Essay...14º

Up at 3am this morning, did scrabble then went to my essay, that was returned from Katey a few days ago...I always read her letter and line corrections then leave it for a few days to ponder and think about the changes she has suggested...She says that it is close to being finished and I'm trying hard to believe that...Looking at it this morning I became bogged down and have emailed her for help.

Yesterday our "Write People" was crazy...The dynamics of this group is almost indescribable... We range in age from late 70's down to late 40's...So you have mother/daughter, grandmother/granddaughter personalities in the same room at the same round table with a common bond "writing"...Now you throw in education factors from master's in creative writing to high school graduates...Literary sense and common sense butting heads...Strong people, quiet people, inhibited to uninhibited people, poets and writers of prose...We come from all different walks of life, gather as a group to share and improve our writing skills...Respect for each other abounds and we take comfort in the fact that what we share stays with the group...We laugh so hard we cry or we laugh and cry over the written words...By the time we finish, we can be as high as a kite or emotionally drained, slowly loosing air like a helium balloon and descending into an inert puddle on the ground.

We order lunch move on to other subjects and with full tummy's leave knowing that we will be at this same table next week sharing our stories because that is who we are...Hugs to all... OWAV:)

Skiff of snow overnight...17º

Now the sun is hitting Ruby Peak as I finish Scrabble and have a brief chat with Rusty...He  is dealing with a cold that he picked up from either Herb or I.

Yesterday morning Pat, Janie and I joined Amy at Fishtrap where we attached labels to brochures for the "Summer Fishtrap" mailing and visited the morning away...Amy at home in her new job, trying to balance her acupuncture practice with the writing world...Wearing several hats at this time and also coming into her own as a writer, a busy, busy girl.

Pat and I shared a huge bowl of "War Won Ton" soup at the Chinese restaurant, with talk non-stop as we caught up after her month long absence.

Talked to Bobi and Cienna...Cienna with homework, and a scholarship application to Summer Fishtrap as she waits to see if she gets selected for a Science Summer Camp and also the Science School she has applied to...This is just a glimmer into her world for the next 4 years and beyond...A much more complicated world than when I was growing up.

I must move it, write group this morning...What will I read?..  Hugs....  OWAV:)

Incredible, Wonderful Day...33º

Yesterday was a day that we only dream about, here in Wallowa County...March is often when we get the bulk of our winter snow, with cold winds keeping us indoors, huddled around the wood stove...Yesterday it reach 54º by 1pm, sun high in the sky, glancing off the Wallowa Mountains in the west and causing the 7 Devils to shine like beacons to the East..I walked to the school track where I met Pat for a walk...I was wearing capri's and a t-shirt...Other people were doing the same, ladies walking, a family playing catch on the football field...We kept looking at the sky, in awe of this sunny day...Spring is a rarity in Wallowa County and yesterday might have been it for this year but at least we can say we did have spring on March 4, 2012--A day to remember!

Back home I had sourdough biscuits ready to go in the oven along with our dinner of beef roast and brussel sprouts...More dough ready to shape into loaves and bake...Late afternoon, I packaged a warm loaf of bread and we delivered it to friends on Alder Slope in thanks for the fine straw we use as mulch for our vegetable garden....Hugs to all....  OWAV:)

Sunday, Sunshine....30º

High is supposed to be 54º today, even warmer than yesterday...Wonderful weather for March...We'll take it any day!

Yesterday Herb and I did some cleaning...Pat and I walked and caught up on our visiting...Pam stopped by for a visit after her hike on the Moraine...Really not much to blather about, so I will post some photos of banana bread that I made on Friday and another photo of the computer sleeve that I made for Pat's new imac laptop...Hugs to all....OWAV:)

Banana bread mini loaves

Pat's computer sleeve (apple inside a heart)

More Bread...32º

You are going to get sooooo tired of hearing about my sourdough bread...To bad, I'm having so much fun...Started my second batch yesterday, working with the same amount of flour, starter, salt and water...I can't believe how fast it comes together and the kneading process of about 20 minutes goes quickly as you feel the change in the dough, until it is like a giant sponge, stretchy and elastic...I didn't try it but I think it would bounce if I dropped it on the floor.

I tried letting it rest for 1/2 hour then gave it a few quick "kneads" then rest and knead-- about 4 times...It got softer each time I did this...Then it shaped into 1# loaves easily...I put one loaf in its own pan and two loaves in a large loaf pan...(I like glass)...For the rising process I like a moist heat...So I boil water in the microwave, leave water and container in and place the "panned" bread next to boiled water and close the microwave, this creates a warm moist atmosphere and the bread rises nicely...Pictured below bread has risen, I covered it with sour cream (thinned) and cut slashes with a very sharp knife.

       

            Sour cream helps it to brown

Easily separates into two loaves

I baked these for 30 minutes on 350º...The loaves continued to rise in the oven and remember they have no added yeast just the sourdough started...The outside is crusty, with inside moist and dense...Add some butter, oh so good!!..Next time I will up the oven temperature to 375º for a thicker crust...Wish you were here, I would love to share....Hugs to all....  OWAV:)

Mundane Task....18º

Since there were no scrabble games awaiting me this morning I started on the "mundane job" of cleaning out my email inbox...Two hours later I had made great headway and will continue to work on it.

Looks like some sun today, snowstorms never did materialize in Joseph but it looked like it was snowing in the mountains...That is where we need it!

I'm thinking about playing with the sourdough and making another batch of bread, not sure I can duplicate Wednesdays batch...Also have bananas turning dark so maybe banana bread would be a good idea.

Enough blathering for today...Hugs to all...  OWAV:)

Essay sent...23º...skiff of snow

Essay finished for another month and on its way to Katey for critique. Whew...Rusty is back in Bend, slick roads from Joseph to Baker City, then better for the last half of his trip...Herb has gone for a dental appointment in Enterprise this morning...His cold is slowly getting better.

Single loaf crusty and warm

On with my day, but first, yesterday...Last week I saved potato water and decided to make it into a sourdough started...So I added flour, warm water and a few grains of yeast...Soon it was happily bubbling away...I made biscuits on Sunday using some of it, they were okay...But yesterday as I've done many times before (never with very much luck) I decided to make sourdough bread...Again I surfed the internet thinking I will get some sage advise on the art of sourdough...Of course utube pops up with all kinds of videos and I hone in on a lady making sourdough bread...She talks through her nose, I almost switch her off, but don't...She has only 4 ingredients, flour, starter, salt and water...Basic recipe: 2 1/2 cups starter, 3 1/2 cups of bread flour, scant tablespoon salt, 1 1 1/3 cups warm water (more or less)...I immediately think this lady might know something...I've made many, many loaves of bread and know that the amount of flour is never a given...Then she says your sourdough must be very active, you should feed it periodically for 3 days before using it...Just so happened that that is what I had been doing...Every morning as it sat on the counter it had used up all of its food the night before, so each day I added flour and water and now ended up with over 3 cups of starter...I measured 3 cups flour into a bowl, made a well, added 2 1/2 cups starter, salt and started to stir adding the warm water as I mixed...then started kneading and kneading and eventually I added the rest of the flour and a little more...The dough started to feel warm, stretchy and soft in my hands...It kneaded easily with a bare minimum of flour...It was as soft and smooth as a baby's bottom...I rolled it in a little olive oil and put it in a warm place to rise...The end results are in photo's above and below, 3- 1# loaves, extra crusty, wonderful texture...It needs more sourdough flavor, not sure how you get that but I'll keep practicing....Hug to all OWAV:)

Two Freeform loaves