Garage sale Bargain

Ever since we had a preparedness fair in May I've wanted a pressure canner. It was suggested at the fair that you can find them used and in good condition. I kept this item on my list of things to look for at garage sales. Sure enough last Saturday I found this one. It was under a table inside a torn box with a layer of dust. I bent down to examine it and an earwig crawled out of the box. It had a sticker on it that indicated that the price was right--$1. Yay! I brought it home (minus the box), and scrubbed it up, and it looks great.

I've always loved the process of baking bread. It is so satisfying. I like smelling the yeast and adding the honey. These days I'm using white whole wheat that I got at Bob's Red Mill. It makes a superior bread! I also sneak in some ground flax seed. Here's the recipe:

Whole Wheat Bread
2 pkgs. quick-rise yeast
3 cups warm water
6 Tablespoons oil
10 Tablespoons honey
7 cups whole wheat flour
1 Tablespoon gluten
3 teaspoons salt

Put the yeast in a mixing bowl to which you have added a half teaspoon of sugar, add the water and let proof. After this is bubbly, add the rest of the ingredients and knead til it holds together and cleans the sides of the bowl. Take it out of the bowl, spray the bowl with Pam, and return it to the bowl to rise. I cover it and put it in the oven that I've heated slightly and then turned off. Let it rise til doubled in size, and then punch it down and form into 2 loaves and rise again. Bake for 35 minutes.

Monday Breadbaking

Fair Weather Walker

I love walking in the morning when its sunny, but still a little cool. I tried walking with an enrichment group, but it didn't work for me. So I take off and chug up a steep hill and I'm rewarded by some of Roseburg's pretty views.

Wildlife in our back yard

Everyday we have two baby deer that come to visit. I took this picture through the back window. You can see them just off the patio. Sometimes they come around to the front yard and after munching on the bushes they lay next to the house. I never get tired of seeing them. The neighbors think they're a bother and they put fencing around all their trees and shrubs.

My Project

We bought this bedroom furniture on craig's list. I wish I would have taken a "before" picture. The finish was a light brown and the hardware was an ugly filigree style. We knew the furniture itself was solid wood and well made and the lines were good. After sanding my little fingers to the bone, I applied at least three coats of dark bombay stain and varnish all in one stuff. We changed out the hardware to a brushed nickel finish, and I'm pretty pleased with the ourcome! It's a bit of a thrill to buy somebody's cast-off and with a little elbow grease turn it into something that looks like new.

Down on our luck!

Rob went hometeaching the other night, and enjoyed visiting families, and getting to know his new partner. After they were finished, he and his partner stood ourside under a tree and talked for awhile. All of a sudden Rob felt something wet and forceful hit the side of his face. He instinctively brought his hand up to feel it and realized that a bird had pooped on him! Looking down onto his clean white shirt he saw additional poo. He cleaned himself up as best he could and came home and told me about the experience. We both agreed that lately it seems like we are getting more than our share of poo. We try to remain upbeat and laugh--glad we have each other to laugh with. Life has its ups and downs for sure.