Because Bread wasn't Enough

I have shared with you all how much bread we have baked and consumed.  Well we have discovered a new guilty pleasure

Yep, now we are making donuts.

Send intervention.....no don't......we are actually enjoying this!

I found this new online shop and I may have placed a rather large initial order.

But today I want to tell you about this pan

It makes 6 homemade cake donuts.  It even came with the recipe card.  I didn't have cocoa in the pantry so I made mine with a vanilla glaze and added a few sprinkles.

It was super easy and quick.  The recipe made 18 donuts so I had to bake 3 times.  I may grab another pan or two just to make it go quicker, but it really wasn't bad because they are a quick 8 minute bake.  So I had all 18 done in 30 minutes.

I also ordered these 

Disposable Pastry Bags

Once the batter was made I scooped it into these bags and piped the batter into the pans.

Loving this new find and the results we got in these

Delicious donuts.......ok, I better go do a workout.

Have a great week!

Puzzling Time

Literally, we have been putting together puzzles like crazy.  It is very therapeutic.

We have put together

A winter skating scene

A Doughnut Lovers Delight

An Old Fashion Candy Display

And this black and white city scape

This is the first and last black and white puzzle we have ever done.  Literally we were down to 7 pieces and still struggled about what piece went where.

The main thing is it has been fun drawing people in......everyone says I am only going to put in one piece and then it is two hours later.

I think we only have two more puzzles in our stash so I am definitely going to have to place another order soon.

If you haven't done a puzzle in a while, give it a go.  

Here's a couple of places I like to buy puzzles

Dowdle Puzzles

They have quite a variety of puzzles and you can pick which scene you want to do and then pick how many pieces you want.  If you want one that is not too challenging but will keep you busy, I would go with a 500 piece.  The winter scene above is only 500 pieces.

Magpies Gifts

They have some fun ones: a 1980's puzzle, one with toys we all had as kids, one with Kool Aid and Tang packs that also looks really fun.

Give your brain a little break while simultaneously exercising it like crazy.

Have a great weekend!  See you back on Monday!

Blank Space No More!

I may have quarantined harder than your average gal.  I have spent so many hours in this house now.....but you know what?  It's been good for me.  Before now, I was literally waking up, spending most of the day at work, doing a variety of things every evening and then going to sleep.  Now I have spent a lot of waking hours here.  I have learned to appreciate things about my home that I just didn't pay much attention to before.  I have discovered things I need to do better - yes, baseboards I am talking about you.  I have also found a few little areas and ways to spruce up a spot or two.  I've got several posts coming up....stay tuned.

Today, I wanted to show you our powder room. It is funny.  This room probably gets the most compliments of any room in the house.  Everyone who visits here and takes a spin through the powder room loves it.  I can say this without bragging because I didn't pick out anything in there.  The nice folks who built this house get all the credit.  We just get to enjoy it.

Here is the room

It has this pretty tile floor and the vanity created from an antique dresser.  Anyway, people like it in here and I thought I would capitalize on the one blank wall in the room.

For my birthday in May I asked for these

10 Piece Gallery Wall Frame Set

I got the white, charcoal gray, rustic gray set.  I wanted to do a gallery wall but not of photos.

I selected 10 of my favorite scriptures, worship lyrics and inspirational sayings. My resident artist created 8 of them for me, one I already had and the other I ordered.  The neat thing is the frames come with this layout.  I just used painters tape to attach it to the wall and nailed the nails in through the guide.  I then removed the guide and hung all the frames.  It ensures the frames are perfectly spaced without all the measuring and calculating.

Here are all the frames hung in place

And now when you walk into this fun little powder room, there's a little inspiration waiting for you there.....

Here's a few of them close up so you can see them a little better

I am blessed to have a built in artist here who can make these ideas I have come to life.  You could also find small photos of things you love or feel free to reach out to her if you want something of your own created.  Just let me know and I will put you in touch with her.

