the outcome

I know, I know. I promised a picture of the bread. It actually turned out better than I expected. Sometimes, I don't knead dough long enough for fear of over-working it. Having grown up without the hands-on experience of the "old world" style of baking, I am mostly self-taught. When you don't grow up making your own bread, you have to learn these things by trial and error.

I have learned the way!

Check out the challah before it goes in the oven...

and after!

 Delicious!

more on bread

I apologize to my paleo readers.

If you just read that and went, huh? Don't worry, it's not you.

I'm baking challah bread today.

Why? You ask.

Because I found a recipe for it when I was looking for a soup.

I found the soup recipe but couldn't stop thinking about the challah.

Mostly because I like saying it.

"Holla!"

That's how I say it.

With attitude.

So today, I decided to bake it.

Because I had time.

Or I thought I had time.

It's rising for the second time.

I braided it.

It looks pretty.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

stocking up on carbs

As I was getting the cream for my coffee, I realized that there is a lot of bread in the house.

I bought a loaf of olive parmesan bread last week at a bakery in Traverse City.

We have a regular loaf of wheat bread for Sunday breakfast and normal use.

Then, Bill and I decided to have reubens (thanks to our friends Jess and Jake who gave us their last jar of homemade sauerkraut). Bill likes rye, but I do not.

I read up on reubens and found a few suggestions for using pretzel bread instead.

So, I bought a loaf of rye and pretzel buns.

There are hamburger buns in the freezer as well as a loaf of Italian bread.

Do you think that's enough carbs?

Good thing neither one of us gave up bread for Lent.

the sky is falling

I am sitting here in the dining room. Every so often there is a loud noise and more snow slides off the roof, crashing to the ground right outside the dining room windows.

Earlier today, I walked down to the end of our street to take these pictures. As I walked back, I noted that there was not a lot of snow left on the south side of the house (the dining room side).

How this much snow continues to melt and slide off the roof is a mystery to me.

I wanted to post these pictures because it is a gorgeous, sunny day. The blue sky is a welcome sign. The sun gives warmth even in the cold temperatures. The snow is still clinging to the trees. And because, as I was on my way home from Meijer, I saw this tree. It is Heather W's favorite tree (it is a Northern Oak) and she is the one who first pointed it out to me.

It's got great branches. I like the contrast of the snow and the blue sky.

This picture is the snow on our deck railing. I like how it's slowly melting and "falling" off the edge.

(Editor's note: this particular snow has now melted, which is why I went out earlier to take the pictures. Frosty's life is numbered by hours, not days.)

corduroys and long underwear

Another one bites the dust.

I have not shared the news that my wardrobe has become quite an issue. Mostly because everyone is tired of hearing how great my weight loss has gone. And because I don't want to jinx it.

Just since last winter I have dropped a size (in total I have lost ten sizes, wait, do you count each size or the number? I've either lost five sizes or ten).

This is good news (for me). I'm proud of what I've done. But I have had to empty my closets and drawers. Unfortunately I am not in a financial situation to clean my closet and refill it. I have donated the clothes that no longer fit me. Why leave them in the closet, taking up space?

Then, at the beginning of January, I was the recipient of a wonderful gift. A friend of mine cleaned out her closet and gave me several pairs of pants and a few skirts. The best part was they all fit! It was like Christmas and I didn't have to spend a dime. Thanks Jenny! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

On a slight tangent, I have been out shoveling. A few weeks ago it was cold. Single digit temperatures. My legs are always cold. I only have so many pairs of workout pants I could wear (and for whatever reason, I do not like shoveling in blue jeans). I mentioned that I pulled my leg warmers up as high as they would go.

I finally relented (or got smart) and purchased a pair of long underwear. They are wonderful. Why haven't I owned a pair before now?

Yes, snow pants would also work. But I haven't seen any in my size (I always see them in the kids section). So I went with the long johns.

Yesterday, I went to Meijer Gardens and wore the long underwear under the corduroy pants. Even then the corduroys were still too big (sorry Mom). It's time to donate them.

On a positive note, my legs have never been warmer when I shovel!