Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Well, it's been a while since I wrote anything, so I guess I'd better do something about it!
So far this year, I believe we have had more rain in the first four months of the year than we usually get all year long. This week is the first time in a while that we have had a forecast with no rain in it for four whole days! WOW! We're thinking of building an ark. It is also still cold. It is supposed to get into the 20's tomorrow night. Hopefully, it will warm up soon, or I might decide to move South for the summer!
Juliana has been on another round of antibiotics for an ear infection-her fourth this year. She has to go back to the Dr. for a check-up this week, and to make sure the infection is gone. I hope when the weather gets straightened out it will take care of the ear problem. I don't want to think about them putting tubes in her ears.
I made another loaf of bread with my starter the other night. This time I increased to amount of starter I used and put some yeast in it, but it was still kind of heavy...I'll keep trying. It makes good pancakes! I took pictures of the bread, but I'll have to post them another time. It's late and it takes f..o..r..e..v..e..r.. for me to upload pictures--Oh, the joys of dial-up internet!
Someone asked what kind of starter I made. If I remember correctly, I used potato water (the juice off of boiled potatoes), flour, sugar, and a small amount of yeast.
My sister came to town with a couple of her kids one day last week (she lives about 2 hours away) and we got to spend some time together. Her youngest is 7 weeks older than Juliana, so they got to play together. Now she's asking for a "Bubby"! I think too many people have told her she needs a little brother!! Any time someone starts talking about a baby, she starts hollering "bubby, bubby". She even came and patted my stomach the other night and said "Be-by?" She's not even 18 months yet, so she can't possibly know what she's talking about...can she? And no, I'm not pregnant, just in case you're wondering!
I'd better quit and go to bed. Morning comes fast when you don't go t be until two o'clock!

Easter, Spring, And Anything Else That Comes To Mind

Here's Juliana taking a little time out to get ready for Easter:
(She's reading the Easter edition of 'Ideals')

Spring hasn't decided whether it is coming or going. It actually snowed on Easter! You had to be looking pretty hard to see it, but it was snow. It's been pretty cool all week, but it's supposed to get almost to 70 tomorrow - Let it be, dear Lord, let it be! I case you haven't gathered by now, I don't like cold, wet weather!





Easter has come and gone. When we got to church Easter Sunday, we discovered that Emily Boardman and Juliana were wearing the same dress in different colors, so we had to get a picture!














And this is proof that there really is an Easter Bunny! :-0












I decided this week to try making a starter for sourdough bread! I normally make bread just using yeast (like most people), but I wanted to try something different, thus the starter. I went to do some research in the internet (I use http://www.allrecipes.com/ most of the time when I'm looking for recipes and such) and discovered some interesting things about bread starters.

1. At one time, starters were passed down from generation to generation, and if you were in
one of those families, our starter could have originated centuries before!
2. Starters and just like pets, you have to feed them and keep them warm-and clean up the mess
if they get too carried away!
3. If you have surplus of starter, you can either a.) pass it on to friends and family, b.) freeze it
(just thaw and use when you're ready), or c.) you can pour it out on a pan, let it dry, then
break it into pieces and place in an airtight bag. When you need it, just reconstitute it by
pouring some water over and letting it set (and stirring) until liquid again!


Ok, now you all probably think I'm crazy! Sometimes, I wonder about myself. I have made one loaf of bread with my pet starter, and it tasted pretty good, but was a little bit heavy. I'll have to experiment with it and see what I can do to improve it! I'll let you know what happens-if I remember!