Thursday, April 29, 2010

little bee


I was invited to be in a book group but I just can't do it right now.  I wish I could but I can only read a page an evening if that.  So now is not the time.  Hopefully I can sneak into the group once Piper is a bit older and once I can read more than one page per sitting and not fall instantly asleep.  Little Bee: A Novel was the last book read at this book group.  I have only read a bit but so far I am loving it.  Chris Cleave is a very clever writer. Check it out!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

are you happy?



Well said.  Found here via Black Eiffel.  Change is good.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

homemade bread



I saw this bread recipe on Katy Eliot. I gave it a try and boy was it sinchy. The only thing is that the dough needs 20 hours to rest and rise so you need to plan ahead if you want bread for say...supper tomorrow. No kneading involved. Just mix the flour, yeast, salt and water and let it sit then fold it a little and let it sit some more. The photo is MY bread just out of the oven. Isn't it professional, crusty and pleasantly peasant looking? The other interesting thing is that you bake in a pot with lid. I baked mine in a big Le Crueset. I hope it tastes as good as it looks....I'll let you know after soup and crusty bread supper this eve....

PS The smell of bread baking in your home is very cozy on a rainy day.


Here is the recipe via Katy Elliot:

Adapted from Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery via The New York Times.

Time: About 1½ hours plus 14 to 20 hours’ rising

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting

¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed. (I used flour)

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour (I used flour), wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex, ceramic, I used my Le Crueset) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

Yield: One 1½-pound loaf.

Thank you Katy Elliot

This bread was SO DELICIOUS!!!  You must make it asap.  I have a second mound of dough ready for the oven.  I also just bought some whole wheat white flour to make some more.  I'll keep you posted on how that loaf turns out.  I read on Katy Elliot's comments that one gal skips steps 2 and 3 all together and the result is just the same....I'll see!

So I made bread with whole wheat white flour and it was very dense.  An all together different bread.  Some folks like that.  I am bananas for the original.  So much that I have another batch resting!  I may try 1/2 wheat 1/2 white.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Monday, April 26, 2010

Friday, April 23, 2010

grey walls

I am very attracted to grey these days. Grey is the new white. I love the bleached wide plank floors too.

via emmas designblogg

Thursday, April 22, 2010

clogs!





ok...I think I love ALL of these clogs! I found them here on etsy all the way from Berlin. Check out those teeny ones. Price is right too.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

stone floor

I love this stone floor for a kitchen. The white grout is really good.

via katy elliot

Monday, April 19, 2010

abstract expressionists postage stamps


Suzy sent a package to me with these abstract art postage (44 cents) stamps. Love them because they are mod and mostly large. Order some for yourself here! My post office was plum out of them.

thank you suzy!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

pomplamoose



New favorite music around here.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

orange bicycle

Oh how I love this bicycle! It was designed here and is available here.

via design*sponge

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

vera pillows




Aren't these the greatest pillows? Design is by VERA. The bottom two are big bolsters. Perfect for a kid's room. Found at Anthropologie!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

6 months old today

Piper is 6 months old today. Happy half a year my girl!

Monday, April 12, 2010

three potato four




I Remember visiting this shop, three potato four, a while back. I have forgotten all about how fantastic it is.  Lots of treasures like the above items. Check it out here!
I need to visit more often.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

penelope's

Very good raincoat from Penelope's. Check out the shop. Lots of great things.

discovered on cup of jo

Thursday, April 8, 2010

simple garden

Love the simplicity of this garden....and I have always loved butterfly chairs.

(via cup of jo: photos via Remodelista, landscape design by Foras, butterfly chair from Circa50)

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

puppets


Found this photograph today. Children at paper scissors oranges made these self portrait puppets last summer. I just went bananas when I put them all together. Those faces just make me smile.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

be

LinkA print found on Etsy here. Words of wisdom.

Monday, April 5, 2010

watermelon table

Crazy about this dining room table in watermelon. LOVE those chairs with it.

via remodelista

Friday, April 2, 2010

john robshaw









These are my favorite swatches from John Robshaw's line of blockprinted linens. So beautiful.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

good day

Oh yes and for the next three days. Yeah.

via you are my fave via abby sharp.