DIY Miniature Conservatory

Designed by Randolph Scott Keller and constructed by Jennie Hammill, this miniature conservatory incorporates 43 recycled glass windows and doors.

This is wonderful, isn't it? Found on Pinterest.

Walk-Out Window to Porch

Wow. I love this idea. Why have I never seen this before? This is so much better than French doors. DO WANT!!! I love the porch railing too. LOVE. via

Storybook Cottage

I love the stonework around the windows and at the corners.

Best Laundry Room (Closet)

Isn't this great? I love the old office door on the barn door track so much in this setting. There are so many clever people out there, aren't there? via

Scallion Pancakes from Trader Joe's

These are really and truly the best things I have ever tasted. There are 4 in a package for $3.99(?). The scallion pancakes are flash frozen so they don't stick together. I cook them one at a time in a small iron skillet with a very small amount of Avocado Oil in the bottom of the pan. I buy the organic oil at Costco because it is safe at high heat temperatures up to 500°. I don't make a dipping sauce, but I spread a little Bragg's Liquid Aminos on top. It is a natural soy sauce alternative with no wheat. I use it as an all purpose seasoning on almost everything and it really pumps up the flavor. It has 16 amino acids too. I wish I had the spray bottle, beause that would be perfect. Okay now, getting back to the pancakes. I keep flipping them until they are nice and crispy and when they are ready I fold two of those select-a-size paper towels in half and sandwich my pancake inside and put something heavy on top to squeeze out the excess oil.

I recently went to an Asian Fusion Restaurant in town with a friend and we ordered a variety of delicious items to share. When she invited me, she mentioned scallion pancakes and I was anxious to try them. WELL, was I ever disappointed. At $5.00 each, they didn't even come close to Trader Joe's. They aren't paying me to advertise them either. 

I found a recipe for making them at home on Pinterest that I want to try very soon. I will use the vegetables listed on the Trader Joe's wrapper instead of the ones listed in this recipe.

Have a great weekend. I hope I didn't bore you this morning. xo

Must Plant some Nasturtium Seeds

Because they make me happy. via

A Real Laundry Room

This looks like a real laundry room and I like it.

Fabulous Small Dining Room

I absolutely love this room. What a beautiful place to gather round for an intimate meal with good friends.

via

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 78

Father to son advice.

New Loaf of Life Changing Bread

I baked another loaf of my magic bread yesterday and had a warm slice for dessert slathered with sundried fig spread, a gift from my friend Stacey. I haven't given you an update lately and I just wanted you to know I'm still eating and enjoying it. I don't eat much of it as sliced bread though. I usually crumble a slice or two into whatever I'm having for lunch and eat it that way, with a fork. I had it yesterday crumbled and stirred into homemade tuna salad. I must buy some romaine so I can have this mixture in a "wrap". I love it crumbled and stirred into a serving of my homemade hummus too. I wrapped this new loaf in freezer paper and then slipped it in a plastic bag for storing in the fridge. I didn't have any old bread wrappers since I haven't had any commercial bread since I started making this "bread" full of oats, seeds, and nuts. I didn't have quite enough hazelnuts after I chopped the ones I had so I finished out the 1/2 cup with sesame seeds. I want to try this bread with raw peanuts next time or walnuts. It's very satisfying and keeps me on track with my new way of eating healthy and keeps me from snacking. See my last post with the recipe and notes. 

Wonderful Staircase

Don't you love the railings? So unusual. I've never seen this treatment and I like it. via

Great Boat Model

I'm not a sailor but I love a good boat model and this is a great one. Love the chair and pillow and throw too. Actually I like everything in this photo, including the view. via

First Crocus This Year

I could hardly believe my eyes today when I spotted my first crocus in full bloom. I am thrilled! Maybe it really is spring. Winter is starting to be a faint memory too, so I guess it's finally the season of new beginnings.

Nice Property Near Me

This green barn building is part of an estate with outbuildings. The happy white building is a garage. Its twin is in the next photo.

Do you see the happy faces? The large stone main house is behind. This is a corner lot and I didn't photograph it because I had to turn in the opposite direction. I photograph it for you another day.

