Bread Bird (also pretzels, biscotti, muffins)

But first:

The Professor keeps watch.

So, more Amish Friendship Bread. I did experimenting this time. I made my own self-rising flour because one cannot find either unbleached or whole wheat self-rising flour, and I didn't want any more bleach flour. Why do they still make bleach flour, anyway.

So, every so often (if you actually remember to do it) you're supposed to feed your bread starter. I had two bags of starter: one I fed only milk and whole wheat self-rising flour and the other I fed milk, flour, and stevia (we're trying to be low sugar since Chris has found evidence that fructose is evil). There was basically no difference between the two.

I was tired of feeding the starter all the time and of having more starter every ten days, so I just decided to BAKE ALL OF THE THINGS. 

Plus, I have the recipes if I decide to start it up again.

I know they are not artfully arranged. But I did a LOT of baking so I didn't care at the time. I might care a little bit now.

Mmmm, biscotti!

Chris insisted that I be in the pictures.

Also, from now on I will probably use King Arthur whole wheat flour because it is ground more finely than other ww flours I've tried. 

STAMP OF APPROVAL

I'm still on a low-carb diet, you guys. What am I going to do?????

poem bird

Please don't judge me too harshly. It's Friday.

Those Without Books By Closing Time Will Remain Without Books Until the Next Day

or

We Want To Go Home

One business day every week the library closes at 4

rather than 6, and the librarians depart in a mass exodus that leaves the parking lot

suddenly empty. Except that 

there is always one poor patron, wordsick,

"Oh please! I rushed here to check out books! Just a few! I forgot!"

But no. The lights are off, the special equipment shut down, pens capped,

papers filed, doors all but closed.

The patron pleads, begging as one impoverished for pennies, pittance,

"Oh please! Just a trashy romance from the paperback rack.

I have exact change!"

But no. These purveyors of information point their long fingers to the pertinent facts:

we will be open tomorrow, Saturday, from 9 to 4.

Then, drawing their metaphorical cardigans close about their shoulders,

they lock up and step squinting into the weekend sun.

Bread Bird

So, an acquaintance gave me an Amish Friendship Bread starter. I'm pretty sure that this isn't really Amish bread because it wants to be made completely out of sugar and frivolousness. But we pretend that it is Amish by telling people to only use wooden spoons when they mix it.

After the many days of the squishing of the mixture and the feeding of the mixture, I was finally ready to bake. Rather than just try the original sweet bread recipe, I, of course, decided to try making Sourdough Tomato Bread, which required a lot of kneading and punching, as well as 14 total hours of rising. 

 Here is my beautiful dough, waiting to rise.

.

12 hours later, it's enormous!

And here's how it turned out! SO CUTE!

Also, super tasty.

Photo Bird

An update in pictures on what I've been doing.

Working Bird

All I've had time for recently is work-type things. Fortunately, there's still a bit of room for painting at work every once in a while. 

Summer Reading is almost here!

Easter bird

As was mentioned in a previous post, my darling mother commissioned me to make her some Easter cards. I experimented with a few ideas (yes, I know that this is a surprise), and we settled on a simple embroidered design.

These were a lot of fun to make; and while they were somewhat time-consuming, it wouldn't have been too bad had I not forgotten that March was almost over. (I made 31. I know that's a weird number.)

They are finished, though, and are being filled with my mother's beautiful handwriting and mailed hither and yon.


On an unrelated note, I have found free music that is pretty.

I like it. Maybe you will like it, too. 












Easter is fast approaching. Remember how much God loves you!

Progress Bird?

Maybe.

love bird

love bird. heh.


I made Valentines, with which I am very pleased. 
Monsters are my thing, apparently!


I'm hoping that I've given enough time for the mailman (postal worker? mail person? senior officer of deliveries?) to deliver all of my post cards. I apologize if this ruins your surprise. However, yours should be in color.

I also made valentines for my book club. Behold the Valentine Sasquatch!

She's based on a character in a book we're doing for book club, and she also comes valentine-free.
































I also made my mom and dad a Happy Anniversary card!
































And, I made a piggie.

The end result of this is two-fold: I'm sort of addicted to making cards and postcards, and my lovely mom has commissioned a set of Easter cards for her to use this year. I'm working on ideas now!


Also, I need to find a program that makes better watermarks. If you have brilliant suggestions, I'd like to see them!

Christmas Birds, Part 2

Here, finally, is post no. 2. Since it's past the halfway point in February, I figure it's about time to post it. Also, Carroll has been nudging at me. :D


Coasters!

Animal stencils are awesome.

More t-shirt fun! Argyle is yay!

A tea wallet, so your tea bags don't get demolished in the bottom of your purse! :D

More earrings! I think these are awesome, and I wish the original idea came from my brain. But it didn't.


Ok, happy late Christmas! :D

incidental bird

Today's post is  brought to you by Milk & Honey Farm, Starkville, MS. This is a real place, so don't you dare go off and harass them. Or else.


Chris has the best fun tutoring folks, and one of the teens he tutors pays him in delicious food such as homemade bread and homemade goat cheese. Today, we received a payment of fresh free-range eggs. When you aren't breeding for sad fat chickens who lay white eggs, chickens lay beautiful eggs of various colors. These eggs are naturally green and tan. Apparently, color schemes are specific to breeds, but individual hens will each lay different shades within that color scheme. So pretty!

Also, when the mom of the family dropped off the eggs, her smaller daughter gave me a flower.

Also, holy smokes my hair is way too long.