What's in my area?

This year hubby and I thought it would be a good idea to visit a few places close to home. We always hop in the car ,ride for about 2 hours, struggle to find a wonderful place that we have read about , and sometimes get there a little too late to enjoy it. Ask my children............sometimes Hubby would say "Who wants to go for a ride?" And they would run for the hills. Children have left the nest now,but, hubby still likes to get in that car and ride.......First on our places to visit wasFuller Gardens This is a turn of the century garden created by  a loving husband for his dear wife Olivia.

 It's a little more formal then I would have in my backyard but, still so much that we ooh'd and aah'd about. Hubby feel in love with this tree. He could see himself sitting in an Adirondack chair and taking a little siesta

Turns our it was a magnolia tree.Now he's on the lookout at our local nurseries in hopes of finding the perfect one.

 Every bush was a different rose. I had never seen so many in one place.

 Some had already passed there bloom but, many were picture perfect.

All were marked with their names.Something I should do in my garden. Seems I can't remember from year to year what I planted.Have more to show you. ...........maybe tomorrow............said the hobbit

Getting back in the saddle.

Ok ..........I know I've been MIA and I hope to get back to normal. I have no serious excuse for my behavior. It just seems that I've been too busy to get back in the groove of blogging . First my computer was misbehaving, then it was time to garden and just as I got started we had a few nights of freezing temp. unlike the 90+ that we are experiencing now..My Google Reader is no more so I have switched toa new reader Unfortunately I keep calling it freely because it has no fee and it takes me about 30 minutes to find the blogs that I am currrently following.It's not them it's my extreme dislike of change.

Well things seem to be sailing a bit more smoothly now so hopefully the new schedule that I have made for myself will feel a bit more natural.Still adjusting to having three cats,a part time tenant and a great grand baby coming soon. OK now that I have used every excuse in the book I promise to make an effort to get back in the groove and stop my daydreamimg. Keep your fingers crossed for me. 

Bad habits are hard to break..........said the hobbit

From the pantry ..........Cinnamon Raisin and Applesauce Bread.

I keep trying to get back to this blog but, 2013 is busy, full of changes, and crazy weather patterns that are turning my world like a top.Could I possibly have too much I my plate? That is something I will NEVER admit to. So having all this spare time on my hands I decided to try a few new breads. I got this one from a blog call NEVER HOMEMAKER Always on the lookout for something a little more healthy and natural this bread seemed to have it all.

One reason for giving this bread a try was the ingredient flax seed. When I worked at "the barn" we had quite a few customers that were extremely knowledgeable in nutrients  and flax seed was touted as the best protection to guard against several cancers.Click HERE if you would like a little more info.Most important when using flax is to crush with a mortar and pestle and soak for at least 15 min before using in any recipe.It seems the shell is so tough that it will pass through your system before you could get any benefits so do the best you can to break as many of those shells as possible.



Kosher salt and Extra Virgin Olive Oil  also known as EVOO in this house is a good thing so being in this bread was a plus. White and wheat flour ? I'm hearing crunchy granola in my head. Can I take all this good stuff.

Raisins and cinnamon and homemade applesauce with NO extra sugar added..........how healthy is that? I have to say .......I take my hat off to all you homemakers out there who are able to keep up with bread making as a regular chore in their daily lives. The bread was tasty ,looked great, and was enjoyed by all. 

However I just can't seem to find the time to do bread on a regular basis. Fortunately this recipe made 2 loaves so.......hiding one in the freezer will give the impression that I made it again. SHHHH. This will be our secret ..............said the hobbit

RECIPE FOR CINNAMON RAISIN AND APPLESAUCE BREAD

 2 1/4 TEASPOON ACTIVE DRY YEAST
1/2 CUP WARM WATER
1 1/2 CUPS APPLESAUCE
3 CUPS WHITE FLOUR
3 CUPS WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR
1/2 CUP OLIVE OIL
2 TBLS FLAX GROUND AND SOAKED IN 1/2 CUP HOT WATER
2 TEASPOONS COARSE SALT
1 CUP OF RAISINS
 2 TEASPOONS CINNAMON.

Soak the flax..........then make the applesauce using 4 apples peeled and cored and simmered in an inch of water. Should take about 10 to 20 minutes.
In bowl of your mixer combine the yeast and warm water.allow to get frothy.
Mix cooled applesauce into yeast all to sit 4 to 5 min.
Add the sifted flours, salt, flax with water,EVOO, mix till combined and pulls away from the side of the bowl
Turn onto a flour board and shape into a rectangle. MAKE  2 RECTANGLES if you want 2 loaves.Sprinkle   with the cinnamon and raisins and keep folding till combined. Place in loaves cover and allow to rise 2 hours.
Bake at 410 degrees 30 to 35 minutes or till golden brown.Cool before slicing.

It's bittyful Friday...............or is it?

Life was so perfect..........just me and my space. Doing my thing when and where I wanted and then......

 I came into my living room and what did I see?
Someone was sitting in my window and sleeping on my rug.

Meet Hobbs ............she came to live here with her mummy ...........Sarah, and she's not alone. She has a sister Cassie who happens to be a little shy. We're still waiting for her to come down and sit in the window with us..............not happening yet. Hobbs looks pretty mean but, I think I've got her number.........I hope.

BITTY ON SUNDAY

COMPUTER IS MISBEHAVING SO WE ARE HAVING TO SPEND THE WEEKEND LOOKING OUT OUR WINDOW DOING THE BEST WE CAN.