SOURDOUGH ROUND TWO

We decided to add roasted walnuts to this batch of sourdough bread. This enhances the flavour of the nuts and adds a richness to the loaf.

Mary lets the sourdough sit in these proofing baskets overnight in the fridge.

The skin of the dough in sliced with a blade (razor-blade works best) before baking. This allows the dough to rise and expand unhindered.

Next step is to simply fold the parchment paper so you can easily lift the bread dough into the pot.

We use cast-iron pots with lids and preheat them to 450 *F before placing the dough inside. Once the lid is on, the pot goes back into the oven to be baked according to the recipe.

In about an hour two beautiful loaves emerge ready to cool and enjoy.

These loaves are made from a variety of grains Mary first sprouted before grinding into flour. Still high in carbohydrates but healthier than loaf of white bread from the store. Now if I could just learn to refrain from eating them in one day.

Time for another delicious slice covered in butter.

SEARCHING for the PERFECT TREE

Yesterday we went searching for potential Christmas trees.

With the fresh snow everything looking "Winter Wonderland" perfect.

Here is one possibility but it looks a little thin and maybe needs a few more years of growth.

We live in a remarkable age  where we can chat on the phone way back in the bush, send pictures to everyone and stay connected in a way  my grandmother didn't even dream about.

Still searching and we will look some more today but now it's time to head inside for homemade soup.

Safe travels everyone and thanks for stopping by.

KOMBUCHA TEA

Mary usually has 4-5 projects on the go at once. Besides quilting, making sourdough bread, cutting trees for Christmas she has been busy experimenting with Kombucha.

If you've never tried kombucha it is a healthy drink made from fermented tea. It is thought to have originated in Manchuria or Russia but no one is certain.

That round "cookie" you see floating at the top is called a SCOBY, which is the yeast/bacterial culture that creates the kombucha tea.

Mary used blueberries and ginger to flavour this batch but I think you could use whatever fruit you prefer.

This will be our morning drink throughout the winter.

There is plenty of information on the internet if you are interested in making your own.

Enjoy!!!

CARBOHYDRATES

Mary has been busy baking. She finally got a sourdough mix growing properly thanks to our friend Carol. Every attempt Mary made on her own just didn't work.

I know I'm to avoid carbs but with the bread just out of the oven and the house full of that delicious sourdough smell my resistance was "0" The first loaf didn't survive an hour.

Now it's off to cut wood and burn some extra calories.

Enjoy the day and thanks for stopping by.

TRAIL MAINTENANCE

Snowshoe trails require maintenance, which is work, work and more work. It does mean we don't need a gym membership.

With the right equipment the trail is quickly cleared.

To be honest most of the work is easy and is a good excuse to get outside and burn some calories.

Once we've been through the trail a few times it is easy to navigate, often through fairly open terrain.

Fallen trees need to be removed so the older members of our trail club don't fall and twist an ankle.

A few hours outside and I feel I've had sufficient exercise for the day.

These pine boughs will soon decorate our entrance and become a welcome addition for the season.

Time for some hot tea and an apple fritter. (more on those another day) Hard work deserves some type of reward.

SOURDOUGH BISCUITS

Mary discovered a sourdough recipe for biscuits last week and we've enjoyed them ever since with homemade soup.  Delicious!!

We had some significant snowfall this week; enough to get the skid-steer out to plow the driveway.

The morning sun just hitting the trees makes a peaceful setting.

We have about six kilometers of snowshoe trails on the property and we try and hike some of them every day. I hear "exercise" is the new medicine. We should be very healthy by the end of the winter.

Time to think about breakfast and get more wood for the fire.

Thanks for stopping by and safe travels everyone.

NO HEAT

Turned our in-floor heating system on yesterday but the floors never warmed up. I figured there might be an air bubble in the system but couldn't figure out how to bleed the pipes.

That's when I called Glenn.

Glenn installed our system six years ago and I knew he would find a solution. After his initial inspection he suspected we had a blockage in the line coming off our hot water tank.

 Time to dismantle the line and  find the blockage.

This was our problem, almost a total blockage from mineral deposits in the pipe. Even Glenn was surprised at the amount of damage. No wonder our floors never got warm.

Once the blockage was removed and new couplings installed the system was filled and turned back on.


Warm bathroom floors are once again being enjoyed.


Thanks Glenn, so greatly appreciated.


Looks like we need a water softener to prevent a re-occurrence of this problem every few years.

AFTER 17 YEARS

After seventeen years Mary's sewing machine stopped working. We checked the manual and started cleaning every opening we could find.

Can you see the pile of fibers? That's what we found before we opened the machine.

Once inside we discovered even more mess.

Once everything was cleaned we put it back together and plugged it in. Guess what happened? ........................ nothing. So after lunch it's off to the service man. Unfortunately he already has 30 machine waiting his attention.

4:30 pm UPDATE

Mary's little machine needs a new motor. Denise (service man) said it will be at least two weeks before he gets the part.

Time to find a different project.

NOVEMBER MORNING

Not much is happening up here these days. It's typical November weather, with lots of cloudy days and mixed precipitation.  We have been focused on winter preparations which aren't exactly hot topics for a blogging site.

Yesterday I walked our road as is my usual morning custom but only covered two kilometers before returning home. It's hunting season up here and I could hear rifle shots close to the road. No sign of the hunters but since they were in the area I felt safer at home. Today rain showers are keeping me inside but maybe after lunch the sun will return.

Otherwise we are fine and busy, staying warm by our wood stove with a good supply of books to read.

Safe travels everyone and thanks for stopping by.