Sew Many Books...

Giveaway! (a real one this time)

2011-04-25T05:13:00.001-04:00

Ok well, it's been quite a week for me. Again not so much here as over here:

Because I know you all care, I wanted you all to know first that I finished another UNFINISHED PROJECT: The Shopping Sacks!

yeah, yippee, cheers, applause!

To celebrate the completion of this project, Earth Day and my new blog....

I am giving the bags away to one helpful reader!

If you haven't already, head over to

To see the newly finished project and enter for your chance to win them. Thank you for your help in making the first week of the new blog such a great success.

http://apronappeal.blogspot.com/2011/04/delayed-earth-day-giveaway.html

Pssst...

2011-04-19T06:48:00.002-04:00

Hey guys,

I have a little secret. I'm blogging again. Which isn't really evident from what you see here because I'm blogging over here:

I started the new blog because I had a hard time posting about food on a blog titled Sew Many Books. I tried...Really I did remember?...

tacos,

bread,

brownies,

etc?

Anyway I just couldn't do it. If I were OCD I'd blame it on that, but I'm not so I have no excuses, just a request that you please follow me to.

Say to yourself...I want to go to there!

It's a lot to ask I know. You probably already have a favorite food blog and perhaps you aren't really sure if you want to follow me there (because there is only one food post up- at the current time) But if you like to eat or have ever eaten anything that I've prepared for you, or you think that I'm a soul worth saving...I think you're going to want to follow the new blog. :) Just be patient, it's growing....Can I count on your vote in November.... Ooops not a political blog a food blog....

Do you feel the love? Then go ahead and share the love, your comments are more than welcome and appreciated.

Thanks

Gwenevere

The Red Tent-Review & Giveaway

2011-04-04T22:25:00.002-04:00

The Red Tent

by Anita Diamant

SYNOPSIS:

The red tent was a place designated for the women in this biblical story to congregate during their menstrual cycles, times of birth, sickness and healing. Only women are allowed in the tent and during the time spent there, they shared experiences, spoke of traditions and discussed all matters of importance.

Dinah, the daughter of Jacob [Israel], tells her family’s familiar story from her own experiences and from the experience of others that she learned while in the red tent.

REVIEW:

Sounds interesting enough right? Especially when you consider that the only record we have from that time period is from a male perspective. But see that is the problem with a synopsis; they are written to sound interesting. You can’t get enough information from a synopsis to know what else may be lurking between the covers. So please, don’t judge a book, as I did, by the synopsis on the cover - judge it by its reviews.

The author was too easily sidetracked with lurid sexual references and often lost sight of the forest through the sleaze (thank you Hitch). I am not going to argue about whether or not the Bible is a romanticized record of what actually took place during that time period or if these stories are even true or based on parable. My issue with this book is that this new look into this story from the Old Testament adds little to the progression of humanity in comparison to it’s male perspective counterpart.

Within this story the author had a unique opportunity to express her thoughts and feelings regarding the good and bad that takes place when progress interferes with tradition and she totally blew it. She took so much time setting up the story to explain the complicated relationship that evolves around families, especially between mothers and daughters and when the time came to really drive the idea home, she just put her pen down and walked away. This approach made the fictional part of the character Dinah seem flat with no depth worth holding onto. Dinah began the story as a girl filled with potential and possibility and by the end had evolved into a creature of circumstance rather than choice and that just bothers me about people in general, especially women.

In the end, the book receives a 1-star rating because I had a hard time absolutely hating a book that prompted me to pick up my dusty old testament and read the ancient story for myself. If The Red Tent is a reflection of what the Bible would read like, if women wrote it, I am eternally grateful, that men were the scribes back in that day. Not because I think the men had a better handle on reality but because this women’s version tried to stretch truth in all the wrong places. But perhaps the book really wasn’t that bad and I’m just mad because this was the first book I’ve purchased in a really LONG time and I would have liked it to be better than what it was.

GIVEAWAY:
So, if you are still interested in reading the book, let me know by leaving a comment on this post sometime before midnight on April 11, 2011 (that's one week). I’ll send you my copy to keep! (if more than one person requests the book I’ll use Random.org to choose the winner.)

Oh and if you don't want a copy, you can still leave a comment - just let me know you are not interested the giveaway. :)

Gwenevere

Mint Brownies

2011-03-17T16:29:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday

Heath!

