So EASY To Style My Hair and with STYLE!

This is how I wore my hair today and yesterday.

It was so easy to put up.  The Flexi clip and U-Pins did not gouge my head in the least.  My hair didn’t feel heavy at all.  The best part was this stayed in firmly all day long both days!

I am wearing a coiled bun and used the X-Large  Enchanting Copper Rose Flexi with the Copper Rose U-Pins for accents.

I gathered my hair into a ponytail and then twisted it all tight.  The twisted hair I coiled into a bun, tucking the ends underneath it all.  The flexi-pin I placed on top of the bun.  I then slid the pin underneath the bun and into the other end of the clip.  The U-pins I placed with the “u” shape in the opposite angel from my head.  I inserted the u-pin ends into the edge of the bun, then tipped up the u-pin so the bend angle was now in alignment with my head shape and slid it in and under the bun, repeating with the second u-pin.  The U-pins don’t hold the bun but are for accents.

My hair is waste length, of a medium thickness, curly and cut with layers.  You can see a photo of my hair here.

If you are interested in news of my own personal specials, and hairstyle ideas or if you are interested in receiving my Lilla Rose newsletter (that’s where I send you news on company sales and new items), it’s all on my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/LillaRoseAuntMaes

If you are interested in my newsletter, but don’t facebook, just email me and request my newsletter.  I would be happy to add you!

Blessings, ~Aunt Mae (aka ~Mrs. R)

Other posts of interest:

The Fireworks Have Arrived!

Faberge and New Hair Sticks

Three New Flexi Clips

A Whole New Look and I’m A Lilla Rose Consultant

This post linked here: The Better Mom, What joy is Mine, Raising Arrows, Finding Heaven, Homestead Revival, Far Above Rubies, Time Warp Wife, Growing Home, A Pause on the Path, Thankful Homemaker, Raising Homemakers, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, We Are THAT Family, Deep Roots at Home, A Mother’s Heritage, Women Living Well, DIY Showoff, Intentional Me, Our Simple Country Life, Jill’s Home Remedies, At the Picket Fence, Best Post of the Week, Serenity Now, Comfy in the Kitchen, Finding Beauty,

Millet Chia Bread & Variations

It’s the first Wednesday of the month and you know what that means don’t you?  It’s Ratio Rally time again!!

This month’s Ratio Rally host is Karen of Cooking Gluten Free.

If you jump over there you can check out all the other bread offerings for this month’s rally.  I will also have all the links at the bottom of this post.

When I started eating gluten-free, I first bought most of my gluten-free baked goods at the store.  One taste of one particular gluten-free bread and I decided I would rather NOT eat bread than that… stuff.  Ugh.

Muffins and brownies were successful pretty much right off the bat.  I didn’t buy many of the gluten-free mixes as they are far too expensive!

Then I discovered Rudi’s bread at Costco.  Yes, my Costco carried it as a test… but it didn’t last.  Not enough folks buying it to warrant Costco freezer space.  Sigh.

After some months something changed.  I don’t know if Rudi’s changed their formula or if it was a change to my taste buds but all the Rudi’s breads now had an off fish-y taste.  ARHG!

I dabbled a bit with making homemade bread, but was meeting with limited success.

In comes Udi’s bread.  So far they taste fine, but… it is the ingredients I object to.  The corn is not listed as non-GMO, they use organic canola oil but it is not good for you,  there is corn syrup in the mold inhibitor, yadda, yadda, yadda.  Then there is the $5 price tag for a miniscule loaf of bread.  The loaf isn’t even a whole pound in weight!

They did have an interesting ‘new’ bread though.  Millet Chia Bread, and it boasts a much nicer nutrient profile than the very starchy ‘white’ breads.

Still can’t get past the non-GMO corn thing though.

So I decided that a Millet Chia Bread would be an excellent thing to recreate for the Ratio Rally!  I have had a hankering for some bread with texture, tooth, fiber even.

My first loaf I used too much flax-seed meal.  I guess I really shouldn’t have made a Flax Chia Bread.  Ick.  Bread texture was fantastic though not “toothy”, the taste (other than too much flax-seed which I am not fond of) was really good.  It had a beautiful rise & “real bread” holes too!  This bread was moist and stayed that way for at least a week left out on the counter.

