should be...

- wrapping the presents i do have.
- making presents still on my list.
- making a list of the other stuff I still need to get.
- deciding what to put on the list of stuff that I still need to get.

- having some breakfast before my brain melts.

New Daring Baker

I'm a newbie to the Daring Bakers - - this month, my first month - - and a great experiment with Tender Potato Bread.

I've been baking since I was knee-high, and love it. I grew up on home baked bread (didn't know from WonderBread until my friend introduced me - - i'm still not a fan). This summer I decided that our "main loaf" of bread in the house - at all times - would be home made. And yet, this was my first foray into Potato Bread.

The photos below should tell you why:

The recipe and the spud - who knew ONE potato could weigh enough to feed an entire loaf of bread?

Sponge - nice and yeasty and full of bubbley goodness. So far, things are looking great, and I'm wondering why those braver than I were complaining about this recipe.

The source of all complaining. This was the gummiest, stickest, meanest "ball" of bread dough that I've ever laid hands on. The "ewww" factor here was palpable. For the better part of an hour I was NOT AT ALL friendly to anyone even coming near the kitchen.

FINALLY rising - and looking (and feeling) something like I've come to expect bread to feel. I have to admit that *I* feel, here, like I've conquered the beast, and am finally in control of my kitchen again.

Finally done...

the rolls, and the bread bowls - filled with a really nice homemade chili and served warm. This was the best.

oh - and an update

i got my bulbs in the ground. we had a decent day last saturday. the special added bonus was that the ones that i thought were bound to be mostly wrecked, actually turned out to be mostly ok. so i planted them too.

if only i would have had just a leeeetle more gumption - - i would have taken down the purple halloween lights.

that has to happen this week. while it's not frigid outside. so the red and white ones can go up.

i'm not turning them on though (like so many of my neighbors) - -at least not until the first of the month.

for pete's sake.

swingin' with monkeys

my friend belle sent me an inter-office mailer this week.

inside is a card with a photo of a girl on a swing with a chimp and a quote from HDT -
"There is no remedy for love but to love."

it's nice.

it makes me think of "Love is love's reward."

simple.

reminders about what my heart is about... and has been, all along.

she's good that way.

where did my autumn go?

ok - so one day it's halloween, and i turn around and the next thing i know i'm in the living room with a blanket on my lap and debating what to bake to help keep the house warm.

it's not even 40 degrees outside. WHAT is up with this?

i don't have my bulbs in the ground.
which means freezing my fingers in wretched cold dirt to get them all nestled in for their long winter's nap. pleh.

and Christmas shopping?
Don't even make me laugh.

bah