Favorites Friday (the comeback)

So summer is really not the best time for blogging.  I can sense a down shift in activity in my Reader feed - with the exception of the non personal blogs of course. :)  I've been wanting to blog, it just seems like whenever I'm in the mood, there is some reason I can't get to it.  So finally I'm here - and with a comeback of the shortlived Favorites Friday.

First off are my new shoes.  As seen in the post previous to this one. I've been reading about barefoot running and it's advantages.  Also, I really like to be barefooted.  So I wanted to try out the shoes that claim to be as if you were barefooted.  Or as Ohlen would say, "I'm going out in tiptoes." :)  So after I did some research I decided on Nike Frees.  I'm usually an Adidas girl all the way - but Adidas doesn't make a barefoot shoe that I know of.  They are also pretty expensive new, but I was, luckily, able to find a slightly used pair on eBay for about half the price of a new pair.  I wanted to make sure that I liked them before I fully committed.  And I love them.  I really can tell a difference in how I run (jog...) in them.  If you want to know about all of the logistics of it, just google barefoot running and it will lead you to lots of information.

The second thing I wanted to talk about is this:

This is the final image seen in the series finale of Lost.  I loved this show.  Loved the finale.  And that is really all I'm going to say.  :)  If you would like to talk to me about Lost more - please send me an email. I love discussing this show - which is probably why I like it so much.

Testing

Just testing something. More later - including an explanation of why I posted a picture of shoes. :)

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Mud Puddles

It's been pretty cold and rainy around here.  The pictures don't need much explanation.  Although, I wish I would have used different settings on my camera since I got lots of blur - but I think I got some good mud action shots.

Easy Wheat Bread

I'm fervently camping Hulu this morning, as the weather caused me to miss the last five minutes of Lost last night... so I figured, while I'm here, I may as well post something.

This is currently my favorite bread to make.  It is the most like traditional store bought wheat bread that I've found so far.  Wheat is a pretty loose term here, as the majority of the flour used is white flour.  But it is a hit with the rest of the family, and so easy. 

Wheat Bread  - originally found here.

Makes 3 loaves

1) 4 1/2 tsp yeast (2 pkgs)   2 C Warm Water
2) 4 Tbsp Sugar,  4 tsp salt,  2 C White Flour
3) 1/2 C Hot water,  1/2 C Oil
4) 2 C Whole Wheat Flour,  3 C White Flour

- (1) Soften yeast in warm water.  Add group 2.  Stir until smooth.  Let stand one hour.  Mix group 3 until lukewarm.  Pour into mixture.  Add group 4, mix until smooth and no longer sticky.  Let rise until double (about 45 minutes.)  Form into loaves and rise as before (or until as high as you want it.)

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.


Notes:  I use Thesco flour for the white flour and Bronze Chief for the wheat flour.  I get both from the store that hosts the online cookbook where I got the recipe.  The prep time is long - but there is no kneading, and most of the time is spent rising - so it really is very easy.  I don't have enough loaf pans, so the third loaf I form on a cookie sheet and bake it that way - it turns out just fine.  The pictures above of the final product are actually probably the darkest I've made them - usually they end up lighter than that.

Enjoy!  I'm off to check Hulu again.

Happy BIrthday Noah

Just Born May 5th, 2009

5lbs 7oz

18 inches

 

Now May 5th, 2010

20lbs 12oz

29 1/2 inches

Our sweet little boy is one today.  This year has just flown by.  He is walking all over the place. Saying Mama and Dada and some other nonsense words.  He loves being out side.  And is a complete Daddy's boy.  I can't wait to see what this next year has in store for our little guy.

I don't think so Tim

Trying to come up with a title for this post - I love home improvement, so I thought of Home Improvement. :-D

Updated pictures of the new room - and my new workspace.  My workspace needs some organizing, and I haven't actually used it yet - but I can't wait to. :)  Hopefully tonight!!