Yes, you did read that correctly… left out on the counter!

This bread also toasted very nicely too!!

Yes that is a real pat of butter melting on that slice of toasted gluten/dairy free bread.  Due to some healing (which will be another post) I am having much less “digestive problems” when I eat dairy!  I promise I will get to that post soon.  Subscribe to my feed so you won’t miss it.

My next loaf I tried using a bit less of the guar gum and… WOW!  Great taste, great rise, better nutrient profile, great toast-ability, easy!

Then there is the Pumpernickel variety that just came out of the oven.  I have had a request from the Patriarch for some Pumpernickel bread.  Since today is our 25th Wedding Anniversary I thought this would be an excellent bread for today’s Ratio Rally.

Sourdough and Pumpernickel breads are really the only ones I still miss.  This rally didn’t offer enough the time to play with a sourdough like I want to try, but I think I have hit on Pumpernickel almost-heaven!  Not with the “tooth” I would like but the taste is terrific!  Even the non-gluten free Patriarch said the taste was great.

My ratio?  Um…

Ruhlman’s bread ratio is 5 parts flour 3 parts water plus yeast and salt.  I think my ratio is close to that with the addition of eggs.

Millet Chia Bread

recipes developed by Aunt Mae of Honey From Flinty Rocks, all rights reserved

makes one  1 – 1/2 pound loaf

Weigh out in the bowl of a stand mixer:

1 ounce quinoa flakes

1 ounce Montina supplement (purchase & nutritional info at end of post)

½ ounce inulin (I buy mine at Walgreens)

1 ounce milled chia seeds (I bought mine from Azure Standard)

1 ounce whole millet

4 ½ ounces brown rice flour

3 ounces sweet rice flour

½ – 1 tsp guar gum

In heat safe measuring cup, weigh out:

4 ounce filtered water, heat to 100 degrees.

Add:

1 TBSP evaporated cane juice

1 TBSP yeast.

Mix well and allow to proof until foamy. About 5 – 10 minutes.

While that is proofing, mix liquids together:

5 ounces filtered water or milk

2 – 3 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil (use more oil if not using milk)

2 tsp raw apple cider vinegar

2 – 4 TBSP honey

2 large eggs

Pour the liquids and the proofed yeast mix into the mixing bowl.

Mix completely on low.  Beat on high for 3 minutes.

Clean off beaters and remove.

Cover bowl with a clean tea towel and let sit for 45 minutes.

Reinstall beaters and beat on high for 3 minutes.

Pour & scrape batter into a greased 4 ½ x 8 ½ glass bread pan.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cover with tea towel, set in draft free place and let rise for 30 minutes.  Bake for 10 minutes.

Cover with foil to prevent over-browning and bake for an additional 35 – 45 minutes.  It should be firm to the touch when pressed… you’ll “see” what I mean when you take it out of the oven and it… ‘isn’t firm’.

Insert a thermometer into the bread, it should read 200 degrees.

Let cool in pan for 15 minutes.

Remove from pan and allow to cool on cooling racks completely before slicing.

Store in a plastic bag on the counter. Will last at least a week.  On.  The.  Counter!

Pumpernickel Bread Variation

makes one  2 pound loaf

In the flour mix add:

2 TBSP unsweetened cocoa

zest of one large navel organic orange (1 TBSP?)

2 tsp caraway seed

1 tsp minced dried onion

½ tsp dill weed

In the liquid mixture, replace the honey with molasses.

When you grease your bread pan, “flour” the pan with organic corn meal and sprinkle the top of the batter with corn meal before baking.

What is “Montina” Pure Baking Supplement you ask??  It is a baking supplement that adds fiber and protein.  In a “serving size” (3.5 ounces.2/3 cup) contain 24g insoluble fiber and 17g protein with NO fishy taste!  In a search to help Montana farmers and find an alternative to wheat and barley they rediscovered the Native American Indian ricegrass plant.  I’m loving this stuff!  I did not use a whole serving size in one loaf of bread, so my bread’s fiber & protein profile will not be as high, but will be higher than a standard rice flour bread.  Inulin is a fiber supplement.

