Baking is crafting

 

 

I like to bake! I only bake when I can share with other people because, as you probably can guess, I also love to eat. I cannot resist homemade treats. Here are two items I baked in September:

                                         Butter Herb Bread that I baked for the County Fair.

2 pkgs. yeast
2 c. warm water
6 eggs
1 1/4 tsp. salt
6 tbsp. oil
1 1/2 tsp. rosemary
2/3 c. parsley
8 c. flour
1 egg for top

Dissolve yeast in water. Combine eggs, salt, oil, herbs and 3 cups flour. Add yeast and mix well. Add more flour to make dough and knead on floured board for 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl and cover. Let rise for 1 1/2 hours in warm place. Shape into two loaves on cookie sheet. Cover loosely and let rise for 45 minutes. Brush with egg and bake for 50 minutes at 375 degrees.

       Harvey Wallbanger Cake I baked for the Volunteer Fire Department Auction Fundraiser

• 1 box of yellow cake mix
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup vodka
• 1/4 cup Orange liqueur
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate

1. Mix cake mix, eggs, and oil together.
2. Blend them with a mixer on slow.
3. Add orange juice,  orange liqueur, and vodka.
4. Stir together.
5. Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan.
6. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes.
7. Mix powdered sugar and orange juice concentrate together with a fork until smooth and drizzle over cooled cake.

Crafts for wedding accessories

 

 

 

 

 

 

I made this hair wreath for the flower girl at a friend's wedding recently. I started with a thin metal hairband, covered it in ribbon and lined the bottom with pearls. Then I glued on little paper roses, larger silk roses, artificial pink branches and ribbon. I thought it was beautiful and so did the little flower girl. She wore her hair up and this little wreath encircled her bun and ringlets.

 

 

                                   This is the view of the front of the wreath of roses.

      This is the view from the back. The silver ribbons cascaded down around the flower girl's neck.

I also took the purchased flower basket and added some matching accents. I lined the top of the basket with pearls and used the silk rose and pink branches to match the hair wreath. This was one of my favorite projects.

Crafts as gifts

I had a really fun time making these hats for a birthday gift. Can you see "Minnie Mouse"?

                                                                   Child size hat.

                                           A matching, mini hat for this baby doll.
I like to try to give something a little different-something no one else will have. I hope this birthday gift brings a special little girl lots of joy

My "Giant" Pumpkin

 

 

 

I am still producing 3 kinds of peppers and some okra in my garden. I think that is amazing for this time of year. I also have lots of basil, lavender and fennel. The tomatoes are producing again since the weather has cooled. My favorite little project is this pumpkin. Just for fun I planted 2 giant pumpkin seeds at the end of June-very late in the season. The two vines made one pumpkin each but I soon lost one of the vines. This one survived the hot, dry summer and is beginning to ripen. I will measure it soon and give an update. It has a very oblong shape and it is a good 2 feet long from stem to stem.

 

My little dog Amos sits by the Giant pumpkin. He weighs 10 pounds and is much smaller. We have had a lot of rain and the pumpkin continues to grow. Update soon to come!