All over the place.
Today has been OK. Pretty productive. I should probably feel better about it. I just have this constant underlying mope and nervousness. And I’m really tired for how early it is (maybe that’s due to getting stuff done, IDK). I’m working out what to tell the therapist tomorrow. Her advice/homework is helping a little but I feel awful. Maybe next week’s homework will be more meaningful. I also have the ol’ doctor anxiety building over my upcoming psych appointment. I’ve never been to one before so IDK what to expect.
Anyway, I did my Duolingo today (I somehow manage to do this daily, one lesson every day for the last 156 days). I trimmed what I could of what needed to be trimmed of the trees. The fruit trees are blocking the sunlight that the tomatoes need to fruit. I need to work on my plant placement (and hire someone to trim the jungle once this pandemic stuff is over).
OK, procrastination over. I promised myself I would spend 10 minutes on a writing project so I would stop feeling guilty about not ever working on it.
Tomorrow, I think I have a grocery delivery coming. I do like the farm boxes. Ah, tomorrow is Imperfect Produce day, not farm box day. Same dif. Yay for grocery delivery.
I also ordered 10 pounds of flour from my favorite mill. It needs to arrive soon, the sourdough starters are hungry and I’m running low on flour (the stores don’t have any).
I got a clothing delivery in the mail from a reputable store. They’re birthday gifts for a member of my household. While wrapping them, I had the distinct feeling that I should have just bought random cheap crap on Wish because it would have probably been the same effect. They’re a little odd. I’m definitely returning (or maybe donating) one shirt. I’m not sure it’s worth the hassle of trying to return it.
So, everything is weird. Same as yesterday! Whee!
Talk to me about this sourdough starter…
@kale I have 2 starters though they came from the same original starter, so they are basically the same. I did add a bit of the last yeast from my grandparent’s restaurant to one of the two though, so that’s what differentiates them (and in my head, that one has a little grandparent love in it). They do smell just a tiny bit different and they seem to behave slightly differently, but I don’t know if that means much. I got the original starter from a friend who got it from her former neighbor. I’ve never started one from scratch (that’s an experiment for a time when it’s easier to obtain flour!). I feed them flour and water. I haven’t had them too long, about a month and a half. I’ve made bread, rolls, pretzels, and crackers. Most often, I make crackers with the sourdough discards (usually when you feed them you discard part of the starter). If you have a starter, the crackers are delicious, 3 ingredients, pretty fool proof and easy. Crackers: set oven to 325 F, line a baking sheet with parchment. Mix 3/4 cup of sourdough starter (stir it down before you measure) with 2 Tablespoons of melted butter or another fat of your choice (I’ve only tried butter so far), add about 1 tsp salt. Mix and pour into pan, and spread thin. Then top with whatever you want to flavor your crackers with (you can also just mix in whatever). The first batch I made with dried herbs. One popular version in my house is poppy seed with some lemon or lime zest topped with a drizzle of honey (these come out a little soft on account of the honey). I’ve also tried cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar. oh and just plain is ok too particularly if you’re pairing it with cheese or something. Really anything you want to throw on there. I want to try pancakes next but I haven’t managed to feel sufficiently motivated in the morning yet (also, until today, I was running low on flour). We found a little bag of flour to tide me over until my Bluebird order arrives. I have no idea if any of that is what you wanted to know. I have wanted a starter ever since I read Sourdough by Robin Sloan. I spent the first week making jokes about playing the proper music for it and such. No one in my household thought I was the slightest bit funny. đŸ™‚
@apexbloom This is so wonderful, thank you so much! I’ve been trying to find yeast at the grocery store for weeks now and can’t seem to get my hands on it. Looking to find someone with a starter to share in my area or hoping the yeast fairies bring some my way soon. I’ll let you know how it goes when I do officially try to make the sourdough I’ve been dreaming about!
@kale Pro tip (which is to say, I’m not any sort of pro, but my grandparents were chefs), try a restaurant supply store (some of them are doing retail right now to try to get enough business). Anyway, you should be able to buy yeast there in huge packages. Store the yeast in the freezer. It’ll last a huge amount of time. I have some yeast that still works that’s over a decade old. It’s been in many freezers. Anyway, the sourdough starters are fun. I recommend getting or starting one. I was going to buy a King Arthur one and then a friend offered to get me the one I have (and hey, I like free stuff!). If you happen to live in Los Angeles, I’ll give you a starter (no contact porch pick up or delivery). Anyway, when you get a starter, try that cracker recipe. It’s seriously great.
@apexbloom I am far from LA but I appreciate the offer đŸ™‚ Will definitely check out the supply stores, that’s a good tip! Will def keep you posted
@kale Cool. I plan to try to make my own starter at some point (probably when it gets easier to find flour around here). Apparently everyone is baking now.
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I keep telling myself I’m going to do Duolingo, but haven’t gotten around to it đŸ™‚
Welcome to OD!
@thediarymaster Hey DiaryMaster! Long time, no see! I had an account years ago (can’t even remember the name of it). A few days ago, I found myself longing for OD. It still exists! Woo! Duolingo is pretty satisfying. I’m using it to brush up on French, which I studied in college, so it’s mostly review, but I’m also picking up some grammar and the like that I didn’t learn the first time around. The best thing about Duolingo is that the lessons are super short so it’s not a huge time commitment to do a lesson a day.
@apexbloom super short is exactly what I need đŸ™‚ I’m glad you’re back!
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I just read your previous entry title! I use ‘holy cats’ too! LOL Happy Belated (?) Birthday. I heart sourdough!! Noms!!! What are you learning? I’m trying to learn Portuguese. Cool eh?
@littleavocado Hi. It’s my kid’s birthday that’s coming up. Thanks. Nice to find a fellow user of Holy Cats! It’s great.
I’m brushing up on French. Portuguese, wow! I’m impressed. I hear that’s a tough one.
And the sourdough starters are some of my favorite things right now. I’m usually too lazy to make actual bread. I made sourdough pancakes today. My favorite is the cracker recipe. It’s above in a reply to Cabbage.
@apexbloom LOL Cool. đŸ˜› I usually say something a bit x-rated but, I’m learning not to swear so much… t’is hard bc I have Tourettes? Yes. In Canada where I live French is a second language… they teach it in school. I wonder though if the francophone section of Canada has to learn English non?
É a vida!
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