*Tromping through the Snow

"Red in the morning; sailors take warning..."  I wonder how many times in my life I've repeated that little phrase to myself.  I LOVE red mornings.  Of course, I'm not a sailor.  I may swear like one when provoked by a startling moment, but this salty dog lives too far from the sea to suit my sailor's heart.

It was with great joy I watched the storm clouds roll in yesterday.  The first few flakes fluttered past my window, and I kept thinking, "Come on, you can do better than that!"  When I went to bed, the snow was still falling.  When I woke up in the middle of the night, the snow was still falling. "That's more like it," I told the snow.  And this morning, when I woke up, the snow had settled in fat, fluffy drifts on the deck, and the only snow that swirled was swept up by the wind and settled back to the ground.

I couldn't wait to dig out my winter wear, and get outside.  The best part of this day, after it being a snow day?  My ski pants FIT!!!  This time of year arrives with a little trepidation on my part since the Year of the Too Tight Ski Pants.  Not only could I zip them up, they felt great!  Ski parka, ski socks, snow boots.  I was ready!  No makeup, no fussing with hair, I just pulled on my ear warmers and let the frigid temps take care of the blush.

Marley seemed so excited about the prospect of going outdoors with me.  I didn't even bother to leash him, assuming he would stay close to me.  We tromped through the snow.  Nothing makes me feel like a kid like tromping.  Avoiding the trail through our woods, we tromped along the paths made by the deer, stepping over logs and pushing through the brush.  

That little Boston took off like a shot when we startled the deer. He darted off to follow them, and all I could see was a little black blur speeding through the brush.  

The breeze had died down, and the sun was rising above the ridge.  When Marley finally stopped chasing, I could see he was uncomfortable.  He wouldn't come toward me at the creek when I called, and just stood there, shifting his weight from paw to paw.  I knew I would have to return him to the house before I could take more pictures. When I finally caught up to him at the house, he was prancing nervously in front of the door.

Poor thing.  Extremes in temperature are his least favorite thing.  Too hot or too cold, and he's all about going home.  

I headed back to the woods, breathing in the wintry air. My face was cold, but my body was generating enough heat from exertion inside my ski gear.  It was perfect. As I was walking back toward the creek, I heard a commotion, and too late, saw our friend the owl swoop down out of an old juniper tree.  By the time I focused my camera lens, he had flown out of sight. I just love that big, old bird. The smile on my face wouldn't be leaving any time soon.

My gifts from winter this day included not only encountering our owl, but watching a herd of deer gracefully bound over our neighbor's fence; noticing the fairy dust on glistening snow drifts; breathing clean, fresh air, and capturing the snow in the clutches of autumn leaves.

Snow in the clutches of autumn.

Our neighbor's cabin looks like a post card.

Ready to head back out later.

Marley has almost forgiven me for dragging him out for my tromping expedition.

*Pumpkin Sweet Rolls

This. Right here. This is a Pumpkin Sweet Roll. Mmm... so good. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a sucker for pumpkin. So yesterday, when I had an abundance of bread dough sitting around, I contemplated the many possibilities for utilizing the dough. The thing I love to do with a double batch of dough is to make a variety of rolls, including sweet rolls. I don't have a separate recipe for my rolls; I make everything from the same one.

As I promised in my blog entry about Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls, today I am giving you the directions to make Pumpkin Sweet Rolls. Same recipe, just an addition for the pumpkin filling.

It occurred to me yesterday that incorporating pumpkin into a sweet roll would be awesome, and I was right. As I'm writing this, I'm realizing the PERFECT filling would have been Pumpkin Butter. My sister gave me some as a gift for THANKSMAS, but I'm so unaccustomed to having a delicacy like that in the kitchen, that wonderful thought escaped me.

So while the dough was rising, I prepared the pumpkin filling for the rolls.  

Love my mega-sized Tupperware bowl for just this sort of occasion!

The pumpkin filling was easy:  stir together one cup of pumpkin, 1/2 teaspoon each of pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon, and 1/4 c. brown sugar, and 1/4 c. stevia.  You probably noticed my ultra-cool spoon. It's a special spoon I customized myself by getting the spoon too close to a blender blade. It's great for scraping the bottom of containers now, so you might want to make one, too.

Roll the dough into a rectangle shape.  If you're like me, and one side doesn't match the other, simply use a pizza cutter to remove the offending lopsided part.  You're welcome.

Spread the pumpkin filling evenly on the rectangle of dough.

Roll up the rectangle to make a cylinder, then slice the dough into segments. My handy-dandy tip for doing this easily? Slip a longish piece of dental floss under the cylinder of dough, and cut the slices using the floss. Floss or thread keeps the shape rounder, where a knife flattens the pieces. Now, you, like me, can tell the hygienist you have been using your floss between visits to the dentist.

Arrange the rolls on an oiled cookie sheet allowing the sides to have space to rise. Let the rolls rise for 15 minutes while preheating the oven to 400 degrees.

Brush the baked rolls with a light coating of melted butter unless you're going to frost them after cooling. I like to store mine in an airtight container, and frost them after freshening them in the microwave for 10 seconds right before eating them. Perfection!  

You can frost them with cream cheese frosting or a glaze. This time, I used one of the caramel frosting flavor packets found in the baking aisle of the grocery store. I added the caramel flavor to my homemade frosting. The caramel frosting was exactly what I wanted!  

Click this link: WHOLE WHEAT DINNER ROLLS to use my roll recipe, or you can adapt your favorite recipe to make these delicious delicacies.

*Roll 'Em, Roll 'Em, Roll 'Em!!! (Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls)

WHOLE WHEAT DINNER ROLLS

(SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM FOR THE RECIPE)

Good golly, Miss Molly, we have a bunch of rolls here.  And I was seriously NOT going to make this many today. I burned up a Kitchen Aid mixer the last time I used Jamie Willes' recipe. It calls for SEVENTEEN cups of flour. Now I am not one to read an owner's manual, but APPARENTLY, one is never to put more than ten cups of flour in a Professional KitchenAid. How professional can it be, if I, who am no pro, can give it more than it can handle? Who knew?  Not I, that's for sure.

About this time last year, I wanted to make a big batch of rolls. I had a beautiful red Kitchen Aid that had worked splendidly. And then it met its match in Jamie's roll recipe. By the time I had the seventeenth cup of flour in the machine, it was grinding very slowly, and smoke began billowing out of its motor. The kitchen filled with a foul, burnt engine smell. And then the KitchenAid simply stopped. I had to knead that colossal amount of dough by hand. That was the last time I used that KitchenAid.

Now that our Thanksgiving leftovers are dwindling, and there is not a single piece of bread left, I've been craving some homemade rolls myself, but I just couldn't muster up any enthusiasm to work in the kitchen. I was enjoying my role as a sloth, sitting in my recliner, while we were watching a recording of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, when all of a sudden, who should appear on our screen, but the Pillsbury Dough Boy, a huge floating balloon. Apparently, that's all it took for motivation to wash over me, and I went directly to the kitchen to make some rolls.

Now surely I know better than to make a big batch of rolls. I know this. I grabbed Jamie's recipe, my go-to recipe for rolls, and I only looked at the first four ingredients. I have two versions of my favorite rolls recipe, one that will challenge the best of mixers, and one that is safe under any conditions. I figured I was good to go. I was wrong.  

I accidentally started on the BIG DOG recipe, the gargantuan one...the SEVENTEEN CUPPA one. Oh. My. Word. What's a girl to do?  I already had yeast rising and six eggs whipped up. So I did what any adventurous old gal would do: I went for it.

Since my beautiful red mixer was at the other house, I retrieved my ancient Bosch from the pantry. The old Bosch mixer had a heck of a time, but it survived the experience. I kept whispering, "You can do it. You can do it." You might want to try that if you're ever caught in a similar circumstance.  I don't think  it helped the Bosch, but I felt a little calmer.

While I let the dough rise under a festive tea towel, I ruminated about the possibilities of what I could make with this awe-inspiring amount of dough. Basic rolls. Sweet rolls. Croissants. 

It's still the season for pumpkin, if you ask me, so I decided to adapt my sweet rolls to include a pumpkin filling.  

Doesn't that sound AWESOME?  Trust me; it is.  Here is the recipe for Pumpkin Sweet Rolls; just click the link.

Here's how we make Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls...

Keep in mind, if you use the recipe posted here, you will not have to rely on the biggest Tupperware bowl known to man
to hold your rising dough.  (The House of the Rising...Dough.  Sorry, that song just came into my head.)

Once the dough has risen, it's time to form the rolls.  I spray my hands with Pam or grease them with butter to make the dough easy to handle. To make round rolls, simply pinch off a handful, and keep smoothing the top under until you have tucked the edges underneath to form a ball.

To make CROISSANTS, or CRESCENTS, pull off a large section of dough, and in your buttered hands, form a large ball. Smooth some butter on the clean (do I need to say this?) counter, and then using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a circle. 

Roll the triangles starting with the wide end, and ending with the point.  Tuck the point under, and curve the roll when placing on the pan.

Okay, mine are always gigantic, about which NO ONE complains. If you like dainty crescents, flatten the dough more, and make your triangles skinnier.

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls 

(adapted from Jamie Willes' Recipe)

This is HALF of her recipe, which is what I recommend you do unless you have a COMMERCIAL mixer, and if you have one of those, let me know so I can feel absolute jealousy.

Mix the following ingredients together and let sit for 10-15 minutes while the yeast begins to rise.

2 1/2 c. warm water
2 T. yeast
2 T. sugar
1/2 c. stevia

Mix the following in separate bowl and add to the first bowl after the yeast has risen:

1/4 c. potato flakes 
3 beaten eggs
1/2 c. oil
1 T. salt.

Combine first two bowls, and stir.  Then add in 6-7 cups of flour.  I like to use 3 1/2 cups of whole wheat with 3 1/2 cups of Better for Bread flour.   

Knead for 5 minutes. (A Kitchenaid or Bosch will do the work for you, but you can certainly do it by hand, if you have the strength, energy and inclination.) Add a small amount of flour to make the texture not too sticky. (HINT: having the dough a little on the sticky side usually lends itself to having the lightest, fluffiest rolls EVER.)

Let rise in oiled, covered bowl 1 hour.  Cut/shape the dough into rolls.  Let rise 15 minutes while oven preheats to 400 degrees.

Bake 10-12 minutes, depending on your oven, until the rolls are golden brown. Brush tops with melted butter.

The folks in my family tend to have the same reaction to these rolls every time: their eyes roll back in their heads, and they moan gently as they eat these. So yes, the effort is worth it. I dare you to try them. They are THE BOMB!  : )

Click the link for the PUMPKIN SWEET ROLL RECIPE.

Remember this on particularly bad days...

And then there are moments that become days that become weeks, and we wonder how we will ever get back to the goodness that is our life. We just go through the motions, and try to enjoy the small blessings that tide us over until positive energy finally returns, and brings us back to that coveted place we felt was missing that was really there all along. 

At one time in my life, after a particularly long dry spell, I felt like a reset button had finally been pushed, and I was able to enjoy my life fully again. Sometimes we just have to hang on a little longer, have more faith, and trust in something bigger than ourselves to overcome the mental adversity that besets us. Long-term stress is rarely eternal; it just feels that way at the time.

Take comfort in the fact that nothing lasts forever; sadly, not the good stuff, but especially not the bad stuff either. The rough patches we go through help us the good times that are sure to come, if we'll just be patient.  

Chin up, friends!

*Learning about Bliss from the Littles

Reflecting on life's most blissful moments, I find that my moments range from serenely peaceful to joyful happiness to raucous hilarity.  Those times when I am caught up in laughter that has tears streaming down cheeks, tummy muscles taut from producing laughs, and smiles that make cheeks ache with joy are when I feel the most free.   I am happy to say I have participated in blissful moments recently.  I had not considered how essential these moments are to my happiness until meditating today. I am grateful that my life allows me to seek out these moments, and fully enjoy them. 

Dover's coloring books for adults, Amazon has them!

What brings you bliss?  Maybe it's been awhile since you have experienced it.  Are your crochet hooks and yarn up on a forgotten shelf?  How long has it been since you've painted a picture or even used a coloring book?  Do you ever look longingly at the bottles of bubbles or packages of jacks and marbles at the stores?  When was the last time you went outdoors to do something other than a chore?  Has your guitar or piano just been gathering dust?

For me, I enjoy being creative with my writing and photography. Spending time in the kitchen trying a new recipe, if I'm not making too big of a mess, can provide an outlet for my creativity. Getting lost in the moment can be as simple as listening to music that inspires, whether that inspiration leads to personal reflection, or an impromptu dance session.  Sometimes I color in my coloring books, thinking only of the next color I will use, allowing the activity to subdue my thoughts so that I am free to enjoy just being.

Making connections with others is one of my greatest sources of joy, whether it is in person or online. If I notice someone is down, sending a small package, card, or message will surely lift their mood, and makes me feel better, too.  As a retired teacher, one thing I miss is the positive energy of children.  Every once in awhile, I get my kid fix by visiting my former students by dropping in at the middle school.  All of those hugs have me floating for days.

Joelle and her oldest

Having taught for thirty years, every single work day I was surrounded by the creativity and energy of children.  Kids have a knack for making things fun, whether they're breaking into song, telling a new joke, getting creative with art supplies, or figuring out a new way to do things.  

My children are all young adults, so it was with great interest that I watched my little sister's younger children over the holidays. Joelle's family lives on a farm, and they are used to entertaining themselves.  They are not foreigners to make-believe, and they are not glued to electronics the way some youngsters are. They have access to horses, fresh air, and the great outdoors.  Each of them seem to be able to entertain themselves, and enjoy doing things together, too. 

We exchange Christmas gifts on Thanksgiving afternoon, and we send wish lists to each other of little things we would enjoy. I always love to see what Joelle's children request.  They seem to love boxes to organize their prized possessions, art supplies, sheet music, flashlights and headlamps, camping accessories, games, books, and toys.  They would rather have something with which to play than a gift card.  I have found them to be very gracious and sincerely thankful for the gifts they've received.  

When Joelle's family arrived, Kiana had her arms full of markers, papers, and a bundle of papers in progress. She was thrilled when I escorted her to my office and set her up at the desk.  She was totally absorbed in her Thanksgiving project, very carefully coloring and cutting out each piece of her turkey. Kiana is a second grader who loves fairies, princesses, Barbies, and all things pink. She loves to play dress up, and on Thanksmas, made do with two long gauzy ribbons of red and green that had adorned her presents.  The ribbons served as her long tresses, and belts, and impromptu interpretive dance props.  Next year, I'm giving her a whole spool of ribbon!

Kalvin takes his outdoor explorations seriously, and was gone for long periods of time.  Later in the day, he invited us to visit his fort he had constructed.  He had laboriously assembled sticks and limbs into a lean-to of sorts, and had organized an area with a fallen tree into his own fantasy world with a special entrance, seating area, and protection from the elements. 

Kody had received the gift of a book, and even with all of the chatter and laughter going on around him, he was totally absorbed in reading The Sands of Nezza. 

Our older kids, Bridger and Erika, escaped the noise of the house, and took their guitars on the porch, sharing their thoughts in between sharing their music. 

Later that night, we played a board game together.  Although Kiana was younger than the suggested ages for "The Last Word", she wanted to be included.  She laughed good-naturedly when she got confused, or her answers weren't acceptable. All of the kids were good sports as they learned the new game. 

My observations taught me that what looks like simple play to us, is very serious business to little ones.  They stay in touch with their childlike qualities by working at it.   Being happy and finding joy can come from many sources, but making a conscientious effort at cultivating bliss will assure us of finding it.

Staying in touch with our inner child can lighten our burdens, and break up our day-to-day responsibilities with moments of peace and joy.  For me, taking pictures and writing tap into my inner child, and give me an outlet for my creativity.  These are some of the things that bring me joy. Maybe you will rediscover something you used to do, or find something you would like to try.  I hope today you will take a few moments to entertain the child of your heart.

Finding My Bliss with My Inner Child

Capturing the moon and stars has been a photographic challenge I've enjoyed this last year.

Bokeh was a new technique for me last Christmas...
and playing with editing software keeps my brain a little sharper.
A little.

Quiet moments in the hot tub can be soothing to the soul, and the body.

Being surrounded by people who love me leaves me overcome with joy.

Silly socks make me think outside of the box.

Learning to ski makes me feel childlike, experiencing pure joy as I glide down the slopes.

There is something special about a slot canyon that evokes reverence, and happiness in me.

Being outside with my Boston Terrier, whether we're hiking in the canyon or along the city canal makes me smile.

Cooking for loved ones who appreciate my efforts brings me joy.  These piggy pancakes were for my girl during her visit.

Snuggling with our Boston is a quiet bliss I enjoy daily.

Hiking makes me happier; it always does.

What will you do today to bring joy into your life?  Find your inner child, and follow your bliss...