an update on this post:

I think I put too much garlic in it. It was unbelievable. I emanated garlic. Even my pee smelled like garlic. And, I was hoping that the cloves would stay more whole. So, I think I'd have to put the garlic in at a later stage in the bread making, and use way less of it;-)

I Love her illustrations! Saw her stuff on a blog and wanted to share. She is so fun and talented.

We've been busy. Just getting back into the routine of back to school and lots of work for both of us. September promises to be just a busy. Trips with family, trips to see family, wedding, hopefully some boating *fingers crossed*

Have a great week!

PiCkLeS!

Icing the cucumbers.

Sterilizing the jars. I read that you can do them in the oven.. and that made me excited cause doing those in a water bath is so time consuming.

Jalapeno, garlic and all that good stuff in the jars, waiting for the rest!

The brine:)

Pickling seasonings

chili peppers from our "garden"

The dill and alum is in there too

and then packing the jars

Packed and ready to be bathed in brine

Still so many left!

the ends need to be thrown away and then there are all the slices ready to be backed

such pretty color!

in the hot water bath they go

MORE

They're done. Now they just have to sit for a few weeks before we can try them.

I was in high school last time I did pickles so I'm excited to see how they turn out.

Garlic Bread

Ingredients

• 1 3/8 cups water
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 4 cups bread flour
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• 2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

This is what's in my bread maker. Except..... *ppl who know me will roll their eyes at this point* I didn't really do/use everything the recipe said *Grin*. I actually used TWO garlic bulbs and peeled them and roasted the chunks of garlic. YUM. So, I added that instead of the tiny amount of garlic they wanted me to use. I also didn't use basil or chives. Also, agents my better judgment, I put the pepper in....? You see, I'm trying to replicate a kind of bread that you can get for, ahem, $4 for a small loaf at Festival!!! That's too much for a small loaf of bread. But. I LOVE THE STUFF. We will see how it turns out. It's baking as I write:)

Just some of what I've been reading...

I love books that take place in the 1800's. There was a little sex in this one that always makes me go, "ahhh!" and then I skip through it and move on. It was a good read, though!

LOVED this one. Very, very good book. I live in a old ripped up house that we have vision for, so this was a perfect book for me right now:)

another good one! If I remember this one had a little sex, too:-/ It's the same way I feel about movies with a little sex. I feel like you could let us know what happened w/o actually having to show it or get into it. That's just me:)

I've been more into the lighthearted books lately. I go in streaks with what I enjoy reading. I think when my life feels stressful I want to read lighthearted and not intense mystery.

I love this photo! I have been spending a lot of time with the cows again. My sweet husband has been doing a lot of milkings for me though, and that's been wonderful!

This is were this fun photo is from. Sadly, it's not mine:)

What I've been doing all day. Pictures later.

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup salt

1 quart vinegar

1 quart water

3 tablespoons mixed pickling spices

30 to 40 medium cucumbers

dill

Wash and dry cucumbers. Combine sugar, salt, vinegar, water. Tie spices in cheesecloth bag. Add to mixture and simmer 15 min. Pack cucumbers in hot, sterilized jars. Pour in mixture leaving 1/4 head. Adjust lids and bands. Process in boiling water bath 15 min. Yield 7

25 quarts is what I ended up with.

wow.

I've been thinking a lot lately about this. Branding. So far I have not come up with a stamp or brand. I want to. But, I don't want to rush into it. I don't want to hastily just make something and then a short time later realize it's not me, it's not what I stand for. I see too many new photographers just put a blah strip of white that says, "John Doe Photography" and there's not a single thing that's memorable about it. Not one thing. It's not catchy, it's not pretty, it's a nobody font and it makes me cringe a little. Rae will probably be proud to know I think/feel this way about this subject. I also see smart, sassy, established photographers who have thought about it and it shows! I can tell it's who they are, it's a passion, it's something I picture even when I'm away from their page or blog, its memorable!

So, this is something I've thought about for months now. Should I have a name, or use my name? I want people to be able to know me, my name, however I feel that's rather dull. I think about it, and then just sweep it out of my mind. And then I think to myself, "I'm hoping one day, it will just hit me and I'll know what I'm suppose to do and I'll never second guess that choice."

The other thing is that I am not really doing photography right now anyway. Just doing it for fun, on the side or for friends. I am very much enjoying learning and teaching myself slowly. I want to be sure I know what I'm doing and what I'm selling someone. I don't want to do it half way and then look at my work and say to myself, "I'd never pay for that!" I want to know what I am, who I am and what I'm selling is more then worth it some day.

I have some very fun blogs that I follow that are written by well established photographers. It's so fun to see how sure of themselves they are and that they know their stuff and they mostly taught themselves. It's a slow, enjoyable, leaning and frustrating at times journey for me:)

Let me know if you have thoughts or ideas. I'm always open to the thoughts of great minds:)

"How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number-living things both large and small."

Psalm 104:24-25

This was the sunset on the way home from our vacation. It was just outside of Lake City. These pictures, on this blog don't do it justus! It was stunning. It was actually the only time the whole trip that I took my big camera out. It was such a blessing. I was bummed that we had to end our trip and we had to go back to the real world.. and this was a nice treat.

The bread was good. It was a bit dense, so next time I would choose the Large Light setting and not the Regular Light setting. Give it a little more time to raise. Taste was very good and my husband even had a sandwich with it, as did I:)

And just look at me, going out on a limb here.... no picture. I hope you're a better person then I am and actually come back to visit and trust that I will have pictures again.

I have a confession. I don't really keep reading blogs that don't have pictures. Therefore, I don't really ever post unless I have pictures to go w/ it. I love to see things, I'm a visual person, a hands on person. I just need to see it! This is what's in my bread machine right now...

Garlic and Chive Bread

Ingredients:

5 cloves Garlic

1 tablespoon Butter

1 1/4 cup Milk

3 cups Bread Flour

1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese -- Grated

2 tablespoons Fresh Chives -- Snipped

1 tablespoon Sugar

3/4 teaspoon Salt

1 teaspoon Bread Machine Yeast

Directions:

Saute garlic in butter for 1 minute. Cool. Add all ingredients to machine according to manufacturer's directions.

I will have to let you know how it tuns out, since it's still in the machine..

My wonderful husband is on the Dakota Fire and Rescue and they are doing the Gun Raffle again! Click on the picture of the ticket below if you want to better see the list of guns that you can win. Tickets are $20.00 each and it's a great deal and a great thing to support. This is a great team of people that really take a lot of pride in all that they do. The best part is that you don't have to be present to win if you don't live in the area, can't be there or just don't want to be there! Tell the men in your life!

*because somehow I don't think the men are reading this blog very much;-)*

“We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, ''Blessed are they that mourn."

“God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain” “We're not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be” C.S. Lewis