At the End of the Day...

...it is so nice to kick off your shoes, stick your feet in the edge of the spa, rub them (Or have him rub them.) with some spearmint oil and slip on some clean white socks.

I am spoiled!



These are the display shoes on the guestroom hearth. A lady's late 19th century pair, a man's Civil War brogans and a beautiful pair of leather-wool-wooden soled child's boots.

It's also good to read God's Word, forgive someone, call a friend, share some popcorn and breath really deep for tomorrow is another day.

Amish White Bread Recipe

A request was made for my recipe and here it is. It really is so easy and so delicious. Enjoy!

2 cups warm water
2/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil (I use olive.)
6 cups bread flour

In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast.

Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam. Mix salt and oil into the yeast mixture. Mix in flour 1 cup at a time. (I use the dough hook on my Kitchenaid.)

Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth.
Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat leaving seam side down. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes and divide in half. Shape into 2 loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans, seam side down. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen about 1 inch above pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F. (175 C.) for 30 minutes.

Allow to cool before slicing. (If you can stand it!)

I don't know who to give credit to for the receipt but it is wonderful. Today I took one half of the dough and rolled into golf ball size balls and placed three balls in each oiled muffin cup. Made the most beautiful Cloverleaf mufins. I took a half dozen to my elderly neighbor who is fighting Cancer and she was thrilled as bread is her favorite thing to eat right now.

The grands ate the rest of them with butter and honey! I even had enough left to form a smallish loaf for the girls and they had a wonderful tea party of bread and tea.

It is a good feeling to make a simple staple with my own hands and I had a great day making bread with and teaching my grands. It is easy and delicious. The flavor is 1000% better than a bread machine to me.

Darn it!

That's what I try to do, especially on our period stockings. The picture shows my sewing kit spread out in preparation for darning one of hubby's cotton stockings.

The use of a darning egg is crucial so that you get the proper 'bend' in the repair so that it is more comfortable. I simply pull the stocking over the egg, use my thread to make a warp a bit larger than the hole and then weave the thread the opposite direction following the original weave of the fabric. Not difficult and gets better with experience. It is such a simple pleasure to repair something of value rather than tossing it on the trash heap.

I have pictured my ebony wood darner, a blown glass egg which is also known as an encourager egg that is placed in the hens nesting box. I even have a sweet potato! Sothron girls used whatever they had on hand for a repair. Also pictured are assorted wool and cotton threads, some needles and iron snipping scissors.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to this small corner of my world.

Darn it!

What in the world will I do...

...with all this wonderful Amish White Bread?


I can't remember where the recipe came to me but it is my 'all time favorite'!

I have made bread for years and it takes a lot of training and judgement to make good bread but I found this receipt and it was perfect on the first try!

Here it is pictured with some creamy butter and a vintage bread knife. When it came out of the oven, my grandson, Frank and I ate half the loaf right on the spot with butter and homemade blueberry preserves.

Homemade bread really helps to make a home.

Blessed Easter and Passover!

Here is a picture of what keeps us motivated.  Eight grandchildren!  We had our Easter egg hunt on Saturday because our three children go to different churches in different parts of our state.

Of course, we miss having them all together on Easter Sunday, but our hearts are filled with joy knowing that they are all in their own churches worshipping and serving the risen Lord!

The eggs and bunnies are fun, the meal and fellowship is sweet, but these children all know why we celebrate this day. It is the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  It is the celebration of hope. It is a time for reflection on what Father God has given to us through His Son.

May your Easter or Passover be a blessed one with family by your side and God in your heart.

Frank and Pam