Cinnamon Rolls

I made the dough in my bread machine and put it in the refrigerator for a slow rise overnight. This morning I rolled it out, and filled it with cinnamon, sugar & walnuts. After one more rise on the kitchen counter, I popped the rolls into the oven. Drizzled with a bit of icing, they were a perfect Sunday morning treat served with a steaming mug of coffee!

Homemade Tomato Soup

Now that cooking and eating are back on my list of favorite things to do, I've been spending much more time in the kitchen. The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper is my new go-to cookbook. A few nights ago I tried their "South of France Tomato Soup with Young Chevre". It is absolutely scrumptious served with toasted sourdough and goat cheese. We enJOYed the leftovers for lunch today.

They're Crafty

While my sister was visiting last week, I gave her the patterns for two sewing projects that I had been wanting to make. Last summer I gave her my sewing machine, and while both items could have been handsewn, I knew she'd be up for the machine challenge. Gini ended up completing both projects on my mom's sewing machine before she headed back west. This allowed my mom the opportunity to embellish them both before packing them up and sending them my way. Aren't I lucky?

Both the Gratitude Wrap and the Felt Pencil Roll patterns were created by Amanda Blake Soule of SouleMama. The Gratitude Wrap has pockets for a teeny tiny address book, stationary, and stamps, so I'll always be ready to send letters to my favorite people. The Felt Pencil Roll is the new home for my collection of Le Pens.

G & M, thank you for the time, love, and creativity that you so generously share with me.

Love you both!

Thank You, Penny!

My favorite puppy "picked" this begonia out of one of my pots on the deck. Little does she know what beauty her naughtiness has brought to the kitchen table.

A Few of My Favorite Things

tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with Italian spices
sopping up the leftovers with a toasty slice of last night's loaf

and

topping it off with a triangle of Scharffen Berger chocolate

The Art of Finishing

I'm an arts & crafts dabbler. In the past 6 years, I've tried quilting, scrapbooking, and knitting. Although I have quite a few completed scarves, a couple of hats, and a stack of scrapbooks, I also have these 6 projects that are begging to be finished.

*The lavender shawl is first on my list because it doesn't even belong to me. It is a project I began for a group at our old church.

*In the round basket are the sleeves to my sweater begun in February 2007. I don't have many more rows to knit, and even though it won't fit me this winter, it will feel so good to have accomplished such a large project.

*The hot pink and orange yarn is destined to become felted slippers. The soles are finished. I just have to knit the tops, and I'll be happily scuffing around the house in them when the weather turns chilly.

*I'm piecing the purple quilt squares together by hand for a small lap quilt.

*The red album is our wedding scrapbook. All that's left is the journaling for the reception pictures.

*Lee and I left the "Merchant of Venice" at the final scene. Somehow life just got ahead of us. So, we have to read the final pages and then watch the movie.

It's my goal in the next few months to perfect the art of finishing, and secretly I'm itching to cast a baby hat or some booties onto my needles.

Golden Chocolate Chip Muffins

We are not opposed to a little chocolate for breakfast in this house. So, when I saw this recipe on a favorite blog of mine, I just knew I had to try it. OH. MY. GOODNESS. They are absolutely delicious. I buy most of my baking ingredients from King Arthur Flour. This recipe introduced me to their White Whole Wheat Flour. It's lighter-colored and milder tasting, but just as nutritious as regular whole wheat flour. I happened upon it in the grocery store yesterday and knew immediately what we were having for breakfast this morning. I did make one change to the recipe. Instead of 2 cups of chocolate chips, I used 1 cup of chips and 1 cup of walnuts. Mmmmm! Yummy!

My New Wardrobe

Baby H is beginning to make his/her presence known, and consequently Mama is growing out of her clothes. I've been able to find maternity pants and skirts that I like, but have had trouble coming up with tops that are just the right size for this stage of the pregnancy. My sister-in-law came through in a big way and sent me a box of flowy shirts and dresses that are perfect! Thank you, thank you, thank you, E!!!

A Day by the Sea

Gini, Ditty, my mom, and I took a 15 minute boat ride out to a barrier island to do a little shelling. We found lots of scallops, a few olives, some augers, and a large conch. It was such a lovely way to spend an afternoon together.

A Family Heirloom

My grandmother and her sisters slept in it. My mother and her siblings did too. Cousins, first and second, have spent their first nights there. My sister and I rested our heads inside as well. And now, the 96-year-old bassinet has been given a fresh cover and is waiting for Baby H to join in the tradition.

What's for Dinner?

Recently I was lamenting the fact that I had run out of interesting meals to serve for dinner. My sister-in-law, Erin, shared her list of favorites giving me the idea for these black bean tostadas. Yum! Erin & Brian left Saturday morning. My mom, grandmother, and sister arrived on Saturday afternoon. I had time for a quick trip to the grocery to pick up the fixing's for this delicious dinner.

"Hey, Where's Everybody Going?"

We said goodbye to the last of our company this morning. The past week has been a whirlwind of fun with the fam. I'll be back soon with a few pictures from our adventures.

Where I've Been

Spending time with family...at the beach, in the bookstore, sipping Starbucks, on the ferry, sharing meals, watching the Olympics, and talking, talking, talking...I'll be back soon.

I'm Back!

In the kitchen, that is.

For the first time in many weeks, I actually am excited about cooking. Hooray!

Strawberry Tops

Even the discarded pieces are lovely.

Pretty Penny

Penny's breeder wanted some recent pictures of her. I caught her just as she was laying down for a nap.

Root Beer Float

Fizzy, Sweet & Creamy

Banana Bread

Made healthier by adding wheat germ and whole wheat flour...oh, and chocolate chips of course!

The View from the Kitchen Sink

One of my favorite things about our new house is the huge butterfly bush at the corner of our deck. Not only are the sweet-smelling flowers my favorite color, but it's always abuzz with bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

A Nighttime Gift

In the wee hours of morning, sometimes even before the light of dawn begins to seep across the sky, I'm up and outside with the dogs. Though mostly I'd rather still be sleeping cozy in our bed, there's something special about being the only one awake and outside at that hour. If not for Jake & Penny, I would have missed so many gorgeous moons, cool morning breezes, and the peaceful whistling of bird songs beginning the day. Last night I enJOYed a sky peppered with stars. Every which way I craned my neck there they were winking, blinking, and sparkling down on me.

In the Evening Light

We had friends over for dinner on Saturday night. They arrived with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. I've been enJOYing their presence on the table while I putter in the kitchen.