WIP

Just a quick little post of my work in progress.   I am crocheting some little blankets for a gift to a friend of mine who is adopting 2 little girls.  I loved these little flower-like circles when I saw them, and decided to make a variety of colors, which would give me a little freedom to mix and match to my hearts content.  Their bedroom is a theme of flowers and is waiting cozily for them.    So as I crochet, I pray for them, and the future the Lord has for them.

I have been working in the garden and lavishing in all the beautiful sunshine.  My strawberries are coming up, and I watered them today for the first time.  I decided I am going to have to put up a little fence around them, because the bunnies are already enjoying their tender leaves.  The bunnies helped themselves to the leaves last year as well... I wish I could share with them... but no, it won't work.

Our seedlings are coming up both outside and inside.  Checking their progress and watering them each day is a happy chore.  

Steve  has been recovering this week from surgery on that leg.  All went well, and we are hopeful he will be well on the mend in 3-4 weeks.  Until then, he is back to crutches... that is the hardest part for him; to not be able to do what he does...... very difficult for any of us.

Blessings to you all,

Pam

Irish Soda Bread

I've been away  from Blogland far too long.  I think since Steve's accident, I have had  a harder time blogging consistently.    I had a wonderful month's summery in pictures to share with you, and realized after I started to down load that I , again, had my camera with the wrong storage designation, and the pictures  would not down load.  So frustrating.  So I said to myself "should I post without my pictures?" Well, I guess I am half way there so I might as well put something down.

We had a fun little Irish dinner tonight for St. Patrick's day.  It is our tradition to have the Corned Beef, potatoes and cabbage and Irish Soda Bread on St. Patrick's Day; not because we are Irish, but because we enjoy the celebration.  How about you guys, do you fix something like that.  Of course its always nice to buy the Corned Beef when its on sale, and it is always a treat when you enjoy a little fun with it.  I did some research on the Irish Soda Bread and it seemed like the basic recipe is pretty much the same for most recipes.   It is that basic recipe that is truly "traditional" , or so I read, and the addition of raisins, or butter, or eggs or anything else, is considered extra "fru fru"  that might be okay, but not truly "authentic" if you know what I mean.

Speaking of green (well in a round about way we were speaking of green weren't we?)  We have been seeing green coming upon the land, and are feeling the joy of spring coming.   We have an expression when it gets so green and pretty; "It looks like Ireland".  And so today, it looks like Ireland and it tastes like Ireland at our house.   We got our spring garden beds ready throughout the week.  We  planted peas, garlic, onions and a few other spring veggies.  It sure felt good to get out there in the sunshine and dirt. It feels like life is returning to me as well.

Steve and Eddie and Luke were able to get the chicken coup up at last, and I feel so happy about that.  I will have to take some more pictures and show them to you another time.  Steve goes in for another surgery on his leg at the end of this week, so keep him your prayers if you don't mind. He is going to get the metal removed (he had two screws that broke)  He is doing good other wise.

My Family has been re-arranging.  As I mentioned in the previous post that Nathan and Himilce were moving to North Carolina, well, now Marie and Jon and babies have moved to Florida... Jon was offered a job in the same town that Elizabeth and Benjamin are in... and if you can imagine this, the house  next door to Elizabeth and Benjamin became available to rent.  So guess who rented it?
It is so sweet, and there are many cute stories to come out of that bit of news... but I will save it for another post perhaps.  And lastly, Olga has moved down to the Phoenix area with my sister and brother in law.  So  there you have it.

The Irish Soda Bread  is really good.  I make it often, and not just for St. Patrick's day, because it is one of the easiest and quickest ways to offer fresh warm bread to our family dinner. Its crusty outside and warm and moist inside and is amazing  spread with a little butter and even some jam.  Here is the recipe, I hope you enjoy.

  White Irish Soda Bread

4 cups (16 oz) of all purpose flour.
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2  - 2 cups of of buttermilk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Lightly grease a round cast iron skillet or dutch oven (or you may use a round cake pan or even a cookie sheet.

Mix dry ingredients together.  Slowly add the buttermilk and stir until slightly wet and sticky.  You may add any other ingredients you wish.... raisins, oats, butter, egg, cheese; its up to you.  I usually leave mine plain, but I am not opposed to adding some goodies on occasion.  Pour out onto a floured surface and pat into a flat round then put into the iron skillet.  Be sure not to knead this bread (which would cause your bread to be tough). This reminds me of making biscuits, except you cook it in one big loaf rather than cutting up biscuits.  With a knife cut  an X in the top of the bread; this will allow the bread to cook more thoroughly in the middle.

Bake with lid on for about 30 minutes, and then remove lid and bake another 15 minutes.
Cool about five minutes, and then slice and slather with butter.

Enjoy.

I hope you all are doing well.  I will be catching up with you on your blogs the next couple of days.

Blessings to you all

Pam