This treat is for you!

Truth be told… I have no idea if you like mint or brownies, but since it’s your birthday (and St. Paddy’s day) I thought I’d dedicate this treat to you. I know you try to keep your sweets to a minimum so I cut these very small (1 inch squares). This way, if you can resist eating more than one, the sugar effects would be minimal. On the other hand, I also know you like to exercise so if you do happen to eat more than one, you have a good excuse to hit the pavement and work off your spoils.

From what I was told, these brownies were amazing and by far the most eaten out of the array I had made for a baby shower earlier this week. I can’t tell you first hand what they tasted like because I couldn’t eat a single one. Not even a taste to see if my mint ratios were correct! Do you have any idea how difficult it is to bake/cook when you take snitches of what you are preparing? It’s hard and I hope you only ever have to take my word for it. Set aside the challenge of getting the recipe just right, it’s torture for the food loving soul. (I wonder if I could start a book series based on that title- you know to play on the other multimillion dollar book franchise about a warm broth for the whatever loving soul…I think my book would do better though because I think people like to torture themselves.) Anyway, I’ll address that particular problem (about not being able to eat the food I prepare) later. For now, enjoy your Birthday/St. Patrick’s Day Sweet.

Oh and now for a little baking explanation. I found these little beauties off of the website scrumptious photography and yes, I am aware that her photography skills are far superior than mine...I’m over it. After much deliberation, I decided to change a few things with the recipe. To start, I didn't feel her pictures were "minty" enough, so I one-and-a-halfed the mint layer portion of the recipe. (recipe below reflects the change). Since I didn’t have any peppermint extract or crème de menthe on hand I used lorAnn’s Oils Crème de Menthe Flavor. Which, I’m told is a stronger concentration than either of the other flavoring methods mentioned and for best results should be done to taste (hard to do when you can’t taste-so I used my brother and his wife to help me out). I used close to ½ a dram for my recipe.

The other thing I changed was the addition of a drippy ganache (which I can never spell correctly and neither can spellchecker) and an Andes Mint as garnish. I was going for "WOW" factor and/or pretty presentation. I’m not sure I achieved either, but the brownies were gobbled up so that must say something.

MINT BROWNIE RECIPE

-brownies adapted from: scruptiousphotography.com / joyofbaking.com

-ganache adapted from: annies-eats

Brownie Layer:

½ cup unsalted butter, but into pieces

4 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped (I used Scharffen Berger 99%)

1 ¼ cups granulated white sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 large eggs

½ cup all purpose flour

¼ teaspoon salt

Mint Layer:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup confectioners (powdered) sugar

1 tablespoon heavy cream

¼ to ½ a dram (1-2 ml) lorAnn Oils Crème de Menthe flavor

2 drops liquid green food coloring

Chocolate Ganache:

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

¼ cup heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Garnish

Andes Mints, cut in half on the diagonal

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C) and place the rack in the center of the oven. Have ready a 8 x 8 inch (23 x 23 cm) square baking pan (avoid glass) that has been lined with parchment paper across the bottom and up two opposite sides of the pan, like a sling. Set aside.

Brownies:

In a stainless steel (heatproof) bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water, melt the butter and chocolate. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar and vanilla extract. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well (with a wooden spoon) after each addition. Stir in the flour and salt and beat, with a wooden spoon, until the batter is smooth and glossy and comes away from the sides of the pan (about one minute). Pour the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan.   

Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until the brownies start to pull away from the sides of the pan and the edges of the brownies are just beginning to brown. A toothpick inserted in the center of the brownies will come out almost clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to completely cool.

Mint Layer:

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat all the ingredients until smooth. Add a few drops of green food coloring if you want the frosting green. If the frosting is too thick, add a little extra cream. (The frosting should be just thin enough to spread.) Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled brownie layer. Place in the refrigerator for about 5-10 minutes or until firm. Cut brownies into individual pieces and arrange ½ an inch apart on a cookie tray covered with parchment paper. (this is so you can drip the ganache off the sides)

Chocolate Ganache:

Place the chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let sit 1-2 minutes. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and homogenous. Blend in the corn syrup and vanilla. Pour the glaze into a pitcher or measuring cup and let cool for 3 minutes. (Do not let the glaze cool longer or it may become difficult to drip over the brownies.) Dip a small spoon into the ganache and with the backside of the spoon dab the ganache onto each brownie square ensuring that the top is covered and the glaze drips over the sides. Place Andes mint on top of ganache for garnish and refrigerate the brownies until the glaze is set, at least 1 hour.

