Baking Bread

I hate to admit this, but I just read (listened to) another Michael Pollan book. Cooked is about four different ways of cooking. One chapter was all about bread. So of course, I had to "get into bread" for a while. I've also "gotten back into fermentation" right now. We'll see how long these things last, but anyways, I've been cultivating this sourdough starter, and we're baking another loaf. They like to help and Evangeline likes to look for the yeast working. This is much more satisfying than brewing, because the yeast works right away, and you get to eat it the next day, rather than stare at it in a glass jar for a month first. They're actually really good at stirring new flour into the starter.

Happy Πάσχα!

We celebrated the paschal feast in sincerity and truth this weekend.

The Easter Vigil continues to grow, both in attendance and size of fire.

This was the best one yet.

 Aunt Jessie, Grandma Becky and Baba came too.

I think the pictures pretty much speak for themselves.

The day was beautiful, adorned with alleluias, wonderful Easter dresses, flowers, and plenty of laughter.

Current Events

chicken update

Okay, I promise there is a photo of a human being that you care about in here.

I put the new chickens in their outside box spring coop for a while today. They loved it.

We're going to eat these two chickens.
But you know, most of the chicken you eat doesn't get to peck around and eat worms.
I don't know how many chickens I eat a year, and we're probably not even making a dent in that at all, but I like the idea of giving them a nice life before I eat them, rather than having them in some chicken shed and letting someone else do the dirty work of slaughtering birds who never saw the light of day.
The weird thing about all of this is that I still totally love Chicfila.

The old guy meets the new kids.
I was a little surprised no one got killed.

This buff orpington seems to be the one that likes Evangeline the most.
This is a good thing because we're not going to eat this chicken.

I moved that black pot and uncovered a big anthill.
The old chickens came and devoured them, but the little guy wanted to see what was going on.

That didn't last long.
But again, no one got killed.

Wintry Mix

So Greensboro is in an official state of emergency.

Much of the city is without power, and this will not be restored until Wednesday.

Our electricity remained intact.

We've had some powerless houseguests the past two nights.

The storm was pretty crazy. Lots and lots of heavy ice that just stuck to the trees.

The tree in the driveway was shedding branches left and right, so I decided to move the cars.
About 3 minutes after, this branch fell right where the windshield would have been.

Those telephone lines didn't survive, and are now laying in our driveway.

We took a stroll down to church to see what was going on there.

Then today we headed up the mountain for Aunt Carol's 60th birthday.

The kids abandoned cake and ice cream to stand attentive at the opening of presents.

New Routine

The bedtime routine changes every few months. 

For a while it was listening to Born to Run. 

For a while it was chocolate prentzels. 

For a while it was Irene went to bed and Evangeline got to watch stuff in our room.

Here is the new bedtime routine.

After the bath, they get to watch one (or two) videos on the netflix.
Tonight they also wanted to eat some fruits and vegetables.
And then Irene laid on Evangeline.
And then they went to bed.
At the same time.

Future Flower Girl

Audrey came over and gave us this beautiful flower girl dress the other day.

Which is exactly what Evangeline has been wanting - 

a long white dress that goes all the way to the ground.

So here it is!

Holding the doorknob.

Having accidentally removed the doorknob, she now tries to show that its not a big deal.

See?! Fixed it!

Yes, I gave her some m&m's.