Best Friends.....

This is our 2 year old granddaughter, Rylee and our 7 year old boxer, Hollie.

Rylee likes to call her Holdog. This is their favorite place to be. I think Hollie likes all the attention Rylee gives her....kisses, hugs, tummy rubs, storytime, and

sometimes they go for walks together.

Who wouldn't want that kind of attention all the time?

I guess that's what best friends are for!

Blessings, 

Julie

A Day at Home....

Today we are having some stormy weather....sleet and freezing rain.

Schools in our area have all been cancelled, and since I work at our local

elementary school, I have found myself with a day at home.

I LOVE my days at home!

When I was growing up, my mother would spend stormy days cooking and baking. I guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree, because that's what I like to do, as well. 

Today I decided to make some bread. I love bread....any kind of bread!

It's been a while since I have made oatmeal brown bread. It's probably my favorite, so that was definitely one of my choices. This is the recipe I use...

 It's from a book that I found in my

stash of cookbooks. 

I wish I could remember where it came from. It's filled with a lot of wonderful recipes.

While making the brown bread, I also decided to make some cinnamon raisin bread. That's a bread I enjoy A LOT!

This is the book that the recipe came from. It was a birthday gift from a good friend. I LOVE IT!

The recipe....

Now we wait to let it raise.

I think I'll put the tea water on. 

Looking good!

Now it's time to add the cinnamon/sugar mixture to the raisin bread.

Doesn't it look delicious already! 

 The oatmeal brown bread is out of the cook stove. Now it's time to put the cinnamon raisin bread in.

Mmmm!  The cinnamon raisin bread tastes amazing! Check out that hole of cinnamon, sugar, raisin goodness!

The breads are done. Time to relax with my cup of tea!

 Thank you for stopping by our little red saltbox.

I treasure our visits.

Enjoy your day!

Blessings, 

Julie

Tea and Cookies....

These are just a few pictures I took from around our home. I should be working on other things, as I have tons to do, but I just can’t seem to get myself moving in the right direction. Do you ever get that way? I think it’s called “winter fatigue”. (giggle) I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one suffering from this horrible disease. Any others out there??

There is always so much to be done around here, but sometimes I think it’s good to just take a break and do nothing. Don’t you? Everyone deserves that kind of day once in a while. I have been on vacation all week, and had so many big plans for things I was going to do, but….here I sit.

Actually, I have cleaned my closet, getting rid of many unused items. I bagged them all up and took them to our local good will. The money they get from selling donated items goes toward feeding the hungry in our County. I like that!

I’ve also been doing a lot of cooking and baking…soups, biscuits, breads, apple crisp, and some really great cookies. I like to give a lot of the sweets away. That way they don’t end up on MY hips. LOL! Yes folks! I would eat them all up if I kept them in my house! I know I’m not alone in this….you’d do the same wouldn’t you?

Our youngest son is usually the lucky recipient of many of the baked items. He’s tall enough that they get lost on him. He’d probably argue that fact, though.

I thought for today we could sit down together for some tea and cookies. This is a wonderful recipe that was given to me. How about a cup of Raspberry tea?

Oh! And we can look through the new spring “A Simple Life” magazine. Come take a seat by the warm fire…

Molasses Crinkle Cookies

1 1/3 c. canola oil

2 c. white sugar

1/2 c. molasses

2 eggs

Mix this well, then add….

4 c. flour

4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

2 tsp. cinnamon

3 tsp. ground ginger

Once this is all combined well…refrigerate dough for 2 hours or overnight. Roll into 1” balls, then roll in sugar, and place on un-greased cookie sheet. Press balls down to flatten slightly. Bake at 350* for 8 min.

These cookies are super delicious! They are so soft and moist, and go great with a cup of tea, and well…just bake’em up and try’em for yourself. You won’t be disappointed!

Well this brings me to the end of today’s post, and the end of my cup of tea. Did you enjoy yourself? I know I did. Now go take some time to bake these cookies. You’re going to love them!

Blessings,

Julie