What's New?

What's new, besides the year?! I've been busy with new things, breadmaking for one. Loaves abound! As I posted before, I am baking rustic, sourdough loaves from a wild starter on a weekly basis now. Mr. G. was eager to resurrect another sourdough starter, similar to one that I had used back when our children were small. It is fed with sugar and instant mashed potato flakes and produces sweeter, more conventional loaves for slicing. I was able to get that one going too. 

Since there are just the two of us here, and we can't possibly eat this much bread; we've been gifting loaves to family, friends and neighbors and will probably continue to do so as long as I keep up the process! Another new thing, to me, is making pancake batter from the discarded starter. 

It all begins with an overnight "sponge" (above); the sponge is made with the starter, flour, sugar and buttermilk and sits out on the countertop, covered, until morning. When it's time for breakfast eggs are added, along with oil, salt and baking soda; the result is an airy, foaming, fluffy batter.

The sourdough "sponge" batter produces the lightest pancakes that I've ever made, or tasted!

Saturday of last week was spent putting Christmas decorations away for another year. Mr. G and I were able to accomplish that task together in record time this year.  Inspired by Janet O., The Rogue Quilter, I snapped some pictures of our various nativities that I've had on display. They are all from different countries and, except for the carved wooden set with the stable which we bought when we lived in Switzerland, they have been treasured gifts received throughout the years. It's always sad for me to pack them up and store them away.

A few poinsettias remain (Augie says "hi"!) as a reminder of Christmas-all-too-soon-gone, but that's about it. I've never successfully had any luck in saving them for reblooming the following year but that doesn't mean that I don't try. 😉  We'll see if this year's any different. 

That's about all that's new, for now, from around here. 

How about with you, what's new?

Life is Good!

Around the House

I started decorating around the house, earlier this month, by hanging the "Stitch Pink Christmas" (my version made up in traditional Christmas fabrics) quilt out on the porch. I finished the quilting on this one in January, it's the first time it's been hung! I love it! From there on it was full speed ahead with the decorations, inside and out. 

I got the Christmas dishes placed in the kitchen cabinet, although this task wasn't without incident. 

You know how it goes- you get on a roll and think "as long as I'm doing this, why don't I take all the dishes down and clean and dust the shelves..."  😞 This beloved platter (all the more so now because I can't find a replacement, even at Replacements Ltd!) didn't make it. Sadly, I've learned what the limit is on those shelf pins. Let's just say we've replaced the shelf pins with all metal ones, the plastic ones have their limits. I was super lucky that the loss here wasn't any worse.

The tree's up and decorated in the family room.

A few Christmas gifts have been finished and wrapped.

Mr. G. and I took a little ride out to one of our favorite greenhouses, this one specializes in Poinsettias . We love to walk through the racks and see all the new varieties, this one with the rounded leaves was gorgeous!

However, change comes slowly to us; we brought a traditional one home with us. Little did we know, until we got there, that this small town was about to have their annual Christmas parade! By the time we made our Poinsettia selection, paid for it and got back in the car, the streets were lined with hundreds of spectators. My idea of stopping for lunch on the way home was thwarted, we were lucky to get out when we did without being part of the parade!

It's beginning to look a lot... well, you know. Not one cookie has been baked yet, though.

Today could be the day. 

 Life is Good!