The bees are still out doing their thing, despite the cooling October temperatures. They especially seem to love the Michaelmas daisies. We have a big clump of these daisies off the back patio, both white ones and purple ones, and it's humming at this time of year.
I spent yesterday in bed and on the couch, mostly reading. I hesitate to say it, but I might be feeling a little better. It's hard to tell because I've also been taking Lemsip, a cold remedy containing paracetamol, and that might be giving me a false sense of wellness. Lemsip, a powder mixed into hot water to make a lemony drink, is the absolute nectar of the gods to a sick person.
I did get up the energy to vacuum the house yesterday, so that's something. And the lawn really needs to be mowed. I might do it today if I feel up to it. (It's a small lawn!)
Dave, meanwhile, made bread from scratch yesterday. I don't think he's ever done this, at least not as long as I've known him, but he turned out a very well-formed and well-baked loaf:
In fact Dave has been on a baking binge -- he also made an apple pie on Sunday. I have pretty much restricted my food intake to soup, which is what really appeals to me now. Anything with a thin broth or anything acidic and I'm all over it. Before Dave made soup I was eating canned tomatoes with toast, and they tasted fabulous. Must be the Vitamin C? It's funny how the body knows what it needs.
Oh, but I don't mean to imply I didn't eat Dave's pie. Of course I did, and it's yummy.
The boiler inspector came yesterday and found a fault in our boiler -- nothing dangerous, just a leaky diaphragm that allows water to seep out of the system. He's coming back today to replace it. No one wants a leaky diaphragm.
53 comments:
Ugh, a leaky diaphragm can be so unpleasant. The bread is a work of art. Hope you continue to feel better.
We bought a lovely small-flowered but abundant michaelmas daisy back from Bodnant last week. It is now waiting for a spot in the garden, but the bees were on it within about 5 minutes of standing it outside. It's like this one: https://rootstock.uk.com/symphyotrichum-aster-little-ness-or-small-ness/
Baking bread, at home, is a labour of love. And an art. You can't rush it. The process is almost meditative. That's why I got the Angel, age four, early on the job. Children live in the moment. Even if that moment stretches for ten fifteen twenty minutes doing the same thing - kneading. Can't stand it [kneading] myself. Fast forward two and a half decades and he does make a mean pizza from scratch.
When I arrived in England I was in despair. The bread was awful. Pap. Toaster. OH MY GOD. The choice is much better now. Albeit at a cost being ARTISAN. So, hats off to Dave.
Get him to make you Chicken Soup; not the gloopy stuff; the thin one based on plenty of good stock, with Chinese egg noodles, beansprouts, chicken and prawns, soya sauce and Thai Plam (fish sauce). You'll think you'll be back at your mother's bosom - not literally, just the care and comfort and a cooling hand on your feverish forehead.
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"A leaky diaphragm" could lead to an unwanted birth and you and Dave don't need that. He may be a crazy guy re. his attitude to dog walking but he deserves a big pat on the back for that loaf. Well done Dave!
Everyone has beaten me to it with smart arse comments about a leaky diaphragm and I can't do better.
Glad you’re on the mend even that stupid Puritan work ethic drove you to vacuuming and thoughts of mowing the lawn. Probably due to the restorative powers of homemade bread.
Hope the "feeling better" moment has continued into today. You might want to add a hot toddy to your recuperation menu. Just saying...
Good to hear that you are on the mend... don't rush it!!
Feel better, first off.
Secondly, I could never turn down bread and that loaf looks dee-lish!!!
I don't bake, I'm more of a cook, but Carlos loves to bake. I call him a MasterBaker and tell people he'd MasterBake all day long if he could.
GZ has the best approach and chicken soup is a great idea.
Look at that beautiful loaf of bread! I've determined that my sourdough starter needs rejuvenating.
I wonder why we don't have Lemsip here. If we did it would be called something like ColdZap.
Keep recovering.
That bread looks delicious! How wonderful that the bees are finding lots of food in your garden. I take Alka Seltzer for my colds. Get well soon, hugs, Edna B.
