Sourdough Bake

Since I am off work I am baking bread. (-:

I did get yard work in yesterday.

Lots of leaves had to be raked, blown and picked up.

That was a work out! 

Today the Princess is coming over I think.

I still have 6 days left of vacation time!

Hope you are having a great day!

Jumping Bean

 We got the kids a jumping house for Christmas. It is a great fun thing.

The Princess came over for the day so she brought it with her to play on.

It goes up in 5 minutes and down in 10 with two adults helping.

It comes with a big bag to store the jump house in.

It is a really great, fun way to get exercise.

The Princess was worn out after 30 minutes of jumping and we put it away.

So fun and easy to use.

I would recommend.

We will see how it goes as the time goes by.

Right now though, it is a hit!

Baked Goodies

 Since I have been off work I have been baking.

Second sourdough

I would say I have figured out how to do sourdough bread finally after 5 years.

Wow has it really been 5 years since I took that first online course?

It can't be. But it is. Wow! Well it was a long process of practicing until I figured out what I did wrong.

One thing I will say for anyone interested in making sourdough is this... YOU HAVE TO FEED YOUR SOURDOUGH STARTER TWICE A DAY. That means starting over twice a day. Measure out the sourdough starter add water add flour mix and let sit till the next feeding. You can save the remaining starter to use for baking or throw out.

But.... don't try to just feed your starter once a day. It won't be strong enough to rise the bread dough.

Believe me. I have tried.  I hate throwing things away, but with the starter it is important to follow the steps every time.

 The starter I use is

200 grams of starter

95 grams of water

105 grams of bread flour.

If you are making the sourdough starter for the first time then you won't have a starter unless you get some from a friend.

You can start with just flour and water.

But, ask a friend for some. As I said they will be tossing out a lot everyday.  I'm sure you can get some from someone!

I could send you some even!

It is seriously a commitment. People actually name their starters. Mine does not have a name yet.

But they are like a pet. You feed them everyday and watch them grow.

It is a lot of fun really.

The big pay off though, is when you make a loaf of your very own sourdough bread and bite into that first piece. Then you bake loaves for friends. It is so fun to see peoples faces when you share a loaf with them. They will be so impressed. 👀

Then they will ask for more and you can share your recipe with them and a some of your starter so they can start making their own!

Funny story....I had a lets call her an acquaintance, that kept asking for a loaf of bread. I said well when I figure out how to do it right I will let you know so you can make some too. She asked how I made it and I told her. She said forget it!  She just wanted the finished product.

A Little Red Hen type story.

Anyhow, yes it is a long process, but it is worth it.

Sure you can run to the store and buy it. Sourdough is everywhere. But when you make it from scratch, literally, it means so much more.

 

I also made Potica

Potica is Polish nut bread.

My Mom made it every year for Christmas/Easter etc.

I usually make it several times a year. Everyone loves it.

 

Merry Christmas

 

Snail Shells

 On Sunday we were at the creek and we saw hundreds of empty snail shells.

I thought it was pretty interesting.

We had a big rain last week and water started running in the creek.

Before that it was basically dry.

I guess the snails all dried up during the summer.

I might go back today and get a better picture. They were all over along the shore in one spot.

It's Vacay Time!

First I have to share my new baby  peperomia frost.

A leaf fell off and it rooted in water within a month. Not bad right?

I wish my watermelon peperomia would grow that fast.

Not sure why its the slowest growing plant I have.

The house plant thing has been really fun.

I have enjoyed collecting different varieties of plants.

This one I had to have too. It is a lemon philodendron.

It is so pretty and yellow. 

 

School is out for 15 days. 

Yippee! 

I am so excited to stay home and do nothing.

Yesterday I watched Christmas movies all day.

Today the Princess is coming over.

I am sure we will be outside doing whatever interests us.

The sun is shining! It will be a fun day no doubt!

Maybe a trip to the creek. Our last rain brought some water to the creek so it might be fun to go see what is new there!

I hope you have a great day too!

The Princess Turns 7!

 Today is a very special day.

Grandpa(Tapa) and the Princess

The Princess is 7! Oh the years have gone so fast. So many many memories to fill my head.

I love her more everyday. We are having a family party today at 12. I can't wait to see her.

When she was born she was itty bitty. 

She had to stay in the Nicu for two weeks. I went everyday to see her. You were only allowed to stay for a few minutes for a feeding. It broke my heart. I could only hold her for a couple of minutes during that time.

She was there on Christmas that year.

Even when she got to go home because she was a preemie we were not allowed to hold her. Only for feedings and put her back down.

I never understood that at all. I wonder why they wanted that.

I would never put her down if I had my way(-:

After my daughter went back to work and I babysat everyday I held her all the time.(-;

Anyhow, today is a big day and I am very proud of the Princess for how far she has come.

First gift already this morning.(-:

I think she has had a good start to her day so far...(-;

It was a fun day.