The people kept the landmark old red barn for their horses.

Here's a closer view showing the stone foundation and the stone walls.

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 76

More sage advice from a father to a son. 

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 75

More sage advice from a father to a son. 

Snowdrops On Ice

I was shocked when I saw these snowdrops near my front door today when Webster and I went out in the rain. I honestly didn't see them yesterday when I was transplanting on the other side of the walk. They are actually coming up through thin slushy ice. I guess they just couldn't wait any longer. I usually get them in February and it's almost April. WOW!

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 74

I love the last one. I would go an extra step and make it a first edition.

Beautiful Yellow Barn

Lately I've featured green barns and red barns. I've never seen a yellow one, have you?

It's lovely, isn't it? It would be cheerful to look at on the dreariest of days. I am supposed to have three straight days of on and off again rain but I have sun this morning. Happy Friday. xo via

Life Changing Bread with Changes

UPDATE: My nut and seed bread is out of the oven and has cooled. I was curious to see how much it weighed and it was a hefty 2 pounds. 

My second batch of Life Changing Bread is in the oven. The photo above is uncooked.

Here is the recipe again with my own changes.

The Life-Changing Loaf of Bread

Makes 1 loaf
Ingredients:
1 cup sunflower seeds / 135g
1/2 cup flax seeds / 90g

1/2 cup hazelnuts or almonds / 65g -- I used hazelnuts in my first batch and almonds in the second.

1-1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats / 145g
2 Tbsp. chia seeds

4 Tbsp. psyllium seed husks (3 Tbsp. if using psyllium husk powder)

1 tsp. fine grain sea salt (add 1/2 tsp. if using coarse salt)
1 Tbsp. maple syrup (for sugar-free diets, use a pinch of stevia)

3 Tbsp. melted coconut oil or ghee (I used coconut oil and melted it slowly in the microwave ten seconds at a time in a glass container...the extra I poured back into the jar.)

1-1/2 cups water / 350ml

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients, stirring well. Whisk maple syrup, oil and water together in a measuring cup. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix very well until everything is completely soaked and dough becomes very thick (if the dough is too thick to stir, add one or two teaspoons of water until the dough is manageable). I didn't need to add any extra water. Line a metal loaf pan with parchment paper and spoon the "dough" packing it down gradually with the back of a metal spatula. Smooth out the top with the back of a spoon or spatula and make sure it's packed down solid. Let sit out on the counter for at least 2 hours, or all day or overnight. I put my loaf pan in a bread wrapper and left it out all night. To ensure the dough is ready, it should retain its shape even when you pull the sides of the parchment away from it it. I didn't have to do that....mine was packed down rock solid. This loaf is very heavy.

2. Preheat oven to 350°F / 175°C.

3. Place loaf pan in the oven on the middle rack, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove bread from loaf pan, place it upside down directly on the rack and bake for another 30-40 minutes. Bread is done when it sounds hollow when tapped. Let cool completely before slicing (difficult, but important).

4. Store bread in a tightly sealed container for up to five days. Freezes well too – slice before freezing for quick and easy toast!

My first loaf lasted for 9 days. I stored it in the refrigerator in a used bread wrapper. I cut my slices very thinly using a serrated bread knife. I "toasted" my slices in a panini press. You can also "toast it" on top of the stove in a cast iron frying pan.

After the first 20 minutes of baking, I do the second step this way so there won't be seeds falling to the bottom of my oven. I invert the loaf onto a cooling rack and put it in on a pan instead of putting the loaf directly on my oven rack. 

It is really quite magical in that it has kept me from getting hungry at all. I am normally a "grazer" who opens the refrigerator every time I pass by to see what I can munch on. That bad habit has stopped completely since I ate my first two slices a week ago on Thursday. I have oatmeal and a piece of fruit every morning for breakfast. Two slices of Life Changing Bread with my homemade hummus and avocado for lunch, and a normal healthy dinner. I made Brunswick Stew yesterday and that's what I'll be having tonight and every other night until it's gone. I know you aren't supposed to eat the same thing every day but I always do when I make a big batch of something. Here's to being healthy inside and out, one day at a time. Enjoy your Sunday. xo