Glad you are feeling better each day. That bread looks delicious! Dave did a terrific job on that!
Take it easy and don't do too much too soon! :)
So glad you are feeling better, Steve.
That bread looks so good. I haven't baked in a while and now I'm feeling inspired to try again. Thank Dave for me!
glad you are starting to feel better. we don't have any fall asters here in the yard but the mistflower blooms same time of year and the bees have been all over it. that does look like a magnificent loaf of bread and he did it on his first try. I wish I could eat more bread, I generally restrict myself to one slice a day unless we have soup with french baguette for dinner.
Anything that soothes the throat makes you feel better.
That bread looks fabulous. You are right, I'm sure it would win praise from the great British bread masters. Glad you are feeling a bit better. I hope that is a good sign.
I'm glad I wasn't the only one that read that "leaky diaphragm" line and thought the same thing. ;-)
Good On You Brother Dave - Classic Post - Stay Strong
Cheers
P.S. Olga Girl Is In Need, In Need Of Something
Glad about the improvement and the yummy food. The bread looks professional! I'm sure Paul would approve.
Happy to hear you're better.
Nice to hear you are feeling better. That's a really pretty loaf of bread. :)
That bread is beautiful! Well done Dave.
I have had that cold too-well probably! I went back to school for the first time last week and by the weekend was ill. Yesterday I could hardly do anything so am happy not to feel so bad today! Hope yours properly goes soon!
I'm quite impressed with Dave's baking skills! There's nothing quite like homemade bread and it's been too long since I made any. I need to remedy that.
So glad you're feeling better!
I have a weakness for fresh baked bread. Fortunately I don't bake it very often and neither does my wife or I would be many carbohydrate induced pounds heavier!
Mmmmmm....breeeeaaddddd... Ps glad you are feeling better.
Tell Dave that's a beautiful loaf of bread. It looks like the No Knead Bread baked in a Dutch Oven in a very hot oven. But whatever it is, great job, Dave!
Unpleasant and potentially disastrous!
The mound-like growing habit of that one is interesting -- much neater than our wild types, which are very floppy!
Dave did make me a thin broth soup that I've been eating (drinking?) and we bought some more soup besides. I've really been craving it!
He has many culinary skills for which I probably don't given him proper credit here on the ol' blog.
I knew I would prompt some quips when I made that statement!
It's the bread's fault! (Well, that and the Presbyterian Church.)
That DOES sound good. I've still had my nightly glass of wine through this whole ordeal. Alcohol feels good on my throat!
Yeah, I'm taking an extra day off work to rest up.
LOL -- I just don't know what to say to that on a family blog.
Oh, we've been having lots of soup around here, believe me!
There must be something in the USA similar to Lemsip -- Theraflu, maybe? Isn't that made in a cup with hot water? But yeah, I never had Lemsip until I came to England.
Oh, Alka-Seltzer. That might be Lemsip-like, at least if it's in drinkable form.
He did do a good job! We're already about halfway through the loaf.
If you make bread be sure to tell us so I can let Dave know he inspired you!
Bees are still hungry for nectar at this time of year and they need some options. I can't remember if I've seen mistflower here or not.
It's true. Even hot water with a little lemon or mint is a balm.
I thought it the minute the repairman said it!
Olga girl is gaining some weight these days, LOL!
It looks good inside too!
Thank you!
Isn't it? Makes a nice picture.
As we all know, being around kids pretty much guarantees future illness! I'm hoping it also keeps our immune systems primed. :)
He's usually not a big bread baker, so this was a surprise to me too!
Yeah, that's the downside, especially when you're recuperating from a cold and not being very active.
I wish I could share the smell as well as the appearance!
He definitely kneaded it, and let it rise twice. (Which I guess is normal?) He then baked it in a pot in the oven, hence the round shape.
I get so freaked out these days if my taste buds change. I have a nagging cough right now and think I should get a covid test. Never mind that workmen are repointing our building's facade and drilling brick dust right outside my window! Feel better soon.
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