Bring back to room temperature before serving.

Gwenevere

Write...Something

2011-01-19T20:29:00.001-05:00

I just want to write…something.

I want it to be beautiful and complete. But there is laundry to be folded, dishes to wash and children to kiss goodnight. I can’t possibly write the depth of what is prancing though my mind so I’ll just skim the surface in order to just write….

something.

Tomorrow evening, Boy and I will be attending a viewing for one of his high school friends. He and I have talked about this kind of day for many years. I knew it would come, but I wasn’t ready. I’m still not ready. I thought maybe when I was 80 and my friends started dying I wouldn’t mind so much, but 33?

On a lighter note.

My baby, is already 2 months old. He smiles and laughs. He makes me smile and laugh. I’m enjoying good mental health. I was worried... I wasn’t so fortunate with the last one.

The last book I read was “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte over 4 months ago. I can’t believe I finished it because I hated it SO much! I couldn’t put it down.

I started sewing again. I made PJ’s for my kids this Christmas. I also started making the aprons I’ve been looking at for a while, but I didn’t get those finished yet and it’s ok.

I’m ok. I’m great actually. Quite busy, more than I’ve ever been, and although I am not allowed many opportunities to really think about the state of my being (or gussy up my blog posts with pictures or fancy fonts), I know that I’m happy and thankfully, today, that is enough.

Gwenevere

New House Mystery

2010-09-25T23:05:00.000-04:00

Something mysterious happens when you move to a new place and it doesn’t matter if the new place is a rental or your very own, whether it's old or new, whether it is a bigger place or a smaller place or whether it is an apartment, condo, townhouse, home, barn, tent etc.

There is nothing that is exempt from this phenomenon.

So what is this wonder I’m speaking of? Oh sure you can’t find your favorite…whatever it is, but that is really just collateral damage.

What I’m talking about is the fact that…

no matter how great you are at Tetris and making things fit,

no matter how frugal you think you are,

no matter how resourceful you can be…

There is always a piece of furniture

that no longer works in your new abode.

There is an empty space that needs

“something” you simply do not have.

The plain and simple desire to “upgrade” or “update” is pulling at your heart and creativity like a…like a what? Oh, I don’t know, you just want new stuff really a lot!

The worst part about this little problem is that just when you’ve decided to live without whatever it is that will make your place

absolutely perfect!

The Pottery Barn Catalog comes in the mail (because that too mysteriously happens when you move to a new place) and because you have nothing better to do (the hundreds of unpacked boxes aren’t going anywhere) you begin flipping through the pages--you know--just to see” and “get some ideas”. Not too long after you reached the end of the catalog you realize that you are way worse off than you were before because in Pottary Barn, you WILL find exactly what it is you were dreaming of and at a million times the cost you were ever hoping to spend.

** sigh **

That is where I was this afternoon. While my kids played “pretend” in their rooms, I played “pretend” in my head. Eventually it became too much for me. I just couldn’t take it. I wanted these things so much! What could I DO?!

That is when google came to my rescue. The original search was so long ago I don’t even remember what it was I typed in. All that matters is what I found.

Now we all know, my serious blogging days are over - as is evident by how infrequently I post. Well, when I made this realization I decided it was time to clean my "google reader" house & free up some time so I dumped a lot of the blogs I was following. What remained were, of course, all my dear friends and family and an infant size handful of strangers that I considered to be really, REALLY special bloggers. A new blog was added to that tiny handful today.

Go ahead- take a look

www.ana-white.com

I can’t wait to clean out my garage….and get the baby out of my belly…so that Boy and I can set up the tools and work bench and get started on…

the desktop letter hutch,

(I'll have to modify the bridge)

bridge, & bookcases

(with glass inserts?)

that I have desired to fill my “empty space” in our new place and also so that I won’t have to hope over Pottery Barn ever again. But before I start those, I may upgrade my queen to this king size bed-it looks a little easier.

Ever since I met my “non-blogging friends”, Lisa & Karen, (and by non-blogging friends I simply mean that I cannot hyperlink you to their awesomeness) I’ve wanted to build things but I’ve been afraid and I haven’t known where to go to find the plans. Both Karen and Lisa have said that building is just like sewing (see I knew I'd be able to connect this post to the overall theme of my blog) - all you need is a pattern. Today I found my patterns and oh goodness….

