We had a real good day today. Walked to the library, got some books, made some candy & baked some bread.

I decided to post instructions on the 5 minute a day bread that I have been making pretty steady for 5 weeks now.

Recipe, ask questions if you can't make out my handwriting.

Tools:

and a one cup measure, a teaspoon measure, and thermometer.

The first part of the directions say to mix it up, I stir in one direction only. I find it makes the ingredients mix together more completely.

After the two hour sitting period, the dough will have expanded.

Then sock it away inthe fridge till you need it. Then hack off a chunk

Make a loaf

slash it, I double deep slash (slash in a slash), I find it helps the dough rise in the oven.

let it sit for another 40 min while the oven & stone & boiler pan get hot.
Then bake, for me it take like an hour, but it may be the altitude. Experiment.

Then when  your bucket is empty, filler back up. When you add the hot water, get a whisk & stir up all the left over bits that are stuck to the sides from the previous batch, they add to the flavor. The longer the dough sits int he fridge, the more of a sourdough flavor it picks up. I have been wanting to pick up a bottle of Sammy Smith oatmeal stout for one of the batches, cuz I think it would add to the awesome flavor.

I made pretzels, pizza and bread sticks with this dough. It is really stretchy & versatile.

Have fun.

BTW, thanks Mama for the Valentines day candy. It has always been one of my favorite things to get a box of chocolates from you.  Here is a pic of the kids munching on theirs.

I worked a long day today.
Ordered a pizza to be delivered to my hungry family, from work.
Finally at 8 pm finished up my reports & headed for home.
I saw a 7 car pile up on the highway & thanked my Jesus that I was not involved.
I get home grab a slice of pizza. My sweet daughter brings me a soda & tells me she loves me.
My husband moves the turtle tank for me, as we have repair guy coming out to fix our damaged wooden items from our move out to Seattle.
I make my way upstairs.
Georgia is sitting in the bathroom & I make a comment on her nicely painted toes. She painted them herself. I tell her it's ok to paint her nails. Off she goes.
I walk into the living room.
The living room is perfectly cleaned
In all I am feeling pretty darn lucky & loved.
My husband is in mid-sentence, when I notice saw dust on the seat of my great-great aunt Evelyn's rocking chair.
My heart sinks.
I walk to it, across the room.
I see holes.
Many many holes
drilled into the fine dark wood.
As if I just chopped off a finger I wave my hands around saying nothing but "Oh", "Oh"
My son, decided that the rocker needed holes & he used his Daddy's drill to do it.
As I cry, I hear him apologizing & crying in his bedroom, he is only 3 yrs old.

Everything calms down.
I drink my soda.
My daughter comes out of the bathroom with a problem.
She had an accident with the nail polish.
"Sooo sorry Mommie"
She says.
What can I say at this point?
I turn to Dwayne
I say
Grab the camera...

We put the kids to bed early.