Daybook 14

Outside my window- A beautiful sunshine-y day.

I am thinking about- The sad state of my fingernails. Once summer/garden/kitchen work is here, I can't seem to keep them clean. Right now, they're stained rather purplish from strawberries...

From the kitchen- I'm making yogurt, bread, and strawberry fruit leather today.

I am creating- Does cooking count? ;)

I am reading- 'The Mating Season' by P.G. Wodehouse.

I am hearing- Nail guns. Dad and my brothers are re-shingling our roof.

I am hoping- To do some harp practicing today- I accepted a gig for August 15, this morning.

I am planning- To finish my bread, and pick strawberries with my sisters-in-law, later this afternoon.

I am wearing- Jeans and a blue shirt with white flowers on it. And my new apron.

My hair is- In a twist-y sort of bun. :)

Around the house- Literally? Ladders. And shingles.

 I am wishing- That the strawberries would cull/freeze/dehydrate/turn into jam by themselves. Oh well, it gives me lots of time to listen to audio books. :)

Book Quote

Beards always seemed to her rather sinister. Why would anyone wear one, unless he had something to hide? 

~Half Magic

   by Edward Eager

My sentiments exactly. 

;)

Strawberry Pizza

We have a lot of strawberries this year. Yesterday we picked 7-8 ice cream buckets full. One way we've found to use them up- and still enjoy eating them fresh (without getting sick of them), is this recipe.
Actually, it's two different recipes that I modified and stuck together. :)

Crust:

1 1/2 c. flour

1 1/2 sticks butter

1/2 c. powdered sugar

Mix into dough.

Press into pizza pan, and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes, cool.

Cream Layer:

8oz. cream cheese, softened

7oz. can sweetened condensed milk

2 T lemon juice

(It's a 14oz.can in the picture, but I only used half the can.)

 Mix well and spread on cooled crust.

Pile as many sliced strawberries on the pizza as you can fit. :)

Glaze:

2 T cornstarch

1 c. squashed strawberries

 1/2 c. sugar
(I used sucanat.)

Mix ingredients together then heat to boiling until mixture thickens. Spread over strawberries.

Chill, serve, and enjoy. 

Photo Shoot

Yesterday morning I got the itch to take artistic photos.

Mollie was my first victim,-er- model, I mean. ;)

Lilia's turn. :)

Doesn't aqua look so beautiful with her strawberry blond hair? *sigh*

Lilia, wearing the dress I made in 5th grade for Bible School.

It was a medieval theme that year, in case you couldn't tell. :)

Daybook 13

Outside my window- Swimsuits drying in the sun on the deck railing.

I am thinking about- The 'High Fashion' photo shoot Mollie and I did this morning. We got some fun pictures. :)

From the kitchen- Yesterday we culled and froze around 7 ice cream buckets full of strawberries. *whew* And we still have more strawberries in the fridge for eating fresh...

I am reading- Nothing lately...

I am hearing- The 'Prince Caspian' soundtrack.

I am hoping- That the rest of the summer won't disappear as fast as the last couple months... Ha! 

I am planning- To take more pictures this afternoon- and convince Lilia to model for me too. :D

I am wearing- A brown skirt, pink shirt, and spiral-y earrings.

My hair is- Curled, and partly up. With a pink hair flower on one side. :) 

Around the house- Clean dishes waiting for me to put them away. :/

 I am wishing- To be a better photographer....

 

Daybook 12

Outside my window- Finally, a sunny day.

I am thinking about- Fourth of July weekend plans... :D

From the kitchen- Granola is in the oven.

I am creating- Nothing today, but yesterday I drew all afternoon. :)

I am reading- Finished 'The Hunger Games' yesterday. Could. Not. Put. It. Down.

I am hearing- The wind, blowing through the trees.

I am hoping- For warm weather this weekend, so we can go swimming without freezing.

I am planning- To weed in the garden this afternoon. And pick the first strawberries of the year. :)

I am wearing- My beautiful gardening clothes. ;)

My hair is- In a bun.

Around the house- We got two lambs on Monday, and two pigs last week. The sheep are kinda noisy.

 I am wishing- That the next two 'Hunger Games' books were in my hands...instead of me being the the 10th hold for them at the library. :(

The Last Son

 You must understand

 He does the duty of two sons now. 

  For himself; and for the One 

 Who will not return.

You'd think I've been watching Lord of the Rings this week or something. :)