I had quite a bad night again. I keep waking around one in the morning every night, lately. Last night, it was so hot, I got up and washed myself in the basin before going back to bed! I considered taking a shower, but decided against it. And the mosquitoes? Yikes! Buzzing and biting like crazy ... I'm just about ready to go after them with a shot-gun! Told you: crazy!
Mewthos mewled, mewled, mewled me awake at half past five, so at least I didn't oversleep. I don't know what his problem is - he so badly wants to go outies! Can't let him, though. Tomorrow! He just didn't let up, mewling away like a siren! Right in my ear, too!
Ah, well. I got up, made coffee, shut the passage door ... and had to give mippies a treat. Mewthos just would not stop mewling! Well, it's okay, I've budgeted for 4 sachets a day - and I give them 3 in the evenings, so a 4th one most mornings is perfectly within my budget.
I've written a useful shopping list this time - in the past, I've often focused on what I need plus what I could use, without taking the processing time into consideration. This time, I got just 2 items to process, so it shouldn't 'cost' me too much weekend time.
At work, the first teleconference with our client - they hadn't answered the phone Monday nor Wednesday. Then at nine the Info session I had been preparing - which went off very well! We've got enthusiasm and momentum going - very promising!
After the meeting I went on my shopping trip. They had blackberries and raspberries! Wow! And not too expensive! So, I took a whole lot of each - sigh, adding to my processing time, of course. But they are so scarce, got to take them when I can get them! I also treated myself to Sushi again - but only 1/2 the usual size, as I had packed lunch. I managed to get everything on my list, except chicken hearts. And - apart from the berries - I didn't get anything not on my list! Good girl, eh? Well, I'm serious about sticking to my budget. Until now, I've worked on a rough guideline, but if I want to maintain my standard of living with the rent increase, etc - and no salary increase - I've got to keep a closer eye on my spending.
Not that I'm frivolous - well, except when it comes to seeds, maybe. Ha ha, no maybe about it, if I'm to be honest! And in the past, I've based my decisions regarding additional expenses - like the bread machine - purely on current bank balance. Now, I need to 'save up' for such items, like the vacuum sealer I still want. Make sure it falls within the 'grocery, etc' budget.
Today, I've already reduced the online shopping list by a few items, which I could get cheaper in store - without compromising quality! I got white bread flour, a different brand, but the same quality - I tried that brand before, and it's not as finely ground, and seems to have a higher moisture content, but I like the rough ground. They had only one bag, though, and no brown bread flour.
So, I've spent a bit more than I expected today - but will spend less than expected on my online order. Coffee was on special, so - after some hesitation - I got two, not just one.
On the way home, I thought what I should do about dinner. I hadn't taken anything out, as I was going to go shopping. I figured I'd get something. I've got some Porterhouse Steak - but ... I'm not really in the mood for steak tonight. In the end, I decided on another, new bread experiment! I decided to add some of my cream cheese to the dough as well as grated cheddar!
First thing I did at home was to carry the shopping inside and unpack it. Then I went for a walk around the garden before setting the dough. Before starting in the garden, I decided to freeze the berries I got today - good thing, too! Even though the date claims that they were packed yesterday and the day before - with a sell-by date of Monday & Tuesday ... they were already looking ready to grow mold! Funny thing, though, the one's packed the day before yesterday looked fresher than the ones packed yesterday! Which leads me to believe that the 'packed' date is NOT the date they were picked and packed, but the date when the retailer, Spar, re-packs them! So, since the one's packed yesterday look worse, I'm guessing they started packing when they arrived, fresh from the farm ... then, at the end of their shift, left them standing in the aisle (not refrigerated) until they were ready to continue! And that also answers the questions 'who squashes them'! That's not done on the farm, but at Spar! The blackberries were a little squishy, simply because the container was a little too small for the quantity.
Well, they're all cleaned, packed and in the freezer now.
Then I went to continue the work on the Spekboom bed and the path in front of it. Which I finished! Good thing, too, as the ground is already hardening again and in some places I could barely get the fork in to loosen the ground. When I was done, I continued with the bed and path from that corner working north. I got half that bed done - with the path in front of it, too.
Then I sat waiting for my mippies. Ziva and Mewthos were already there, waiting for 'time'. Eventually I had to call. It took less than a minute for both Janey and Mini come running at top speed!
