~ Before & After ~

Now that the weather is starting to change, baking is on my mind...
"Hand-maid" bread is just the thing for today's Traditional 3:00PM Tea.

BEFORE

2 lbs of Cinnamon Raisin Bread -
It looks a little sunken in the middle...but the taste wasn't effected. at. all. :o)

It's still yummy warm...

Yep.  I used my bread machine.  Add all ingredients to bread pan...and savorier!



AFTER

 

Served with Tea and Honey

 

CINNAMON RAISIN BREAD

1-1/8 cup warm water
1 egg
1-1/2 Tbl. butter or vegetable oil
3-1/2 cups all purpose flour (I used white whole wheat)
1/4 cup dry milk
3 Tbl. sugar (can sub with honey or agave)
1/2 cup raisins
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. dry yeast

~ Incentives ~

Summer is coming to a close.  My favorite season is fast approaching. 

I have been spending the past week re-organizing, de-cluttering, super-simplifying and searching for the perfect incentive for...

All new assignments.  With age, comes bigger responsibilities and bigger protests.
Some little reward...to increase productivity, to maintain cheerfulness, and to squelch avoid whining disquietness.

Unfortunately, "gold stars" are not enough any more...

And rather than deal with the consequence of nagging the "green square" or yelling "red circles"...I have decide to use a few new colors of my own...
meet the new gold, red and green brown "incentives":


Where are the green ones?!  New "Fall" colors.

Who can resist!?
Bribe?  I think not.  Brilliant?  You bet!

It is a mother's desire to maintain peace in the household...and to keep an orderly and tidy home.

I love this Season.

~ Forecast: Light Shower with Plenty of SUNSHINE ~

We showered, my newest nephew, with love.

New mommy & daddy were recipients of much love as well.  :o)

A WELCOME to our FAMILY

How blessed we are...

The invitation read:  Born in our hearts, United by faith

we have a special delivery from many miles away.

Butterfly & Little Lamb made these simply cute & yummy favors

We had a house full of family and friends...it was a joyful group celebrating a joyous occasion!

  We used the colors of his new nursery...blues, greens and browns.  Do you see a theme?

Not "hand-made", but given with MUCH LOVE

The cake was a masterpiece!  It was also, delicious! 

I had it made from a bakery downtown; the same one that I ordered one of Conductor's cakes from....

"Every good and perfect gift comes from above"  ~ James 1:17

My sister led the "games"...too funny!  We can be a competitive group.

 

We had our guests bring gift cards because they are easy for mommy & daddy to transport back home...   many miles away.  ;o(    sniff.sniff.

 

My sister also made these adorable gift favors...filled with, what else, animal crackers!  Lions and tigers and bears.  Oh my!  Everyone went home with a little keepsake of our newest little family member.  Sweet idea!

WELCOME INTO OUR LIVES...WE LOVE YOU!!!

~ Pep in My Step ~

Check out these SHOES! 

My husband has a pair that he has been wearing for about a year now.  I finally decided to try some.  I've been having some foot pain.  Not.fun.

These shoes have become a "few of my favorite things".  They put a pep in my step and a smile on my face.  I don't really care that they look like "monkey feet".  LOL.  They are SO comfortable!

Happy Feet!

~ Everythings Peachy! ~

Fresh peaches from the backyard!

Peachy in Color!

So excited that my orchids are not dead doing well! I have not had much luck with orchids in the past...although they are a favorite of mine. This one particular flower is very special - it was a gift from a friend.

 Here is a picture several days later. 

And now the flower is blooming nicely! 

My John Paul II roses are really thriving!  So lovely are these roses...I have this one in a pot.  It shares the space with a yellow calla-lily.  I may have to transplant the lily at some point...I hate to disrupt the roses.  Although they would probably benefit in the long run - I don't want to rock the boat!

 We have some tropical type plants now in place...aren't these beautiful?

  OK.  Last photo.  (I could go on and on and on...this is just the tip of the iceburg) lol.

"The grass is withered, and the flower is fallen: but the word of our Lord endureth for ever." 

 ~  Isaiah 40:8

~ Simple Summer Breaks ~

From the garden

Something refreshing...




Something restorative...

A (as opposed to "The") Perfect Margarita...so many wonderful variations :o)

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and combine:

2 oz good/100% agave tequila

Freshly squeezed lime juice

1 Tbs. agave nectar

1/4 c water

Shake & pour over ice*

*moisten rim of glass with lime and dip into coarse salt.

Disfrutar!

Addendum:  when you don't have a lime on hand...lemons work just as well. ;o)

~ Summer 2012 ~

Fishing.  Looking for "George".  That's what Little Lamb named this whopper of a fish that has evaded her, so far.  She's been very successful at catching several fish...but she's aiming for George. 

Popcorn thinks this is great.  She sits on the highest point possible and surveys all the activity.  See the tiny white blurry spot off in the distance...just above her left ear (our right)? 





This beautiful creature lost its mate not too long ago.  So sad.  :o(

Swans usually mate for life.  I think she may be lonely; she will swim up close to our area...She likes us; but she "hisses" at Popcorn.  Too funny.  Thank goodness swans are herbivorous - I think!? 

Rosen loves canoe rides.  L.O.V.E.S. them.  Conductor had just taken her out, tied up the canoe and was leaving the area when he turned around to find her back in the canoe...sitting & waiting.

Science lesson.  Entomology. 







Some zoology.

amazing faces!!!  Beautiful markings...

And I know there is a lot of literature~reading going on somewhere nearby...I just don't have documentation of that right now.  :o)  Butterfly is our little bookworm with an in satiable hunger for reading books!  Home-schooling fun is never-ending!

Having a very blessed summer...hope you are having one too!