I just went out intending to take a walk before tidying the house up before getting supper.  The sunshine out there is deceiving.  It may look like a nice spring day but it is 37 degrees and the wind is blowing.  Too cold for me.  But I did check the thermometers inside the two cold frames that I built earlier this week.  One of them has a broken pane of glass, casualty of my having dropped it onto the stone wall by the garden. 

I do find it encouraging though.  The days up to this one have been in the fifties and sixties and the nights have been in the twenties.  The frame with both windows intact the temp. reads 70.  While the one with the broken pane reads 40.  The hardware store called this afternoon to tell me that it is fixed so I think that tomorrow I will go to town and pick it up.  Fresh salad greens here I come!

I also walked down the drive to see how my girls were doing.  They are sunbathing by the corner of their barn.  I figure in another 6-8 weeks we will be having another two batches of piglets running around.  Hopefully it will be dry enough outside by then and the nights will be warmer rather than colder. 

The last thing that I checked was Mary-Kate's perennial garden next to the house.  In among the leaves I spied a few crocuses.  I guess that Spring is truly coming.  The lawns are beginning to green up and the fields are starting to get that lovely haze that can only mean that the seeding from last year has sprung out of the earth and is venturing forth toward the sunlight. 

To begin with, my white bread recipe.  This recipe has been developed to be fast and easy to make.  I wanted to be able to make bread easily and readily when my children were young.  Other recipes that I tried had too many ingredients in them, not good when you have food allergies in the house, and too many steps.  This is streamlined and straightforward.

White Bread  (makes 2 loaves

In a large bowl measure out 5 cups of bread flour.  Stir in 2 tsp. salt, 3 spoons of sugar (I use the soup spoons that come with my silverware set), and 4 tsp. of dry yeast.  This is the only recipe that I don't proof the yeast with.  NEVER LET THE YEAST COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE SALT!  Salt in bread is a flavor enhancer and a yeast inhibitor.  But if you measure the yeast right onto the salt it will kill your yeast.  Warm 4 cups whole milk to about 110 degrees.  You know it is the right temp. if it feels slightly warmer than your body temp.  If you use the microwave, which is perfectly acceptable, remember to stir the milk before pouring into the flour.  Add to the flour and stir it all together.  Add 2 more cups of flour and stir.  It should start to come away from the bowl now and come together into one large mass.  At this point get rid of whatever you are using to stir with, (I use a cold meat fork).  Flour your hand and add another generous handful of flour and start to knead.  I knead right in the bowl but you can turn it out onto a floured surface if you want.  Knead adding flour slowly until you have a smooth, elastic dough.  It should not be sticky but it shouldn't be tough either.  If the weather is humid or it is rainy out it may take a little more flour, if it is dry out or it is very warm in your house it may take less flour.  Once your dough is nice and smooth, turn it into a greased bowl.  I like to raise my doughs in only ceramic bowls, never metal.  Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise.  They should double in bulk. 

Once the dough has doubled turn it out onto the counter and punch down.  Cut in half with a dough blade and shape into a loaf.  Place in a well oiled stone or regular loaf pan.  Let rise again until the loaf is about 1" above the top of the pan.  For stones bake at 375 for 40-45 min.   For metal pans bake at 350 for 35-40 min.   When they come out turn them out of the pans immediately onto a cooling rack.  If you want crustier loaves leave uncovered while they cool.  For softer loaves, cover with a towel while they cool.

Whenever we want a more substantial loaf I turn to this recipe.  The loaves are more filling without being heavy.  The texture is nice and the flavor is sweeter than white bread.

Molasses-Oatmeal Bread    (makes 2 loaves)

In a large bowl combine 2 cups flour, 4 tsp. yeast, 1 3/4 cup warm water, 1c rolled oats, 1/2 c light molasses, 1/3c shortening, and 1 tbl. salt.  Add 2 eggs.  Stir until all is combined.  Stir in as much of 4 1/2 c flour as you can mix in.  Turn out onto a lightly floured surface.  Knead in enough flour to make a moderately soft dough that is smooth and elastic.  Shape into a ball.  Place in a lightly greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until double. 

Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, punch down.  Divide dough in half.  Place in two greased loaf pans.  Cover let rise until about 1" above pans.  Bake 375 40-45 min.  Turn out onto a cooling rack immediately when they come out of the oven.

More later.

My white loaves rising before baking.  See how they rise above the stones.

The whole wheat bread almost done baking.  Never over bake whole wheat bread because it contributes to a heavy loaf.

Outside my window............it's dark still.  Probably cold since there is bits of cold sneaking in around the corners of the room and curling around my ankles.  The weatherman was calling for a sunny day in the 60's today, I hope he is right.  This winter weary person could use a day like that.

I am thinking............what a comfort it is to have MK home for the week and sleeping just across the hall.  The house feels happier and more content with one more home.

From the schoolroom..........all is quiet and in readiness for the day to start.  Even though MK is on break Matthew must persevere so that we don't have to go all summer long.

I am thankful for..............my children.  For the help that Matthew and Ian were on Saturday while I was building my new coldframe.  For all the cleaning up that MK and Ian did around here.  It is really beginning to look better out there.

From the kitchen............chicken and dumplings tonight.

I am wearing..........long johns, blue nightshirt (I haven't even thought about getting ready for the day)

I am reading.............Still working on the Valiant Woman

I am hoping............that this week goes very slowly so that we have plenty of time with MK before she has to go back to school.

