Random Phone Photos for Friday . . .

I thought it might be fun to show you some random photos from my phone, and how life is at my house, not always glamorous.  Sometimes, I'm not even sure what's on my phone, because when I'm not looking, someone, and I won't mention any names, takes my phone and takes pictures...it's all good.

I took this one on my way to the chiropractor's office the other day - it was a frosty cold morning, with the fog nestled down in the hills.

My sweet little, Cole Dog . . . he's getting old.

A random sunset photo . . . love my sunsets!

This is one someone else took...my son, Chris and his son, Brody,  looking at something...that was obviously not very interesting!

Another photo that I didn't take . . . I would have had Taylor smile, she's so beautiful... ;0) 

Every 2nd Sunday of the month,  I have all my kids over for dinner...it looks like it must have been a little boring!  Maybe we were all too full to smile.  I made Cafe Rio salads, they were so good!  But, it looks like I need to figure out a way to liven up the day, we did play a game, that was fun, and I think we even got a few smiles, just no pictures of smiles!

Many, many years ago I bought a cookbook from, Avon.  It was a small book with recipes from around the world.  This recipe for, French Quarter Bean Soup is delicious.  I was sending my daughter the recipe, so it was on my phone. 

It's a rainy, nasty, cold, drippy day today.  Many of the schools in our area were closed due to freezing rain and bad road conditions.  We are suppose to get snow on Sunday, so, it's a typical January in Idaho!

Stepped out the door right before supper and this was the sunset, not too impressive, but still pretty.

Be safe, and have a great week-end!

Hugs and Love,
Barb

Cinnamon Roll Recipe...As Promised!

As promised...these are my go-to cinnamon rolls when I am in a hurry.  They are so easy to make and taste like you spent all day making them!  This photo is right after I shaped them and put them in to raise...they will double in size!

I remember writing this recipe on this card almost 40 years ago from my mom's recipe box!  You can see I use it a lot, and it's very hard to read...so I will write it out for you!

Easy Cinnamon Rolls

Bring to a boil:  1 can evaporated milk (15 oz. size) and 1/2 cup regular milk.  

Remove from heat and add:  4 T. shortening, 6 T. sugar, 1/4 t. soda and 2 t. salt.  Stir well and cool to lukewarm.  

Then add:  2 large unbeaten eggs and 3 T. yeast that have been softened in 1/2 cup warm water.  

Mix altogether with a spoon and add 6 cups of flour or enough to make a sticky dough.  Turn onto a well floured board and lightly knead a few times to bring it all together (dough should be kind of sticky, not gooey).  Let the dough sit while you grease two large tins (I use large cookie sheets) and melt 1/2 stick of butter. 

Roll dough out into a square, no thinner than 1/2 inch thick IMPORTANT!  Spread with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar (you can use brown) then sprinkle with cinnamon, to your liking.  Fold the bottom half up over the top half, so that the filling is in the middle.  Cut strips about 3/4 of an inch wide.  As you pick them up, kind of stretch them a little and tie them in a knot as you place them on the cookie sheet (you can see how I did that in the photo).  Let them raise until fully double, about 1/2 hour.  Bake at 400 degrees until light brown, 10-12 minutes.  Frost while still hot or warm.  This recipe should make two cookie sheets full!

 

Sounds a little complicated, but once you make it, you will realize that it's a super easy recipe and really fast!

Have a wonderful week-end and be safe!!

Hugs and Love,

Barb

My Daybook...

 Today . . . January 5, 2019

Looking out my window . . . Well, right now it's dark, the only light is the porch light and the reflection of it on the snow. When the skies are blue here in Idaho...in January, you know that it's very cold!  I'll be glad when it warms up a little.  I love winter, I love the change of seasons, but I don't do very good without being in the sunshine, and it's just too cold to spend too much time in it!  I take plenty of vitamin D3, but probably need to invest in a sun lamp.

What am I thinking . . . I'm thinking that I need to refresh some of the colors in my home.  My daughter gave me paint for Christmas...and the promise of help to put it on my bedroom walls... :0)  I loved her unique gift!   It's hard to buy gifts for parents and I so appreciated her willingness to help.  I lean toward warm colors, I love to feel cozy in my space, and I don't really care about what it popular and what is not, I like what I like.  There are some things I need to update, simply because my things are old, but really, I usually always color outside the lines, and don't fall for trends.  What do you think about keeping up with the trendy colors of today? 

I'm thankful for . . . I know this will sound harsh, but I am thankful to have the holidays over with,  I think that I may be the original, Scrooge.  I'm always ready for January, for a new beginning, a new year.  January always makes me want to deep clean my house from top to bottom, and reorganize all those things that are so out of place.  My creative juices start to flow in January, and I'm ready to create...something!  I'll let you know what that is when I do it!  I'm not really one for new year resolutions, but I really love that January is a time to make good positive changes, that will last through the year, and hopefully become habit.

Something I love . . . I love sitting with my sweetheart watching a movie or just resting.  I think we were all taking a nap - you can see my feet, my husbands feet and Cole's little toes peeking out from under my recliner, his favorite place to take a nap.  I think this was the day after Christmas, and we were all exhausted.  I think it's so funny that I hate shoes, and Bob never takes his boots off until time for bed!

I'm wearing . . . Jeans, a light denim shirt and fuzzy warm socks...I'm almost ready to put on my PJ's and my robe!

Creativity . . .  I have so many projects that I need to work on!  I bought new fabric a few months ago to make some cute curtains for my kitchen...it's still in the bag, I need to work on that.  When my sisters and I were cleaning out my mother's things, we found boxes and boxes of fabric.  We thought it would be a fun thing to make quilts for our children with them.  She had also saved the dresses that she wore for each of our weddings...I loved that.  We thought we could incorporated them in the quilts as well.  It will be a time consuming project, but one that our kids will hopefully cherish. 

I'm reading . . .  I'm not reading anything right now...but I would love to find a good book to lose myself in each night, any suggestions?

What am I listening to . . .  I love to listen to music, especially when I am at the computer.  Right now I'm listening to, Michael McDonald's rendition of "Hallelujah"...love his voice!  I'm kind of a jazzy, soul kind of girl.

I am hoping . . . Last month was a month of doctor appointments, blood tests and prescriptions.  I'm hoping that I finally have some health issues under control.  Only time will tell, but, so far so good!

What's cooking . . .  My children like to celebrate Christmas Eve at my house.  So this Christmas Eve, we had ham with all the trimmings.  For dessert I made cinnamon rolls, a favorite at our house!  These are so easy and gooey and delicious!  I took this photo as I put them in the warm oven to raise!  I'll post the recipe on my next post...They are super easy and so good!

Just sayin' . . .

I love this quote...so many good things to love about all the people I have lost in my life.   I think it's good to try to be the best you can be...everyday. 

Until next time...be safe!

Hugs and Love,

Barb