Bread. Kitty. Tax.

It's been sometime, I think, since I've graced this page with bread. Today I rectify that. Semolina/white whole wheat. If you are unfamiliar with semolina, it is a coarsely ground durum wheat. Its texture and color is similar to cornmeal. Most dry pasta is made from semolina. There is a slightly nutty flavor to it. It is high in gluten, but also high in protein. Not for the gluten intolerant. Like einkorn, it has been grown in Italy for many centuries. Unlike semolina, einkorn is tolerated well by the gluten intolerant, but not Celiac. There, a short tutorial! 

It snowed all day yesterday but most melted as it hit the ground. Today we are supposed to have rain. In other words, it will be a mess. If I can get my ice cream churner to work I think I'll make chocolate pistachio gelato today. Doesn't a cold, rainy day just call out for a frozen dessert? I do have soup, so that balances things.

Crabby Tabby spent a lot of time standing at the door to go outside, but when the door was opened he kept changing his mind. Smart kitty.

Today is National Sales Tax Day. For those who don't know, that is what a tariff is. Good luck to us all. I have a full freezer but I didn't do as well with pantry goods. I shudder to think what will happen with horse feed. It's already very expensive. Nothing tanks an economy faster than massive unemployment and inflated pricing. 

Cat. Food. Pending Disaster.

We finally had rain Saturday night, turning to snow on Sunday. It snowed into late afternoon but the ground was too warm for it to stick. We really needed some moisture and we can certainly use more.

Gatto checked the kindling box and found it empty. He was shocked.

I made pizza for dinner. The crust was really light. I used semolina and white whole wheat and I will remember this for the next time. Quite good. 

We have been trying to maintain a sense of balance during these very trying times. It is really an impossible thing to do as the chaos is like a snow ball rolling down a hill. It gets larger and larger as it swallows everything in its path. I've shifted my focus from the Fearless Leader to those in the population who feel what is happening is a good thing. Perhaps someone can enlighten me, for as I see it, had Harris won and proceeded to do the exact same things, I would bet the farm there would be an outcry of rage from the very people who are now supporting the authoritarian edicts coming from the Oval Office. Give one of the many illegal and unconstitutional acts a thought. The large amount of unemployment this administration is bringing about through DOGE. Have you heard of the domino effect? I think it's safe to say if you haven't you will be experiencing it sooner rather than later. What happens when hundreds of thousands of people suddenly are unemployed? In a consumer economy? Think about this for a moment.

I've tried to stay away from this, but it just doesn't seem possible to do that anymore. Now he's telling Europe they cannot use DEI. 

Candid Camera

Mark picked up his phone and said smile. 

So I did. Sort of.

Mark has recently learned how to take photos with his phone. Now I have to be careful, he could be around every corner. I've actually had two busy, for me, days. I was out of the house for several hours on Monday, PT and other things. Yesterday we had appliance delivery in the morning. A funeral in the afternoon, a corporate client of Mark's, for over fifty years. He was 97 and a very good man, one  that I knew and liked. So, that's what I have been doing.

It's a sunny, mild day. We are hoping some rain happens soon. It's very dry. Today will be back to usual for both of us. I need to ease into this peopling slowly.

 

A friend called yesterday afternoon. We had ninety minutes of ranting and raging at the mess exploding around us all, whether we wanted it or not. Some people still use the phone. That my Gen X friend does is unusual.

We have a dreary day but the forecasted rain/snow mix is now un-forecasted. We do need moisture. I was watching two of the geldings playing the head game this morning. The head game is truly a gelding thing. Mares would not lower themselves to such ridiculous behavior. It consists of standing still, moving the neck back and forth, up and down with mouth open, both doing this at the same time. And a few hops and foot stomps add to their amusement. Old boys never do stop playing. Old mares are the same as when they were young mares. They tend to business, thank very much.

Other than appliance breakdowns and flat tires, life is trudging along pretty much as usual. Meaning I bake bread, sandwich rolls and make dinner. A modified shrimp scampi. Modified because I wanted a one dish meal so I added asparagus to it. Gotta get those greens in. 

Mark is busy with tax work but not busy like it used to be. His last corporate client sold the business last year. Now he has no more audits, just his few longtime clients who owned the businesses. He enjoys having some work, it keeps his mind active and he has interaction with people he's known longer than he's known me. Hard to imagine, but true.

So, off to it I go. Whatever it is. 

 

Frieda has found a new hidey-hole.