I am creating...........the finishing touches on the talk that I have to give on Wed. night. Wish me luck everyone, I am not a public speaker.

I am hearing............just the sound of my fingers tapping on the keys, otherwise the rest of the house is early morning quiet.

Around the house............there is a mountain of laundry from this weekend, there is a pile of sewing that needs to be done.  Some papers from last week that need correcting and the next year's batch of books needs to be gotten out.

One of my favorite things...........planning my vegetable garden for the coming summer.

A few plans for the rest of the week............the usual round of classes and holy hour along with packing in lots of special time with MK.  My talk on Wed. and some time spent with some friends for St. Patricks and St. Josephs day.  My final follow-up appointment on my surgery on Thursday.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you.........

The coldframe that I built on Saturday.  Matthew and Ian cut the lumber and I put it together. (I don't do power tools) There is another one in the making.  I hope to get some spinach and other greens going this week so that we can have some fresh vegetables from the garden a little earlier than usual.  I also have plans for a three bin compost system that I am going to start building this week.  I ordered 2000 red worms and they are going to need a home when they get here.

Outside my window......rain!!!!! It is raining so hard that it is difficult to see anything out there.  And it has been raining like this since Saturday evening.  When we went to Mass yesterday morning we had to take a detour because the road was closed due to flooding.

I am thinking......maybe my husband needs to build us an ark.  Maybe not, we have a deep valley beside our house, it has to fill up before we are in any real danger of flooding.  The pond is running over and the creek is out of its banks already. 

From the schoolroom......bet you can't guess....Matthew and Brett are studying Spanish then they will be dissecting a sheep's brain for Biology.  This is the reason that they wanted to do Biology in the first place.

I am thankful for........a wonderful son who took pity on his stiff mother this morning and helped with the housework before we left for Mass.  It was nice to come home and know that the house was done.

From the kitchen.......leftovers for lunch.  Pork steaks for supper.  Jason is home for the week and is doing some work on the house, he will be hungry.

I am wearing........jeans, burgundy long-sleeved top with a grey sweater over it and slippers.

I am reading.....still working on The Valiant Woman.

I am hoping.......that the rain lets up so that some work can be done outside this week.  There is a list.

I am creating.......some reuseable word search and maze books for a friend's children.

I am hearing........Spanish being spoken and the clock ticking in my sewing room.

Around the house......there is an air of expectancy while Jason is gone to Lowes to get the materials to enlarge the pad under the wood stove.

One of my favorite things.......thinking about spring coming and making lists of things to do and then actually seeing them come to fruition.

A few plans for the rest of the week......the usual classes and holy hours along with seeing to it that Jason is provided for so that he can get the work done.  Keeping up with the laundry and attacking my own list of things to do that spring prompts me to do.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you......

The pipe has been disconnected and the stove has been removed.  The diningroom stands in waiting for Jason to start making the pad larger that the stove stands on.  Our homeowner's insurance requires that the pad be made bigger and that there be stone underneath the cleanout for the pipe and that the stove stand even farther from the wall even though the wall is covered with cement board and has a 6-inch air space between the cement board and the wall board.  Who are we to say that it isn't safe the way it is.  It has been that way for about 10 years.  Oh well.

Quick and Spicy Tomato Soup

3 tbl olive oil

2 carrots peeled and chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 (26-ounce) jar marinara sauce or 1 large can diced tomatoes and 1 med. can tomato sauce

2 (14-ounce) cans chicken broth (if you are making this on Friday use vegetable broth)

1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Warm the olive oil in a large pot over med-high heat.  Add the carrots, onion, and garlic and suted until soft, about 2 minutes. (don't brown the garlic)  Add the marinara sauce or the tomatoes and the sauce, chicken broth, beans, pepper flakes, pasta, salt and pepper.  Simmer for 10 minutes.  Ladle into bowls, top with freshly grated parmesan and serve.  Makes 4-6 servings.

Outside my window.......no precipitation is falling but I bet everyone can guess what it is like out there.  It is VERY cold, again.  Am I complaining?  No, not really but I am sure ready for this winter to be over.

I am thinking......I don't like using this computer, everything looks different on it and it is hard to get used to.  Mine is sick and has to be fixed.

From the schoolroom......Matthew and Brett are practicing some Spanish converstaion.

I am thankful for......the good friends that we spent the day with yesterday, for my wonderful husband who put up a shelf in my laundryroom for me over the weekend, and for my children who are so patient with their very fallible mother.

From the kitchen.......leftovers for lunch and I think BLT's for supper with some kind of soup.  It is a good soup and sandwhich day.

I am wearing.......jeans, black turtlenecked sweater, red quilted jacket and slippers

I am reading.......God's Guidance by Elisabeth Elliot, and The Valiant Woman

I am hoping......to get the aprons and pinafores that I cut out yesterday sewn this evening.

I am creating......a stack of sewn items to give as gifts to friends and family as birthdays come along.

I am hearing......Matthew and Brett's Spanish lesson.

Around the house.......everything is clean and neat, except my sewing room, that is a disaster.

One of my favorite things.......the thought that everyone in my family is whole and healthy.

A few plans for the rest of the week.......do Lenten craft with Miss Claire this afternoon, my usual classes and holy hours, do some mending for Ian, hopefully get my sewing pile done and another batch that is brewing in my imagination.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you.........

No pictures right now, since this is not my computer and I am too lazy to load any pictures into this one.