THEY ARE FREE!

Anybody want to build with me?

Gwenevere

What is this feeling?

2010-09-17T15:46:00.000-04:00

I haven't had a desire to pull out my sewing machine or go to the fabric store since...Easter. Remember the Easter Dresses? Yeah - still unfinished and now, inevitably, cut too small for my growing girls.

Sew….

…what is this strange feeling I have to run to the fabric store and use my coupons to purchase the cutest fabric I've ever seen to make one (or three) of these:

& something matching for my little girls?

I'm a little afraid, because I don't want another unfinished project sitting in a box. But someone posted on facebook that Christmas is only 100 days away. My girls would love these for Christmas, especially if they saw their mom 'advertising' it before they got their own.

What's in a name?

2010-09-13T12:16:00.000-04:00

For those of you who may not know, a new little baby (gender unknown) will be joining our family in November. We are a bit stumped on names suitable for a girl so we've begun our search. Today, my search took me to some of my favorite books. This method provided me with a few more options to think about -- and left me wishing I have read more. :)

So...of all the books you have ever read, what was the name of your favorite character and why?

(And if it so happens that your favorite character was male, that's ok,

I still want to hear about it)

Dodged a Bullet!

2010-07-13T01:03:00.000-04:00

Tonight, I almost posted something of significance …

What was I thinking?!

OH! That’s it!

I was THINKING!

WHEW!

I dodged that bullet.

(That is what rereading a post before you publish will do for you.)

No need to sound the alarm quite yet…

but I think you should all know that…

My mojo is on the loose.

Sometimes, it can be very tricky to catch…

But this time when I do

I’m sure we’ll all say,

how much we miss these mojo-less days.

Office View

2010-04-15T12:56:00.004-04:00

Sometimes I miss the view of the mountains

and the city...

from my office in downtown Salt Lake.

Sometimes I miss the hustle of the city

and walking around feeling important because I had somewhere I needed to be.

Sometimes I miss waiting for the bus or the train

or eating lunch in a manicured garden or city park….

Today, however, I’m really enjoying the fingerprint-smudged windows

that provide the view from my current office.

I’m especially grateful that although it is a beautiful spring day,
I get to enjoy the view without the pollen.
Really though I think it’s time to invest in some Windex.

Backyard Beach....Oregon Coast Style

2010-04-14T09:19:00.001-04:00

We stayed home during spring break this year.

There is no shame in that.

None.

We did venture out to the zoo on one HOT day only to find the zoo to be incredibly crowded. When we were done standing in all the lines to look at the animals the kids wanted to play at the splash park. Did I tell you it was HOT. Rather than sit in the heat watching our kids run in and out of all the water features, my sister and I (the one featured in this photo here) decided to head home and set up a backyard beach.

A pool we have not, but a full size sand volleyball court to stand in as the “beach” we do!

We set up multiple watering stations with the handy use of hoses and sprinkers to copensate for the missing ocean. The kids had a blast. Too bad I didn’t pull out my camera until everyone left. When I asked Roo to smile for his picture in the “hot tub” he looked at me like I was a crazy person. (It’s an expression I am quite familiar with.) He then asked, “What are you talking about?”

“That water you are sitting in.” I clarified. “It’s a hot tub.”

He looked around, quite bewildered, and then with his fingers pointing to the water he was playing in he exclaimed, “This isn’t a hot tub! This water if FREEZING!”

Big Plans - Nixed

2010-04-12T14:00:00.002-04:00

Today was our first day back to homeschool after about
a 2 ½-week spring break.

The break was nice…real nice!

I had big plans for getting back to our schedule and routine but….

…the sun is shining….

…the kids are playing...

I have some things on my mind…

and so….

school has been a slow work in progress today.

It’s fair to allow a light day on your first day back from break right?

Worm on a Hook

2010-04-09T08:31:00.011-04:00

Last night, Boy told me not to post any more comments on goodreads directed to Pablo but darn it I must really like the taste of worms because I posted anyway.

I am giving Pablo the opportunity to hook me once again. I keep telling myself it's because I want to be understood but why would I value being understood by someone who has no interest in understanding me? It reminds me of a horror film. You are all screaming, "Don't open the door" and like a dolt I do it every time. Oh well, here's what I told Pablo.

