Random stuff

Breadmaking

Recently I bought 100 Great Breads by Paul Hollywood and this is the first loaf I made from it.  This is a Guinness and Treacle Bread, made with 150ml's of Guinness.  Anyone who doesn't cook with alcohol or like the smell/taste of Guinness wouldn't like this bread - it does have a slight bitter taste from the Guinness but I was very happy with the results. The yeast when wild when it met the Guinness and I had the most lively yeast I have seen in ages!

Yesterday I finally got around to watch Homestead Blessings: The Art of Breadmaking (by the West Ladies) and learnt a few tips from the the DVD. I plan to copy some of the recipes, in particular their pizza recipe and the most delicious cinnamon scrolls. Just watching someone making bread is useful.

Card making

When I was in Sydney visiting Clara, I discovered Copic Sketch Markers. I had heard of them, but never seen them in action - now I'm hooked!!  Below is my very first attempt - Clara and I spent an afternoon colouring - the best way of reducing stress and have fun!  Colouring was a favourite activity when I was a child and I still love to do it  - its fun.

Here is my second attempt (below) - still need heaps of practice with the shading and blending.  The "stamps" I am currently using are "digi stamps" that you can obtain free from the net or pay a small amount for.  There is a large variety to select from.

 This is my third card - wasn't as happy as my second card but not bad for a learner!!

These two below (which the scanner chopped off part of the flowers) are 2 of five cards I'm making for my mum as part of her birthday present.  They will be placed on cards, but I haven't got that far yet.  These I didn't want a perfect blend of colour, I wanted a more modern look.

Other random stuff

I always to get teased at work (in a nice way) about the colour of my tea.  Anything wrong with this?  I know you aren't meant to add milk to Jasmine tea, but I like it.

My mum is very unwell at the moment so I sent her a cheery card.  She can't make cards any more nor write so she directed her Thursday carer (who comes so dad can go out and do all grocery shopping) to make this card.  I have it displayed on the kitchen counter next to the mandarins so I can see it when I am cooking.

Hello sleepy Charlie. . . she is my mouse catcher and each morning after a cosy night on the bed she goes outside and returns in less than an hour with a baby mouse . . . which she eats for breakfast.  She comes inside and eats her "second" breakfast.  Goes off to bed for a sleep . . . all day long. The life of a cat in my house.

~oOo~

 AND . . . this is the last week of JULY.  Where is my year going?

Happy week ladies and gents AND don't forget, let God drive and you be the passenger (but not the back seat driver).  He does a far better job!

~oOo~