The pattern is an Atkinson Designs called Slide Show and Amy picked out many of the fabrics when she was in Portland and Sisters, Oregon this summer. We love the pattern and the fabrics and it's a beautiful addition to our living room! Here is its current home:
And speaking of presents, last Christmas, thanks to CJ and Judy I asked Dan for a pressure cooker. Both CJ and Judy are always writing about things they cook in theirs and I decided I wanted one. Time for true confessions: A whole year has gone by and I've let that crazy pressure cooker buffalo (as we say here in the west) me!! Dan is elk hunting today, and I decided today was the day. I used it to cook up a mix of dried beans which I will turn into bean soup with German sausage made from last year's elk.
There it is--on my stove. I didn't blow up the house and it wasn't hard. Why do I let myself get intimidated by new things?? Honestly!! I just checked, the pressure had gone down, so I removed the lid. Mmmmm, smells sooo good! Dan will be so surprised!
And since I'm into confessions here, I must confess that Dan also got me the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day cookbook last Christmas (yes, I asked for it). And I haven't used it. But, since I've conquered the pressure cooker, I can't help but feel Artisan bread is next! I've made hundreds of loaves of regular bread, so why does this new style have me, yes, buffaloed?? It's the stone, the peel, and that tray of water. Timing. But I will prevail!!!
See the beautiful wooden peel propped against the back of my counter? Dan made it for me! On the counter is the Artisan bread cookbook and one of this year's presents, The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond. I've had lots of fun reading it since I opened it yesterday morning. Some women love jewelry, roses, and chocolate. I love cookbooks, pots and pans, and sewing machines! Bless my sweetie's heart, he knows what I love.
WOW! He made that peel? How nice! The Artisan Bread kinda intimidated me too at first but think about it like this . . it's 6 cups of flour and some water. If you ruin it (and you won't!), what have you lost? If you've mastered the pressure cooker, the bread is really simple.
ReplyDeleteHi Judy! Thanks for the encouragement on the bread. Sometimes I just don't know about myself. And thanks for the compliment on the peel. Dan's hobby is workworking and he made a lot of our furniture. I love his work.
ReplyDeleteWow wow and wow! The quilt is gorgeous! You are so lucky to have a hubby talented in the wood working area, the peel is beautifully made!
ReplyDeleteI have to confess I didn't sit down and read the Artisan Bread book, I just picked a recipe and followed the directions for it. I finally got my sister to try it, and she's been telling me all these things to do that I don't.... now I think I'm going to have to sit down and read the book! LOL Like Judy said, it's just flour and water with a bit of yeast and salt, not a whole lot to mess up, and bread is very forgiving anyway. Go for it!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
The quilt that Amy made is a beautiful and colorful addition to your living room!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that others get caught up in new things -- and new thinking -- and then somehow find the leap to practice a challenge. Well, here's to New Year's resolutions. If you can get over your "buffalos," maybe I can take heart and get over mine.
Hi Kathy--I think we're all just so human. :-) I hadn't thought of getting those "buffalos" conquered as New Year's resolutions, but it could be thought of that way. Whatever, here's to lots of new projects and fun times in 2010!
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