Mewthos woke me again just as I had fallen asleep! He was growling like a lion and - for some strange reason - attacked Ziva, when she joined him to see what he was growling at! I had to get up and join him as well to calm him down. Clearly, he wanted ME to know he's protecting us, or just that something was outside that I should know about. I couldn't see anything, though.
It's high time for another weekend! Mippies are bouncing off the walls in the mornings, mipping at me but running off when I try to grab them for cuddles. I woke on time, but snoozed for a while, making the odd snatching motion to try and grab a mip for a cuddle. Ziva was particularly mippy this morning, kept coming onto the bed, mipping in my ear, and dashing off whenever I moved. I'm glad that I'll be coming home early today, at least!
It's high time for another weekend! Mippies are bouncing off the walls in the mornings, mipping at me but running off when I try to grab them for cuddles. I woke on time, but snoozed for a while, making the odd snatching motion to try and grab a mip for a cuddle. Ziva was particularly mippy this morning, kept coming onto the bed, mipping in my ear, and dashing off whenever I moved. I'm glad that I'll be coming home early today, at least!
Whoopee! My groceries have arrived! The courier was outside at ten this morning! I've loaded everything into my car - it's two boxes - since there's nothing melty inside. Oh, now I just want to go home and open the boxes!
I considered making the drive to Pretoria East today, rather than next week, as I'm a little low on meats as well as out of chocolate - but I'd rather go prepared, with a list. And I haven't made a list for Alma (the butchery), yet. For chocolates, I planned to go to the local Spar around ten, where I could also try to get bread flour - in case the delivery doesn't arrive today - but then I decided that I'd rather bake myself some chocolate chip muffins. Hopefully this craving for chocolate will be over again soon!
I'll have to take stock of my freezer this weekend and make a proper list. And do a bit of planning - just keeping it real, rather than plan over ambitiously! Ha ha! I make these plans for cooking lovely meals - but then, when it's time to do that, I'm not in the mood, so it just stays in the freezer, taking up space!
My freezer space was fine, when I would go and get groceries weekly, but now I need to think a bit more carefully, if I want to keep a month's stock of bread and meats in there. I'm already keeping the extra butter & margarine in the fridge, rather than freezing it; and I'm no longer buying it only when it's on special - since I no longer get to the store on 'special' days. As I've said before, it's quite a different life-style and I haven't fully adapted, yet. But I'm getting there ...
I also have some ideas for cat furniture I'd like to build for my mippies, using the cardboard from their sachet boxes, and, of course, from my boxes. I'm thinking of designing something flexible, sort of building blocks that can be changed to make different shapes. Ambitious again, I know. But I will start with a very simple rectangular shape, see how that works, before I take it further.
I just can't wait to get home, now - and I also can't decide whether to start with a batch of bread rolls or go for a bread! It'll depend on how long the bread will take to bake - I read something about 13 hours for the whole process, but from the manual I gather it'll take much less time. I'll keep you posted!
On the way home I started wondering whether my increased chocolate craving is somehow linked to my increased milk intake? Well, I'm afraid, I'll get a chance to test the theory, as there was nobody there when I stopped to buy milk on the way home ...
At home, mippies had another visitor! A wild hare! None of them have ever seen such a strange animal before and it was pure pleasure watching their reaction! They couldn't decide whether to try and make friends or to chase, ha ha! Ziva just sat and watched from a distance, Mewthos came nearer, but the hare hopped away. When Janey saw that, she decided to give chase - that hare is bigger than she is! Ach, but she had great fun! Mewthos was clearly disappointed, Ziva continued to watch.
And then I started a load of laundry while unpacking my goodies! Ai, what fun! What a pleasure to unpack and see the fun goodies I got - I can't wait to taste or try them out! I also got two samples, last time I got a sample of African Potato Cream, this time I got an eczema lotion and a rehydrating face balm.
I took a walk around the garden and there are beans on my bushes! Still small and very few, but beans! First time, ever! There are also a few more Peas growing and the Leeks are finally sprouting, too! It's a pleasure to see and I can't wait to get started planting more! The Tomato plants are also doing well, growing like nobody's business!
And then I went to work on the Bread Maker, first unpacking it, then cleaning it, then setting it to bake for 10 minutes and cleaning it again, after it had cooled down.
I opted to give a basic white bread a try! I measured and added all the ingredients - I'm disappointed with the milk powder, though, it's all clumpy, so I have to mash it a bit to get powder. I think I'll try to use milk in future. And now the machine is busy making my first loaf of bread! Oh, and I forgot about baking paper, to spread some margarine inside to avoid the bread sticking - I used my fingers today, but put it on my shopping list.