I am so pleased with the way this turned out.  I can't wait to have people over again and I hope they all need to powder their nose.

See you back on Friday!

Where is the line?

Yes, this is about the tension that is prevalent across our nation.

Wait, before you stop reading......

Wait!

If your first thought was, I don't feel like this.  I just don't want to hear anymore.  I just don't want to deal with it anymore.....you may have just gotten your first real feeling of what it is like for so many minorities every single day.

So many who are just tired......tired of being afraid, tired of being worried, tired of being careful.....so very tired.

I just want to say one thing about all of this.  What is going on in a person's head that they would ever behave so horrifically in the light of day in the public eye? Without saying this behavior publicly or privately is unacceptable, but when you know full well eyes are on you and you don't STOP????

I have never been one to watch a video of people fighting.  If the newscaster warns that "the following may be disturbing for some of our viewers" that is my cue to look away.  I never want to see anyone hurt.  I don't even like violent television shows or fight movies.  I just don't.  But I have not been able to avoid the recent videos.  None of us have.

So beyond the horror, the shock, the completely unimaginable tragedy that has played out on my tv, here is the thing that just struck me and I can't shake.........while a human being is under the pressure of your knee being killed, you slip your hands into your pockets......as if this is the most casual of circumstances....as if you are just hanging out with your friends on the street corner.... as if you are just chatting about the weather or what movie you should see......you just casually slip your hands into your pockets.

And it has had me asking

What has gone on in your life that leads you to be so okay with behaving so unbelievably badly in public? I think we can all attest that we have never seen a person who felt threatened assume the defensive position of sliding their hands in their pockets.  I think we can all agree in chaos and physically high stress situations, we don't normally relax and slide our hands into our pockets. What has gone on that you can take the life of another human with your hands in your pockets?

And here is what I think

when we share a meal with those who are using racially offensive language and we just laugh it off, we have given an okay that this is permissible behavior

when we nervously laugh at things during a party and then go home and talk privately about the offensive nature of the behavior, we have signaled the behavior is not that bad

when people are given ill-deserved pats on the back in hallways, locker rooms, board rooms or wherever, they have just been encouraged to continue such behavior

when we look the other way and don't call inappropriate, offensive, hate-filled, shameful behavior and conversation what it is, we have just given a boost of confidence for it to be done again

when we excuse people's ways by saying "that's just who they are" or " you know how he is", we just indicated that we will accept what they are dishing out

At some point, we have to stop building up people's confidence and call them out.

At some point, we have to stop strengthening poor behavior and demand better.

At some point, we have to be clear that there are consequences to bad behavior and words.

At some point, we have to be willing to look that childhood friend, that family member, that co-worker, that shop owner, that church member, that neighbor, that teammate, that fraternity brother, that super fun person who invites us over to their big gatherings where everyone wants to be.....right in the face and say....ENOUGH.....you've crossed the line....that is not appropriate, not funny, not tolerable. We absolutely have to.

I hope we are at that point now.

Please understand, I know every person is responsible for their own actions.  But the line needs to be clear and people should not feel comfortable crossing it in your presence.  People should not be casually sliding their hands in their pockets while crossing the line in your presence.

I am reminded now of the parents who volunteered at our high school to re-line the baseball and football fields.  Every week they gathered and put those precise lines back in place.  They had to because the lines faded, the lines were blurred as they were crossed by players over and over again.  Unfortunately, the lines of behavior have been crossed so much they too are faded, they too are blurred.  It is time for each of us to show up and put those clear, precise lines back in place.

It is time for us to all be really clear about where the line is.

Make it a great week.  See you back on Wednesday.

Juneteenth

Have you been hearing Juneteenth mentioned in TV and social media?  It has been a thing for 155 years, yet I don't think I have ever heard so much talk about it or mention of it.

With all the racial conversations that are happening right now, here is another opportunity to understand more about something that was generally not taught in our schools and certainly not widely celebrated by all people.