In the course of learning to bake good gluten & dairy free bread I have learned a few things.

1) Gluten free bread will never be “big”.  The size bread pan I have stated above is just about the largest one you can use with success.  You can go longer, but not wider.

2) When a recipe is developed and the bread is baked using a specific pan, you will NOT get the same results if you use a pan made of different construction or size.  If you have steel, ceramic, cast iron or aluminum pans you will have to experiment with baking times.  But that still does not guarantee the same results…

3) Beating on high seems to ‘change’ the batter.  It becomes ribbon-y or rope-y, for lack of a better descriptive.  I tried to capture “it” in photos.  It seems to me that it develops “cohesion” of some kind.  Like gluten would develop if we were using gluten.

4) There really isn’t an “all purpose” gluten free bread.  If you want a sandwich bread, that will be quite different from a toast-able bread.  Gluten free sandwich bread, when toasted, is… well… quite  d-r-y [cough].  Toast-able bread doesn’t make good sandwiches as it is moist-ish.  So… these recipes are for toast-able bread!  😉

Blessings, ~Aunt Mae (aka ~Mrs. R)

Other gluten & dairy free posts that may be of interest to you:

Cinnamon Rolls

Breakfast Mix

Lemon Lavender Muffins

Almond Fig Scones

Classic “Cream” Scones – gluten & dairy free

Williamsburg Orange Cake

Rice Flour Muffins

Rice Flour Muffin Variations

The Bread Ratio Rally Links:

Adina | Gluten Free Travelette  Seedy Sandwich Bread
Angela | Angela’s Kitchen  Our Family’s Basic Gluten Free Dairy Free Bread
~Aunt Mae (aka ~Mrs. R) | Honey From Flinty Rocks  Millet Chia Bread
Brooke | B & the boy!  Buckwheat-Oat Bread

Caleigh | Gluten Freek Quinoa Naan
Charissa | Zest Bakery  Cherry Pecan Pot Bread, Gluten Free 
Claire | This Gluten-Free Life  German Vollkornbrot (Seeded Bread)
Erin | The Sensitive Epicure English Sandwich Bread (gluten-free & egg-free)  
Jenn | Jenn Cuisine  Gluten Free Boule
Jonathan | The Canary Files Gluten-Free, Vegan Mediterranean Soda Bread
Karen | Cooking Gluten Free!  Gluten Free Sandwich Bread/Gluten Free Naan
Meaghan | The Wicked Good Vegan  Vegan Gluten-Free Bread
Meg | Gluten-Free Boulangerie  Ciabatta (gluten-free, egg-free/vegan)
Monika | Chew on This!  amaranth skillet flatbreads, amaranth mini pita rounds
Morri | Meals with Morri No Knead Sun-dried Tomato & Basil Flatbread (yeast free/grain free)
Pete & Kelli | No Gluten, No Problem  Gluten-Free Challah
Rachel / The Crispy Cook  Gluten Free Chickpea Sandwich Bread
TR | No One Likes Crumbley Cookies  Gluten Free White Bread
Tara | A Baking Life  Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread & Boule

This post also linked here: The Better Mom, What Joy is Mine,  Raising Arrows, Finding Heaven, Homestead Revival, Far Above Rubies, Time Warp Wife, Growing Home, A Pause on the Path, Thankful Homemaker, Raising Homemakers, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, We are THAT Family, Deep Roots at Home, A Mother’s Heritage, Women Living Well, Intentional Me, Raising Mighty Arrows, Our Simple Country Life, At the Picket Fence, Best Post of the Week, Serenity Now, Comfy in the Kitchen, Finding Beauty,

Aunt Mae’s Wild Kingdom with Mallard Ducks!

In our preparedness efforts I have considered possibly keeping ducks.  Due to our HOA rules we cannot keep livestock, chickens… or fowl.  Sigh.  I wish I had been preparedness minded when we were looking to buy a home!  THIS would not be it, as I am so severely limited in what I can raise to provide for my family.  Eggs are such nutritional powerhouses!!  And duck eggs are bigger than chicken eggs… but that isn’t an option here.  I have eaten duck eggs… and they tasted just like a rich chicken egg… no off flavor at all!