It's quite interesting to watch, albeit just through the viewing glass. It starts with some jerking mixing actions for a while, then rotates that kneading blade until the dough is a nice ball. Then it's quiet - letting the dough rise, then it starts kneading again ... According to the timer, my bread should take three hours, so it should be done by eight tonight!
And at that point I started looking for Ziva and Mewthos, whom I hadn't seen for quite a long time! I began to seriously worry, calling and walking around outside, and it's getting dark! I was about to go nuts when Ziva appeared! And last - eventually - Mewthos showed up as well! I have no clue where they were, I don't know their 'places' here, which worries me somewhat - if anything should happen, I wouldn't know where to look for them! In PE, I would find Mewthos in the tree or on the neighbour's garage roof, but here?
And then it was time for mippies to come inside. Mewthos was mewling for his munchies already ... but Lady Jane and Ziva were watching something. I got up to look and saw a darkish cat! It showed no fear of me - so, I'm hoping it belongs to someone. I didn't encourage it, nor go near it - Ziva went up to it with a bushy tail, growling. And then came running inside!?! It was already quite dark, so I couldn't really see it's colouring or anything. It could have been black, or maybe tortoiseshell coloured, like Abby. But there was a white patch under its chin.
Hmm, during the kneading cycle, that Bread Maker seems to go walkies a bit. Good to know. I should place it in the center of the granite slab next time. So far, it hasn't gotten hot, since it hasn't started baking, yet. But the element is ringed about an inch or two off the bottom - not underneath. I'll keep an eye on it and will feel how hot it actually does get during the baking cycle. Carefully, of course! Duh!
I'm very happy with all the other goodies, though. Well, the bottle brush doesn't fit in the 1 liter bottles I use to re-fill my cool drink for work, but it fits in the 1 1/2 liter fruit juice bottles.
I think the bread is baking now. It feels warm around the lower half, where that element is, and the air vents are quite hot. But underneath? It's cool as you please! I have no idea why they insist on a 'surface which can resist high temperatures', really, I don't! I could put it on the counter top with no problem, even on my table! Baking my bread in the lounge is kind of funny, though.
I'm really hungry now, since - silly me - I took out only a Frikadelle for dinner (the mince patty thingy). Mippies were very disappointed that I refused to share, but I'm really hungry - there just wasn't enough! I think, tomorrow, I'll make Pizza! Well, I'll see how I feel tomorrow, after a good breakfast, but making the base is simple enough now - and it would give me a chance to try some of my new goodies!
Aaaaand my first bread is baked! Now to just wait for it to cool down! Oh, where shall I find the patience? Well, for one thing, the kneading blade is so deep inside, I had to break it out, ha ha! The top is kind of light, yet the sides are brown - I had set it to medium, the colour of the crust, that is. I guess next time I should open it up when it starts baking and put some butter or margarine on top? And I'll try 'dark' next time, too.
While waiting for the bread to cool, I sat on the bed with Ziva and a paper stick! She is so playful now, it's such a pleasure! Lady Jane joined us, but turned her back on me. Mewthos came and looked but went to sit on the arm chair, instead.
Well, I've just had the first slice of my bread and it is quite delicious! Not quite what I expected, though - but then again, I'm not sure what exactly I did expect, ha ha! But I'm sure eager to try baking with rye! I didn't get any, this time, but I will next time, for sure. Next attempt I'll try the wholemeal. This is fun! I'm getting quite into the whole food-making thing again, who knows where this could lead, if I don't watch myself, ha ha!
At least I'm not hungry anymore, so back to sitting on my bed with my mippies and watching an episode of Enterprise.
On the way home I started wondering whether my increased chocolate craving is somehow linked to my increased milk intake? Well, I'm afraid, I'll get a chance to test the theory, as there was nobody there when I stopped to buy milk on the way home ...
At home, mippies had another visitor! A wild hare! None of them have ever seen such a strange animal before and it was pure pleasure watching their reaction! They couldn't decide whether to try and make friends or to chase, ha ha! Ziva just sat and watched from a distance, Mewthos came nearer, but the hare hopped away. When Janey saw that, she decided to give chase - that hare is bigger than she is! Ach, but she had great fun! Mewthos was clearly disappointed, Ziva continued to watch.
And then I started a load of laundry while unpacking my goodies! Ai, what fun! What a pleasure to unpack and see the fun goodies I got - I can't wait to taste or try them out! I also got two samples, last time I got a sample of African Potato Cream, this time I got an eczema lotion and a rehydrating face balm.
