bread baking and supplying my pantry for the next year.

I cannot help it. I am a major hoarder. I hoard fabric, thread, yarn, useless plastic containers and food stuffs.
I actually sit down and figure out how many garbage bags I will need for the winter months. The same thing with dishwasher detergent and anything that is heavy or large. It is so hard for me to push a heavy cart across a snow filled parking lot with 30 mph winds. I had a package of batting blow out of a cart. I had to chase it across the parking lot.

I have decided to really keep a good supply of bread baking products by buying in larger sizes. I still have 4 jars of yeast in the freezer and 6 boxes of vital wheat gluten. I go through bread flour very fast so I am hardly ahead with this item.

So I ordered and have received a 32 oz. container of vital wheat gluten.
(the little boxes have only 6 oz.)
And a pound package of yeast. The first package had an expired use by date. I e-mailed the company and the next day I received a package that is good for 2 years!!!
The company I decided to use you ask??
http://shop.honeyville.com/

I cannot say enough good things about this company.
The yeast I bought:
http://media.honeyville.com/media/catalog/product/cache/2/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/a/saf-instant-yeast-sideview.jpg

The vital wheat gluten:
http://media.honeyville.com/media/catalog/product/cache/2/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/v/i/vital-wheat-gluten-can-honeyville.jpg

XOXOXOXOX Subee

My bread recipe for a bread machine

It always seems to come out a little lopsided. I even reach and and rearrange the dough and try to make cuts in the top after the 3rd rise.

here is the recipe I use:

1 1/2 c. + 2 tbl. room temp milk
2 tbl. butter cut into pieces
these two items go in the pan first
then I add:
 3 cups bread flour
1 cup wheat flour
3 tbl. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. fast rise yeast (I keep it away from the salt)
1 tbl. vital wheat gluten
1 tbl. milled flax seed

This makes a 2 pound loaf of bread.
XOXOXOX Subee

Waste Triangles are "GOLD"!

 I made two Pink Smokey Mountain Stars  quilts from Bonnie Hunter's website. It is a free pattern and a breeze to make because Bonnie has a way of breaking down steps to be totally doable no matter how large a quilt is.
I double sewed all the corners and saved these Waste Triangles.

These are my Clue#5 triangles. I used 44 different neutrals.

I kept them in stacks and will distribute them evenly in the Mystery Quilt, Roll, Roll Cotton Boll.

 I added some sashings to the "Odds & Ends" topper. I will keep this small and it will be one of the Kittie's quilt. As you can see the black/white one is still on the design wall. Hubby and I cannot agree on the borders. I respect his decisions but there are times I do NOT agree. So this quilt will have to sit and be analyzed until I decide what is needed. I do have a nice container FULL of black/white waste triangles. I can almost see them dancing around the quilt.

 Another loaf of bread was a total success! I found vital wheat gluten and milled flax seed in the baking aisle. I added these to the basic bread recipe and this loaf was so big I was afraid it would open the lid of the bread machine. And I did not even use the biggest recipe.
I made french toast with this loaf and also made garlic bread with it. The loaf is way too big for hubby and I to consume. So today I am trying a smaller loaf. But as I keep peeking into the machine the loaf does not seem to be working as great as this loaf did. I hate cooking but was beginning to feel excited about successes. These failures are depressing me!
Success with the bread! It rose high and beautiful and is the right size for us! I did the smallest loaf size and it is still quite large. I have another loaf baking. I will give one to each of my two daughters tomorrow on Christmas Eve. We lost our (mother-in-law) their Grandma a year ago this November. Iole made bread every week. Being Italian and a fantastic cook, I could never replicate her bread making. I know there will be tears when I gift these two loaves. But they will be good tears.
Merry Christmas to all of you!

Some of the triangles need to be sliver trimmed.

A process I detest and have been so spoiled when I use the Easy Angle Ruler.

Sliver Trimming is never needed.

My Virginia Star quilt and success with making bread!

 I quilted this monster on my DSM.  The pattern is by Bonnie Hunter of http://www.quiltville.com/ and is in her first book that is called Scraps and Shirtails. I used all batiks. I quilted it in three sections and then joined them. The seams hit the edges of the mattress perfectly and that makes bed making easy. I used wool batting and this quilt is warm without being too heavy!

 In between clues I have been aimlessly wanting to sew "something"!!!! I made these little units maybe 10 years ago and never joined them into a quilt top. I saved them in clean strawberry boxes. Love 'em...easy to open and easy to see what is inside. Well...took care of that in two days worth of sewing. The top is now a satisfying 36X39". just need a small border and I can call this one done!

 I really am in love with this top now. Why do we (me) I sew units and then set them aside. Poor little units are 3.5" and wanted to be sewn together so bad!

Just a little closeup photo for you!

While making the string blocks in clue#3 I generated lots of little scraps too big to throw away. They get saved in this neat plastic container next to my machine. Hubby brought this gome from the hardware store. He knows I like plastic containers! Most of my Pineapple Block's  little centers came from this container.

 I have 60 string blocks made. I planned on making 60 more but I want the second quilt from Bonnie's Mystery to use smaller units....you know a miniature maybe...so I am waiting to see more clues before I committ myself.

 I loved the process. String piecing this way really dulls your needle. And makes lots of lint.
Can you see my mega spool of thread on the machine? It is ginormous. I do not know where I bought it and would love to have more in this ecomomy size. It was probably bought on E-Bay. Sigh! I need to keep records on my thread collection too!

Messy sewing area!

