Flowers, goodies, needlework, T-storms

Good afternoon Friends ~ It is Sunday and hot and humid, it is 84 and feels like it is 94 with the humidity at 71%. We’ve had some nasty T-storms the past few days, strong winds, heavy rains and thunder and lightening. More rain is expected this afternoon and the next few days.  We’ve needed the rain, and I am thankful for it.

The gardens love the rain too, not just flowers but weeds too. I’ve got vines and weeds taking over the ‘back 40’, and other areas at the back of the property. UGH!  There’s nothing like ‘liquid sunshine’ for making things grow.

Here are  some of the blooms in the gardens right now.

This is my favorite hibiscus ~ ‘Hugs-n-Kisses’.

Night blooming jasmine.

‘Plumeria’ a bloom blown out of one of my three plumeria trees in the front garden.

Rubber vine

Spicy Jatropha

Vanda ‘Miss Joachim’

‘Cocktail’

‘Kathleen’

Remember me telling about receiving a monetary gift from a dear family member and she told me to spend it however I saw fit.  I told you I thought of a bread machine since my old one that served me well for 14 years pooped out recently. Well, I ordered the same make, and picked it up Friday morning before work. It’s a little bigger than the last one, but basically the same. I did peel off the label after I made a loaf of oatmeal bread yesterday morning before work.

This was a new recipe which had more oatmeal in it than what I usually use, and while the bread ‘fell’ a little it was still delicious! This  does happen occasionally, not the fault of the machine, it could be any number of reasons.  There is something really wonderful about homemade bread.  The aroma while it was baking was so ‘homey’ and comforting.

With the money left-over , I decided to get a new ironing board cover. This old one has served me many years, but it’s not really me.

I found out about these hand made quilted ironing board covers from a blogging friend. She bought one and posted about it here. I emailed her and asked her where she got her cover and she sent me the link to the lady who makes these and sells them in her Etsy shop. You can visit her here.

She mailed it right out and I think that was Thursday and I got it Sat. afternoon. She’s in Maine and I’m way down here in s.e. FL.

I love this and the quality is and the workmanship is GREAT!

Here’s the quilting pattern.  Definitely made for ‘FlowerLady’ who loves roses.

The bread machine and the ironing board cover will make me think of this dear person in my family when I use them. I want to say a public thank you to her right now, without telling who she is. She knows.

Now, here are some needlework projects. This one below is still a work in progress. Silk ribbon embroidery, and a crocheted/beaded trim. I love working with threads, hooks, needles, beads and ribbon.

Not sure what I’m going to do with this one yet.

Here is more silk ribbon embroidery ~ Started out with white ribbon for rose and leaves, three different sizes of silk ribbon, colored with alcohol ink markers. The little French knots are  a variegated purple embroidery floss.

The frame I picked up at a little flea market in the spring. It was perfect for this piece, made for a friend who had a birthday. Yellow roses are special to her. I also colored the roses on the frame with the alcohol ink markers.

Tomorrow is our widow’s group, ‘Friends Needing Friends’, meeting and luncheon, and I’ll be talking in front of the group. Yikes! First on how I came to start the blog (one year ago), for the group, and secondly I’ll be talking on the widow ‘Anna the Prophetess’, and how this widow in the Bible has inspired me in my widowhood journey.  If you think of it, say a little prayer for me. Writing a blog is a whole different thing than speaking in front of a group.

“The Lord is my strength”.

He is how I’m able to move forward and grow in His love, grace and mercy.

Thank you all again for being such a great bunch of friends. You’ve blessed, encouraged and inspired me in many ways.

Have a GREAT week whatever you do. 

Trust in the Lord. Call on Him and He will work all things out.

FlowerLady

Bread machine Oatmeal Bread recipe link

For Rebecca and any others interested, here is the link below for the recipe.

Oatmeal Bread recipe

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Bread baked while I gardened

Good morning Folks,

It is hot and humid and raining. I got a loaf of oatmeal bread going in the bread machine a few minutes after 7 this morning and then headed out to mow and do some other work in the shed garden area. Three hours later I was done outside, and came in to the delicious aroma of baking bread. Aaaahhhh.

DH mowed the back area and also did some trimming and I was grateful for his help. I love mowing, etc. and have always done it. The last couple of years I’ve been learning to ask DH for his help, especially with heavy things or things that are just too much for me to handle.

We got all done just in time as it is now raining and I believe we are to have rain every day for the next couple of weeks.