I took a walk around the garden and there are beans on my bushes! Still small and very few, but beans! First time, ever! There are also a few more Peas growing and the Leeks are finally sprouting, too! It's a pleasure to see and I can't wait to get started planting more! The Tomato plants are also doing well, growing like nobody's business!
And then I went to work on the Bread Maker, first unpacking it, then cleaning it, then setting it to bake for 10 minutes and cleaning it again, after it had cooled down.
I opted to give a basic white bread a try! I measured and added all the ingredients - I'm disappointed with the milk powder, though, it's all clumpy, so I have to mash it a bit to get powder. I think I'll try to use milk in future. And now the machine is busy making my first loaf of bread! Oh, and I forgot about baking paper, to spread some margarine inside to avoid the bread sticking - I used my fingers today, but put it on my shopping list.
It's quite interesting to watch, albeit just through the viewing glass. It starts with some jerking mixing actions for a while, then rotates that kneading blade until the dough is a nice ball. Then it's quiet - letting the dough rise, then it starts kneading again ... According to the timer, my bread should take three hours, so it should be done by eight tonight!
And at that point I started looking for Ziva and Mewthos, whom I hadn't seen for quite a long time! I began to seriously worry, calling and walking around outside, and it's getting dark! I was about to go nuts when Ziva appeared! And last - eventually - Mewthos showed up as well! I have no clue where they were, I don't know their 'places' here, which worries me somewhat - if anything should happen, I wouldn't know where to look for them! In PE, I would find Mewthos in the tree or on the neighbour's garage roof, but here?
And then it was time for mippies to come inside. Mewthos was mewling for his munchies already ... but Lady Jane and Ziva were watching something. I got up to look and saw a darkish cat! It showed no fear of me - so, I'm hoping it belongs to someone. I didn't encourage it, nor go near it - Ziva went up to it with a bushy tail, growling. And then came running inside!?! It was already quite dark, so I couldn't really see it's colouring or anything. It could have been black, or maybe tortoiseshell coloured, like Abby. But there was a white patch under its chin.
Hmm, during the kneading cycle, that Bread Maker seems to go walkies a bit. Good to know. I should place it in the center of the granite slab next time. So far, it hasn't gotten hot, since it hasn't started baking, yet. But the element is ringed about an inch or two off the bottom - not underneath. I'll keep an eye on it and will feel how hot it actually does get during the baking cycle. Carefully, of course! Duh!
I'm very happy with all the other goodies, though. Well, the bottle brush doesn't fit in the 1 liter bottles I use to re-fill my cool drink for work, but it fits in the 1 1/2 liter fruit juice bottles.
I think the bread is baking now. It feels warm around the lower half, where that element is, and the air vents are quite hot. But underneath? It's cool as you please! I have no idea why they insist on a 'surface which can resist high temperatures', really, I don't! I could put it on the counter top with no problem, even on my table! Baking my bread in the lounge is kind of funny, though.
I'm really hungry now, since - silly me - I took out only a Frikadelle for dinner (the mince patty thingy). Mippies were very disappointed that I refused to share, but I'm really hungry - there just wasn't enough! I think, tomorrow, I'll make Pizza! Well, I'll see how I feel tomorrow, after a good breakfast, but making the base is simple enough now - and it would give me a chance to try some of my new goodies!
Aaaaand my first bread is baked! Now to just wait for it to cool down! Oh, where shall I find the patience? Well, for one thing, the kneading blade is so deep inside, I had to break it out, ha ha! The top is kind of light, yet the sides are brown - I had set it to medium, the colour of the crust, that is. I guess next time I should open it up when it starts baking and put some butter or margarine on top? And I'll try 'dark' next time, too.
While waiting for the bread to cool, I sat on the bed with Ziva and a paper stick! She is so playful now, it's such a pleasure! Lady Jane joined us, but turned her back on me. Mewthos came and looked but went to sit on the arm chair, instead.
Well, I've just had the first slice of my bread and it is quite delicious! Not quite what I expected, though - but then again, I'm not sure what exactly I did expect, ha ha! But I'm sure eager to try baking with rye! I didn't get any, this time, but I will next time, for sure. Next attempt I'll try the wholemeal. This is fun! I'm getting quite into the whole food-making thing again, who knows where this could lead, if I don't watch myself, ha ha!
At least I'm not hungry anymore, so back to sitting on my bed with my mippies and watching an episode of Enterprise.
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