I think I need bread baking lessons.

The last few times I tried making bread the result wasn’t even edible.  This time I didn’t go for looks or anything, but just something people could eat without gagging or feeling like they were eating communion wafers in big form. Wine anyone? Yes, my bread was dry, why do you ask?

I can make bread.  I have done it and had spectacular results.  Just something these last few times has not gone right.  Today’s attempt was edible, and very good, but it didn’t rise much if at all the second time around.  But with the way the girls gobbled it down, I think I need to attempt again on Friday when I’ll be home without children around to ask a thousand and one questions about what I’m doing and why.

Today’s attempt looked like this:

I used a recipe I got from Mary and the Biker Chef over at Play Off the Page.  I changed one thing, and it is probably this change that made it not rise nicely: the recipe called for maple syrup and I used honey and a tisch bit of water instead. Also, I need to use my baking stone, and that should help some in the way it bakes.

Tomorrow’s new recipe is gnocchi (again, thank the Biker Chef!) to go with the lovely alfredo sauce we made and have extra to use up.  I’ll add some chicken and green beans to the meal to balance it out, though I really think gnocchi and alfredo sauce is a meal in itself.

To new adventures in recipes, inspired by a trip to visit Mary! Cheers!

This post is written with much thanks to Matt for helping me make it look pretty (format it) and helping me figure out why I couldn’t get the pictures off the camera right away.

I love to create.  Sometimes (okay, most times) I get an idea for what I would like to make and then dive right in.  I start off and do well for some time only to put it down when I get busy with other projects–often for months at a time.

Most of my projects are yarn crafts, mainly crocheting and knitting. I have a huge backlog of projects that need finishing.  Add to that a ginormous amount of yarn for projects not yet started and you can understand why most of my goals have to do with yarn crafts.

I mostly crochet, but I am in the process of learning how to knit.  So that alone doubles my in-progress projects.  And if you add in all the fun stuff I’ve found on Ravelry, my list grows to an astronomical length.  So I pared it down to something I might be able to accomplish in a year:

Crochet:

• sew together blocks for Americana Afghan
• Finish blue ripple afghan
• Finish gift project
• Find and finish my crocheted wrap project (I lost it somehow and was working with a favorite yarn!)
• Begin tree of life project
• Make flamenco outfits for my plastic flamingos
• make cat toys as needed

Then there’s the knitting.  I want to learn new skills, so these projects are towards that goal:

• Make special gift x2-speed up my process to get things done on time
• Make socks-using double pointed needles, knitting in the round
• Winding river scarf-learn cable knit
• Baby gift to have on hand- increase and decrease techniques, lace techniques
• Skirt for me-knitting in the round
• Dress for Emily-construction techniques
• Tunic for Kirstin-same as above
• make a cat to watch over my yarn cabinet-doing tiny things in the round, stuffed animals

And then, if that isn’t enough to do, I also have two sewing projects planned.  One I have to get done, but it’s rather straight forward: curtains for the girls’ room.  It shouldn’t take me too long to get them done, especially as I have the fabric on hand.  The other sewing project is a top for myself.  I’m going to do a mock-up out of some worn sheets we have on hand and then translate that to the other fabric once I get the fit exactly as I want it.  I will not be making the girls’ Halloween costumes this year.  I promised myself that this last Halloween after rushing to get them done–again. I do not want to be sitting up the night before working to get things done.

I will definitely keep busy this year between my writing and my crafting.  As both are things I enjoy, I should have a good year. I will post pictures on here of things as I finish them.  Except for the gifts. Those won’t be posted until after they are given for obvious reasons.