Dad's Dutch Oven French Bread

I am sitting here with my mouth full of hot, crunchy, french bread, butter dripping down my wrist—oh so good—and feeling guilty you can't all have some. So, I am giving in and sharing the recipe (thanks Dad). You will die when you find out how easy it is and die again when you taste it with real salted butter. *crunch crunch, smack, smack.* (Best if dough is prepared the night before and cooked the next day.)

In a bowl add:
3 cups flour
1/2 to 1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 tsp yeast

1. Stir ingredients together. Do not knead, do not mix. Dough will be ropey.
2. Cover with saran wrap, let sit for up to 20 hours.
3. Take out of bowl, add more flour (I add about 1/4 cup). Make into ball, put back into bowl to rise 'till double in size.
4. Turn into an un-greased dutch oven.
5. Bake in 400° oven for 30 minutes with lid on, 15 minutes lid off (this is what gives you that delicious crunchy crust.)
6. Crunchiest and best when served fresh with real salted butter.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you all have a good one. Valentine's reminds us of ALL those we hold dear and appreciate. We love you and are glad that we know you!


Last night we had a little gathering at our place where we played a couple of games and wrote a couple of cards and had a lot of conversation. Everything was splendid (poor little Leilani took a spill and hurt her face) but she's still beautiful! Dennis even made it from the airport only to leave again the next day. Thanks for coming everyone! I forgot to take photos of family during the festivities but if you'd like to see general details and photos CLICK HERE.

Opinion?

Is it weird to read my explanations and captions above the photos? It makes sense to me—but then again, I do a lot of things backward. . . .

Canton, Yay!

Remember the HUGE flea market I posted about several months ago? Well, we went again yesterday with Adam's parents, Larissa and Jamie. We saw so many things—here is a look at a few that impressed me this time.

Below: Camera. That thing must have weighed a ton!

Below: Bins and bins and bins of vintage tablecloths,
fabrics, aprons, quilt tops etc.

Below: A lot of stain glass I've seen around here reminds me of Frank Lloyd Wright. . .
which I don't have a particular affinity toward, but some of these pieces hit the spot, and I thought were gorgeous.

Mom, make quilt blocks that looks like these!

Below: My favorite—Bonsai trees. I was so busy drooling, photographing, and speaking with the owner that I didn't notice how reasonable the prices were. I got home and looked at my photographs and saw the price tags . . . I would have purchased one! I hope this seller is there next time. Did you know you can start a Bonsai tree with ANY tree plant? It's all in how you train it.

Below: Adam's Mom and Dad looking at more
milk glass while Leilani sleeps on.

Below: Adam and Leilani (at 15 mos.),
quite the little trooper.