We even had a pin the horn on the unicorn in the barn!

Of course she won since there were no other kids.

But she had to play several times.

She mastered that game.

 

The cake was yummmyyyy Baskin Robbins icecream cake!

There were unicorn decorations I got from Party City.

Her Brother had to join in on the pictures of course!

The Princess stayed with us for the day and later we loaded up all the pumpkins and had our annual pumpkin drop off the bridge.

There was immense laughter by all.

The video is in slow motion. The laughter sounds like dinosaurs. ROTFL

After the fun pumpkin drop we searched the creek for more polliwogs. We found a ton more in one of the remaining puddles of the creek! Of course she had to catch several to bring home.

It was a wonderful day even if there were not a house full of children.

Sometimes a quiet family day is all you need to have a great birthday!!!

I look forward to many more fun adventures with the Princess! I love her so much!

Meet Shirley Partridge

 Shirley came to live with me recently. 

I added a crown and a repurposed rhinestone necklace.

I named her Shirley because, well she is a partridge. What other name could she possibly have?

Do you remember The t.v. show The Partridge Family?

If you don't know who the Partridge family is, it was  a 70's family show.  They were musicians and had their own band called the Partridge Family. 

It was one of my favorite childhood shows.

 I may have had a couple posters of David Cassidy hanging in my bedroom. 😁

Anyhow, when I saw this Partridge at a local antique store last month, I loved her. Not only for Christmas, but for every day. Doesn't she have a sweet face?

I am slowly getting ready for Christmas. I got the tree up yesterday and the decorations out.  It sure doesn't feel like Christmas this year. 

I am looking forward to having two weeks off from school though.  So far our school has only had three kids get the virus. They have recovered, and are back at school. 

New Friends For Joanie

The Princess and I caught a couple of pollywogs for Joanie. 

Not sure if Joanie will eat them or not, but so far they are doing well.

This video shows one of them eating breakfast.

A Fall Day

It Rained, It Poured

We finally had rain here after months and months of nothing. 

I think fire danger is low after that pounding rain!  A grand total of 1.56 inches for the big rain storm!

Leaves are falling and things are looking much better here.

As we head into the end of fall and on into the long winter months...

I thought this little meme was perfect.

       Buckle up and drive safely!

Funny Snail

Had to share this cute video of my newest pet.  She makes me laugh.  She is a real mover and shaker.😆🤣😂

 

It's October 31st!

Hope you and your family have a wonderful day and safe, fun, evening!

 

Another Hibiscus

Another day!

A new positive case at school.

I am sure I did not run into the person. Hopefully no other cases.

I am constantly wiping everything down in the kitchen.

I am very careful. The kitchen and serving students safely is my top priority. 

Still Blooming

Update 10/18/20 Rona test negative! yippeee

It has been a long week.

Started feeling sick on Wednesday. Everyone sick in the family.

Rona tests were taken. Still waiting on results.

I feel good for a while then feel sick.

Mainly weak and tired with normal asthma related breathing problems.

Which come and go.

That is not typical of a regular illness for me.

So....

I don't think I have it, but not sure yet.

Just is a weird sickness to me. Different then pasts illnesses.

No fever or a low grade. 99.5 degrees was highest so far.

Weird runny nose that came and went.

Very strange. One minute nose was running...the next it wasn't.

Didn't even take anything for it.

Almost like an allergy. Which I thought it was for the most part.

Slight sore throat. Like very slight. Not bad enough to take medicine for.

Achy feeling.

Like I lifted a bunch of heavy boxes or wheelbarrowed a load of gravel around the yard.

Not bad really.

Took a couple Advil a couple of times.

I have been much worse in my lifetime.

So hopefully if it is Rona then this is as bad as it will get.

Fingers crossed!

Anyhow, took a walk around the yard and watered the potted plants.

Had to snap pictures with my phone. 

Here is what is still blooming today.

Hopefully better soon because I want to get outside and do some work!

I have enjoyed these little fish planters all summer.

I can see them outside on the patio through the sliding glass doors.

Hope your week is going well.

Finally A Blue Sky Day!

 After weeks of no blue sky and just smoke, we finally saw the sky yesterday!

The Princess came over and we picked all the pumpkins for our Halloween display!

This one was cute with a face already on it.

We picked 32 pumpkins out of the garden and there are still another 10 or so that are not ready yet.

It was a great year for growing pumpkins!

If everything works out next week, I will have some Halloween pictures to share.

Fingers crossed no one gets sick! It is that time of the year!

Have a wonderful week!

Mirror Ball Planter

 What to do when you are stuck inside because of smoke?

Well I had seen some pretty mirror ball planters on Etsy and thought I would try making one.

I had everything except the bowl to make it on. My husband got me a cheap light cover and that was the perfect size for this project.

I wasn't sure if I liked it till I hung it up. Now I really do like it at least for now.

The sun hits it in the afternoon and really sparkles.