Pablo,

I’m sorry, did you have something else to disagree with me on?

While you think up of some new way to twist my words so that you can cram me into the pigeonhole you think I belong in, I’d like to share this poem by Shel Silverstein with you, Titled, The Meehoo with an Exactlywatt. It reminds me our dialogue and our inability to communicative effectively with one another.

The Meehoo with an Exactlywatt

by Shel Silverstein

Knock knock!

Who's there?

Me!

Me who?

That's right!

What's right?

Meehoo!

That's what I want to know!

What's what you want to know?

Me, WHO?

Yes, exactly!

Exactly what?

Yes, I have an Exactlywatt on a chain!

Exactly what on a chain?

Yes!

Yes what?

No, Exactlywatt!

That's what I want to know!

I told you - Exactlywatt!

Exactly WHAT?

Yes!

Yes what?

Yes, it's with me!

What's with you?

Exactlywatt - that's what's with me.

Me who?

Yes!

GO AWAY!

Knock knock...

Pet Peeve #2

2010-04-07T23:18:00.000-04:00

This is a special pet peeve because it falls under the category of things I dislike about myself. Let’s begin….

Discuss \di-ˈskəs\ - verb

· Talk about (something) with another person or group of people

· Talk or write about a topic in detail, taking into account different ideas and opinions

Argue \ˈär-(ˌ)gyü\ - verb

· to persuade, drive, etc., by reasoning:

· to show; prove; imply; indicate

In most cases, I would prefer to engage in a discussion over an argument any day. When I do break out the argument boxing gloves, I like to do it when I know my opposition and I know that they know, I love them.

So what is pet peeve #2?

I really don’t like it when I’m swimming in a discussion and suddenly realize that my opponent is wading in an argument. I hate it because, well… 1)- I’ve lost the upper hand and security of stable ground and 2) where I thought we were working together to solve an issue my opponent is only trying to drown me.

I fall for it hook, line and sinker almost every time!

And hey, if your curiosity will not be stayed…you can read the details of my latest folly, here. The discussion turns to an argument when one "Pablo" enters the scene.

My Easter Weekend

2010-04-05T14:43:00.000-04:00

I hope you enjoyed your Easter Weekend. Although I didn’t especially enjoy mine or the breakdown that accompanied it, I did enjoy the freeing effect of dropping off some unnecessary baggage I’ve been carrying around with me. Now if only I can get rid of the rest of it…and refrain from running back to take a peek at what I left behind...I should be good.

Oh and don’t forget to take a look at the Unfinished Projects List. If I can laugh at the fact that The Easter Dresses made it onto the list then so should you.

Mind Clearing

2010-04-02T11:01:00.000-04:00

Remember this post from way long ago last week? Apparently, I left something out, does that make me a liar, maybe a hypocrite….can you be a hypocrite if you didn’t know you were being one? Anyway…

I don’t always read to learn,

sometimes I read

to clear my head.

I’m in need of some good mind clearing at the moment. I need a book that I can read quickly and not think about so much…maybe it’s time to read the second book in the Twilight Series. Which one is that, Eclipse? New Moon? Does anyone have a copy that I can borrow or a suggestion of some other book that will provide the results I’m looking for?

Another April Fools Post

2010-04-01T13:00:00.003-04:00

April Fools day lost its luster sometime around the 4^th grade when just about every kid in class came to school with their arm in a sling. I mean really…

Where is the originality?

Where is the creativity?

How many blog and facebook posts will you read today that state…

I’m pregnant

I’m engaged

Again….Creativity? Originality? Anyone…anyone?

Lets face it, the best April Fools jokes are really just pranks played at random times throughout the year when the element of surprise can really be harnessed.

I know you know what I’m talking about….at least I know my sister Nicole does. She has a bag of tricks I’d love to share here but since, this isn’t her blog, I haven’t asked permission and most were illegal, I’ll refrain.

But for the rest of you, come on, fess up….What prank were you most pleased to be apart of? If you need help remembering your best work, think back to college. I’m confident that some of the best pranks were pulled there and why not? Creative juices are at their peak flow and a sense of responsibility and mortality are at their lowest….

it’s a dangerous combination.

