Finishing Friday ~

Two more strips to go. I brought my darling husband into the room and showed him my progress. I stated, 'almost done with the top', he laughed and said I have alot more work. I have the sashing strips and the borders to cut and sew. But I can already see the quilt. You see, to explain, I have been put on restriction from purchasing fabric till the top is completed. It does give me a great incentive and it is all said in fun! He is hoping that the quilt will be completed for this coming winter. Which gives me extra time because the winter does not come around here till December or January.

I have some bread to bake this morning. First is a delicious white bread. I plan to bake one and freeze the dough for the other for a later time.  I forgot to read through all the directions and mixed ingredients a step or two before they were supposed to be blended together. It has been some time since I had made this recipe. 

 

This is the sponge and biga for Mr Reinharts transitional whole wheat bread. I noticed on 'Craftsy' that he is offering a class on bread making. That might be a great way to learn homemaking skills. The internet is so great. It is how I got started on quilting and garment sewing.

And last but not least, the Ferris Wheel quilt. I am tracing and cutting one shape a day. Hopefully this quilt will be for a little girl for Christmas.

 The scraps are from another quilt that has yet to be stitched up. It is a big project that will have to wait till after Christmas. All I can say now, is that it will be for certain somebodies as a graduation gift.

This is our first weekend that is not jam packed with 'places to go and things to do'. Just a little quilting and puttering.

My favorite bread making tools.....

 

I have learned that the tools we use are essential in the outcome and the pleasure and ease of making bread and other items. I had read somewhere that gathering all of the tools and supplies at the beginning of a project makes the process smoother. It has taken me all these decades and now I am a firm believer. It is much like a sous chef who assembles, cuts and chops ingredients for the chef. I now use this concept for most of my cooking, cleaning and sewing projects. 

The items above I use for making Peter Reinharts transitional whole wheat bread. A family favorite for everything from a late night peanut butter toast snack to a delicious turkey sandwich for lunch. I really like the cambro square containers for letting the dough rise.  I use the flour sack towels for wrapping the bread after baking and while cooling. The turkey roasting bags are perfect for covering Kitchen Aid mixing bowls. As long as I have all the ingredients and my tools assembled, I am ready to go and it takes no time at all. Usually to mix both the biga and soaker is about 15-20 minutes.  Then after it sits till the next day, the additional items are all combined and voila....bread. 

I just love that linen towel with the purple stripes....splurge

Enjoy the weekend!

What am I going to do with this.....

The shawl is growing, the bread is baked and now what am I going to do with this offering. I am trying out a 'Farmers Market Bag' from Specialty Produce. They are connected with local farms and purveyors of locally produced goods and select items that are in season for $20.00 per bag. Every week the items change. I enjoyed something similar when I lived in the Bay Area. 

This week there is a fennel bulb, avocado, spaghetti squash, white spring onions, purple potatoes, cabbage and romaine lettuce. I will try my hand at onion jam (a recipe found on Specialty Market's website) and there is a recipe for Spaghetti Squash Casserole in my well loved Moosewood Cookbook. The fennel is a mystery. We have 2 bunnies and they turn their noses up to it. The cabbage I will share with a friend, we will enjoy a salad, the avocado is ripening and I am still looking for a recipe for the purple potatoes. Next week will have a slightly different selection and I am looking forward to enjoying blood orange olive oil, that I am purchasing in addition to the FMB. 

In week #9 of Ali Edwards' 52 Creative Lifts newsletter, I found these words, "Comparison is the thief of joy. Theodore Roosevelt". I too fall victim to comparing myself to others and then worse, stop doing those things that make me happy. I am still finding my own voice, my own way and how I might fit in here and there. 

I will be me and you will be you and we can enjoy each other accomplishments...