Today Arrow & I walked up to the post office to mail a soap order.  When we had returned and before we got into the house we heard a ‘ruckus’ in the ditch.

Lo and behold there were two drakes chasing a female Mallard along the ditch area.  Every once in a while one pair would stop running.

After this happened a few times, Arrow asked me what they were doing.

This question was followed by silence from me.

We watched these antics for a few more moments when he asked me if they were mating.  Yes they are.

One male finally drove the other off and the remaining pair stayed on in our yard!  We were so excited!!  Arrow got some duck treats and I got my camera.

Here they are down near the road and one of the three tiny blue spruce trees Arrow planted for me a few weeks ago.

I walked down to the road and got this picture.  In the foreground is one of the rock towers Arrow built for me.

Arrow also got his camera and took some of his own photos!  They came very close to him as he sat in the grass.

Here they are by the hydrangea bush Arrow recently transplanted.  For those new to this blog, this is THE bush that tripped me and made me break my arm in July 2010.  You can read about that adventure starting here.

The Patriarch thought they must have liked our yard since it was recently cut and would be good access to all those bugs!  Or that they are mallard-justed.

They flew off, probably to the lake.

Arrow named the drake… Mallard Fillmore.

A few hours later they had returned!  Oh joy!!  So we got a container to give them some water.

A pretty duck is like a mallard-y.  😉

Then they flew away again.  Arrow busied himself making a surround for a larger ‘water feature’ and a small shelter for the happy couple.  He placed the water containers into holes left over from our tree removal and front yard ‘flattening’ last year.  I guess I will have to fill them with dirt and plant grass seed one day soon.  It blessed my heart to see Arrow take the initiative in caring for these beautiful creations of the Lord.

Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,

but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

Proverbs 12:10

Of all things this pair returned to our yard a third time!  I didn’t get any photos since I was cooking dinner.  I did see them through the garden window.  Ducks are smart birds.  They went to exactly the same spot where the first ‘watering hole’ was!!  Each duck got into the hole and lay there for a brief period.  Arrow went outside to show them where the new water was, which they liked since it is a bit larger.  He then showed them their shelter.  Mrs. Mallard checked it out and they both flew off.

We are hoping for regular return visits!

Blessings, ~Aunt Mae (aka ~Mrs. R)

Other Musings You May Enjoy:

Broken Arm Blessings – The Break

A Spring Walk in the Park

Lemon Lavender Muffins – Gluten & Dairy Free

Spring Has Sprung

This post also linked here: The Better Mom, What Joy Is Mine, Raising Arrows, Homestead Revival, Far Above Rubies, Time Warp Wife, Growing Home, Thankful Homemaker, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Builds Her Home, We Are THAT Family, Deep Roots at Home, A Mother’s Heritage, Women Living Well,

My Titanic Era Outfit

Woman selling Irish lace on the Titanic

April 15, 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.  We purchased the only accurate Titanic DVD, recommended by Vision Forum, which we watched last week.  The DVD, A Night to Remember, is was based on the novel by the same name and is put out by the Criterion Collection.

The other night the Patriarch & I watched the extras on disk two.  Very, very good!  I highly recommend this.  There were two different interviews of Titanic survivors, a behind the scenes of how it was made along with some background information and much more!  The only caution from disk two… the global warming junk-science & the 15,000 years ago mantra in the feature on icebergs.

Here is a link to some never before seen photos.

The Titanic’s musicians

In some of the early articles it said “Lead, Kindly Light” was one of the hymns played by the musicians while the ship sank.  This is not a hymn I was familiar with.  I love the words!  The tune can be found at the link through the hymn title.  I had heard that they played Nearer My God to Thee, and David Craig sang that hymn at the Titanic 100 event.

Lead, Kindly Light

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’ encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile, which I
Have loved long since, and lost awhile!

