What a gorgeous Thursday, 17 May 07

Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 19:37

Good evening all. Well, after a very chilly (30 degrees) start at 0500, it ended up 65 and sunny today. Fortunately, non of my plants were frosted - I'm pretty lucky as my property sits up higher and doesn't seem to "get hit" too badly with frost.  Today I baked bread and made some blueberry muffins. Mmmmm. The muffins turned out real good. The oven warmed my kitchen and the "aroma therapy" wasn't too shabby either.  Not to sure about the bread tho. It just didn't want to rise today. I did everything like I usually do. It took forever to double adn then the second rising took a bit too. I usually rise my bread in the oven, covered with a hot moist flour bag towel and a pie plate of boiling hot water placed on the lower rack. I've always had wonderful results but not today.  After it rose and I baked it, it felt kind of heavy. I didn't have time to try a piece as I was running late for work.  I guess I'll find out in a couple hours. Sigh.... look on the bright side I guess - thus far, even the "flops" have tasted 200% better than store bought. There's always next time I suppose.

Let's see, I cleaned the bathroom and did up the dishes. I also had some coffee grounds, egg shells and other peelings that I put out and turned into a new garden area. It's a small 4x4 plot that I'm hoping to put my tomatoes this year. It'll be my next weekend off project as well as finish planting out at the folks. Have about 100 Marigold starts that have buds on them and will put them out and about in the garden in hopes it helps keep the deer and rabbit at bay this year. It helps at my house in town and has helped at the folks in the past. I think I put them out too soon last year and they got use to the scent?? Who knows.

Oh, question, my muffin recipe calls for buttermilk. I usually use the powdered or get a small carton. I once was lucky enough to be given some "fresh" buttermilk. Our healthfood store had some quart bottles for 99 cents (yes, that's right, 99 cents!) as they were close to expiring. I only bought one as I knew I wouldn't use it all up prior to it going bad. Is there any way to freeze or preserve it??? They have it at that price once in a while as they would rather mark it way down and sell it than have to toss it.

Ahhh, my lilacs smell so good. The one in the back yard is full of blooms. The one in the front is just starting to bud out. About the time the back one is done, the front one will be strong at it. Best part is that it's on the corner of the house right next to my bedroom window. I throw my windows open and the scent along with the cedar give me wonder aromatherapy!! 

Tomorrow I will clean church, have another couple loads of laundry as well as change sheets.  I will be making a batch of granola and oatmeal cookies. I also need to go grocery shopping which, I hate to admit, I kind of enjoy. What can I say.

Have a great evening and see ya all tomorrow night.

Michele