Joy is a gift, given to Believers as they grow in maturity in Christ.
Galatians 5:22
Contentment is a command.
Happiness depends on happenstance.
As soon as we learn that, we more often have all three.
And here is the recipe:
1 lb butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 c. powdered sugar
Blend above, well.
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Blend in well.
4 1/2 c. flour
2 Tbsp. pulverized, food-grade lavender blossoms
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
Sift above and mix in, well. Drop by teaspooon onto ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with glass dipped into sugar.
Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Mmm!
What I love about this bread recipe is that the steps are spread over two days, leaving me time to do many other things, such as laundry or shopping, between steps. It’s just more convenient for the way I live and operate. It’s also very forgiving; I once fell asleep while it was rising and it did not run everywhere, but just kept rising slowly. I guess for my slow ways, it’s just my type. Enjoy!
First the sour dough starter:
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 cups water
1 pkg. dry, active yeast
Stir together with wire whip in a non-reactive container large enough to allow for foaming, and allow to sit at room temperature, lightly covered, stirring occasionally, for 2 days. It should smell a bit like beer and double in size before receding. This will make several loaves.
Now, the bread:
On the evening of the third day, in a very large bowl, blend well:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil (I use good quality olive oil)
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 cup starter
1 tbsp. salt
To this mixture add 6 cups bread flour and stir until it can be kneaded. Knead slightly to make a ball. Cover bowl lightly. (I use a pizza pan.)
If you plan to use your starter again the next day, feed* and cover it and leave it out. If not, place it, covered, in refrigerator; feed it and bring it to room temperature before the night you are ready to use it.
In the morning, punch down dough, knead lightly, and form two loaves in greased bread pans.
Place in oven on top rack with a 9″x13″ pan of hot water on bottom rack. Close oven. Do not turn oven on. Leave in oven until doubled in size, which may take half a day, but watch it…
Once bread has doubled in size, remove all pans from oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Then bake the bread for 30 to 35 minutes.
This bread is so good, my sons used to take it with them to college, etc. It really doesn’t need butter or jelly, although my husband and I once ate a whole stick of butter spread on this bread, in one sitting. And we only walked away from it, then, because we knew we must. I could eat this all day and all night.
When you make this, let us know how it turns out!
*To feed the starter, mix together 1 cup flour and 1 cup water, and stir into starter.
Stuck.
Many people have been stuck inside all day for many days.
Many people and their children have been stuck inside all day for many days.
Results?
CABIN FEVER
The symptoms can look like a dread disease and fool even the wisest of moms:
It’s enough to make a mom lay a hand on the forehead or neck of a child and check for fever, but in the case of cabin fever, there is no fever.
I know.
That’s because the cause is not a germ or virus, but just a lack of exercise, whether physical or mental or spiritual.
So here’s how you cure spirit, mind, and body:
Be thankful. You can make it fun:
Play games. Games can be themed on the snow days:
Exercise. Good mental and emotional health depends on good bodily health and exercise is often the missing ingredient when children are cooped up and acting “feverish”. You’ll have to lead a bit more in this one, but:
Pretend. If you have lights and water, etc., try pretending you don’t. This will REALLY lengthen your paper chain, above. Pretend you have to:
Last, but not least, get some sun and fresh air. Require they go outdoors at least for fifteen minutes and expose face and hands to the sun. It will do wonders. Explain how they need the sun on their skin to feel healthy and how much this will help with their sluggish feelings. Then prepare to be amazed.
…And how to decide…
Once, long ago, my adorable grandchildren spent a week with me while their mother steam cleaned carpets throughout their house.
I had many plans for fun activities and the first day went marvelously.
Until bedtime.
At bedtime, one of my sweeties began noticing the unfamiliarity of everything, and how Mom and Dad were at home, where she was beginning to long to be, also.
In other words, at the most contemplative time for most children, my granddaughter grew homesick.
She was serious about it, too, complete with tears.
After a short conference with Granddad, I offered her to call home. She was eager, and visited with Mom and Dad for a bit. We assured them we would try to make staying with us work but would call before we came if it didn’t.
At that time, the ball was back in my court.
I thought about times I’d had a tough decision to make. This was a tough decision for a little one: Do I want fun with Grandmother or do I want my mommy?
My tough decision days are mostly over, but I remember them. I know we second-guess ourselves into a state of shock sometimes, because I’ve been there. I also know it’s not too hard to hurdle indecision and arrive at a good choice.
Here’s what I told my granddaughter that night, that made her decide immediately and happily for the right thing:
Sweetheart, whenever Grandmother has to choose what to do, I think about what will happen if I do each choice. I think about how I will feel about it after the choice.
For you, the choice is to stay here with brother and sister and have fun with us, lots of rides, special treats, places to go, making cookies, and many other fun things. OR you can go home right now; I will take you and you can be with Mom and Dad in your own home and in your own bed.
She listened intently and I could tell she was liking what I said, as if it was lining up her tortuous thoughts for her, in itself a great help. I continued:
If I take you home, though, you will stay home the whole week. I will not come back and get you again, if you change your mind again. You’ll just be at home.
Nothing fun is happening at home. Daddy is going to work every day and Mom is spending all the time you are gone, with house cleaning. It’s hard work and she will not have time to play with you. In fact, she probably will ask you to help with all that work.
If you decide to stay tonight and play with us tomorrow, and if you still don’t like it then, I will take you home, to spend the rest of the time working with Mom.
But if you decide to stay until tomorrow, we will make beanbags, sample the apple juice popsicles we made today, bake cookies, and barbecue for supper.
I saw her tense up again, which told me I was describing the entire dilemma accurately. Lastly, I talked about her feelings as they would be on the other side of her decision:
So tell me how you will feel tomorrow, if you go home tonight. You will wake up and find no one to play with and only mom working all day long. You’ll have nothing to do but help her or play by yourself. And you will know brother and sister are here, playing, doing lots of fun things, but you will not be able to come back here because I cannot keep driving two hours every day because you changed your mind. So you’ll go to bed that night in your room without Sister there and you’ll know she’s here having fun.
And think how you will feel if you stay the night here, tonight, and you wake up tomorrow ready to play and make cookies and help granddad start the barbecue fire and all the new sand toys we got you will be waiting for you. And then the next day we do the camping , remember? And something special for the day after that, that you don’t even know about, yet.
Which do you want?
Well, I can tell you, she had a smile and a hug and she was all relieved of all those horrible second guesses. She knew what to do, at least that one night, for sure.
Would this method help you make a few decisions?
If so, the main things are:
That’s all there is to it. Some decisions are too tough to fit into this simple exercise, but those that are a good fit will become SO much easier! You’ll have brain cells left over!
This post was my first, ever, attempt at the weekly writing challenge.
Home's Cool! 