Homemade Bread

Last night I attended a RS meeting where we learned lots of things about bread making, including how to braid dough. The aroma of yeasty bread dough permeated the church kitchen as we waited for it to raise so we could put it in the oven to bake. There were 3 kinds of breads made: Artesan, Whole Wheat, and White Bread (that we braided). It got everyone that attended fired up to go home, grind their own wheat into flour, and get their hands in the sticky mass of dough. The lady who taught the class is our previous bishop's wife who has a blog at http://www.homeandtherange.blogspot.com/ and she did a fantastic job! Even though I have made bread before, I learned a lot about nutrition, the best ingredients to use, etc. Of course, the highlight was the reward of eating fresh, warm, yummy bread straight from the oven with butter and honey! We each got to take part of a loaf home as well, so my car smelled delicious all the way home! It was a fun night and very informative. It definitely got us excited to try our hand at making some, especially now that Fall is in the air (somewhere). Thanks Sister Burns!

Modern Travel

This past weekend, my husband and I rented a car and began the journey to northern Utah to see our daughter and to attend a mission farewell for a niece of my husband's. We had A/C, comfortable seats, windows, and snacks. Even music to help keep us awake.  Everything we needed to begin a 7-8 hour trip. I thought as we sped past the Nevada deserts and over mountains, I'm so glad that we didn't have to travel in a buggy or wagon like the pioneers did. Then I thought back to a story my Dad shared about when he and his brother were in Wyoming looking for work--this was back in the 1920's, before he was married. His older brother was injured on the Cable Mountain in Zion National Park on the old saw mill. It was a long way to a doctor and they had to travel by buckboard wagon to St. George. His arm was cut on the saw and was bleeding badly. He lost a lot of blood and passed out numerous times, was given priesthood blessings, and finally made it to where he could get medical help, which was below the standards we have today. But much later my Dad was gone when his brother died and it took a couple of days to get home because he had to travel by horse and wagon, so he missed the funeral. I thought how sad that would be!

Here I was in a nice automobile, going 75 mph and thinking it was a long way to sit there! I can't even imagine how it must have been, being miserable in the heat of the day, going at a such a slow pace, having to sleep out under the stars and then get up and continue the next day. As I stopped at places to eat along the way, grabbing convenience foods, I wondered what they would have eaten back then. They had no way to keep anything cold, so it was probably something like bread (which was most likely dry and/or stale), beef jerky and stuff like that. I had ice in my drink and was sad that it melted too fast, making my water lukewarm quickly. They were lucky to have water to drink and it was definitely not iced! It makes me so glad that I live in this day and time, with all the things we are blessed with. Home at last, sleeping in a nice warm, comfortable bed, indoor plumbing, showers, etc. Our lives are so blessed!! I'm grateful for my heritage, but I'm very happy to be alive today.

Blessings and Music

I started going to choir a week ago in my ward and have felt the spirit bless my heart. Today after the 3 hour block at church, I went to practice and I was very touched by what the director shared with us about a personal experience she had because of music. It made me think of all the times I've been blessed in my life and there a lot of those times it involved music. Music soothes the soul, touches the heart, brings the power of heaven down and bears testimony of truth when used properly. The songs we were singing today touched me deeply too: Oh What Songs of the Heart (LDS Hymns), and How Great Thou Art (also from LDS Hymns). There were numerous times I couldn't sing the words because my eyes were getting blurry with the tears that came when the songs invoked memories of blessings I have received and brought things to mind of other times I have sung those songs. The words are very powerful and bear strong testimony of divinity and eternal truths of being able to see and be with our loved ones that have gone from this earth. I am so glad that I attended choir today and that God has given me musical talents so that I can experience these kinds of blessings by joining with the other members of the group to make a joyful noise and sing praises to my God. Music can lift the spirit and bring happiness, or comfort when needful. I guess that's why I love watching the Sound of Music, too, because the very hills come alive with the sound of music... Music has brought much satisfaction and pleasure throughout my life. When I was a sophomore in high school and had the mumps during Christmas break, I learned how to play the guitar and from then on I was called 'little songbird' by my mother. I accompanied my father while he played the harmonica whenever the occasion arose and have missed that tradition greatly since he passed away in 1997. I haven't sung much since then, except for church and once in a while with my daughter (who is married and lives in another state now) and I have missed it! So today I am happy that I made the choice to sing with the choir once again. Music, I have missed you and the blessings that come with it!

Just finished this pair of pillowcases! I love this design, esp the 'blue' morning glory...

Technology

Tonight I have been thinking about technology and how it has blessed my life. Even though I'm not quite the tech-savvy person I would like to be, I am coming along in my progress of navigating the computer. I have found so many cute ideas and a wealth of information that I can use from scouring the many links on here. I am amazed at the plethora of talent and knowledge to be had and shared! Thanks to all of your blogs and websites that afford me the opportunity to tap into my own creativity. I hope to be able to share my own ideas with you as well. I'm grateful to Heavenly Father for the talents I have been blessed with and am excited for the privilege of learning so much, just through technology. I am looking forward to watching General Conference on television (another technology blessing) and to check out lds.org for helps and inspiration. We are truly living in a wonderful time and have many wonderful blessings that generations before us did not have. It is mind-boggling at times. It's a wonderful world, even with all the troubling things going on with the economy, politics, housing issues, etc. but there are so many things to be thankful for, too! We just need to focus on the good things and trust that things will be okay and in the mean time, learn and share talents and use technology for good. It is a special time to be alive and I for one am going to enjoy the journey...(while doing crafts and making fun things to share with others.) My grandmother used to say, 'Aren't you glad you're you?' Yes, I am, Grandma! Yes, I am! :)

A project in progress... I made one of these for each of my married children
and added hearts for each of their children with their name and birth year on
them. On the rectangle at the bottom of the tree trunk, I embroidered their last
name and the year they were married (or est.) I will post pictures of this one as
I get it finished. When done, it is a wall hanging, lap quilt or looks nice on
the back of the sofa. I came up with the idea when I was trying to think of
something useful and that went along with genealogy that I copied for my
kids for that same Christmas. When I make items for gifts, I try to have things
that are useful and could become an heirloom, maybe. :) Anyway, a lot of love,
thought and stitches went into these as each piece is hand appliqued/embroidered on.

Christmas card holder with pockets. I attended my sister's ward Relief Society when they made these.

The idea for this handout was found on one of the many links I have perused.
Thanks goes to whoever came up with it! It went perfect with my lesson in Relief
Society on 'Blessings of Scriptures' and the ladies loved them. :)