Today I am grateful for Larry's generous spirit.

Two weeks ago, Larry was donating platelets, and he busted a vein.

Thankfully, his arm is almost healed.

But...yesterday, the blood center called him, and they need him to donate again today.

He did not think long and hard about it, and came to the only conclusion he could come to.

He is donating again at 10:00 this morning.

I often go with him because he sometimes passes out, 

but this morning I will not go.

Photo: my second new cloche

 This morning, I will stay home, exercise (walk 2 miles) 

and bake a loaf of bread. (in the new cloche)

I have a new cloche to use because the first (birthday gift) cloche had a mishap. The link to the story is here:

The first cloche story

I hate sending Larry off to donate platelets alone and maybe pass out...but he will be fine. I told him to keep thinking, "soup and homemade bread" for dinner! (and to keep thinking that someone special needs his platelets)

The brand-new cloche will be  broken in on this cool autumn day.

Imagine, soup, salad and bread for dinner!

AUTUMN. 

The years last, loveliest smile.

~William Bryant~

Please have the most wonderful day.

What are you making for dinner?

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Today I am grateful for easy Sunday dinners.

Photo: Larry prepared dinner last night

                Yesterday afternoon, Larry prepared Sunday dinner.

We enjoyed, pate, cheese, potato skins, radishes, fruit, bread and French butter.

It was perfect, and Larry took care of it all.

Photo: the best grapes ever. Larry bought the beautiful glass compote
 at a little antique shop in Garland Texas.

It was a quiet day here in the cottage.

We went window shopping in the early afternoon, and I worked on a few projects while Larry had a project in the garden. Then we had our dinner and movie.

Photo: Larry chose a good white wine for dinner

The wine was wonderful.....

Photo: The wine.

The wine went with the nibbles plate that Larry made....

Photo: Jalapeno cheese ball, Boursin cheese, pate, salami and gouda. All served with crackers and bread.

Lauren made pumpkin bread for us. She used my mother's recipe (mother was given the recipe in 1964) and it was the perfect dessert.

Photo: Pumpkin bread
Our pumpkin bread is always served with lots of whipped cream and cherries. 

The Sunday movie was "The Taste of Things"

It was in French but has subtitles if you wish.

The movie was beautiful. We enjoyed it very much and I want to watch it again soon....

Dear Larry,

Thank you for planning such a lovely afternoon for us.

I love you beyond the moon.

Me

 

Today I am grateful for negative experiences.

 If you read yesterday's blog, you know that I was excited about baking a loaf of bread in my new cloche. I had the best of intensions and made the prettiest bread dough.

Photo: Bread dough

It rose to perfection.

I even used a lame tool and etched a leaf design on the top of the dough at the last rise.

Photo: Lame

The beautiful new birthday cloche was preheating in the oven while I designed the top of the bread dough.

When I took the cloche out of the oven, something was wrong.

it smelled like plastic.....and when I took the top off... there was melted plastic all over the bottom.

Photo: The plastic that was on the inside of my new cloche.

I had been playing with the new cloche all summer long but never looked into the top of the cloche where there must have been plastic packing materials.

It was the hottest, gooey mess. Larry tried to clean it up, but it was like super glue and nothing could be done to clean up the mess.

I baked the bread dough without a cloche. The crust was awful.... but the bread was delicious.

Photo: the bread

Larry threw my birthday cloche in the trash and ordered a new one, then went out to dinner.

*****

Please be happy today.

Even if things go badly.... they will always turn themselves around.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Today I am grateful for bright red cloches.

In June, Larry gave me a red cloche on my birthday. 

(the cloche was made in France!)

It was steamy hot in Texas then 

and I have waited patiently 

for the weather to break before 

I made my first loaf of bread.

I think that it is about time to bake, don't you?

I have been gathering information on baking in a cloche and made a reference book (in the purple folder) to use till I get the routine down to memory. 

Homemade bread is one of those things that make your heart happy when you are feeling down.

I believe that James Beard said it best....

This is ultimately how I feel and cannot wait to use my birthday gift. I will share my adventure and recipe soon.

****

Update of my daughter Jamison: She is recovering at home from the hospital today. Her Drs and nurses were amazing. To be honest, I am still a bit shaken up by her illness. 

There is honestly nothing worse than seeing your child ill and in the hospital. We are blessed by her lovely spirit and joyful attitude but to see her so sick, was heartbreaking. 

I wish her speedy recovery and much love.

Love you beyond the moon.

me

The Perfect Loaf

Photo: In the dining room

 Larry is at the car repair place getting the rotors fixed on our old car.

He let me sleep in this morning! 

I got up, bathed, washed my hair, and watered my plants.

There is a peaceful something about watering the plants.

Perhaps it is because I call them my babies?

Now, I think that I will make a loaf of Focaccia bread.

Do you remember last year when I had an obsession about making origami cranes? (I still make one each morning)

Well, I seem to have that same obsession with bread.

Focaccia bread to be exact.

I keep trying new recipes, looking for that perfect loaf of focaccia bread. Maybe today's loaf will be that "perfect" one?

Please have a good weekend.

Smile often.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Everyday. Do you know how lucky we are to look at life in such a positive manner? Promises for tomorrow.

Yesterday, our across the street neighbor, brought us a loaf of bread. For no reason, just a warm, steamy loaf of bread. It was generous, thoughtful, and delicious.

Have you smiled at a stranger recently? Someone who looks tired or sad? Just a smile. They usually smile back(even if they do not want to). You will have touched someone in the most positive and anonymous of ways.

Life can be so amazing......take a deep breath.

Love you.

Me,

************************************************************

I Cannot Believe That

It is February 26th

(already)

I baked BEER bread that Lauren gave me!

It was wonderful warm with butter.

The mix can be purchased at Target.

(It was served with soup)

Libby slept a lot.

Here she is with her Chicken.

This chicken has a rubber band and can

fly through the air.

When it lands, it makes rooster sounds.

Larry bought me roses.

Rose plants that is!

The name of this variety is

Mardi Gras.

The afghan is coming along.

After I take a walk today,

I hope to make a huge dent

in the project.

***

It is overcast,

still windy,

and dread walking today.

But when it is over,

I will feel wonderful.

Have the happiest day that you can imagine.

Love you.

Me.

*************************************

Stuffed

Breaking bread for stuffing has always held good memories for me. It was always a sign that soon the house would be filled with good smells, loving family and forever friends. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.(we will celebrate our Thanksgiving this Saturday, with best friends and family)

Today is overcast, I have been to a DR in Dallas, then to the market for odds and ends, home to break the bread for the stuffing and now I shall leave for a meeting in Arlington Texas.

What a wonderful, busy day. Love you