Also before the pictures - My last post was number 100!!  Craziness.  And!  In less than a week Noah will be 1!  This past year has gone by so fast and yet I can't imagine life without our Noah.  Each kid just makes your heart expand, it's amazing how much love potential there is there. :)

Without further ado - on to the pictures!

Room Progress

So just when I thought I was going to get back into blogging:

- I start babysitting much more regularly again.

- Spring hits, which means lots of cleaning, weeding, planting, and various out door activities.

- LOST!!  Oh how I love Lost.  sigh.  I won't bore all of you non Losties with theories and thoughts - but if you want to talk to me about it - I would love to.  Just shoot me an email. :)

 So yeah, blogging hasn't been on the forefront of my mind lately, nor at the top of my priority list, but I am working on some posts.  I want to do a boys update, for those that follow from afar, and are interested. :)  I have a few recipes hiding out.  And of course some gardening stuff to report soon (I hope.)

Today I thought I would share some new pictures of the room my husband is making. He has done everything himself, except for the carpet, well and the painting  - I did that. I love that I have a handyman husband, he has really made/built some great things, and saved us a bunch of money in the process. Love him! :)

These were all taken before the carpet was put in last week (obviously)  There is a bit of the trim up now too.  I would go get some pictures right now - but there is a little one sleeping in there at the moment. 

And finally, a question for my fellow Blogger bloggers.  How do you insert pictures?  Do you use the uploader online, or do you upload via a different program - or load them from a different site?  Do you use the web editor - or is there one I can download to my desktop?  I've been having some issues with picture placement and being able to put the text where I want it, and so on.  I suppose if I would learn some basic HTML that might go smoother.  Anyways, any advice would be appreciated.

Quilt a long Weeks 5 and 6

So I finally have weeks 5 and 6 of the quilt along finished.  I'm completely behind - the instructions for weeks 7 and 8 are up already - this week I should be adding sashing...  Oh well, it will get done eventually.   Hopefully I can get the next set of blocks cut out tonight and finished before the end of the week.

MckMama + Compassion = iPad

Well for someone that equation will be true. :)

MckMama has a blog that I follow. Recently she and her husband went on a trip to Kenya with Compassion - a ministry I happen to love.  Yesterday she announced that she would be giving away an iPad to someone who gives to Compassion's Child Survival Program.  You can read up more about it on MckMama's blog or at Compassion.com.  For every $5 you give via the link on her blog, you receive an entry to win an iPad!  Pretty sure the cut off time is tonight at midnight, so you have plenty of time. :)


Click here to go to MckMama's site and read more about the giveaway!

So far $16, 995 have been given!!  Amazing!

Expect to see a blog about Compassion in the near future.  It's something close to my heart.

A Weekend Visit

Sometimes I am completely torn between my Love of living in rural Ohio and my unquenchable thirst for travel.  I love all kinds of travel, via planes, trains, or automobile.  Just exploring a new place.  Taking pictures of it all.  But at the end of the trip, I'm always ready to come back home to the slow pace of the country.  The wide open space that is our yard, the familiar places we frequent.

This past weekend a friend and I drove to Lancaster, PA to visit my best friend.  On Saturday we rode an Amtrak train into Philadelphia.  It was my first experience riding a train somewhere, and I enjoyed it.  So nice not having to worry about where to park or having to deal with the stress of driving in a city.

We took the subway to the historical part of town and walked from there.  We spent the day walking to several historic sites and then venturing downtown for a bit.  We met up with my best friend's cousin who lives in Phily. We had cheese steak for lunch. (So good)  We walked around carrying coffees.  We hung out in a Barnes and Noble when we started to get sore feet.  Then we made our way back to the train station, and back to Lancaster.  Then Sunday we drove the 6 hours back home.

I loved visiting. I loved getting a glimpse of what life might have been had we moved to Ireland, in the sense of living in a city.  (We most likely would have been in Dublin.)  But as we were driving home it hit me how much I really do love home.  I love living in the slow paced country.  But I'd go visit the city again in a heart beat.  Always torn. :)