What we do....

So last night, I went to bed around 10:30, remarkably not even so tired despite still getting over a cold. As soon as I was horizontal, the coughing started. If I had had one of these, and the Cho-mash, it would have been a freakin' dance party in here. Dry hacking cough. No end in sight.

I got up, made tea and steamed my head. (My boss, who is a physician, thinks it is the dry air that is getting to me.) Steaming my head seemed like a good thing. I added rosemary and ginger to the water to make it more festive. I practiced my yoga breathing. When I took the towel off my head, I started hacking again. So what was next? Of course, the internets. (Did I mention that we are on cup 'o tea 4 and steam bath 2 and it is about 4:30AM?) So I go here. I go for the milk and turmeric "magic" cuz I know I have both of those things. It doesn't taste as bad as I thought, until I get to the bottom of the cup and I have to swallow a few mouthfuls of pretty much straight turmeric. Blerg. Whether exhaustion, turmeric or milk put me to sleep at that point, I care not. I did sleep though. But today has been slow. And no leeks.

Last time, promise

OK, I promise not to post any more pictures of this bread, after today. Will you please check this out? ABC, eat your heart out. And lovely small loaves. This has whole wheat, white and spelt flours with a little oatmeal and bran.

Hotties

Check out these guys. Those are some gooooood lookin' chickens.....

Here is my favorite so far....

Did you know?

So yesterday when it was too cold to go out and I was feeling crappy with a cold (I am sure I got it from one of my very small friends) I started looking at the garden calendar. Did you know that as of Friday January 25, we are only 12 weeks from our last frost date? Do you know what that means? That, people, means that I need to get my butt in gear and start my leeks. Luckily, I ordered some new seed starting products which are currently in route..... The 72 cell wonder. I got, um, several of these. Along with carrying trays for them and a bunch of pots that are a little larger that I can pot things up into when they out grow the tiny cells (for the perennials I am sure that I am going to grow). My basement is a little cold at this point, but I do have heating mats from a former pre-spring splurge. A little plastic covering for the seed starting rack that the SB built me for my birthday one year and I should be in good shape. Since my potting soil is currently frozen. I may need a run to Southern States on Saturday morning.

Next Thursday, I start my beekeeping class. Yup, this is VERY exciting. Apparently, the class fills quickly, so I am glad I got a space. I am going to install a hive in my backyard this spring. I plan to plunder my Dad's garage and get what I can from his supplies and then order the rest. Over the holiday the SB and I picked out a space for them. I think they will be hap there in the upper lawn.

After bees it is chickens. You thought I had forgotten about the Chick Collective, didn't you? Nope. The building talent just had a baby - a new chick as a matter of fact. We are going to be doing some research. I thought this was an interesting price list. You have to get a LOT of eggs to make the henspa worth it. I love how it says "The yard maintenance people can easily move it every 2-3 weeks to refresh the litter." Uh, yeah. Add the staff to the $3500 price tag and the eggs get REALLY expensive. It might be worth it to have a few of these wandering around. It looks like a muppet to me....

OMG. This is ME.

My bro told me about this song when I was lamenting not being able to take the last (only?) snow day off to spend with my seed catalogs.

Warmth

As it is somewhat chilly, and I have nothing else to do (yippee) I am cooking today. Aforementioned bread (which was lovely) again. This time with the addition of oatmeal. Rustic broccoli soup (which is rustic because I don't puree it, I use the potato masher). Pot roast. I am also hoping to get to some hummus.

And I will be cleaning. Which I prefer to do when the house is empty, but that doesn't seem to happen much these days, as you can tell from the state of the house. I am also planning to work on the wee dress. As my muse may be too big for it by spring, I may have to put it away for the next tiny girl in my life. And there are a few coming along... (yippee).


UPDATED

So the bread was a success. Not just a success, but a wild, fantabulous success. Check it OUT! This was 1 1/2 cup water, 1/4 t. yeast, 1 1/4 salt, and a cup of spelt, about 3/4 cup whole wheat, about half a cup of oatmeal and then enough all purpose to make a stiff-ish battery type of thing. This time it seamed to rise more the second time, so there are definitely larger holes. And the crust is delightful.

Below...Bread porn

Sigh

So, when the SB is here, I have no time to post. When he isn't I am so boring it is hardly worth it. The weather has been faboo, so I moved more black-eyed Susans around. Started this bread which comes highly recommended from Cho-girl by way of Starr Hill Girl. The dough is not shaggy though. It is more like a sponge. I guess I can always add more flour later. And because I cannot leave a recipe alone? I used one cup wheat, one cup white and one cup spelt flour. More later on this.

Yesterday I traced out a pattern that I got on ebay. I am having a hard time deciding what to make it out of. Everything that is light enough is too see through. I could make a slip to go with it, but....

Here it is, isn't it cute?



And guess what I just did? Made button holes. First time. Really. Carpe diem.

Oof.

Do you ever have moments when you feel like the world has caught up to you. No more bobbing and weaving. No more happy go lucky. Everything is due today. Or yesterday. The stuff you knew about and procrastinated on and the stuff that you didn't know about and is a huge emergency. All due. Today. Or yesterday. And. You. Are. Screwed.

Ever have that happen?

This is my week. And it is only Tuesday. I am afraid to look at my email.

This is the price I pay for a nice week off with the SB. Who is now gone. Back to Maryland to work on the lighting project with H & D. I can only imagine the debauchery.

But while the SB was home, he rearranged our yard. He moves shrubbery like most people move furniture. But maybe more often.

I can't wait for more warm weather to get back out and put flowers in. We have hundreds, nay thousands, of black-eyed Susans that reseed like crazy. They always come up in the vegetable garden and I hate to throw them out, but there is a limit on how many of this things one can use. Did I mention the birds love the seeds? Do you want some? Just holler. There are.... well let's just say that I have enough to share.

I am frothing to start seeds. I did get my leek seeds, so I may start those this weekend. I am hoping the deer and groundhogs mistake them for those yard onions and leave them alone. Hope springs eternal.

Ready Steady Steep!

Ok, worked a bit on the chai thing and here is the latest....Hold on to your hats cuz it is spicy!

5 cups water
1 large lipton type teabag (I used cold brew cuz it is what I had)
2 small earl grey teabags
3 cinnamon sticks
3 dried chilis
about 1 t. fresh chopped ginger
8 cloves
5 green cardamom pods smashed
10 peppercorns smashed
1 large tablespoonful of honey

Bring this to a low simmer for about 10 minutes then turn off and let sit at least 10 minutes, but as long as you like. Add 1 1/2 cups milk and a gently reheat if necessary. Strain into cups.

Happy New Year.