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Category: Happiness
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On a Rainy Day
On a rainy day, the young chicks take a break out of the rain.
On a rainy day, the foxgloves are lush.
On a rainy day, the dogs play king of the hill.
On a rainy day, the white flower beans 白花豆 bloom.
On a rainy day, new garlic is best. I’ve always wondered what to call fresh garlic, before the skins turn to paper, while the cloves are still moist and juicy. It’s how garlic is meant to be eaten. You never see it in the stores. Garlic is usually dried before it is sold in stores. What a shame. I’ve heard the term “wet garlic” used to describe this garlic. I’ll call it virgin garlic … make that extra virgin garlic. Garlic that is plucked out of the moist earth, while the skins are still soft and supple. Extra virgin garlic peels easily and tastes sublime. The best produce never makes it to the box stores.
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Delicate Perfection
Days in the Pacific Northwest don’t get any better than this. The hydrangeas are opening, their blue as brilliant as the sky. Their opening signifies that summer has arrived. So do the ripening thimble berries. Among the best of all berries, you have to grow them to enjoy them. They are too delicate to pick, pack, and ship to market. You have to eat them off the bush.
On a perfect day, there is sign of trouble in the garden. Takuma 拓真 has discovered potatoes. I don’t let chickens in the garden as they will dig up and ravish the potatoes. Will I have to banish the dogs from the garden too? I hope not. Gardening without dogs is like a day without chocolate.
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You Can Always Do Better
Each loaf I bake is a chance to do better. This morning’s loaf came out very well with a nice crust, and a nice chew inside with plenty of holes. I increased the moisture content of the dough, using 500 grams of whole wheat flour and 450 grams of water, a 10 to 9 ration of flour to water.
Letting the dough rise for two days gives the yeast plenty of time to work its magic and turn the dough into a springy, elastic dough which bakes into a loaf with a good crunch on the outside, and a soft chew inside.
When you handle dough that’s risen for two days, with the occasional folding, you can feel that it is very much alive when you put it into the hot oven. You almost feel sorry for all the yeast cells that you are sending to their death. One minute, they are happily gorging and multiplying on the moist whole wheat flour. The next minute they are experiencing the fires of hell and releasing gas as they breathe their last breath.
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An Endless Stream of Flowers
Summer is an endless stream of flowers.
An endless stream of flowers and vigorously growing vegetation. The gobo 牛蒡 have made it an adventure to get into the hoop house. A few snips takes care of that.
The dogs are more interested in playing than admiring the flowers. Nature relieves stress, melts anger, grows happiness. All you have to do is let nature hold you in its loving arms.
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Opening Day
The chickens like to rest under an eave when a shower wets their feathers. Other places they’ll scurry to in a downpour are the cedar and sequoia trees.
Yesterday was opening day at Bow Little Market. This is the second year we’ve had a farm stand, and I was pleased when a customer said she was glad we were back. She missed having eggs that didn’t have the names of the hens who laid them.
It was a great opening day, no rain, cool weather, plenty of smiling faces, and good company. It’s relaxed, friendly people who come to a farmers market.
