Moving things around

Before and after shots of the stairs. Notice how the logs pick up the colors from the sunset in the "before" picture. I love this dynamic feature of log homes. I hope you approve of your stair revision, Vern and Vonn!

Busy bakers

Thanks for the yummy chocolate chip cookies, girls! :)

A use for rocks

Kris made a walkway out of rocks that we found around the property. When it gets a little warmer we plan on adding some flowers. It is nice to be able to incorporate some free stuff into our landscaping! :)

Why the pink chair stays in the blue room...

After getting 4 shots yesterday Isabel was pretty sore. Bedtime was especially hard. She decided that she would sleep better in Wesley's room. Here is a sample of the conversation I heard...

"Why are you crying, Bel?"

"I don't feel very good."

"Do you want me to sing you a song?"

"Yes."

A song follows song by Pippen (and Wes) on Return of the King.

"Why are you still crying?"

"I am afraid that nightmares might come."

"If they do you can wake me up."

"Okay."

"Goodnight, Isabel."

"Goodnight, Wesley."

What would life be like without big brothers? You have a heart of gold, Wes!

60 Minute Rolls

I have made these rolls so often that some of you have had these when you've come for dinner. I had a request for this recipe so I've decided to post it here. It's only a slight change from it's posting in the KitchenAid manual that came with my mixer. Enjoy!

1/3 cup powdered milk
1.5 cups water
1/4 cup butter

Microwave these together for about 1 min. until liquids warm (about 120*F-130*F).

In your mixing bowl place
3.5 cups flour
3 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 pkg. active dry yeast (5.5 tsp)
Attach dough hook. Mix 15 sec. Gradually add warm liquids to flour mixture, about 30 sec. Mix 1 min. longer.
Mix rest of flour at 1/2 cup increments (to total 4-5 cups) until dough clings to hook and cleans sides of bowl (about 2 min). Knead for 2 min. longer.
Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover, let rise in warm place, free from draft, 15 min.
Turn dough into desired shapes. I divide dough in half and roll each section into a circle. I then brush on melted butter with a pastry brush, uses a pizza cutter to cut out about 12 wedges, and then roll them up. You can shape as desired. It makes about 2 dozen rolls.
Cover and let rise in slightly warm oven (90*F) for 15 min. Bake at 425*F for 12 min. or until done. Remove from pans and cool on wire racks. I use the buttered pastry brush on them once again.
These are very yummy and a big favorite of our family and one of the few yeast recipes that has not failed me yet. I hope you enjoy them too!
Incidentally, my oven has a "proof" setting that I have really liked for letting the dough rise. In Florida I just put them out in our garage on top of my washing machine and achieved the same results but I don't think that will happen in Ohio! :)

Cute quotables

Isabel said a few things recently that made me smile and I thought I'd pass them along...

In Savannah I was given a small, white Gideon's New Testament at the nursing conference I attended. Because of it's size I knew Isabel would love it. When I gave it to her she said, "Oh, thank you! I just finished reading my other Bible!".

When picking her teams for the Williams final four she picked the teams by their mascots with one exception. Kansas was picked because that is what Dorothy would have picked. She loves the Wizard of Oz! :)

While driving to my moms she asked "why do big humans still need Mommies and Daddies?"

Oh, sweet girl I love the fact that you still need your parents and that you entertain us with your growing mind. We all love you!

Thanks, Kris!

We have planted some seeds and started on our garden plans. I was excited to see this shelf for the things I canned from last Fall. Last year at this time a garden was a bit of an experiment that worked out very well. We learned a lot but thankfully plants are forgiving!