I got lucky....

In the kitchen, no less!

look at that beauty!!

  If you follow my blog - you know I can not bake!! It tastes OK but looks U G L Y (usually with no alibi) That is my first loaf of bread!! I make specialty bread at Thanksgiving and Christmas but this is just regular ol' bread. It turned out sooo good!! I used the  American Sandwich Bread recipe from the Brown Eyed Baker. A few things about the recipe.... wow is it easy!! I read through the recipe and even looked through the comments to see how long to knead it if not using a Kitchen Aid - couldn't find anything so I thought I would wing it..... When I went to bake it I saw the "note" at the bottom saying that the recipe should be made using a mixer - oops.  I used 1% milk, salted butter and regular AP flour - not because I was being a rebel - it's what I have in my cupboard!!  I mixed my yeast in with my flour instead of putting it in the milk. Kneading is hard work. I did it until I got bored - about 8 minutes haha It really turned out well. I made another loaf today - someone came to the door and I thought I set the timer but I guess I didn't so I over-baked it. Still good - of course I had to taste it!!

mmmmm

 I want to try her Cinnamon Raisin Walnut Bread  and Honey Oatmeal Sandwich Bread. She has a Sea Salt, Cashew and Milk Chocolate cookie recipe that looks like it might be dangerous (in a slap yer momma way) but I'm willing to try it!! I made a roast this week that was FANTASTIC!!! It was actually beef short ribs but I made them like a roast in a Dutch oven - so good!!  We are trying to keep the calories down so I made a Baked Spaghetti Squash and Cheese from Skinnytaste it is a macaroni and cheese substitute - so so good. I took a picture but it did not look tasty so you will have to look at her pretty picture!!
We had to shovel - again.... I want to remind you how steep and long my driveway is - see Scott down there? Way way down there? We didn't think it would be an issue - it doesn't snow THAT much in Indiana - right? We are inching up the most snow charts - I think we are in third with 41 inches so far. I think it's because we bought this driveway.... 

can you hear me????

deep snow!!

icicle

 I had a fun mail day - I also got Jardin Prive "Christmas". I love love love the Renato Parolin, of course - it has little birds and stars on it -delightful! I never would have done the bee pillow but I saw it on Karen's Handiwork and fell in love with it - so pretty. This picture doesn't do either pattern justice!!

I am King of the Chair!! Isn't he a pretty boy!!

We finished all the painting in the fireplace room. We are going to wash the floor by hand and put a layer of Danish Oil on it. Now, it says not recommended for floors but we don't want to use a polyurethane on it - more like a wax or oil. We tried a section and it is pretty - does not appear to come up on your fingers once it's soaked in. So if anybody knows why we shouldn't use it - speak up!!  Then we just have to put up the quarter round and move the living room stuff in there - can't wait!!
This weekend we went antiquing - we found a crazy antique mall in Greenwood - I got a tool box - that I'm going to paint and Scott got an old wooden Pepsi crate. 

Then we went and saw "Gravity" IMAX 3D - beautiful to look at - pretty intense movie. Scott loved it. There wasn't hardly anybody in the theater - love that!! I love going out with Scott - so much fun!!
Well, I am late getting this done - still have some chores to do!
Hope you all stay warm - thanks for stopping by!!