After feeding mippies, I checked on my dough - I'd left it a bit long. It was 'finished' about an hour ago already ... uhm ... not good! It's all crumbly and dry! Sigh. I checked the recipe and realised that I'd added 1/4 cup of water less than I should have. I decided to try and save it. I've added the missing water, re-kneaded it ... it's rising! Which is promising! Although it's now rather late, ha ha! Should have checked on the dough when it was due to be ready, eh?
Well, if I keep making differently tasting bread, I won't need to put anything on them! Butter alone will be perfect! Okay, so I'd be eating the same taste all week - but I'm doing that already, anyway. The cold meats I buy and freeze, I defrost one at a time. That's one per week. I can't sit and mix and match slice by slice when I freeze them - and since I can't get a mix once a week, that's the way I roll!
The loaf is baking now - it sure looks very different from any I've ever made before. Even though I cut slices in the top, when it rose, it didn't widen those cuts, but broke lengthwise. But it smells good! Too late for dinner tonight, though. But definitely ready for breakfast tomorrow!
Oh, funny thing happened today! I got a message, apologising for a video call - apparently, the person sat on her phone! I had no clue what she was talking about, until I got home and saw the missed video call on facebook! Ha Ha, I couldn't help myself, but reply 'Bummer!'
On the way home, I thought what I should do about dinner. I hadn't taken anything out, as I was going to go shopping. I figured I'd get something. I've got some Porterhouse Steak - but ... I'm not really in the mood for steak tonight. In the end, I decided on another, new bread experiment! I decided to add some of my cream cheese to the dough as well as grated cheddar!
First thing I did at home was to carry the shopping inside and unpack it. Then I went for a walk around the garden before setting the dough. Before starting in the garden, I decided to freeze the berries I got today - good thing, too! Even though the date claims that they were packed yesterday and the day before - with a sell-by date of Monday & Tuesday ... they were already looking ready to grow mold! Funny thing, though, the one's packed the day before yesterday looked fresher than the ones packed yesterday! Which leads me to believe that the 'packed' date is NOT the date they were picked and packed, but the date when the retailer, Spar, re-packs them! So, since the one's packed yesterday look worse, I'm guessing they started packing when they arrived, fresh from the farm ... then, at the end of their shift, left them standing in the aisle (not refrigerated) until they were ready to continue! And that also answers the questions 'who squashes them'! That's not done on the farm, but at Spar! The blackberries were a little squishy, simply because the container was a little too small for the quantity.
Well, they're all cleaned, packed and in the freezer now.
Then I went to continue the work on the Spekboom bed and the path in front of it. Which I finished! Good thing, too, as the ground is already hardening again and in some places I could barely get the fork in to loosen the ground. When I was done, I continued with the bed and path from that corner working north. I got half that bed done - with the path in front of it, too.
Then I sat waiting for my mippies. Ziva and Mewthos were already there, waiting for 'time'. Eventually I had to call. It took less than a minute for both Janey and Mini come running at top speed!
After feeding mippies, I checked on my dough - I'd left it a bit long. It was 'finished' about an hour ago already ... uhm ... not good! It's all crumbly and dry! Sigh. I checked the recipe and realised that I'd added 1/4 cup of water less than I should have. I decided to try and save it. I've added the missing water, re-kneaded it ... it's rising! Which is promising! Although it's now rather late, ha ha! Should have checked on the dough when it was due to be ready, eh?
Well, if I keep making differently tasting bread, I won't need to put anything on them! Butter alone will be perfect! Okay, so I'd be eating the same taste all week - but I'm doing that already, anyway. The cold meats I buy and freeze, I defrost one at a time. That's one per week. I can't sit and mix and match slice by slice when I freeze them - and since I can't get a mix once a week, that's the way I roll!
The loaf is baking now - it sure looks very different from any I've ever made before. Even though I cut slices in the top, when it rose, it didn't widen those cuts, but broke lengthwise. But it smells good! Too late for dinner tonight, though. But definitely ready for breakfast tomorrow!
Oh, funny thing happened today! I got a message, apologising for a video call - apparently, the person sat on her phone! I had no clue what she was talking about, until I got home and saw the missed video call on facebook! Ha Ha, I couldn't help myself, but reply 'Bummer!'
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