 Baby in the basket and Bess next to her. They are half sisters from a feral cat colony that does not exist anymore. Their markings are the same but on opposite toes etc. And Baby is short haired and Bess is long haired. They are both the sweetest cats in the world.

 Hubby is laid off from his job and for once in my life I do not have to shovel the snow! WHOOOHOOO! Warm and cozy feelings watching him battle the elements.

 And the cats enjoyed watching Hubby shovel.
 Pictured are (from left to right) MaggieMae, Bess and Macy.

 This is the second swap I have participated in being hosted by Bingo-Bonnie on HGTV. She takes such care in her sorting and shipping back. She is not going to be swapping anylonger. SO sorry to hear that. These  4.5" units can be worked into many of Bonnie's patterns.

 Another project waiting on Clue#4 was using up the scraps from my This &That pattern. Cute little blocks to make. It does not take much fabric at all.

 This fabric is sooooooo beautiful. I still have little scraps left...Hummmmmmmm

I made 9 little blocks. I am still deciding on sash fabrics.

 I bit the bullet and Hubby and I bought ourselves a Christmas present.
A new Bread Machine by West Bend. It makes a loaf that looks like a real loaf of bread. There are two kneading paddles. But boy is it ever big (but not heavy). It takes up some valuable space on my counter. But I love it anyway!

 I turn it sideways to fill and then move it back to do it's work. It is quiet and keeps quite cool even while baking.

 The end result....a wheat/blend bread. Yummy and perfect!

 I also bought one of those acrylic bread boxes. The loaf fits perfect!

Raisin Bread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Irish Chain, failed bread and house critters

 Heaven, I'm in Heaven...to the tune by the famous dancer/singer Maurice Chevaliat (sp). I am in scrap heaven. I wore out a needle and emptied many half used bobbins.
I kept a log of the time and the name of each swapper's stack of squares I used.
(that was to avoid repeats and I do like to know how long it does take me to piece a quilt)
I now have the top done...but no picture in my camera yet. I am thinking I may make another whole set of blocks and make this quilt GIGANTIC for my own bed. It seems I have been churning out lots of lap size quilts and I do need another for my bed.

 I rotated my sewing area back to "winter" mode. The sun no longer blinds me when I sit in this position. Only problem is hubby has to back into the driveway because the sun reflection from his windshield hits me right in my left eye. I have been very light sensitive lately. Maybe it is growing older...maybe it is something else.
Anyway, here is the work area. Fun, fun, fun! And Baby on the back of the chair. She gives me back rubs when I am sitting in the chair. She also tries to kiss my neck...but I stop her...it tickles!

 Love the little baggies with their BEAUTIFUL patches. I have another swap on my Yahoo group going that is due by December 15, 2010. Then I am doing a neutral swap due in January 2011.

 This little clear napkin holder is the best for holding Bonnie's book. So I can admire her work as I work.
I do have an extra copy (autographed) of her book Adventures with Leaders & Enders if any of you are interested. E-mail me privately please.

I started another hand quilting project using Bonnie's Freehand Fan method.

 This is Stubby's spring litter female that Stubby allows in her territory. She also takes food from our hands now. But she does one trick that Stubby never did. She climbs the storm door and peeks in and I swear she knocks on the door. When I open the door with food I am afraid she will dash in. The kitties are hoping she dashes in! You can see just a tiny bit of MaggieMae's fur at the door. They sniff noses at the corner. Too funny!

 Poor Stubby. When it rains she gets so very wet. Her tail does not work like an umbrella. I worry so about her when it does get cold. Squirrels wrap their bodies with their tails to keep warm too. But we must be doing something right as she is starting her thrird winter with us!

 Before the turning of the sewing area after my return from Shipsee. Baby loves cubby holes.

 Macy says "hi". She is getting famous from her video. And I do believe that she has hubby trained!

Who could resist that belly?????

                                            
 We had a tornado warning. The sirens went off. So the kitties and I went under the dining room table and we all snacked on yogurt until the "all clear" sounded. Some areas very close to us had wind damage. I believe 10 tornadoes struck the area that day.

 My bread did not rise...it was edible but short.
I bought some fresh yeast and the next two loaves were great. Then I tried some wheat flour and was disappointed again. Anyway...it sure smells good baking.

My patch from Shipshewana retreat!

Baking Bread & Irish Chain

I am sewing away on the Scrappily Happily Irish chain from Bonnie's book "Adventures with Leaders & Enders".
I am using 1 1/2" squares from my last postage stamp swap. It is turning out GORGEOUS if I do say so myself. My blocks are 5 1/2" after sewing. And being the "control freak" I am, I have been writing down each swappers' name in my journal as I open their little bundles and add them to my sewing stack. I am NOT doing the Leaders & Enders method. This construction is all at the same time. I am using Kona Snow as my light constant. It behaves well for cutting and sewing but I think it is major "linty" while sewing. It covers my machine and my glasses. I am using Presencia thread which is practially lintless. The only blame I can see is the Kona fabric.
My camera is full of construction pictures but I am hurring to get back to the machine.
I opened up the bread machine and started a loaf of white bread to get my feet wet...my yeast was dated July 2009 as "best used by". We will see if it can lift the bread or not. It is bitter cold here and I have filled the birdfeeders and fed the squirrels. Back to the machine!!!!!!!!!
XOXOXOXOXOO Subee
P.S. I am gathering my fabrics for Bonnie's mystery. I will be using her colors as they are my colors too. I have been refilling my pink collection and it is all ready for cutting!