Spring Cleaning

2010-03-31T18:05:00.002-04:00

In lieu of all the spring-cleaning going on out there, I’d like to share what I am trying to sort through this season. The following is a snapshot of...

my storage unit.

Before you proceed to pass too harsh a judgment, I have a few things to say in my defense.

ONE – I’m planning on having a garage sale

TWO – Yes, I know how bad it looks and

THREE – I really do know where everything is.

OK, now you can judge.

When you’re done, please continue reading.

(We’ll get to the judgments later—in the comments perhaps)

What I’d like to address in this post is the issue that I have with this picture which is that just because I know where something is, it doesn’t mean that I can get to it without having to filter through some unnecessary JUNK and by so doing, I run the risk of it all crashing down and SQUASHING me…and thus bringing me to my untimely death (if there really is such a thing as an untimely death).

With that said, I’d like to now show you something else I’m trying to sort through this spring, The following is a snapshot of...

my life.

As you can see, the two are freakishly similar. There are some differences too, but for now I’d like to compare the similarities.

In my life, despite the disarray, I know where just about everything is kept. I know where my joy is along with my anger, stress, happiness, guilt, pride, talent, sorrow etc. The problem is that in order to access, lets say… happiness, I have to sift through sorrow or find a new place to put anger. It’s a delicate balance where with one false movement or misstep the entire structure could tumble down.

There must be a better way to access
the good stuff.

You know…put in on top or upfront rather than have it intermixed with all the crap. Ultimately, I’d really like to just get rid of all the JUNK but I’m reminded of a time when [I though] I had done that and wouldn’t you know it, just when I went for a box of peace, I found fear and doubt instead.

How did that get in there!?

If you have any tips (or judgments) to share, now would be the time.

(Oh! I almost forgot…IF you are INDY local AND the community in which you live is hosting a yard sale weekend AND you would be willing to lend me a small part of your yard, please let me know, I would love to participate.)

The Cake

2010-03-30T15:06:00.000-04:00

Before I show you pictures of the cake. I feel that I must first express my apologies….I think I may have mislead you into thinking this cake was going to be something special…

like a REAL ACE OF CAKES Cake.

(like this maybe)

If you were under that impression….Please take a moment to drop your expectation

down,

down….

lower than that….

lower….

think bottom rung of the limbo stick and maybe, just maybe, your expectations will be low enough.

OK, with expectations in their proper place, I’ll show you the cake.

It started with 2 chocolate cake mixes. Sorry Annie's Eats I just didn’t have time to test the “from scratch” recipes you hooked me up with. I swear I will practice before the next birthday.

Next came the strawberry filling.

This time I followed Annie's recommendation....yummy!

Then the free-handing

Then the pastry bag….Boy even helped.

Almost done….

...I'm trying to psych myself into finishing “the gang” in the van window.

(it was 12:45 in the morning)

I guess I’m a sucker for birthday smiles,

because I knew how important "the gang" was to this cake dream

so I did it with a toothpick!

One happy birthday boy, made it worth it.

Divorce from Sin

2010-03-28T10:18:00.023-04:00

I began reading The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

for the second time, last night.

I’m not even past the first chapter and already my mind is swimming in thought. The one that has been the most resonate is this:

What [worldly possession or success] am I so afraid to lose that I would sacrifice my eternal happiness to keep it?

This thought then directs me to one of my favorite scriptures from a story in the Book of Mormon.

Alma 22:18

“…and I will give away all my sins to know thee…”

Depending on where I am in life, sometimes this scripture leaves me filled with joy and hope and others abashed by my worldliness. Today, it manages to do both.

Do my actions show how much I really want to know God?

Mystery Machine

2010-03-26T21:18:00.000-04:00

I'm pretending again....

This time I am going to pretend that

I AM

ACE OF CAKES

I have until 1:00 p.m. tomorrow to turn this picture

into a cake.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Why?

2010-03-25T09:40:00.000-04:00

Just so you know….

I do not read for fun

--I read to learn

I love to learn.

What do you do?

Why do you do it?

Get 'er Done!

2010-03-24T21:15:00.002-04:00

I spent the day at a career fair here in Indy, helping my mom with her booth to promote her Scentsy Business. (If you haven’t heard of Scentsy and you use scented candles, you really must get in touch with her.)

