Will Work For Pennies

I'm always up for a new challenge. 

This is my latest.

 

It's penny tile.

Don't ask me where I am going to put it. 

I don't know yet. 

I've been gluing pennies to tile mesh in my spare time.

About 225 to each square.

Pretty cheap tile when you think about it.

Yeah, I'm crazy.

Spring

For those who have seen the dreadful mess of the upstairs back room, I am providing proof of today's cleaning job. Funny how when you are getting a house ready for sale, all the things you've wanted to do but have never gotten around to are finally finished. I officially have my craft room.

And for my lovely sisters, here's the next batch of clothes coming your way!

I had kind of forgotten about the three HUGE boxes that were in the back room.

Oops.

 

Wishful

The baby clothes stash.

By the amount of cute pinks we've got going on here,

it would appear that a baby girl is around to keep me company amongst all these boys.

But we don't have a baby in our house. 

Nor do we know when or even IF we will have another baby.

Here's to hoping one we can have one through the blessing of adoption...

Perfection

Homemade.

15 minute prep time.

Start to finish in an hour.

100% whole wheat.

Perfect Bread.

This recipe makes four full loaves, so halve it if you don't have that many pans!   :)

7 cups whole wheat flour

2/3 cup wheat gluten

2.5 Tbs. instant yeast

Mix together with dough hook, then add:

5 cups steaming hot water (around 125 degrees F).

Beat for 1 minute.

Add:

2 Tbs. salt

2/3 cup oil

2/3 cup honey or molasses (or 1 cup white sugar)

2.5 tsp. lemon juice

Beat again for 1 minute, then-

Add, one cup at a time:

5 cups whole wheat flour.

Knead for 10 minutes. Dough should pull away from sides of bowl. It will be sticky to touch. 

While dough is kneading, adjust oven racks so one is in the middle, and the second rack is on the lowest level. Preheat oven to lukewarm (probably the lowest setting on your oven). If it feels a bit warm, just pop door open for a few seconds. Place a small pan filled with HOT water on the lowest rack.

Place dough on an oiled countertop. Divide and shape into loaves, then place in oiled pans. Let dough rise in warm oven approximately 20 minutes, or until dough rises above top of pan about 2 inches. 

Turn oven on to 350^F (Do not remove bread from oven). Bake for 28 minutes until light golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped. 

Remove from oven, let cool on rack for five minutes, then remove loaves from pans.

Cool completely on racks before wrapping in foil or plastic wrap.