Tag Archives: bread

August 1, Lammas

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For some reason, I have always loved the Celtic calendar. which is also called a cross-quarter. I used to believe it was all ‘past life’ influence but now that stuff doesn’t ring true. It’s probably more kinship with the Welsh( which I have in family lineage) and Irish( perhaps on my father’s side). Anyway, it doesn’t matter, why, just that I like the cross quarters and today is Lammas. The Celtic celebration of late summer.Photo Of Sunflower

I can always feel the sift of air and light at Lammas. Perhaps just that I walk early every day and notice those things.

This would be a day to bake bread from the harvest. I also saw to make beeswax candles. I used to make my own candles but have long given that up and now just buy my beeswax candles. I do burn them nightly from fall to spring but not during the summer. The glow they give is like no other and is one of my favorite rituals.

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I just made some bread so I won’t do another loaf but I do have some buttermilk to use so I am planning on making buttermilk biscuits. Good enough.

On a sad note, our neighbor has poisoned the skunks and we have one in our yard dying a painful death. It has really upset me. I don’t want skunks under our porch either but for the most part, they are harmless and they do eat things at night.  Right now it has sprayed a last spray and is in the bushes by our water pond. I guess once we can see where it is we will pick it up(with a shovel) and go bury it. It makes me mad that he did this.

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Some lavender from our plants that I harvested. I use lavender all winter to freshen up clothes and sprinkle on rugs and then vacuum up.

 

Beautiful fall!

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Our fall has been spectacular. Such pretty colors. Yellows, reds, oranges. Our oaks are turning and we have a nice red Japanese maple in the front.
Work week ended pretty well I really enjoyed the week working alone. Of, course, lots of patrons and chit chatting.
We’re in for a big change as the article cold starts coming in. Not like the rest of the country freezing but cooler here.
I see the doctor this week. I’ll tell him I want to go back on dex, we’ll see what he says. I’m just not willing to have my numbers climb up. When revlimid stops working then I’ll deal with numbers rising.
Other than that, I don’t work tomorrow since it’s actually Veterans Day and the county offices are closed.
I’m going Togo to target and get some Christmas lights. We keep a stand of white twinkly lights in our house year round.
Since we don’t have any outside lights it gives us a glow and not overbearing.
I think we are going to try again to go up to Tahoe and cut a tree. It’s a bit of a drive just for a tree but I’d like to do it.

My son is having his wisdom teeth out in December. We just got the insurance stuff and it looks like our 20% will be close to 900. Yikes. It’s always something.
Oh well, what can you do. Our EF continues to drop and not be replenished as we use what comes in. We need to do some serious reevaluating in the next 2’years. I don’t want to move with my health as it is but I will not stress over money, or lack of money and if it means moving , then we will. Renting or buying an RV to live in full time are options. As long as we are close to a major cancer center.
Who knows, that’s still in the 2 year plan.

I made a crock pot chicken for dinner and B is getting the same but with tofu.
It’s a pesto sauce. I’ve got mashed potatoes I’m experimenting with as they were frozen.

I also made the Tassajara whole wheat bread yesterday. Quite excellent. Different from the artisan in many ways, but just as good.

I’m working on the thanksgiving menu and I’ll be looking for organic/ natural turkeys on sale.

Just keep walking project update !

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We are on day 526 of the JKWP. Everyday… I’m still only doing less than 2 miles a day of intentional walking but I do take extra steps all day. I’ve never tracked that so that could be interesting. It’s been glorious at the park. I’m all alone. No nasty dogs or people:)
Update on trees dying from bark beetle. It looks like there’s one one going. Geez, I think that’s 5 or 6 and my husband thinks the huge sugar pine might be infected too. We will just have to wait and see how many are going in the end. If they move closer to the house we’ll need to do something sooner than later.

I didn’t feel great last night. This seems to happen occasionally. I get home from work, I’m fine and then either a headache or stomach upset. Not sure what that is. I feel ok this am, but my stomach still feels a little off.

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Here’s my latest bread effort. I’m using the recipe from Tartine bakery in SF.
It came out great and I bought a scale to measure the flour!

Tuesday work and the week ahead!

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I’m at the library alone this week as my co worker is at Disneyland. It’s nice to do shifts alone. Thursday the other person will fill in but I’ll do Friday and Saturday too. There’s always stuff to do, transit, book drop, etc. but it’s nice to go at an easy pace. Today is the longer day and it’s somewhat tiring and I get a little nervous about GI issues. I have some immodium to take when I get there. I have a light salad for lunch. I try not to eat too much there because of the GI stuff. But, if I need to run to the bathroom , I put out the “I’ll be right back” sign. I’m so lucky since this is probably the only branch I could do this in. Plus we have a sink right in our work back area so I can keep my hands constantly washed.

My walk was nice this morning , no one there to start. I like the early time now.
My foot is still bothering me but I have to wait to see the podiatrist.

I’ve got a new bread recipe I’m making. It’s from Tartine bakery in SF. It’s not a no knead per say, but relatively easy. Oh, I bought an early Christmas present for my self. All bread bakers who are serious WEIGH there flour. So I dragged B to crate and barrel on Sunday and got an oxo scale. Very nice and I’m hoping to take bread making to a new level it’s sort of my passion right now.
I also put together a lasagna at 7 am to bake when I get home at 5pm.

I just finished reading ” the life-changing magic of tidying up by Marie Kondo
This is a fun book and I did get some great ideas from it, mostly, when you pick up item in your house, is there a spark of joy you get from it. If not out it goes. I did a little deeper decluttering with this and liked it.

The march 3 updates and Sunday musings

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imageimageimageWell financial has been a disaster. We didn’t save anything above 401 which is just automatic.

We, used sinking funds for septic, car and camera. Ugh…….. But at least its there. The problem is that it’s hard to rebuild it at our current outflows.

I did keep adding to my $5 savings and am at $150.

52 week savings is a little short, but I will add after pay day. Also, we’ve had 4 no spend days.

Personal, the Just Keep Walking Project, is going good. We’re on day 291 so we are close to the 300 day, which I feel it’s down hill from there.

Decluttering is ok, I keep looking around and not much here in the house. The pantry is still a problem as it’s in the entry on large costco stainless steel shelves. But, it covered in a cool retro barkcloth . Still I’d like it too be a closed cabinet, but most are too small. The Costco shelves are 4 ft wide and must be 6ft tall, I use it for food, appliances etc. any ideas. See above pictures…

I made some sour dough bread dough, it’s rising . Today I’m cooking it in the le Crueset  not the loaf pan. The I made yogurt in the maker, but when I added the yogurt starter the milk was too cool, so I’m not sure it’s going to work. I think I’m going to make some spaghetti sauce from last years garden tomatoes.

tonights menu is BBQ chicken/ chick patties, potato salad from farmers market potatoes, and probably a big salad from farmers mrkt

lettuce.

Tomorrow , Asian lettuce wraps

tuesday, maybe a pizza.

Wednesday, ?

Thursday, BBQ burgers on lettuce.

Friday, tacos

Saturday, Sandwich, and salad , I think.

Still no Internet!

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ImageWe are still without Internet. We switched to u verse thinking that would solve the problem. No!

my husband changed all the phone wire, No!, so we’ve called for a technician ,which is going to cost $99 to START. WTF, it is driving me crazy. So here I am wifi ING from the library. 😦

I got my new bread baguette pan from Williams Sonoma yesterday , so I can’t wait to try it.

Our dear friend got married yesterday. It was lots of fun! His house is beautiful. I would love to have that much open space, our house always seems a little dumpy after visiting places like that.  Oh well. We have a roof over our head at least.

so were off to Tahoe on Sunday, but it’s suppose to be cooler, maybe a little rain.

Our budget has been completely shot. No zero balance, we even took money from our sinking funds( do not touch), to get camping food. UGhH it has been a tough week!