Meantime, along the narrow rugged path, Thyself hast trod,
Lead, Savior, lead me home in childlike faith, home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.

steward & stewardess, surviving crew of the Titanic

As I have looked at various Titanic pictures it struck me that I made a Titanic era outfit!  It is my “Aunt Mae” persona clothing and I thought you might enjoy seeing what I made.  I used mostly what was already in my closet, making a few changes by adding  period-looking embellishments.

Here is my jacket with photos of the decorative details.  The jacket was purchased about 7 years ago and only worn a few times.  The decorative trim was originally along only one edge of the lapel and center front, has three-quarter sleeves and four buttons and button holes.  The original design was to wear this jacket buttoned up.  If you look at the surviving stewardess in the photo above, you will see her jacket collar is very similar to my jacket’s stand-up collar!

I searched for matching trim to add to the other lapel and bottom edges and attached it with my sewing machine.  The frog closure was sewn on by hand,  buttons removed and the button holes hand-sewn closed.  Black velvet ribbon was attached on top of the existing belt and a decorative button added.  The only thing left to do is to add black velvet cuffs for a bit more authentic look.

My shirt is one I have had in my closet for many years.  It is a light cream with a covered-button placket, embroidered with tiny purple violets and green leaves.

shirt front and lace cuff

Lace was attached to the cuffs so that is hangs below the jacket sleeves.  This is actually lace with a second decorative trim sewn on top of where the lace attached.  All sewn on by hand.

cuff lace detail

IN “those” days, a woman past childbearing age would wear black as a symbol of her infertility or when she was in mourning.  I used what was already in my closet, and didn’t intend to make a mourning outfit and my whole outfit cannot be considered mourning as my hat is NOT black!  This was a hat I also had in my closet for a several years.   A few alterations later and an embellishment or two added… well maybe more than two things!  😀

partial top view

The brim trim is a lace scarf out of my closet.  I cannot even remember when I acquired it and I never wore it.  I love scarves, but hadn’t worn this one.  All the flowers and feathers I purchased from the fabric store and were wired on and some are hot glued in place.

rear view

I could not find a hat pin that was A) long enough or B) in my price range.  Mostly the former.  My favorite hardware store, McLendon’s, to the rescue!  I bought a small package of piano wire and Arrow filed one end to a point… of sorts anyway!  I then bent one end of the wire to hold a decorative button to match the jacket-belt button.  It was too thin and not secure enough but worked until I could find the “hat pin of my dreams”!  🙂  The “hat pin of my dreams” I purchased through Ebay.  These things could also be used as a weapon in an extreme emergency… it is 14 inches long, has a thick, sturdy shaft and is VERY pointy.

Caledonian Railway Button Hatpin

Aunt Mae & her soaps!

The Titanic’s soap label

Over at Jennie Chancey’s blog (http://sensibility.com/blog/reproducing-1912-fashions-remember-titanic/) and at the end of the article you will find a link to download a free eBook containing all the images in this special feature, plus an array of extra goodies that will help you gain an excellent picture of the time period. You can print these for your own personal use, and feel free to pass the link around to others. The eBook is free until the end of April!

If you look at page 22 of the free e-book, you will see pictures of blouses.  My collar isn’t too far off!!  I didn’t have time for complete authenticity in my wardrobe, just a ‘sense of the times’.  In my portrait I wore a lace collar that I pinned the jabot to.  But the jabot wouldn’t be worn at home… so I am working on an apron.

Oh my skirt?  Um, … well… it isn’t even close to being right.  It only goes down to the mid calf.  I guess after the apron, a Beatrix Potter skirt is on my to-do list!

To tie the Titanic disaster to today…

Blessings, ~Aunt Mae (aka ~Mrs. R)

Other posts you that may interest you:

Mother’s Day 2012  Soap Special!

Something I Made

A Farewell Phone Call

Disclaimer: Some links in this post are affiliate links.  I do receive compensation if you buy through them.  This is one way I am able to contribute a bit to our family resources.  All comments and opinions are my own.

This post also linked here:

2012 WA GOP Caucus – Pierce County

UPDATED BELOW!!

