Sunday, December 23, 2012

What Are You Doing Today?

So far, today has been a very productive, very relaxing day.  The Husband and I spent a good part of our morning in the kitchen baking.  All of our friends and family have enough 'stuff'.  We really like making gift bags full of homemade goodies to give as gifts instead. 

Baking was sort of a tag-team thing.  He decided what to bake, read the recipe and added the ingredients to the mixer, and I did anything that needed extra preparation ... like grating lemon zest, and stuff like that.  Two of the things we made were based on a new recipe from Pinterest, Lemon Blueberry Bread, and it was a winner.  (Click HERE for the recipe.)

Here it is as small loaves of Lemon Cranberry Bread.  (using dried cranberries in the mix, instead of blueberries)

 
 
Next, we made it with blueberries that we picked and froze last summer, but baked it as muffins.
 
 
 
I finished up the muffins while watching football ... Redskins vs. Eagles.  (Redskins won ... Wooo Hooo!!)
 
As the last of the muffins were baking, I cut a roast into cubes and it's simmering on the stove.  I think I will make beef stew out of it for dinner.
 
 
 
At least one of the cats is around whenever there's something interesting to see.  Here is Alice watching me cook.  She's not really supposed to be on the counter like this, but it's the high counter, away from any of the cooking ... and she's not hurting anything, so I let her stay.
 
 
 
The rolls of ribbon in front of Alice represent the last Christmas thing left to do ... wrapping presents.  I plan to do that while we watch the next football game ... the Giants and Ravens ... go Ravens!
 
In between all of this, I have been working through the steps and scheming a paint treatment for the vanity we are using in a mini remodel of our master bathroom.  (Put on a coat of paint, ... do something else while it's drying ... another coat of paint ... bake something ... a bit of wet distressing ... more baking ... a quick coat of wax ... ooohhh, pretty.)  I'm calling this finish 'black cherry', and it's been a lot of fun to create.  After the first of the year, when The Husband has time to give me a hand with the plumbing part of the job, I hope to get started.
 
This is my test drawer front.  The photo doesn't look nearly as cool as this does in real life.
 

 
It's your turn ... what has your day been like?
 

8 comments:

  1. My day has been all about surviving a large gathering tomorrow night. If I make it through that... it SHOULD be smooth sailing. I'm ready to relax and have the stressing over. I've almost made it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey, Connie. Typical southern Sunday here. We started with breakfast at the Cove enjoying an outgoing tide and a gorgeous sky streaked with pink. Walked the docks, greeted friends ... BIL came by with four plump grapefruit from his tree. Spent some phone time with my daughter and wrote and addressed new years cards. Just sat down for wine-thirty with a glass of chardonnay before starting dinner. Your bread loaves are making my mouth water. Great gift idea. Alice looks fine just where she. She is lovely in that photo.

    Whiplash, as usual, from your blog. Black cherry sounds good enough to eat too. I like it and will look forward to the finish photos.

    Merry Christmas, Connie.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Crazy Day! Watched Tiger while the parents moved some more stuff. Had lunch with daughter and Grandson, napped and drove home. I have to pick up my other daughter at 6am at the airport and go over to the new house. I'll be with both my girls this Christmas!
    hugs, Linda

    ReplyDelete
  4. A good day for me as I'm finished with all the prep for Christmas. So, the next 2 days are mine. I hope you get all your delicious packages done, and you have a *´¨)¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤A Very Merry Christmas!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey there, all of your baking looks delicious! We love lemon blueberry bread, it's so good! And I love the paint treatment for your vanity...I'm sure it looks even prettier in person! I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and hopefully we can get together early in the new year!

    Kat

    ReplyDelete
  6. I got up at 4:30 am and just got home about an two hours ago. I got a lot done...looks like you did, too. I really love the test drawer! xoDiana

    ReplyDelete
  7. THat test drawer front looks better than awesome, love it!!

    Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy 2013 to you and yours, Connie - xo

    ReplyDelete
  8. My "Christmas Eve Eve" was spent going to church, watching White Christmas and Christmas Vacation, and successfully wrapping presents without feline assistance. Yay!

    Merry Christmas to you and your family!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and reading what I share. Comments are welcome and very much appreciated. Spam and trolls are not!

Related Posts with Thumbnails