Now that the career fair is over, it’s her turn to help me. Ha! Like me helping her this once, makes us even! She’s great, even though I owe her my life, she still agrees to help me. (In fact she’s upstairs putting my kids to bed as I type.)

So my plan for the rest of her stay….

…I borrowed a sewing machine. So now I have two.

(We can get twice as much done with 2 sewing machines.)

It’s time to take another swing at the Unfinished Project list.

(I should probably add the Easter dresses to the list because I cut them out a week ago and still haven’t sewed a single stitch.)

Paths of Glory-Review

2010-03-23T13:53:00.001-04:00

Paths of Glory

By Jefferey Archer

Synopsis:

George Mallory was the man determined to be the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest This book tells the story of his life and the paths he took that would prepare him for the challenge that would eventually claim his life.

Review:

Action, Pride, Romance, Politics…this book contains many elements necessary for a story to entice readers from across many demographic boards. I have no relevant interest in mountaineering yet I was immediately drawn in and found myself smiling and laughing at some of the main characters antics. This guy really loved to climb and would do just about anything to do so. It was amusing.

So why didn’t I love this book?

After asking myself this question over and over I think I’ve finally put my finger on it. When an author writes a story about an actual event or person, I want to be able to separate the fact from fiction or be so drawn into the story that it doesn’t matter. With this book I was unable to do either. The fact sorting eventually became such a distraction that I consequently missed the overall theme and enjoyment of the story.

I am concerned that if I wanted to share what I’ve learned from books such as this, I would run the risk of being scrutinized for repeating something that I cannot adequately defend as truth. Lucky me, I guess. I didn’t learn anything, at least nothing that Google can’t verify, so I don’t have to bother with that concern…I give this book 1-star.

Shaping the Loaf

2010-03-22T13:34:00.000-04:00

It all began when I was a teenager, lived a minutes walk from church and needed a good excuse to skip Sunday school. “Mom I’ve got to go home after sacrament meeting so that I can shape the rolls for dinner.”

I’ve been making bread ever since.

I am of the persuasion that if you are ever feeling down about yourself, all you need to do is bake a fresh loaf of bread and give it to someone while it’s still HOT. I promise they’ll be singing your praises and telling you how wonderful you are for days to come. If one loaf isn’t enough to start you on your path out of the doldrums then bake another. A self-esteem boost anchored in service is practically foolproof…that is if you can bake the loaf…

Baking bread is a process that requires mastery at every stage. Today, since some of you have asked, it’s all about shaping the loaf. Oh and before I get started I just have to tell y’all that everything I learned about whole wheat bread baking came from either NAOMI or the Bread Book she sold me on.

Everyone should be so lucky to have BOTH! For those of you who don’t have a NAOMI, I’ll do my best to stand in. For those of you who don’t have the book…go get it now or be patient...good things happen to those who wait…

How to Shape a Bread Loaf

Items needed:

Water bottle (for food)

Flour

Rolling pin

Heavily greased (with shortening) bread pan

1. Take your dough ball and place it, smooth surface up/seam side down, on either a slightly wet or lightly floured surface. (I prefer wet, because the addition of more flour could dry out your loaf.)

2. Starting it the center of the round, roll out to the edge and gently push out any air bubbles. Your flattened round should be about ½ inch thick before you proceed to the next step.

3. Flip your flattened round over and smooth out the bottom side with a rolling pin.

4. Very gently pick up the top o the round and fold it over the bottom half, creating a half circle. With the rolling pin, gently press the layers together and press out the air bubbles. Mind the fold-it is an easy place for air bubbles to hide.

5. Next fold the left side of the ½ circle into the center of the dough and press as in step 4 with the rolling pin.

6. Repeat with the right side of the dough.

7. Press the dough into a rectangle that is 8 or 9 inches long (about the length of your bread pan) and about 7 inches wide.

8. Starting on the long side of the rectangle, begin rolling the dough tightly like a jellyroll.

9. Pinch the loaf together to create a seam.

10. Pinch the ends of the loaf closed and tuck them under.

11. Place the loaf, seam side down into the heavily greased bread pan. With your hand, gently press down the dough into the pan so that it fills the bread pan and distributes the bulk evenly. You may be tempted to skip this step because the rounded loaf looks so nice nestled in the pan. DO NOT HEED TO TEMPTATION. If you don’t press the dough down to fill the pan, your dough may not rise evenly and therefore your finished loaf will not have a round, even crust.