I rarely use a tablecloth, so when I did put one on the kitchen table Frieda made it a hideout. I may never have an uncovered table again. I strangely find myself accommodating cats. On a daily basis.

They Served Me Well

We've had a long run, my washer/dryer and I. They are 17 years old and the dryer, on the right, has given up on me. I'm keeping the washing machine to put in the basement to use on items like rugs. It has given me no trouble thus far, but I bought another because we never know. Buying was not a highlight of my life as everything seems expensive to me, but a dryer is a necessity in our climate. Another Electrolux, as I have had good luck with them. My gas stove is 22 years old, my refrigerator and dishwasher made it 19 years and these are 17 years. That's pretty good, although I do know they just aren't making them like they used to, so who knows. I bought from a local, longtime-in-business appliance store, which feels better to me. I am hoping, wishfully, that the stands will work with the new set. They are $300 bucks each. I may be stand-less. I didn't order them, prices were already a shock.

I spent all of yesterday afternoon online looking at appliances. Comparing, reading stats on reliability, so forth. I settled on what I bought and feel good about it. Except I would have preferred not needing to. I have been in no mood for cooking. Fast and simple has been the word this week. We will survive. At least I hope so!

Sunny and mild today. This is always welcome, although moisture is really needed and would be welcomed. Perhaps I will soon be able to work in my flower beds. 

The Good Things

Buongiorno!

I decided I would do a photo fest today. My friend from Denmark came bearing gifts. This how-will-I ever-live-without-it tea. She has it specially blended and the aroma alone puts me in nirvana. Years ago she brought the best gin I have ever had. Geranium gin. If you enjoy gin, it's wonderful.

 

As if the tea were not enough....two hand thrown tea cups to enjoy my tea in. Julie has done some pottery herself, she is always seeking new artistic interests. She has been weaving for a few years and she has two large looms. She also knits. Kinda up your alley, Boud.

Thank you,  Denise, for the soda bread recipe. I made it and it is so good. Along with the all purpose flour, I used one cup of ground einkorn berries. It's perhaps the best soda bread I've made. I skipped the raisins, as I don't care for them. The crust is fabulous on this loaf.

I ended the day with a simple egg bake. Bacon, asparagus, spinach, onion, garlic, potato and gruyere. It was good, if I do say so myself!

I've been keeping busy in my small way. Today I have an appliance repair person coming to hopefully repair my elderly dryer. I don't want to replace it, so I hope it can be fixed. Fingers crossed. We had a visitation to attend on Saturday. Ken, who helps my hay guy, died unexpectedly last month. We've know him at least fifteen years and have had many conversations covering just about any topic there could be. We will miss the extremely tall, lanky good guy.

These are troublesome times. It often feels like the world has come off its axis. We both try to deal with the day-to-day and do manage to a point. Baking bread and eating good food, drinking wonderful tea in beautiful cups, there is my comfort.

Howdy

I am back.

I've never done a Caturday Saturday and since Frieda is such an interesting kitty, I thought I would feature her  taking herself seriously.

I had a wonderful time with my longtime friend I met many years ago on blogger. We attempted to solve the problems of the world and when that seemed futile we just had a good time. Gatto was absolutely entranced by her. He stuck like cat hair on black wool. He even slept with her. My dear friend is a serious cat person.

Yesterday we reached 74 F. In March. Today it is snowing. The wind was so strong last night I thought we'd be visiting Oz. No kidding. Maybe about Oz, but.....?

I'll spend some time catching up on everyone. It feels like I've been MIA for a long time.

 

A quick note to say I haven't fallen off a cliff. I'm busy with appointments and anticipation of company. I'm not a multitaskers anymore, so I can only concentrate on one thing at a time. As Arnold said....I'll be back. 

Grouch

I do not like  Daylight Saving Time.

What time is being saved? Changing a clock does not add or save time. There. I got that said.

The day is shorter for me, as I've lost an hour. You thought I was done with my complaint. So did I. Can you tell I really don't like this? Onward. My spurt of ambition on Friday led to very sore muscles on Saturday. You know you are in bad shape when cleaning a small bathroom leaves you in some serious pain and misery. Yesterday was a sitting and sorting kind of day. I actually put a lot of things where they belong after quite some time being out of place. Like clothing. Ah, the excitement of life in my home.

Since I felt as if I ran the Boston Marathon, dinner was a quick meal of leftover chicken with pasta. The marvelous value of leftovers. It's a warm, sunny day, I feel ok, except the time is off.