Sidney and Sally

Today I signed up for a five day crash course in homesteading. Don't laugh, she said it doesn't matter where you live, homesteading is a frame of mind. Anyone who knows John, my sweet husband, or me at all knows that our frame of mind has always leaned toward homesteading. Life works this way really - a couple weeks ago I decided to start searching for something I'd probably call suburban homesteading. You know if I'm thinking about it, someone else already has (probably about a million someones) and I'd be able to find something. My search wasn't empty, but it wasn't abundant either. I got distracted and went on to the next thing. Then tonight as I'm surfing the socials I happened upon this very kind lady who told me that anyone can homestead, even if they live in the suburbs or on a high rise apartment building. Okay, you have my attention. 

The crash course if free. I'm sure I'll learn some things and hear some things that I haven't thought of before - that's if I remember to log onto the course LOL. I'll let you know when I know.

In the meantime, my current adventure happens to be synonymous with homesteading - at least it seems to be. Sourdough. I had a starter on my counter for probably a year towards the beginning of our marriage. I don't recall it being a challenge honestly. But the past year I've tried it twice. The first time I threw in the towel after about a month. To be fair, I had a lot of things going on at the same time, and the particular recipe I was using resulted in a lot of wasted flour - way more than the current recipe. I started the most recent batch a little over a week ago. When I did, I joined about four Facebook groups to get some support and understanding of just what I had done wrong the last time. Boy, are people serious about their sourdough. I kept reading other members questions and concerns and they kept telling them to be patient and keep doing all the things - it took mine six weeks, or a month... What? Wait, are you telling me I might not get this thing going for a month!? Nah. I'll take the cheater's way. And so I did. I started a new batch and modified it so that it didn't waste so much flour. I kept what I already started too to compare how things all work out. Well, let me tell you, Sidney and Sally (the two I started with the cheaters' way have already done amazing things. Sidney doubled last night in the first two hours. Tonight, Sidney and Sally both tripled. And poor Tilly? She's still just sitting there watching the others grow and get all bubbly and happy. I wonder if some of the yeast will actually make its way from the cheater jars to the wild jar. Maybe. I was also cautioned by a friend that it might explode on me and make a mess. I am aware this possibility. I pray it does not happen.

I'm experimenting with lots of breads. I have plans for a lot of baking. I have plans for a lot of things. Let's see what God has in mind.

To be continued...