Juneteenth is the honoring of the day when thousands of slaves finally got the word of their freedom ......it was two and a half years AFTER the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed by President Lincoln. I think every history class I ever took indicated slavery ended with the signing of the proclamation. But the sad and horrific reality was it continued for another two and half years. As historic as the actual signing was the effectual date for thousands is worth noting in history.

I have had the opportunity to share in so many rich conversations lately.  Some with family. Some with close friends.  Some with people I am just meeting.  They have all been respectful and emotional. 

I hope you are engaging with those around you.  One of the main questions I have heard from people is ......What can I do?

Start with you - we could each use a personal assessment and some real inventory about places we need to grow.

Talk to your family - have some good conversations about how everyone is feeling and processing.

Talk to your friends - we have all practiced accountability partnering in other areas of our lives, maybe matters of race would be another good area to have an accountability partner.

I am hoping we all come out better on the other side......there's been so much pain.....so much loss....we have to be better on the other side.

Worship Songs

Anyone else been stealing away and having some private worship music time?

I have needed it.  Craved it.  Been feed by it.  I love a good devotional.  I love to read the Bible.  I love prayer time and quiet time.  But when I am unsettled, uneasy, hungry.....sometimes I just need the Word through song.

Sharing with you today what has come to be one of my favorite songs

If you have 7 minutes and 26 seconds to spare today.  I encourage you to click on the video, close your eyes and let the words feed you.

Sending this blessing to each of you.  I truly pray His Presence go before you, and behind you, and beside you, all around you and within you!

Amen.

See you back on Friday

May Book Review

Welcome to the Book Review of the month.  I have a great variety for you a little historical fiction, a complete chick-lit, a very dramatic drama and then a good basic.  Hopefully, you will find something you might like.

First up, a little historical fiction.





A Perfect Union by Jodi Daynard. I am a fan of historical fiction but this one was just okay for me.  If I were at someone's home and this was in the guestroom, I would totally read it and enjoy it.  All I am saying is you may not be blown away by it.

Then I read the sequel to The Secret Book & Scone Society



The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams.  A group of good lady friends encounters a new person in their town. They work on befriending her and helping her get settled, but there's a lot of other things going on in town....like a suspicious business opening and a murder.  The ladies band together and figure everything out.  An enjoyable read.

This next one was interesting



Call Your Daughter Home by Deb Spera. There are so many characters in this one.  Including a mom who is sick of being beaten and mistreated by her husband.  A servant who has literally seen it all, but still has the biggest heart.  And a well to do family that harbors the secret that will not only tear them all apart.....but would also bring them together.

Now buckle in for this next one



The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson.  This is the second in this series.   The first one is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  Now remember this is not for the faint of heart.  There's tons of hard topics, bad language and lots of bad behavior.  The story is so well written and I was engaged from page one til the very end.  There is one more in this series and I am definitely going to read it.  I just need to take a brief emotional break.

I hope one of those sounds good to you!  Happy reading.

Summer Trunk Club

It may be sad how excited I am about putting on real clothes and going out into the world.  I have a new appreciation for the simple pleasure of picking out some earrings to go with a cute shirt and some new sandals.  I also have a new perspective on exactly how many clothes I need to own.  I will admit it, sometimes I buy a pair of jeans because they are a super good price and sometimes I may order another pair of brown sandals because they are on a really good sale.

But NOW I really only want to focus on having things that I really love.  Don't get me wrong, I still want to own them at a good price, but I don't want to own them simply because they are a good price.

For that reason, when they sent my prospective items for my summer trunk, I declined a few of them because I knew I wouldn't love them.  But because I use the trunk experience to stretch myself, I accepted anything I was on the fence about.  After all, this is all about trying things someone else selected for me.

Here's what came in the trunk and how I felt about them

 These jeans are Kut from the Kloth, a brand I really love.  They are a super cute cut and I love the rolled hem.

