Monday, 17-03-25

Good morning again, everyone.  So the third week of March starts and time is whizzing away.  My son's birthday is past and my brother's is coming up tomorrow while I specially remember my mum right at the end of the month.  She died early in the morning of March 31st which was also Mothering Sunday that year.  This year the latter is on the 30th so the two days are consecutive.
So March is special for a number of reasons.

Yesterday was very quiet and very gentle.  I did very little really although I did have a go at a loaf.  

I tried to 'activate' the starter on Saturday and it did, sort of, but the dough was very static today with no rise worth speaking of.  In the end I cheated - don't hate me - I shoved the dough in Thermione and added a small sprinkle of dried yeast, less than I usually add, and gave it a quick knead.  By the evening the dough started rising nicely, wouldn't you know; far too late to continue the process so I bunged it in the fridge overnight, took a very nice looking lump of risen dough out a short while ago and it can slowly warm up again before I do the shaping, etc.  All I can say is the flavour had better be really good after taking all this time - the longer the process, the better the flavour.

As for the babes, Bubbles is sleeping but Squeak is becoming more quickly active.  Not as quick as it needs to be but getting stronger.  I'm baffled because I am feeding them both the same but patience, patience, patience . . . it all depends what yeasts they have each picked up, I suppose, and at least they both smell healthy and 'clean'.

Today, I have Circuits and then the usual Monday housework - plus a lazy loaf to deal with!
What plans do you have? 
Keep warm and stay safe.  xx