Burger Rolls = Blah.

So, the burger yeast roll recipe did not turn out as I had hoped.  The sponge was not as smooth as I thought it should be.  I photographed it, however, because...  does that look like the Virgin Mary's profile to you??  Ha ha, just kidding.  I think it's Snuffleupagus.

Here are the rolls pre-puffy.

And post-puffy.

And after the bake-off.   

Oh well, they tasted just fine, but shape and texture were all off. The King Arthur factory in Norwich, Vermont, has recently completed a revamp, I understand, and is offering bread-baking classes that I may need to take advantage of next time we're in the home state.

On the other hand, I have flat-bread grilled pizza making down to a science. Here are the girls making their own pizzas:



 

(Evie all pooped out from swimming and pizza-making.)  --cds

Happy Independence Day

Disney-style red, white and blue - a photo from the Electrical Parade during our recent visit with the Utah girlies.

As usual after a visit with the families, their absence is sharply felt and puts me in a bit of a blue funk for a while after.  So, while the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays, from a history major point of view, our holiday plans include simply eating as much traditional picnic food as possible - cheeseburgers, potato salad, baked beans, sweet tea.  I may also attempt to bake homemade burger rolls this morning - King Arthur Flour has an interesting recipe.  This may be tricky - the humidity here plays havoc with my yeast breadmaking.  I'll keep you posted.  --cds

Holy Rain Event!

One minute the ponds are dry as dust and the grass is crackly, then TS Debby lurks offshore and the resulting three-day rain fills everything to the brim and next thing you know, catfish are swimming up the middle of your street.  Florida is odd. 

Since Evie stood at the window cheering on the fish ("Go catfish go!), Jamie braved the elements and effected a successful fish rescue, scooping up the three in front of our house and returning them to the pond.

We guess they had just popped out of the overflowing street drains.  It's pretty interesting to watch the rain bands blow over - rain, wind, sunshine, rain, wind, sunshine.  We are lucky here in Central Florida, of course.  Relatively high ground, no large bodies of water nearby. 

We've spent the past twenty days with the Utah kiddos - lots of fun times, some tears, swimming, aligator hunts via golf cart, endless games of Go Fish.  They are en route to SLC as I write.  I have loads of pictures, but haven't the heart to review them just yet and must give it a couple of days.  Tomorrow is cleaning day.  --cds

Two!

And a happy 2nd birthday to Miss Roo this fine June morning. 

One minute Ruthanne is a cuddlely babykins....

And the next she's climbing ladders and sliding down slides.

Always sweet.

Enjoy those grandbabies!  --cds

The Finished Wedding Quilt

I've been making quilts without traditional borders lately, which I sort of like.  This one came together quite nicely, technically speaking.  I was able to ditch-quilt it and it was all pretty square.

And here is the lovely bride herself!  What I find amazing is that I chose these fabrics having no real idea of Sarah's taste these days.  I took a cue from her wedding invitation that had some some straight line, black and white graphics with a chartreuse block of color.  I worried about adding the orange, because people either love or hate orange, it seems.

Shouldn't have worried.  Orange tulips and green accents were at every table.  Now I think I have color ESP.  This photo shows Sarah's side of the wedding party - my second favorite Vermont family....
.

...behind these guys:

Darned pacifier.  --cds

Home From The Road Trip

I had grand plans that I would write while on the road, take lots of pictures, comment on interesting snippets of life along the I-95 corridor.  HA!  I am hopeless with the grand plans.

Anyway, we crammed a lot of stuff into our two weeks away, first stopping in New Jersey at peak iris-viewing season. 

We then headed north to Vermont to visit our kids and play with Ruthanne, who is almost 2.

 So cute, so funny, so active!  We had a fabulous week - I can't get enough of this sweet little face.

On our way back south, we were fortunate to be invited to spend a few days with our BFFs at a place in Ocean City, NJ.

Pre-season, so it was pretty deserted, a little windy, but sunny and warm-ish.  We did much porch-sitting and a lot of laughing.  So good.

We are home now, back to house chores, morning swimming, and new sewing projects.  More pictures later this week as I sort through them.  --cds

A Gift Quilt

After quite a hiatus - about a year - I've got another quilt just about complete.  I really like all the fabrics I chose, but once again realize I have the most trouble coming up with a design that really pops.  I'm still handstitching the binding, but I'll get a better picture of the final product this afternoon.  Be back soon.  --cds