Here is the loaf of bread and the picture below is of some refrigerator fig perserves I made yesterday afternoon. Fresh Mission figs were on sale yesterday so we bought 2 containers worth. I’ve not bought them like this before, so had to look up recipes and found out that they have a very short shelf life so made the preserves and tonight we’re going to have Chicken breast with Balsamic Fresh Fig Sauce.

The fig preserves were easy. A little key lime juice, sugar, and Chinese 5 spice powder and let them cook til tender. Yummy.

This is Hamelia paten or Firebush blooming over the arbor. It is at least 10’ tall. I got a cutting of this and rooted it at least 15 years ago. I see them everywhere cut into short hedges, have never seen one growing like mine is.

Here it is from inside the secret garden. Part of the shrubbery on the left that is lower is also some of this same plant. It has grown up and over the arbor/grotto area. Butterflies, bees and hummingbirds love this.

I’m inside the ‘ca-trium’ (this is where our outdoor feline girl Tork sleeps at night), looking out at the secret garden. Last night it was pleasant out so I went out and laid on the swing we have back there and gently swung and relaxed. I’ve work to be done in the secret garden, but all in good time. The white flowering shrub you see is one of the Dwarf Orchid trees in a terra cotta pot.

Crossvine flowers.

Plumbago

Looking out the driveway’s small gate at the morning traffic.

Here is my shed’s garden as seen from the driveway. You can see a bit into the secret garden through the lattice gate.

Here is a rooted cutting of my Maman Cochet climbing rose. It is sitting just outside the scullery window so I could see the blooms. I love this rose and it’s scent is wonderful

Guess that’s it for now. I will close with the following verse that I randomly opened up to this morning.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand.

Psalms 139:17-18

Bread made in bread machine & stuff

Good afternoon Folks ~ Hope your week is going well in spite of the weather wherever you are. It is very warm and humid here. Summer is here early and we just have to work outside as early as possible. It's not bad in the shade, but pretty soon even that won't feel good. DH is working on a restoration project that I'll tell about later.

This morning I got another load of laundry washed and hung out to dry. Did two loads yesterday and worked outside in the gardens both mornings. I got a loaf of Old Fashioned Oatmeal bread going in the bread machine before I headed outdoors this morning and it was done by 10:15 or so. This is one of my favorite recipes.

My bread machine is made by Oster. I've had it for 12 years now. If I ever have to get another one, it will be one that the pan is like a regular loaf, not this upright loaf. Although, that will probably be a bigger machine, and space is valuable here in our little Plum Cottage. One thing to look for when you buy a bread machine is to make sure the paddle comes out for easy cleaning.

One reason why I like the bread machine is that I don't have to worry about it rising, and another reason, is it does not heat up the kitchen like the oven would.

My bread machine.

Ingredients

Water, molasses, butter in pan.

Dry ingredients added and yeast into an indentation.

Ta Da ~ A wonderful, healthy loaf of bread.


OLD FASHIONED OATMEAL BREAD

1 c. water
1/4 c. molasses
2 T. butter softened
3 c. bread flour
1/2 c. quick-cooking or regular oatmeal
2 T. powdered milk
1 tsp. powdered sage
1/2 tsp. marjoram
1/2 tsp. caraway seed
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 3/4 tsp. yeast

1 ~ Measure and add liquid ingredients to the bread pan. 2 ~ Measure and add dry ingredients (except yeast) to the bread pan. 3 ~ Use your finger to form a well (hole) in the flour where you will pour the yeast. Yeast must NEVER come into contact with a liquid when you are adding ingredients. Measure the yeast and carefully pour it into the well. Bake according to your bread machine, on sweet setting.

******

Thank you all for you kind comments about my little crocheted birdies. Each one takes time, but so worth the results.

I haven't found a lavender that likes our heat and humidity so I can't grow it. I bought the organic dried lavender bulk from online where I order other bulk herbs.

I will be working at my job the next three days, so have tried to get things done around here. It's now time to think about making up a meatloaf to in the oven for supper.

***

All the art of living

lies in a fine mingling of

letting go and holding on.

Havelock Ellis

***

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Old Fashioned Oatmeal Bread

This recipe is made in the bread machine, makes a 1.5 lb. loaf. This was the first recipe I made in my bread machine from the cookbook that came with it, July 2000.

1 c. water
1/4 c. molasses
2 TBS. margarine or butter, softened
3 c. bread flour
1/2 c. quick cooking or regular oats
2 TBS. dry milk
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 3/4 tsp. yeast
Optional additions:
1 TBS. flax seeds
1 tsp. sage
1/2 tsp. marjoram
1/2 tsp. carraway seeds

Make according to your bread machine directions. Select sweet setting.

This smells wonderful while baking.
The bread machine is one of my favorite tools in the kitchen.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL