Baking Bread

Well! My sourdough starter bit the dust which means starting over.  Before anyone offers advice on reconstituting, it was moldy as a result of a refrigerator melt down.  (Yes at some point we will need a new one.  Meanwhile the old one is limping along.)

I have been doing yeasted bread which is different but equally delicious.  This is an oatmeal loaf.  I used a cup of Bob' Red Mill thick cut oats which sat in two cups of boiling water until cool.  I added a bit more water when I started the actual loaf.

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 It is delicious.  As a Type 2 diabetic I don't eat a lot of bread so when I do I want it to be tasty.  

I rarely use a written recipe these days.  I do write down what I am doing if I am experimenting.

And happier days have the sun shining through my bedroom windows when it rises.  It's a small joy, which I have been thinking about a lot.  Yes, there is always gratitude to practice.  But there is a great deal to be said for finding small joys in our daily live.  Perhaps I will do a longer post on this.

As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by.............*S*

Interesting Times

This is something I thought only occurred when aloes lived in sunny, warm climes.  Yes, that is a bud stalk.  I just noticed it his morning since it grew tall enough to reach above the plant itself.  This may be the original plant that my sister gave me when she moved to Florida.  Or it may be one that I rooted from the original plant.  Either way I find it fascinating that there might actually be flowers.  Wish I knew what I did to achieve it.  Possibly the warm wet summer followed by El Niño winter.  We have had cold weather but not a deep freeze winter.  I still have green petunias.

Our Christmas was quiet but well celebrated.  We had our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve.  On Christmas Day we went to a gathering of friends and Proge’s relations.  Since it was fairly small and I knew everyone I decided to forego a mask.  BIG MISTAKE!!!  I caught a killer cold which I passed on to Proge within a few days.  Better now.  But I am such a baby!  I haven’t had a cold or any sickness in six or seven years..

I had to relight the tree.  I used old lights, which went out a few days ago.  Sometimes my hoarding pays off.  I just opened new boxes I bought last year on sale.

Rain…..lots of rain, with flooding in low lying areas.  Our dug well has been flooding, which usually happens with late spring rains.  We are madly doing catching up on laundry and washing whatever needs washing.  Too bad it is much too early to top off the pool for spring opening.

We started out with a lovely sunny day.  Wind is picking up and clouds moving in.  Who knows what will come?  This is New England.....weather changes!

As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by.................*s*

 

WELL! That Was Fun!

The Christmas Dragon arrived soon after we bought in the tree.

Hibiscus happily did not have any bud drop when I brought it in.  Blooming like crazy.  Flowers are actually much pinker than in the photo.

I will probably replace the tree photos.  Too much reflected light.

 Due to health problems and general obliviousness we forgot, put aside getting the car inspected.  Until we got a notice from the DMV that we had a week to pass the emissions test or else the car would have its license revoked....whatever that means.  DMV does enjoy making threats it does not carry through on.

Whatever!  Auto definitely needed to get inspected etc.  Put in a call to the shop I have dealt with for the last fifteen years.  Brought it down the next day.  Happily it passed the emissions test, so that dealt with the DMV.  Unhappily it needed much work for safety, new front tires,  brakes, fortunately calipers were okay, muffler, tail pipe and other things.....Cost was over $2000.00 which is heart stopping!  On the other hand this is the first work it has needed in three years, so it averages out to not so bad. 

 I always say when it costs more to repair in a year than car payments then it's time to start looking for a new vehicle.  Der Blau Reiter (The Blue Rider) still runs like a champ, gets good milage, and the body is in excellent condition.

Meanwhile life goes on.  We repotted a white pine that had outgrown its too small bucket for at least a year.  It's kind of funky and cute.  Toes crossed it will be our tree for years to come.  The Christmas Dragon has already arrived so we do have dragon approval.

As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by……………*s*

Nemises!

 What’s happening?  Two posts in the same month?  WOW!

Some not great photos of a teapot I have had hanging around for far too many years.  Made it over a form and as soon as I bisqued it I asked myself why I did not send it too the recycle bucket.  Instead I have let it haunt me over time.  A few days ago I bit the bullet and painted it with a design I have used many times.  The colors look odd because they are waxed with Mr. Mark’s Wax On which has a bright pink coloring in it.

Not sure what I will do with it once it’s fired.  It might look nice with a ferny type of plant in it.  It also might look nice as driveway fill.

We’ll see, grasshopper………….we’ll see.

As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by…………..*s*

It’s Been A While!

It’s been so long since I posted that I am not sure anyone is even bothering to check in!  TWO MONTHS!  Really, Suzi!!!

The hibiscus I brought in when frost threatened a few weeks back, has begun to bloom.  Fortunately there was no bud drop, which can be huge problem when bringing tropicals in.  The flowers are not as big or as bright as whn they bloom outside, but still pretty and much appreciated.

 I am not going into my list of woes.  Suffice it to say I am trying to prep for the winter doldrums that come mid-January.

We are doing a little Thanksgiving here at home with just Proge and me,  We even split the turkey in half.  It will be done on the grill, weather permitting.

Wishing all a peaceful and joyful Thanksgiving.

As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by……………..*s*

 

Tomatoes and……

A paper wasp nest on one of the hanging solar lights that illuminate the years at night.  A definitely odd site to choose .  They generally prefer a certain amount of shade; this is in full sun.  So far it hasn’t bothered us.  We are making sure screens have no holes and are tightly installed.

 

Look!  There are actual tomatoes forming.  I have a feeling this will become an indoor plant this year.

 

We are beginning to think about hurricane prep.  Even if we don’t get hit. (Toes Crossed!) it’s time to begin the general fall clean-up.

Off to yet another doc appt.  This time for eyes.

We’ll see, grasshopper………..we’ll see……….

As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by………….*s*

Rabbit