Successful Day !

Not any warmer this afternoon © RJA

Update from this mornings post. Had a lovely day crafting & baking.
1. Homemade Butter made
2. Artisan Bread (to rise over night and bake tomorrow in the cast iron dutch oven
3. Loaves of what my husband calls "Toaster Bread"
4. Packaged and labelled items for Farmer's Market in May
5. Worked on cross stitch finger towel

"Whew" now time for a coffee. Lovinggggg retirement, time to do the things I haven't had time to enjoy in the past. Only one downside so far ......not seeing as much of my grown children and their wives, as I would like.They live 5 hours away and are very busy with their lives, careers, college and working hard. Love U All if you see this ! Not used to the empty nest yet.

BUTTER MAKING
So easy, don't know why I have never done this before. Basically whip - whipping cream till buttermilk separates, then wash to get a buttermilk out.....DONE. I found a great video that goes thru the process if you want to make your own. Check it out   www.alittleinsanity.com  then search for butter making or

https://youtu.be/jmin9PBXP_g

Erica does a great job with her demonstration. Thanks Erica will never buy butter again. Here are the stills from my kitchen.

Ready to make Butter © RJA

Ready to start       Pint of whipping cream, Kitchen Aid Mixer, Ice cold water to wash butter.

Whipping Cream © RJA

Buttermilk has separated and was pored off © RJA

IT'S BUTTER © RJA

Wrapped butter in plastic wrap to form it for mold © RJA

Butter out of mold © RJA

The butter in the mold seems to still need some kinks worked out, but for a first attempt, I am very happy with the end product. Have had this butter mold for years sitting in my china cabinet. My new collectible passion has been fed. Searching antique malls soon !

Hand Knit cloth's packaged and ready for Market. © RJA

Lilac Cross Stitch finger towel in progress © RJA

Got a little crafting done as well, in between letting bread rise and putting in oven. Check back tomorrow for "Bread Show and tell". Have a great evening.

Farmer's Market Time

Spring in East TN © RJA

Beautiful and sunny, but cold morning in East Tennessee....still talking frost in the weather forecast, but thoughts are on Spring planting and Farmer's Markets.(Sorry about the selfie.) LOL Life happens.

Have dabbled with a craft business, for a number of years, but have never really got serious about it, so "2016" is the year. Other things that have been on my calendar and taking up a lot of my time have been put to "bed" so to speak so:

"AUNT NESSEE'S ATTIC:

will be

  "OPEN FOR BUSINESS" 

  officially May 19, 2016 at the

    Marble Spring's Farmer Market

3-6 PM

I know you may not all be in East Tennessee, but if you visit the Smoky Mountains this summer take a side trip to Marble Springs State Historic Site, and learn about the first Governor of Tennessee, John Sevier. http://www.marblesprings.net/ If it happens to be a Thursday, come in the afternoon and pick up some fresh produce, handmade crafts or a vintage treasure for a friend. While in Knox County, a short drive will take you to the Ramsey House, where another famous Tennessean and his family lived from 1779-1820, Colonel Francis Ramsey.http://www.ramseyhouse.org/ If you like outdoor activities we have those as well. http://www.outdoorknoxville.com  One of my favorite haunts, to nature watch or find unusual activities, to fill an afternoon is ijams.org  
Lot's of beautiful State Parks to visit or camp as well. Today is bread baking day so I need to get to work. Hope you will let me know if these trip ideas were helpful !