Lest anyone in the “mainstream” media tries to tell you that there was a small turnout for the Washington state precinct caucuses this morning…

I personally took the above photo while standing in line with The Patriarch and Arrow.  My photo was taken about 10 – 15 minutes BEFORE 10 AM when it was all supposed to start.  At that moment in time there was a LONGER line behind us than in front of us!!  No, I did not photograph that.  Should have though!

There was so much going on inside, and so little time to get it all done in that I took no photos of the caucus proceedings.  Well that was really only part of the reason… there was standing room only and VERY LITTLE room to have taken any photos!

What a great problem to have today!!

The precinct caucus ‘planners/workers’ thought 500 would show up… and I believe there were OVER 1000 here at this one caucus this morning.

At my particular district’s table we had 22 registered voters show up!

I will say it here for the first time…

we supported Ron Paul.

May the Good Lord go before us!  God save our country.

Blessings, ~Mrs. R (aka Aunt Mae)

UPDATE: My area’s caucus in Pierce county was a ‘pooled’ caucus.  There were AT LEAST twice as many show up as expected.  EVERYONE got in to vote.  NO ONE was turned away.  We had to keep on track but we did get through ALL the voting for delegates AND the platform questions.  Our table was one of the largest and we finished up right at noon.  Clean up commenced right after wards with chairs stacked, tables folded, all put back into storage room and I even had Arrow go around and pick up any papers on the floor.  🙂  Clean up was completed and we were out the door in half an hour.  There were still a few stragglers, but they were mostly standing around and talking at that point.

One thing I noticed was at my table there were few Ron Paul supporters.  Many at other tables, but not mine.  One family did come from my district and all 4 of them volunteered as delegates… they were for Romney.  Ron Paul supporters did have a great table set up with literature.  Many at our table were wearing support buttons or stickers.

There were few, very few supporters for Newt Gringrich.  Kind of equally split between Mitt, Ron & Rick.  Just my general impression of my caucus today!

Feb 2012 – Photo A Day – #15 Phone

Day 15 – Phone

Yes this phone actually does work!

Yes, I do know how to “dial” a phone!

Go HERE to see all my Feb 2012 Photo A Day Pics & challenge details!

Blessings, ~Mrs. R (aka Aunt Mae)

Feb 2012 – Photo A Day – #14 Heart

Day 14 – Heart

I was surprised by how many different places heart shapes were  in my home.  If you had asked me yesterday I would have said… ‘none’!  lol

This is a pair of arm rest covers on a couch in the living room!

Tea light holder in the master bedroom.

The pewter piece is a paperweight I made in Jr High school, the purple ones are button covers, the gold one is a pin and the red one represents “my” heart that I gave to the Patriarch after a long time of martial turmoil. You can read a bit about that here.

This is a sweatshirt I made for Valentine’s Day in the late 80’s or early 90’s.  It took  f-o-r-e-v-e-r  to sew on all those buttons!!

You may also enjoy reading about a few of the things I have done on Valentine’s Day for the Patriarch here.

This year I am cooking up a special dinner for us all; pot roast, mashed potatoes, peas, salad, and a special gluten free pink lemonade pound cake.  That will be a separate post!  🙂

Go HERE to see all my Feb 2012 Photo A Day Pics & challenge details!

Blessings, ~Mrs. R (aka Aunt Mae)

Feb 2012 – Photo A Day – #13 Blue

Day 13 – Blue

13 - Blue Jean Jacket belt detail

Go HERE to see all my Feb 2012 Photo A Day Pics & challenge details!

Blessings, ~Mrs. R (aka Aunt Mae)

Feb 2012 – Photo A Day – #12 Inside Your Closet

Day 12 – Inside Your Closet

What can be said about a photo of a closet…?

😉

Go HERE to see all my Feb 2012 Photo A Day Pics & challenge details!

Blessings, ~Mrs. R (aka Aunt Mae)

Feb 2012 – Photo A Day – #11 Makes You Happy

Day 11 – Makes You Happy

It makes me happy to create soap that people love to use!

Go HERE to see all my Feb 2012 Photo A Day Pics & challenge details!

Blessings, ~Mrs. R (aka Aunt Mae)