Friday, April 07, 2006

April 7, 2006

So, should I go with the obligatory "I know it's been a long time since I've posted, but I've been"...blah, blah, blah. So for the week (or so) in review...

Mary- the bread turned out on the not so great side of so-so. I used a recipe from Allrecipes and my beef with that site is that if you read the reviews (which I do because I want to know if it's a good recipe) you have a "too many cooks in the kitchen" thing going on- I added this, I took that out, the cook time is wrong, you don't need this, I prefer it with that...- you get the idea. So, I made it according to the directions and some of the comments were right; the cook temp and/or time were definitely not correct. Anyway, it could have been my error but the bread was very dense and very yeasty tasting; too much in my opinion. It was also a very time consuming pain-in-the-butt. Since Travis and I are on a new budget and I figure we spend at least $40 a month on sandwich bread I thought I could save that by making it myself- ha! There are easier ways to save $40- like changing my own oil or digging my own ditches! My Mother was kind enough to bring her bread machine when they brought Amanda home from AL and I've heard that it's easier so we'll see.

I no longer have Barbie Doll hair- I know you were all sweating that one. I also bought a new straightener so I will only have Barbie Doll hair on special occasions and will make sure to warn you beforehand ;)

I haven't done much painting in the last two weeks, mostly because Amanda was in AL so I didn't have time and because I still have Blake. Today is my last day to watch the little sweetie though and I'm relieved. Not because he's a bad baby (is there such a thing?) on the contrary, other than not liking to take a bottle, he's quite the sweetie but he is time consuming and is all the reasons we decided to not have another one. And it is also Christina's last day at work so I am supposed to have a celebratory dinner for them tonight but Chloe woke up with a fever so we'll have to see if that happens. I also haven't painted much because I have decided that I do-not-like-watercolor. Maybe I'm just not good at it or maybe I'd like to do a mixed medium sort of thing but it will definitely not be my primary medium. Even when I paint with watercolor I end up mixing it so thick that it doesn't look like watercolor. I like how Chloe paints with watercolor. It's sheer and pretty and the colors mix together beautifully but I just can't seem to do it. Maybe it's my personality. I don't know but acrylics are definitely next on my list.

And- I'm getting a new Creative Memories album. My mother in law has just started her business up again after a long hiatus and I'm really excited for her. There are some new products for making scrapbooking easier and faster-namely their picfolio album- so even really busy people can do scrapbooking quickly. Yes it's a shameless advertisement. Stay tuned for your invite to a class when my M-I-L comes to visit-not scheduled but I'm sure it will be in the not too distant future.

So many good things are happening in the Buttons lives that it's too much to put into one catch-up post so I'll do what I can in the time I allow myself to be on the computer. I'm definitely trying to limit that so that I can be more productive at home. I'm considering home schooling Chloe though so help me pray about that. I'm not sure that I'm the teacher type but I definitely want what's best for her so I suppose I could make the adjustment. We'll see. More later...

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow your busy! When I have barbie hair I found this product by Ausie that is a leave in condition and mouse all in one. Its great and takes away the frizz and I let it air dry. Bread......... hmmmm...... Use the bread machine! Or try the store bought. We have gotten hooked on Cobblestone honey wheat berry from Walmart. Its healthy and tastes really great. The kids dont like it its more for adult sandwiches. I have been scrapbooking this week. Working on Kris Marine album. I wish we lived close so we could sit and chat and scrap book together. Love you keep blogging! Smooches ;0)

Mary said...

Thanks for the update...sorry about the bread. I know what you mean about the taste...for a while there I had several batches that turned out that way...I think in that case it was the flour I was using. I haven't made it in ages and I would love to get into it again. It seems so consuming but I know if I got into the habit it wouldn't be that bad. I'm writing my own entry...better go.

Tisra said...

Bread- we should try to make it together sometime...I have a nearly fail-proof recipe from Donna that makes to very good sized loaves and is always amazing...but I don't know what it really saves in money...and although it is homemade without preservatives, it may be that store bought whole wheat is way healthier...100% whole wheat is very, very hard to make at home and is usually too dense for eating. All that to say, i like making bread and have learned some great tips along the way.

Amy Button said...

Well ladies, I'm going to try the bread machine. And Tisra, I think you're right about store bought bread. The bread I buy has 35% of your DV for fiber in two slices and I'm sure that if I tried that at home I'd end up with a brick instead of bread.