New help with chores , a few creations to ease my sadness and what are those crazy guinea hens up to now.

For those who don't know our beloved dog Maggie died yesterday of bone cancer. The rest of her family died 5 years ago of the same disease.  She was amazing, smart, beautiful and loyal. I will forever miss her. 

When I am sad I like to create but first the chores.  Eggs pick-up first. 

Luna took over Maggie's place right away and helped where she could. 

There was a bristley broody hen. 

Didn't bother Luna and she told her to move over. 

She was very pleased with herself. 

Next up I made cheese olive beer bread. I had to use the machine since we were all out and I needed to go to work later. 

If you have a bread machine here are the ingredients. Simply put them in the pan in the order your machine requires.

2 Tbsp olive oil

1/3 cup water 

1cup beer

1/3 cup cheese (I used Monterrey)

2 heaping Tbsp kalamata olives

1.5 tea of salt

3 Tbsp sugar 

3cups flour

1 package dry yeast

Turned out pretty good. 

(can you imagine a wonderful lunch of garden goodness and goat cheese on this bread?)

Picked a few things for tonight's dinner salad. 

I have a borage plant that I have always used to decorate salad but I wanted to do something different. 

Dude loves white chocolate and keeps eating it before I can do anything with it. 

I quickly melted purple and white. Swirled the purple into the white.

Added the borage flowers and allow it all to harden. Simple yet delightful. 

Next I wanted to work on my challenge of decorating a box that would have been thrown away. My friend brought me a few from her job as an audiologist.  I began with this one. 

Went outside and spray painted it.

Then decorated with different scrap booking stuff I had around. I like the way it turn out. What do you think? 

When I got home there was no dog to greet me but these characters were in the rafters... our guineas! I hope an owl doesn't get to them.  

A dear friend from work gave me comfort food to help ease a bit of sorrow. Mexican chocolate! 

So wonderful! 

Goat milk and chocolate to soothe a soul. 

Thank you Adrianna. 

My friends and family get me through the rough spots in life.  If you think a card, a call, an IM, a gift will help someone through a rough time , do it.  It means a lot to know people care and understand.(if they want to be alone, they will tell you)  I have the best of family and friends and I appreciate every single one. 

peace

Craft day , Cabbage recipe #4 and a couple of crafty challenges

It is craft day. I knew I would be busy most of the day so I had to get the bread ready for today's recipe - Dude's favorite - Kraut burgers. I had never heard of kraut burgers until I moved to Colorado.  I knew I couldn't fill his mom's shoes but I was going to make him kraut burgers today.  Cheat #1 - frozen dough for rolls.  I got them out to thaw and rise. Covered them with a towel and hit the road. 

I ended up at my friend Susan's home.  Today's challenge for me to take home was a plan box.  Decorate it. 

Here is hers - steampunk style.  Fun!

Hmmmm I will work on mine this week, between collecting eggs and planting fall lettuce. 

Next we were on to our glass class. I get a wee bit overly excited during this class and scared all at the same time.  Breathe ... just breathe and create. I knew I needed necklaces for Christmas and Dude wanted a small bowl.  This is what I began with. 

Our supplies to create are surrounding us. The ladies who teach the class are AMAZING!

Here are some of their ideas to inspire us ....or purchase.  smile

I got sidetrack and began make a plaque of aspen trees.  I will make four with the seasons in the next coming months.  This is the the first - summer.  These will look polished and finished after they come out of the kiln. 

I started a bowl. 

Twelve necklaces. They will have a clasp and necklace to go with it. 

The green one is my bowl. The blue and white one is what it will resemble when fired. 

My girlfriends are getting crafty. 

Here some of the other creations today. 

The long white ones are ornaments for the garden and the round one a shallow bowl.

Susan trying another wave.  Everything turned out so beautiful and I can't wait to pick them up at the end of the week. Time flew by and it was time to head home. 

The bread rose high for our kraut burgers and were ready to go when I got home. 

Cabbage and onions chopped. Yep, it's still the same one cabbage from the garden I have been using all week. We have many more. 

Ground beef , cabbages and onions saute until done . 

Add 1 tsp. garlic powder , salt, pepper, and 1 tsp. sugar. Heat through. 

Roll out one doughball to about 4 inches. 

Add 1/4  of a cup of mix to the center of the dough. 

Seal up and put on the cookie sheet. Oven is heated to 425* . Bake 10 minutes and reduce to 350* and bake another 10-15 min. 

In the meantime corn is boiling in the pot and salad is made. 

Done!  They were Dude approved. 

Challenge 2 , my friend and I are making a new quilt, this is block number one. Tonight I will be getting it ready, tracing pieces and eyeballing fabric. 

Tomorrow we celebrate my youngest's 30th birthday.  Can't wait! Celebrate life! 

peace