One Step Closer

Another post on the progress at the carriage house in Georgia!

 Starting out with a pic of the tile we chose for the bathroom, laundry closet and entry.  Love the color, hate that they messed up the layout.  Second tile from the top is not right.  Sent them a note and that should be fixed soon.  Our builders have been great so far about everything including last minute changes so can't complain too much.  Can't wait to see the tiled floors in person once they are all done.

 The wood floors have a few more steps til they are finished but I really like the color they turned out to be.  This picture is from the kitchen into the small pantry.  The cabinets should go in this week.

 Living area and doors into bathroom and bedroom.  That wall next to the doors will be where our TV will go.  I want to get a white painted buffet to go below the TV.

Here is the painted exterior, during a rain shower, as taken by our daughter.  The garage doors still need to go in and will be white.  The front door will be painted black.

Here is the dormer area in our bedroom.  Don't know what I will end up putting there but I have always wanted a house with dormers so I am excited about just having this area!  

We are getting really close to the finish line.  We will check with the builders this week to see if they have a "finish" date for us.  Then we will rent a little uhaul and move in.  Looking forward to vacationing on Lake Lanier and just getting away from the everyday life.  I can already picture us sitting on the boat dock or taking a ride in the boat while my husband fishes.  Or maybe exploring the area, stopping to shop at all the fruit and vegetable stands.  I have already mapped out the bakeries nearby including a pie shop that looks really good.  Sounds like I better put on my stretchy pants!

Diana

Carriage House Cement Work

 The cement pads were put in.  This should help with keeping that Georgian red clay from coming inside the garage. 

Baby Blanket

Maybe it is my skill level but not going to lie, this was a really difficult blanket to crochet.  

 Took FOREVER too.

 It is a gift for a little girl I recently met.  She is so sweet, I wanted to do something special for her.

It is kind of cool though.

Diana

Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have been searching a long time for the best bakery style chocolate chip cookie recipe.  I think I have finally found it.  Even hubby (who is more of a oatmeal cookie kind of guy) said these were "really good cookies".

I found the recipe here at Sugar and Soul Co.  These cookies come out soft and chewy.  They had great flavor with tons of chocolate chips in each bite.  The recipe was easy to make, had no "secret ingredient" (that you have to order from Amazon cuz your Krogers doesn't carry weird stuff) and made 12 really huge cookies.  Only 12 cookies!  I am sure you are saying that will not last long at your house!  But take my word for it, these cookies are ginormous.  I couldn't even fit them all in my large cookie jar.  12 cookies will be enough.  Seriously, I refuse to believe you will be able eat more than one. 

Recipe

• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted *Do not use soften butter!!!!  You must melt it!!!
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 additional egg yolk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Cream together melted butter and sugars in a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. 
2. Add in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk and beat until light and creamy. 
3. In a separate, medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients a little at a time, mixing between each addition. 
4. Fold in chocolate chips with a wooden spoon. 
5. Cover and chill in the fridge for 1 hour.

   
   
6. Preheat oven to 325­­°F and measure dough into 1/4 cup-sized balls (I used an ice cream scoop), place balls on an ungreased cookie sheet at least 3 inches apart  (I lined my pan with parchment paper). Bake for 15 to 17 minutes until the edges are golden brown. Let the cookies cool on the pan.

Here are some Recipe Notes that Sugar and Soul Co. shared on her site.

It is crucial that the cookie dough is chilled for at least 1 hour so that the cookies will be thick and chewy.

It's also very important that the cookies are allowed to cool on the pan for at least 15 minutes after coming out of the oven. 

***I followed the recipe very carefully.  Well almost.  I didn't have unsalted butter so I just reduced the additional salt from 1/2 to 1/4 teaspoon.  Seemed to be about right.  Cookies tasted great!!!!

Diana