"dirt bag" mattresses

We left mattresses on the mountain.  Which means that we do not have any mattresses for one bed and for camping.  

I found some organic cotton batting online for futons and there was a nice sale on clearance at Joann's.  Which means I am making "dirt bag" mattresses.  "Dirt bag" comes from 180 Degrees South.  It means you go do what you want to do after earning enough to pay for it.  That is sometimes how our camping has been lately, especially after we go the new old suburban.  Actually, that has been how all our camping has been.  Even when we have Small Mister with us.  

I keep thinking the next travel trailer we buy I will actually build.  But we have been enjoying camping out of the back of the suburban a lot.  We will see.

a bit of stitching finished

I finished putting together the quilt top for Baby Nacho this morning.  And the batting came!  I decided to buy a whole bolt instead of little bits.  I do make quilts.

I have come to realize that even when I have laid out the quilt, I really do not know what it will truly look like until it is stitched.  And even then, it takes the binding on it for me to decide if I like it or not.  There has only been one quilt that I have really not liked but then I picked none of the fabrics for it so that is not surprising.

I might get the back finished this weekend.  I might now.  I am trying to spend some time in the garden and at the computer.  Time always goes by so fast.

cream cheese laced cinnamon rolls

My trusted assistant and I decided we needed more cinnamon in our lives.  Or maybe I am the trusted assistant?  I had come across a cinnamon roll recipe from Always with Butter  that looked interesting to me.  I decided to give it a try, with my normal adjustments and help.  Small Mister is loving helping lately and even needs his own apron.

These cinnamon rolls are well worth the effort by the way.  It may just be the cream cheese frosting and cinnamon but they are nice and light and full of flavor.

cream cheese laced cinnamon rolls

Note:  adapated from Always with Butter

sourdough starter

1 cup flour 

3/4 cup water

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup sugar

4 eggs

1 tablespoon salt

7 tablespoons butter

5 plus cups flour

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons cinnamon

1/4 cup powdered sugar

The night before, mix the starter, 1 cup flour and 3/4 cup water together in a large bowl.  Cover and let become bubbly. The next day, remove a couple tablespoons of starter and put in the refrigerator for next time.

To the starter add the milk, sugar, eggs, salt, and 3 tablespoons butter.  Mix well.  Add 5 cups flour.  Mix slowly.  The dough will be very soft and that is what you wish.  When most of the flour is incorporated, turn out onto a floured counter and knead until smooth.  You wish to add as little flour as possible.  Put back into a clean bowl. Cover and let rise until double, about 2 hours.  This is a rich dough so it may take longer.

When the dough has risen, turn out onto a floured surface.  Pat or roll until it is about 10 inches by 10 inches.  I guess.  Spread 4 ounces of cream cheese across the dough.  Fold into thirds with the edges in the center.  Fold the edges in.  Roll the dough out to 16 inches by 20 inches.

Spread 2 tablespoons of butter across the dough.  Mix the brown sugar with the cinnamon in a bowl.  Sprinkle across the buttered dough.  Roll the dough into a cylinder, starting with the 20 inch side.  Cut into eight pieces and place into a greased baking pan.  The pan I used was 9 inches by 13 inches (my lasagne pan).  Cover and let rise until double.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.  Uncover the rolls and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until golden.  

While the rolls are baking, mix the frosting.  Mix 4 ounces cream cheese, 2 tablespoons butter, and the powdered sugar together.  When the rolls have come out of the oven and are cool enough not to burn your mouth, put one on a plate and put a dollop of icing on top.

I made these large because I followed the recipe.  You could definitely make them smaller but....  

My Beloved ate two on in sitting.  The man who has been avoiding grains.  What does that tell you?

garden pruners for me!

When my Beloved was working with his teacher on learning to make blades, he bought me hand forged Japanese sewing scissors.  They have been the best.  They also make every other bladed tool I have seem like a second rate tool.

Last week, I came across a pair of Japanese hand forged garden pruners.  This was after working on the Teahouse and looking at what needed to be done in that corner of the yard.  I treated myself.  And I am so pleased!

I should really be on the computer for many hours today but it was a week of dealing with an application upgrade at work.  I do not wish to be on here long.  Instead, I ran errands, which I really did not wish to do either.  But I have all the materials now for another project, materials to try a new skill, and a way for me to get my boat around a little easier.  I also did a bit of grocery shopping and got to the libraries.  I am ready to sit and sew.  I get to empty those boxes!

And see the pretty flowers from my garden?  They were the first thing on that I used my pruners for.  And much prettier then anything I could buy.  Makes me very content.

more silk

I made another silk dress.  This is the $200 a yard fabric I got for $15 a yard.  It is not bad but I am thinking that I should have made something with a more fitted bodice and full skirt with petticoats underneath.  It is just so stiff it does not lie quite right.  I may take this apart and do just that.  I have enough fabric to do that.  

Life is throwing some interesting curves.  I am being proactive about healing injuries.  I may need to sleep more!  And one of the writers who have come through for my Beloved and his knives are starting to look at the stuff I do.  There are no expectations at all but it is interesting.  I am also waiting on supplies.  They will get here.