Growth

I've been working in our little garden and taking some pictures of the growing plants.

Little bitty baby tomatoes

Onions

This one had to be pulled a little early because it went to seed.

Spinach

Unfortunately the bugs are enjoying our spinach a little too well. We need to mix some cayenne pepper and flour to sprinkle on it and hopefully deter them.

And Herzog. :) Because she looked so cute watching me water the tomatoes!

Party Food

  We recently had a picnic birthday party for my sister. It was cold and dark outside so we spread a cheery pink tablecloth on the living room floor and surrounded it with all our potted plants. We made all kinds of treats for dinner - no forks allowed! Some recipes were tried and true, some were new ideas I found in a cookbook I was borrowing from a friend. These little roll-ups I'm sharing will become your new favorite!

Pepperoni Pinwheels

1/2 cup diced pepperoni

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1 egg, separated

1 tube (8 ounces) refrigerated crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the pepperoni, cheese, oregano, and egg yolk. In another small bowl, whisk egg white until foamy; set aside. Separate crescent roll dough into four rectangles; seal perforations. Spread pepperoni mixture over each rectangle. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a short side; pinch seams to seal. Cut each into six slices. Place on greased baking sheet; brush tops with egg white. Bake for 12 minutes. Serve warm.

Yield: 2 dozen rolls

(Warning: These are very small, so be sure you have plenty!)

And the birthday cake:

I have really become fond of using M&Ms in cake decorating! In keeping with the picnic theme I created a lady bug. :o)

March Daybook

Outside my window~~ I hear birds singing. I see white clouds scuttling across the sky and our rose bush blowing in the wind.


I am thinking~~ About being joyful and content in the Lord's will. This is a hard season of life, but He will lead me through.

I am thankful~~ For my family. I am so thankful for the 22 wonderful years I had of knowing my Daddy, and although he is not with us anymore I am thankful I can know he is rejoicing in our Savior. And I am thankful for the rest of my family and that we can mourn and yet rejoice together.

In the kitchen~~ I am making Chicken Tetrazzini for dinner. 

I am wearing~~ A pink and green flowered blouse, a jean skirt, and my new cowgirl boots.

I am creating~~ Wedding gifts. :)

I am going~~ To church in a couple hours.

I am wondering~~ What our next step in life will be.

I am reading~~  the Bible. I started "The Knowledge of the Holy" by A. W. Tozer a while back and would like to get back into it, but I haven't yet.

I am hoping~~ to get into a better exercise routine.

I am looking forward to~~ being a bridesmaid in my friends wedding next Saturday.

I am learning~~ Acceptance and patience

Around the house~~ music, sewing projects and food are some things you'll see every day

One of my favorite things~~  photography - A day rarely goes by that I don't take a picture or look at and/or edit one I have already taken.

A few plans for the rest of the week~~  practice my violin more, go to Abilene, deep clean our house
 
A peek into my day~~  I cleaned a house with my Mom...finished altering a dress...cooked dinner...

Well, here's a peek into my life right now. I've enjoyed reading my sister Emiy's daybook posts, so I thought I'd give it a try. Sometimes I have a hard time writing about myself, but with prompts it made it a little easier. And since I can't write a post on my blog without a picture... Here are some beautiful flowers my friend gave me for my birthday last month.

I am linking this to The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Cinnamon Rolls

6 cups flour

2 packages yeast

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1 cup water

1/4 cup butter

2 eggs

For each rectangle:

1/3 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Glaze:

3 tablespoons butter

2 cups powdered sugar

3 - 4 tablespoons hot coffee

1/2 teaspoon maple flavor

In a large mixer bowl, combine 2 cups flour, yeast, 1/2 cup sugar and salt; mix well. In a saucepan, melt butter, and water and milk. Add to flour mixture. Add eggs. Blend at low speed until moistened; beat 3 minutes at medium speed. By hand, gradually stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead on floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm place until light and doubled, about 1 hour. Punch down dough. Divide into two parts. On lightly floured surface, roll or pat one half of the dough into a rectangle 12" wide and 15"-18" long. Brush with melted butter. Combine cinnamon, sugar and nuts; sprinkle over butter. Starting with a shorter side, roll up tightly, pressing dough into roll with each turn. Pinch edges to seal. Cut roll in to 12 pieces. Place cut side down in a greased 13"x9" pan. Repeat with other half of dough. Cover; let rise in warm place until almost doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake in preheated 375 degree over for 20 minutes until golden brown. Combine glaze ingredients; blend until smooth. Drizzle over hot rolls. Makes 2 dozen rolls.

To prepare these ahead of time, follow the recipe as written. Once the rolls are in the pans, do not let them rise, but refrigerate over night. The next morning take them out of the refrigerator and let them rise for about 15 minutes, then follow the regular baking instructions.

2012

I didn't quite make it to the end of December with my "Finding Beauty in the Ordinary" posts because we had family come to visit and I was too busy cuddling this little bundle. :)

This will be my last post of this series. I had a lot of fun doing it though, and may try again another month!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!