Conversation with Erik - A Short Picture Story

Good morning,

Today I am featuring a picture story for everyone who loves dogs especially the children in my family who aren't able to see Erik every day.

The picture story is a conversation I had with Erik, our ten month old Labrador Retriever.  This is Erik's first winter so it is the first time he has seen snow.

Enjoy,

Lois

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Conversation with Erik

 

Me:  Erik?

Erik:  Yes?

Me:  What did you do today?

Erik:  I went out.
Me:  What did you see out there?

Erik:  I saw snow!

 

Erik:  So, I came in to get Penny!

Erik:  And Penny and I went out in the snow!

Your logs were covered.

 

Penny and I played for a long time and she told me all about snow!

 

The lights on the lamp post were on in the day time.

 

And, our pool was frozen so we couldn't get a drink.

Me:  What did you do then?

 

Erik:  Penny and I came in to get a drink in the kitchen, then watched the snow through the living room french doors.

Happy winter,

Lois

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Labrador Retrievers (Complete Pet Owner's Manual) 

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Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Good morning and Happy Valentine's Day,

These beautiful roses are a gift from my honey, my love, my husband. 

He is such a sweetie. 

I enjoy growing roses at home and receiving them as a gift any time and anywhere. These roses are from the florist on board Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas.

I hope your Valentine's Day is as warm and loving as mine.

Very best,

Lois

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Roses 

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Majesty of the Seas Desserts! Yum!

Good morning,

Yes, it's morning, but I can eat chocolate at any time of the day.  After all, chocolate is a food group, right?

Or, perhaps, these could be counted as fruit?  I see lots of fruit in this image.  :)

Yes, I know better.  I am aboard cruise ships so much of the time that I have to be very careful to balance the great food with plenty of restraint in the dining room and exercise on the deck.  Otherwise, I might as well take a piece of these in each hand and apply it directly to my hips.  And, no, I didn't eat any of this for breakfast, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy thinking about it at any time of the day.

These images were taken aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas with my "baby camera," a Canon Powershot.

Have a healthy, well-balanced day, but have a little treat once in awhile, too. 

Lois

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Canon PowerShot SX20IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch Articulating LCD 

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Braided Bread - Part 2 of 2

 

Good morning,

In yesterday's article I gave the recipe for the bread pictured above and the instructions through the first rise.  Today we will pick up with the braiding, second rise, and baking. 

  

Wash, dry, and flour your working surface. 

  

Place the dough on the surface, knead briefly and form into a ball.

Dive in half, then

 

 

knead each half to remove bubbles, then divide in thirds.

 

Form each third into a long strip.  I did a little more "forming" to get them a little more even after taking this picture.

 

Braid the three strips together, tucking ends under.  You can bake it this way on a baking stone, but for this batch I put them in a loaf pan lightly sprayed with cooking spray.

I am using baking stone loaf pans in these images.  

 

A side note:  don't wash these pans or your baking stone with soap and water because they are porous and the soap will soak into the stone.  Just wipe them clean.  They will discolor with use, which is to be expected.

 

 

Repeat for the second loaf, then place both in the oven with the light on and no heat once again for the second rise. 

 

This took about 55 minutes this time.  Again, you have to watch and work with the bread when it is ready.  Some days it takes longer than other days.

 

Take the bread out of the oven again.  Set the oven to 350 degrees F.  Scramble one egg in a small bowl.

 

Paint the egg onto the top of the bread.  One egg easily coats both loaves of bread.

 

 

It's finally time to bake the bread.  Set the timer for 45 minutes and prepare for wonderful aromas to fill your home.

 

 

45 minutes later the loaves are golden brown.

 

Turn out to a rack to cool immediately.

 

 

Then, slice and enjoy.  

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Old Stone Oven 14-Inch by 16-Inch Baking Stone 

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Braided Bread - Part 1 of 2

 

Good morning,

I'm home for four whole days so just have to make bread before I leave again.  Today is part 1 of 2.  I'll start with the recipe today and get through the first rise, then tomorrow I'll be back with the braiding, second rise, and baking of the bread.

Making your own bread isn't as hard as it seems.  You can get a mix, put it in a bread machine, set the timer, enjoy wonderful aromas while it bakes, then eat very good bread.  If you get more involved with the whole process you can make some really outstanding bread.  My bread machine is only involved in my bread making process for about 40 minutes, then I do the rest by hand.

Here's my recipe for the bread pictured above:

This recipe makes 2 loaves.

Place these ingredients in a large capacity bread machine in the order listed:

1 egg (you'll need one more egg tomorrow to "paint" the loaves before baking)

2 T vegetable oil

1 t salt

2 t sugar

1/2 cup cottage cheese (cottage cheese gives the bread a great texture)

8 oz. warm (not hot) water

3-1/3 cups bread flour (or all purpose, but not self rising)
2 rounded t yeast

Set the bread machine to dough cycle and turn on.  Be sure to stick around and watch the action making sure you get a formed smooth ball of dough by the time you get half way through the mixing/kneading cycle.  If necessary, add a little more water or flour.

 

As soon as the cycle is finished, turn out the dough into a bowl that has been sprayed lightly with cooking oil.

 

Place the bowl in the oven with the light, but no heat turned on.  And now, one of the most important parts of bread making:  patience.  Wait for the dough to rise to about double the size. Today this first rise took about 45 minutes.  Depending on the temperature, weather, or mood the bread is in the time could be longer or shorter.

Tomorrow I'll be back with the braiding, second rise, and baking of the bread.

Questions or comments?  I'd love to hear from you.

Lois

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Breadman TR875 2-Pound Breadmaker, Stainless Steel 

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Pelicans of Key West, Florida

 

Good morning,

Pelicans are sometimes too friendly for their own good.  They are the topic of cartoons and rhymes as well as the source of endless photo opportunities.

 

Here they are incoming behind a fishing boat hoping for a scrap to be thrown to them.  They follow any boat as it comes to the dockside as well as anyone walking nearby where they learn they will be fed.

Usually, landings are quite graceful, sometimes, not.  

 They'll wait and watch for just the right moment.

 

And, usually, there is a reward for their patience.

 

Pelicans are fun to watch and fun to photograph.  I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

Lois

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The Adventures of Pelican Pete: A Bird is Born (The Adventures of Pelican Pete, 1) 

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Ribbed Scarf With Ruffles - Knit

Good morning,

Scarves provide warmth, comfort, and style so we can never have enough of them, can we?

This yarn is very fuzzy, light, and airy so without something to weigh down the ends, it could stick to your coat or sweater and the scarf just wouldn't hang nicely. I have never been a fan of fringe except in very special cases.  This yarn isn't right for making fringe anyway, but it makes lovely ruffles. 

So, here is a very easy pattern for a ribbed scarf with ruffles. 

Enjoy!  And, as always, I would love to hear from you.  Please feel free to leave a comment.

Lois

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Ribbed Scarf with Ruffles - Knit

Finished size: 51"

Materials:

Size 5 needles

4 skeins Patons Lacette (#2 Fine) yarn, 50 gr. 1.75 oz skeins

gauge: 2" = 20 rows and 12 stitches in garter stitch

Cast on 100 st.

Ruffle:

Knit 20 rows

Next row: k 2 tog across (50 st)




Body of Scarf:

Row 1: k2, p2 across

Row 2: p2, k2 across

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 49 inches or desired length. End with row 1.

Ruffle:

Next row: Make increases by knitting in front and back of each stitch across (100 stitches)

Knit 20 rows.

Bind off.

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Patons Divine (1 bag 10 skeins) Halo Blue 6106 Yarn 

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