Something shiny and pretty.

The forecast calling for rain this weekend.

I am praying for that!

I have so much work outside to do and I really want to be outside!

Soon all the leaves will be falling and that will take a while to clean up.

Soon things will get better!

I hope you are enjoying your week!

Another Week, Another Fire

 It is once again, smoky and unbreathable outside.

There is a fire across the other side of town from us. It is more then 50 thousand acres. Several people lost their lives and who knows how many animals.

Here is one that was rescued.

Not by me of course, it was turned it into California Fish and Game.

Looks like it needs a baba instead of a pastrami sandwich, but that is just my opinion.

It is a mountain lion cub.

I feel like this year will never end. It feels like we are all in a time trap.

So to add to that wild and craziness this month we will have two full moons. Tonight and the 31st.

If you are a tad bit superstitious then you will be thinking the same way I am.

The 31st is Halloween.

What could go wrong?

Someone won't get their candy?

We will have to wait and see I guess right?

I haven't been working outside because of the smoke, smoke, smoke and more smoke.

Last Saturday was a beautiful day though and I was able to get the hedge trimmed. It looks beautiful.

You will have to take my word for it since I didn't take a picture.😁

It was the first day outside in a month. I go to work come home and stay inside.

I have asthma so the outside is not do able for me when it is smoky.

At school they are constantly checking the air quality. Most of the time it is inside recess for the kids.

I feel like the kids have been really had a rotten year with the Rona and then going back to school and having inside recess so much because of all the fires in California.

This new fire I hear was started by a person, on purpose.

I hope the person burns in hell.

I am so sick of people starting fires.

They really need to catch the person and light them up.

Yup that sounds mean.

That is what the person deserves.

An eye for an eye.

Well that is all to report today.

I hope the last two days of this work week go smoothly.

What more can go wrong?

 Happy October!

Visiting Magpie

 There was a magpie in the yard today. First one I have seen here. I usually see them at work which is only a few miles away, but never here.

It is a yellow billed magpie.

Lamp Fixed

The lamp is fixed and in it's spot. I think it is really pretty and the plants are going to enjoy having a light on during the gloomy winter months.

I had to order a pot online for my prayer plant on the table. They are hard to find since the virus began. I have found most of my pots on Amazon or eBay. I was lucky early on to find some at Home Depot. I just keep looking online to find more. Stores here are sold out. 

I am also having trouble with the mail. Not just USPS but UPS and FedEx too. I think if anyone is shipping for Christmas you might want to send as soon as possible so gifts arrive on time. Also get insurance because they are not being careful with fragile things. Tracking is a must!

Happy Fall! Let's hope this season goes smoothly!

 

BROKEN!

 I ordered an antique lamp base. I told you about it a week or so ago. Anyhow it arrives today broken.

Ughhhhhh. I hate when that happens. I wrote the person who I bought it from on eBay and they did not respond. So I filed a claim with FedEx.

I want to keep the lamp and will buy new parts to fix it because it is a nice lamp base.

But who mails stuff in a box to small and expects it to survive?

You can see in picture below the box was to small.

So this part needs to be replaced.

10 bucks maybe?

Ughhhh

Off to the hardware store I go.

I will take a picture when it is all fixed and in it's new forever spot.

Blooms and Fil

Summer is really winding down fast.

The last burst of blooms will be happening soon.

I am waiting patiently.

 

Since It Is Smokey Outside

The fires in California and Oregon are terrible. The sky is full of smoke. 

It reminds me of two years ago and the terrible fire we had here in town.

School is open so I am going to work, but when I get home I am staying inside.

Which means looking around thinking about adding something new.

Which, reminded me that I had a slag glass lamp shade in the cupboard I haven't used yet.

So I looked on eBay to find an antique bronze base that would go with it.

Well not only did I find one, but I found one exactly like the one that I have that was my Moms.

Was it a sign?

I always think those things. 😊

Of course I got it.

Should be here next Wednesday or Thursday.

Never Forget

Today is 9-11

I will never forget waking up that morning.

The news was on as it always was and suddenly they said they had breaking news of a plane crashing into the twin towers. As the news person was talking another plane crashed.

I just stared at the t.v.

They were showing the planes crashing through the buildings. 

It seemed unreal.

I remember the shock I felt. I couldn't even say a word.

I knew it was not an accident.

I woke up my husband.

My friend and I both saw it on the news and were talking. Then she said her local news was reporting in PA about a plane crash.

Later we would find out about that.

I went to school that day. 

Everyone was watching the news.

It was silent there.

People were praying to God.

So many lives were destroyed that day.

Our hearts were broken for all the loss.

So many hero's stepped up to the plate.

Our Country United.

Flags were flying everywhere.

People were hugging each other.

Praying together.

Crying together.

It was a time of great strength.

It was a time to remember.

It was a time to never forget.

I will never forget.

Prayers to all that lost loved ones that day.