Jeans and Top

I am wearing them with this red peplum top.  I really liked both of these items.  But the jean section of my closet forced a veto on the jeans.  But the red top made the cut.

The jeans are currently on sale for under $65 and the top is on sale for under $45.  Unfortunately, I only found the top in black to link here.  

I also got this floral top with tie sleeves

Floral Tie Sleeve Blouse

Good news....it is 40% off right now.

Then these white jeans.

White Jeans and Striped top

Now these had a chance because I actually need a pair of white jeans.  And these were nice.  I loved the fabric.....but all the sweet heat bbq chips and loaves of bread I have consumed, vetoed these.  I am beyond buying clothes to lose a few pounds in order to wear them.  Not that I wouldn't like to lose a few pounds, but my only goal can't be to wear these jeans.....so they went back.  As did the top because literally the day I opened my trunk, I was wearing a top exactly like this in a yellow stripe.....so I didn't keep it.  But it is a great top....speaking from experience and it comes in several color options.

This is a fun little skirt and cute with the puff sleeved top.

Skirt and Top

Both of these are moderately priced and would be fun to own. This little outfit is exactly why I do the whole Nordstrom Trunk thing.  I would never have picked this out on my own.....but I loved it.  The skirt was super comfortable (it has pockets) and just a fun style.  I am so glad this was sent to me.  It was by far my favorite piece. And the top is a simple little navy knit top that I also loved. When I pulled the link it was very limited so if you are interested in it.....go quickly.

Well thanks for coming along for my try on session.  If you are interested in trying a Trunk, click here.  Remember, you select how often they come and the price point and styles you are interested in.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Bread, bread and more bread

Y'all we are not just stress eating over here, we are stress baking too

Exhibit one

This is Amish Friendship Bread.  It is a Cinnamon loaf and we are on our sixth batch.  You feed the starter on day 5 and you bake it on day 10......it is so beyond good.  

and then

Exhibit 2

This is from a sour dough starter.  You feed it every three days and bake every 3-7 days.

Oh and the good news is

you can even make cinnamon rolls from the same dough.

Needless to say I have starters for both of these.  If you are local and want to bake a little bread, send me a message and we will try to work out getting you a starter.

Otherwise, I am going to have to start accepting elastic donations......for obvious reasons.

Worship - June Focus

Hello.  Hope you are all doing well.  We are rolling out our Worship focus for the month of June.  No matter what is going on, we must stay focused on God who will bring us through.

Here's our focus verse for the month of June

Printable click here

Don't lose your focus......problems, illness, rudeness, hate, strife, struggle, injustice are all a part of this world.  However, we have a God that is good and His love is always with us.

Let's worship together for this month as we remember Who our God is and give Him thanks for the hope we have in Him.

As we do each month, one of the subscribers to this blog will receive their very own worship bracelet made be this sweetest girl ever. If you want to ready all about her click here.

This month's winner is kg..........8@gmail.com

Enjoy your bracelet as a good reminder to worship continuously.

Wishing you all a wonderful week.

Thanks and a Winner

Big thanks to you all for sending such nice birthday wishes.  It was really a nice, quiet day.....just perfect.  I got so many surprise porch packages and cards and emails and social media posts.  It really was nice to hear from so many.

As promised I randomly selected two winners from all the subscribers and those who left comments.


The First Winner is
@d......ers91! She selected Sweet Pineapple....and I concur. 


The Second Winner is 
pws.....@aol.com.  She selected Boutique 81....this one is new to me and I am happy to now know about it.

I am off to grab both of your gift cards and will get them to you right away!

You guys shared a lot of great spots.  I'm listing them all here in case others want to check them out

Sweet Pineapple
Boutique 81
Daisy Lane
Shoe Fly
Better than Before
Patches and Stitches
3:sixteen
Smoking Goat Art
Sparkle.shoppe (find her on Instagram)

Wishing you all a wonderful week.