WOW! What A Beautiful Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rheBDY_eNmg

The Way I Like It

The weather forcast Wednesday Night into Thursday Morning:
A Winter Weather Advisory for a mix of Rain, Sleet, and Snow. Accumulation of 1/2 inch of slush.

This is what I woke to~

It was beautiful!
Snow on everything ... EXCEPT the roads.
Even though I don't have to drive in it, I know many others do.

Yes, that's the way I like it!

The Drop Spindle

Back in November, my daughter celebrated her 16th birthday.
Dear friends gave her this for a gift...




A Drop Spindle with instructional booklet, and 2 bags of roving.
What a treasure!!!
A few years ago, I saw a lady with one of these at a Homeschool Convention. The curiosity of it has been in the back of my mind ever since. And now my daughter gets one for a gift.
Too Cool!!!

Things have been so busy for us lately, we haven't really had a chance to try it out.
But, we are determined to get to it! Hopefully this week!

Stretch and Fold

A few weeks ago I came across a bread making technique called *stretch and fold* ... So, I decided to look into it.

I watched a couple of YouTube vidoes...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1timJlCT3PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0o4asEGW78&feature=related

It didn't look too difficult to do, so I decided to give it a try.

I used a basic bread recipe, reducing the flour to make a wet dough.

I followed along with the technique and turned-out a nice loaf of bread.

I actually like this technique better than the kneading, punch-down, rise technique.

My bread was not dense, but light and fluffy ... the way we like our sandwich bread.

I want to try some other breads using the Stretch and Fold method.

I'll let ya'll know how it goes!

Ice

We have several inches of snow. Then came the sleet and freezing rain. Now our part of the world is a beautiful ice palace.

Just about everything is closed. No mail delivery again today. The DOT and Police have made announcements to stay off the roads.

I'm happy to just stay home, keeping warm and cozy.

Last night for supper - a pot of chicken soup and loaf of fresh bread (new bread recipe and technique for another post).

Tonight it will be chili and cornbread.

The Warm, Sunny South

It's where I live.

But it's not so warm and sunny right now.

Today it is cold, windy, and there is a blanket of snow and ice.