Pal."

It's a fairly large scale print on a mottled beige background.

There's even a touch of gold metallic for some glam,
(as if anything French needed more glam).

Yardage for sale is available at my etsy shop.

I will be using it for needle cases,

in a variety of styles.

Here's one for double point needles.

This is a hanging organizer for circular needles.

I'll also be lining an occasional bag with it.

Do you like French Script fabric?

Have you found any unique uses for it?

Bon Jour!

Adding to Special Collections

Traditions are what make holidays personal and special.

I have been collecting "Santa on Animals" for many years.

When I could never find my favorite animal,

a sheep with Santa riding on it's back,

my daughter Kate made one for me.



Thus began one of my dearest holiday traditions.

For the past several years,

Kate has gifted me a new addition to my collection.

(You can read about the others here and here.)

This year I got "Santa on a Cow!"

Isn't she a charmer?

She's right at home with the rest of the crowd.

As if this wasn't enough to thrill her Mom,

Kate also gifted me with a clay "Pinky"

to add to my flock.

If you're a regular visitor here,

you know about "Pinky."

She's right at home with the rest of the flock!

Thank you, darling girl Kate!

This week I'm partying at

Open House Party Thursday at No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Revisiting Artisan Bread 101

Kim at Savvy Southern Style today offered an invitation
 to re post something we've done this year
for this week's linky party.
I looked back at my posts for this year and
this one was the most visited,
so I'm bringing it back for the occasion.
I'm still making it and
still loving it!

 Remember when bread machines were the
"must-have" kitchen appliances?

For many years I had one that gave

me excellent results and

I never bought bread.

I literally used it to death.

However, my bread efforts were never

as successful with my second bread machine.

So, I gave up bread baking and contented myself

with this "not-too-bad" store bought one.

Then last year at a knitting retreat

I tasted a friend's "baked that morning"

artisan bread.

I came home determined to

start baking bread again.

With some Internet investigations

I have found an extremely easy

method to make artisan bread.

(from Google images)

I am simplifying the recipe here, but you can

go to source with this book.

If you do try this method, please

go to this website for the complete

and detailed instructions.

Four simple ingredients are ALL you need.
Place 3 cups lukewarm water in a large bowl.
Add 1 1/2 T. granulated yeast (2 packets)
1 T. kosher or other coarse salt
6 1/2 c. flour, unsifted, unbleached, all-purpose


Aren't these measuring spoons great?
They were a Christmas present!
Thank you Rick and Terry!



Mix with a wooden spoon.
Kneading is unnecessary.
Mix just until there are no moist patches.

Cover (not airtight) and allow to rise at
room temperature for
approximately two hours.
At this point you are ready to bake,
or refrigerate the dough (covered) until you are.
I usually make the dough and then
bake on another day.
The refrigerated dough is
easier to handle than when
it is at room temperature.
The dough can be stored for up
to two weeks.
Refrigerating the dough for
at least 24 hours improves the flavor.
On baking day,
sprinkle the surface of your dough with flour
and divide it into four equal portions.
I "cut" it into portions with a knife,
then scoop out one section at a time.
Flour your hands, take one
portion and shape it into a smooth ball.
Do not spend a lot of time or effort here,
this should take less than a minute.



Place the loaf on a lightly oiled
and floured baking sheet.
I always bake all four loaves
at the same time
and freeze three loaves
for later.
Let the dough rest for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, began preheating
your oven to 450 degrees F.
When you turn on the oven,
place an empty broiler tray
on a lower shelf in the oven.
After 20 minutes (dough has now
rested a total of 40 minutes)
you are ready to bake.
(Don't be concerned if your oven
hasn't yet reached the
desired temperature.)
Dust with flour and slash the
tops of your loaves.
I also sprinkle the tops of all
four loaves with a bit more
kosher salt.
Place loaves in oven and
pour 1 cup of hot tap water into
the broiler pan you've been
preheating. This creates the
steam which will give your
bread a nice crunchy crust.
Bake for about 30 minutes.
Crust should be nicely browned
and firm to the touch.

It doesn't get much simpler,
or better,
than that!


I am linking this post to
Wow us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style