The Life of Mrs. Miles

Kreativ Blogger Award

I received this lovely little award from Alicia - on her blog "Confessions of a Snowflake" Doesn't her blog name just BEG you to ask? I love it! Alicia does have a wonderful explanation if you read down her blog - just click HERE.

Thanks so much for your award - I did leave you a message and tell you that most awards make it TO my blog... and often thats as far as they get. I have to be honest. I'll work on getting it forwarded ... if I can eke out a chunk of time in the next week!

This award came with these instructions, at any rate:

This award says I am supposed to

Mention the blog that gave it to me: Alicia

Comment on their blog to let them know you have posted their award

Share 6 Values that are important to you:

Faith
Friendship
Honesty
Generosity
Kindness
Compassion

Share 6 Things You do not Support

Cheating
Stealing
Pettiness

Abuse

Gossip

Human Slavery

Share the love with six other blogs wonderful blogging friends!

I NEVER listen well, so I'm awarding it to seven of my friends.

Kim B. - like her blog visitors number - I have a MILLION reasons to love Kim. Kim is one of the most generous, kind, sweet, bananas, funny, real people I've met blogging. You keep me on the edge of my seat, always. (bathroom trips are FREQUENT, you make me laugh so much!)

Kim's having a BIRTHDAY BASH over at her blog (her actual birthday is Nov. 4th, but she's celebrating early on her blog) Funny thing about being designers, somehow birthdays can end up the birthday girl GIVING gifts - so it is with Kim. She's got a KILLER deal for her products AND a Fab-O CU giveaway! Just click HERE to go acelebratin'

Judy - I love how much you've grown in your digi scrapping. You are so creative with your layouts and have even begun to make some things of your own. You amaze me with your insatiable thirst to learn, even though it does not always come easy. I'm so glad we share this interest. I hope little Abi is doing well, SIL!

Valinda - What can I say - you are a CONSTANT in my life. There's not a blog post that goes by that you are not faithful to be here to say hi, encourage me, help me. You are a VERY talented lady, your designs are completely unique. I'm enjoying getting to know the REAL you - via our emails etc. Amazing we have so much to share.

Gina - Gina's been part of my blog family, like forever. We've history together - and is one of the few bloggers I've met 'for real', and if I based all my blog meetings on us, I'd rush out to meet every one of you.

Gina, you are a HUGE inspiration to me. No matter what life throws at you, you push on through. You have such a trustable down-to-earth personality, but you have a sizzle of witty dry humour. You are multi, multi, multi talented - some of your talents are coming to fruition. I'm so excited to see what the future holds for you!

Guys, if you have not been to Gina's and seen her ETSY store you are missing the best handmade Holiday shopping opportunities ever.

JanMary - You're always involved in so many neat projects and things, I can hardly keep track of you. You find and create all sorts of cool ideas and recipes. You can 'bake' things without actually... baking. You share so much great info and insight into your beautiful part of the world. You share your strengths and weakensses and you continuously challenge yourself. I often come to your blog just to be invigorated!

OMGRACIOUS - you MUST go to JanMary's blog to see the incredible photos she's taken of a place called Dark Hedges! Just click HERE. Funny thing is, I'd seen an article online on award winning photographs, and there was one taken here, which I somehow suspected was near where JanMary lives... so, I sent her an email, she said yes indeedy (with a sweet Irish accent, I'm sure) and so she went out and took some photos. Which do you like better, the colour, or b & w? I can't decide.

AmyW. - Even though we've not had a chance to visit for a LOOONGGG time, I miss you so badly. You always super-charged me. You inspire me with your drive to learn and to take the plunge to learn. You've always given me so much support and tons of ideas. Hay Chika, when are you coming back to me?

Linda - You keep me ROTFL. Your blog has my eyeballs and ears swivelling this way and that. I click on your blog and I'm assaulted on all sides. You're a feast for the eyes and ears LOL. Party at Linda's - thats what your blog says to me. And its constant. I don't know how you keep creating non-stop, you MUST burn the midnight oil.

Hmmm... guess I DID forward this award, didn't I? (that wasn't so hard!)

*****

MORE BREAD

Today I wrestle with 55 lb toms.

Yes, I sent my dear husband to the fruit stand to pick up just another 20 - figured to get that 'last batch' in. He said he just kept putting nice looking ones in the box ... es. Two boxes. 55 lb later.

They should be FULLY ripe tomorrow. His birthday. So ripe or not, they are getting turned into sauce TODAY.

And of course the bread is an ongoing saga. I've been making these AMAZING flatbreads. If you're new to my blog, you will want to scroll back a week or two and find out about this recipe for Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day. Or, type into the search-box, top left of my blog for Artisan Bread. Or... go buy the book "Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day" - TOTALLY worth every penny, and visit the OFFICIAL WEBSITE by clicking HERE. Truly, this is a killer recipe. Mix in a bucket, all at once. No kneading - ever.

Puffs up Nicely!

All I did is roll out small fist size balls of dough to about a 1/2 inch thickness. I then placed them in a teflon frying pan, heated at about medium - or just under. No oil of any kind. Just dry. Put a lid overtop, cooking for a few minutes, then check. Once it puffs up like this, and is lightly browned underneath, then FLIP!

Nicely Browned!

When you flip it over it will 'resist' because of the pockets of air trapped in the middle. Take a wide spatula and press down in different spots to flatten it down, then put the lid back on and check in a few minutes. When done, take and remove to a wire rack.

A Fresh Stack of Delicous FlatBread!

I made all these out of what was left of my batch of dough. I'd already made two sets of two flatbreads the previous days - so this recipe makes a LOT. For PENNIES.

Wow, when I think now of what they charge in the stores for even six of these, its astronomical.

Tandoori Chicken Taco

I made these Tandoori Taco's the first night (and yes, I sprouted the alfalfa sprouts myself as well) (and hay, look I used up 1 of Miles' 55 lb of tomatos, ha ha!) Yesterday I made taco's with ground beef and it was 'to die for' too.

I've got a batch of caraway seed pumpernicel dough rising now.

We're still on a diet in our house.

Ya, right.

*****

Time for a little chuckle. This is a small slideshow of my friend, Shreddie. Why Shreddie? Well its because this elusive little creatures (this is a RARE sighting of him) has been visiting my patio for this past spring and summer and has been eating away at the two chairs out there. As Mr. Miles says, its my own darn fault. I thougth he was so CUTE at first that I was leaving nuts out for him. Anyways, after only seeing evidence of his presence by bits of foam and pieces of shredded material clinging to the astroturf on the patio, I finally caught this glimpse of him on the hedge the other day...

*****

If you like to learn about other countries, customs, foods etc, I'd HIGHLY recommend another visit to Betty's blog. Betty is a former Canadian living in Paraguay, and she has been educating us on what its like living there. Seeing as she's been 'transplanted' there from here, she has a perspective of both places, thus her explanations are very helpful, interesting and easy to follow. I had asked her what a drink called Terere was. She has blogged the answer. If I've piqued your curiosity then you can find out for yourself by clicking HERE.

ps - Betty seems open to the questions you might have about where she lives! Thank you Betty!

*****

I did mention tomorrow is Mr. Miles birthday. There WILL be a 'little something' for giveaway. Stay tuned! You won't want to miss this!