Corners of my Home

Today's corner is an outside corner.

Major Life Lesson Number 64,897

When you make a kindergartener cry, you feel worse than he does.

Self-Portrait Tuesday

Yes, I did wear my Crocs to work today with my pin-stripes. I was very comfortable, thank you.

With the massive amounts of pouring down rain today, both outside AND in my classroom, all lesson plans were quickly abandoned. We did two rounds of Sitting Next to Me and then proceeded to sing all the winter songs from Story Hour (Sabrina would be proud) while sitting in a circle on the floor. I then played a piece of music on the piano and then went around the circle and had each child tell me what came to mind during the song. That went over about as well as extra Christmas presents...they absolutely loved it! Then I read a story to them called "Nanna Hannah's Piano" which took up enough of the left-over time so that we didn't have any down "do what-ever-you-like-run-around-crazy-hey-I'm-in-kindergarten" time. So, tomorrow, all lesson plans will be abandoned, we are all taking a piece of paper, dividing it into fourths, and drawing while listening to music. Can't stinkin' wait!

Busy Busy...denying my calling in life

I'm subbing at our Primary School this week for the music teacher. It's a blast! These kids have had subs for so long that they're tired of watching movies. They have loved that we're doing music, that I'm playing the piano and singing. Absolutely love it!! What's that say about kids? That's there's more to them than adults give them credit for.

Not So Much a Corner's of My Home Post

My old phone:

(yeah, I accidentally killed it today)

and my new phone:

A view out my backdoor

I took these this morning:

A little of last night left over



and a beautiful beginning to a new (cold) day

Self-Portrait Tuesday: Of the Inward Variety

The question has been posed: Why create and buy handmade?

I am a creative individual. There is no reason for me to think act eat learn look like every other American of this generation.

The question has been posed: Why spend two hours two day two weeks two months creating something that can be bought and made mine in five minutes?

When you create you learn something about yourself. You become part of a tradition that so many before you made a reality. You depend on yourself to determine who you become rather than depending on Ralph Lauren Banana Republic Wonder Bread Target. You teach yourself how to be you instead of allowing Brad Pitt Lindsay Lohan Julia Roberts to dictate who what how you should be.

The question has been posed: Why create?

'Why not?' is my response.

A busy MLK day

Blair and I made bagels...yum!!!


We also played Mario Kart...for a while...until I went to make herbal parmeasan cheese sticks to go with the chili tonight!



We're under a winter weather advisory tonight...hoping for snow, but it will probably just be freezing rain...

My injured PupPup

Our two dogs had a little run in last night, or rather, Petey's nose had a run in with an overly-energetic Murray.
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It's a little harder to tell in the pictures, but the right side of his face is really swollen, and that side of his nose it bruised.

Pretzel Recipe

Upon request:

Soft Pretzels

4 to 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 pkg active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp cooking oil
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp salt
3 quarts boiling water
1 egg white
1 tbsp water

In a large mixing bowl combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour and the yeast. In a medium saucepan heat and stir milk, sugar, oil, and 1 tsp salt just till warm (120-130 degrees). Add to the flour mixture. Beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed for 30 seconds, scraping the sides. Then beat on high for 3 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in enough of the remaining dough to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball. Place in a greased bowl, turn once, and cover to let rise till double (about an hour).

Punch dough down. Turn onto lightly floured surface. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, grease 2 baking sheets. Roll dough into a 12X10 rectangle. Cut into 20 pieces. Gently pull into 16 inch strips. Shape pretzels. Place 1/2 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake at 475 for 4 minutes. Remove from oven. Reduce temperature to 350.

Meanwhile, dissolve the 2 tbsp salt in the boiling water. Reduce heat. Lower pretzels, 4-5 at a time, into simmering water. Simmer for two minutes, turning once. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Let stand on towels only a few seconds or they will stick. Then place 1/2 inch apart on greased baking sheet.

Brush pretzels with egg white and 1 tbsp of water. Lightly sprinkle with topping of your choice. Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheet and place on wire rack to cool. Makes 20.

You can also substitute 1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour for the 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose at the beginning.

Pretzel Day

Friday Night Fun

A little crafting while Blair did his podcast. These are made out of felt and are for my brother-in-law and his wife.

Then, we decorated pretzels. Yummy!!

This is Blair's imitation of stirring chocolate.

The boys decided it had been a long day.

More Creations

I made this last night while Blair worked on podcasts. I've thought about putting it on Etsy, but no one seems interested in purchasing anything from my shop, so I think I'll just keep it for myself and use it as a weekend travel bag set.

An Everyday Postcard

Finished Objects

Baking and Knitting

Yes, I did make five loaves of bread today!






These are a pair of gauntlets that are so cozy!!

Corners of my Home

The baking corner of my home: