Baby in a Basket

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,

Brown paper packages tied up with strings--

These are a few of my favorite things..."

but most of all I LOVE babies in laundry baskets!!!

 

The girls and I did some baking today. My mom has a good recipe for quick yeast dough that I use a lot. It doesn't take as long to rise as other doughs.

4-5 cups flour ( I use part wheat/part white)

2 TBSP sugar

1 tsp salt

1.5 TBSP yeast

2 cups warm water

2 TBSP oil

Mix together and knead until soft. Let rest 20 minutes (more or less). Shape and place in greased pan. Let rest 10-20 minutes and bake. For extra fluffiness, place a pan of water in the oven while baking.

See? It's really quick and easy. I don't know the exact time or temp it's supposed to be; I just bake it until it's done. One batch makes 15 rolls or 2 round pizzas.  It's also very good for making doughnuts!

(Now I know you're really not supposed to prune a rose bush until it's done blooming, but mine had a lot of dead growth that needed to be cut away.)

To Prune a Rose Bush

1. Gather pruning shears, gloves, and rubber boots. Call out, "C'mon, kids! Let's go outside."

2. Help kids find (and put on) their shoes.

3. Make 1-2 snips with the shears and realize Elizabeth is throwing flowers, mulch, and dirt from the flower bed into the yard.

4. Call out, "Elizabeth! You don't touch Mommy's flowers!"

5. Make a couple more snips. Realize the sun is now shining directly on the baby's legs; adjust the sun shade on his baby seat.

6. Call out, "Elizabeth! I told you to leave Mommy's flowers alone." Walk over to porch, get her toddler wagon, and show her how to pick clover and put it in her wagon. "See? Now you can be just like Mommy!"

7. Make another snip. "Elizabeth, stop! Abbey, show Elizabeth how to put grass in her wagon."

8. "Elizabeth Rose!" Think to self, "Maybe food would keep her

occupied." Walk to house, take off boots, make quick lunch for girls to eat outside, put boots back on, walk back to rose bush, adjust baby's shade, and make another snip.

9. "Elizabeth!" (more like a groan this time) "I think it's nap time. Everybody in the house." Get everybody down for their naps. Go back outside with the baby. Prepare to get some real work accomplished. Baby wakes up and wants to be fed. Tell yourself, "I think that's enough for now..."

...And that's why my "after" picture is really just my "halfway done" picture. (smile)