Post Thanksgiving Updates

We had a good time yesterday to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Started the day off right with a Hot-to-trot 5k race with friends.

 I was thrilled with my results.  It's been a while since a ran a 5k this fast.  I've been going to osteostrong and working out with weights 2x a week in addition to running 3x a week, with the goal of improving my bone density, but I think it is helping my running too.

 Of course after all that running, we were ready to eat pie! Apple, peach, almond, and Kentucky Derby (chocolate chips, pecans)

 I have so much to be thankful for but still it's rather hard getting older without family around at holidays. My grandchildren are in England with their momma and daddy, my brother was doing his own celebration I suppose, and the rest of our family lives out of town or in another state. We had a nice dinner with friends, who are kind enough to invite us to their family activities.  Afterwards, just came home, ate leftovers, and loafed around.  We watched The Help, which is a great movie although it brings me to tears.

I cozied up with the quilt I made my Daddy years ago, which came back to me when he passed away, my favorite kitty slippers and enjoyed the fire and the movie. A few days ago I pulled out the quilt I made from my son's shirts to help cozy up the place for Christmas.  of course that adds to my 'holidays without family' feelings.  :(

I recently finished the second of two Christmas throws I made for the twin bedroom.  I say, the "twins" are dressed for Christmas.  :)  I don't do a lot for decorating the holidays but I have enjoyed changing out the quilts on the twin beds for each holiday.

These were made from Little Tree fabric from Lella Boutique, using Cloud 9 and North Star patterns.  Buffalo Check fabric was from Hobby Lobby, and although I love it, it did fade in the prewash and I was unable to match the checks.  I kept telling myself that it won't matter, the flannel backing is for coziness not looks.

The husband is fishing a tournament today, and I don't do black Friday shopping, except a little online.  I've been packing for my upcoming trip to see the grands.  That will be an exciting time.  I long for the day when they can visit us and sleep in this little room, and enjoy time with Mamole and Papaw Jim.  "Mamole" is what they call me, it is their little English/Scottish version of Mamaw.

I've got to find room somewhere for my clothes and things.  This is full of just stuff for the kids, and a few kitchen things for Katie and Elijah.  Evidently they don't have good peanut butter there, so the humongous container of Peter Pan, along with pudding mixes, starbucks coffee, etc.  And of course way too many gifts and toys for the kiddos.  :)

Quilts, wild yeast bread, and other goings on.

Well, I've been doing to twice daily feedings of my 'mother.'  I've made the bread each Saturday for, I think, three weeks now.  It is getting better each time, but still doesn't have a great taste.  Not sure if I just need to be patient and let the yeast mature or what.

 It looks good but it tastes more like English muffins than bread.  Kind of hard and thick.  I took half the mix and made some delicious sourdough cinnamon raisin bread. I accidentally doubled the cinnamon, brown sugar, and raisins...oops!  The recipe was to make two round loaves of it but I wanted one regular bread loaf.  Doubling those things didn't hurt it a bit.  In fact, it was outstanding.

I'm going to continue the twice daily feedings for at least another week, then transition it to a refrigerator mother, and feed only once a week.  I don't want to give up on it too soon.  I love the thought of making bread the way our ancestors made it centuries ago.

I've finished a couple of quilts lately.....

This is the one I did for my friend and her husband, made from the shirts of her son that passed away a few weeks ago.  I used the Nova pattern.

I had my heart set on making two of these Christmas throw quilts for the twin beds but after I finished one, I just wasn't that thrilled with it. The backing was from Hobby Lobby and wasn't a really good quality flannel.  No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't match the checks.

So I decided to make the second one in a different pattern.  This pattern is called North Star and I really like it so far.  Of course, it takes more fabric than the other, so I have had to order a few more fat quarters.  This is my progress so far....

Have any of you discovered pomegranate seeds?  Oh my goodness, I love them!  They are so yummy with homemade granola and vanilla greek yogurt.  Trying to eat healthy over here :)

They have lots of flavor and fiber.  I've also started a couple of things recently to try to build some bone.  My bone density test this year was not good.  Surprising since I run.  I've joined Osteostrong.  I hope it works.  It is a weekly session using four machines.  You push/pull to get to a certain weight which is supposed to activate the cells that build bone.  I'm willing to try it because I really don't want to go on the medication.  I've been doing it for six weeks and have increased my strength 25% since starting.  I feel stronger too.  Of course, that isn't all I'm doing.  I'm also working out with weights 2x a week at our workout center we have at the job site. I've only been doing it about three weeks.

It's that time of year and it seems like everyone and their brother is decorating already for Christmas. I am just not one to do a lot of decorating but I have been pulling a few things out.  We will be having our Sunday School class over for a Christmas party on the 21st, so I guess that means we will need to get a tree.  There have been a few years recently when we didn't get a tree. Without the kids, parents, family, or guests, I just haven't wanted one.

I can't end this post without a picture of the grandkids.  I get to go visit in less than three weeks and I am so excited.  I will be helping my son take care of them while their momma is on a girls weekend. I've had fun buying some crafts and things for us to do.  I want to make it a very special time for them, and keep them busy so they won't miss momma too much.

They are growing up so fast.

Wild Yeast Continued

Tomorrow is bake day!  I'm so excited.  I've tried to follow the directions to ensure my success, but since I started a day early, I figured I'll have a little left over for pancakes, except I will need just a little more.....so, I added a couple extra feedings into the week's schedule.  I should have enough for the two pans of bread and some yummy sourdough pancakes.

I prettied the things up that will stay on my counter.  A nice old glass jug for the distilled water, and a glass lidded container for the flour.

This is what it looked like today.....

Just look at all those luscious bubbles.

The book recommends baking the first couple of pans in round glass baking dishes.  I found some cheap at Big Lots today ($7 each) but I wanted to make a loaf too.  The recipe is the same for both so I'm doing one round artisan style loaf and a somewhat wider than normal loaf. MaryJane Butters, the author of "Wild Bread" recommends glass containers with lids to keep moisture in while the bread rises. I'm expecting a 6-8 hour rise.

I was not able to find regular loaf pans with lids however, I found three of these small rectangular glass baking dishes, with lids, in my cabinet.  Yay!  They are just slightly wider than a regular loaf but I think will still work great.  I have all my supplies ready for tomorrow.  Stay tuned.  I will post pictures even if they don't turn out.  I'm sure I'll learn something if they aren't quite right, but I am hoping for the best.

Sourdough is a very healthy bread -  doesn't spike insulin, packed with nutrients, easy to digest.  So if you are a bread lover like me, why not try to make the very best?  I so hope this will become a new hobby.