Work

The Seamstress Or, Young Woman Working Giclee Print
Duparc, Francoise
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My great-uncle used to carry a card that he passed out to everybody he met, and this is what was written on it:

WORK IS MAN'S GREATEST FUNCTION

He is nothing, he can do nothing, he can achieve nothing, fulfill nothing without working.

If you are poor-work. If you are rich-continue working.

If you are burdened with seemingly unfair responsibilities- work.

If you are happy, keep right on working. Idleness gives room for doubts and fears.

If disappointments come-work. If your health is threatened- work.

When faith falters- work. When dreams are shattered and hope seems dead- work.

Work as if your life were in peril. It really is.

No matter what ails you-work. Work faithfully, work with faith.

Work is the greatest remedy available- for both mental and physical afflictions.

-James M. Cowan.

I think about my uncle's work ethic when I remember that I once gave my great-uncle a "worry stone" (a smooth stone you can rub with your fingers) and he told me he wore a hole in it. I don't think it was from worry, I think he just worked at it too hard!

Watching Father Work Giclee Print
Neuhuys, Albert...
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This was pasted in my grandmother's scrapbook. I do not know who wrote it, but it looks like it was in a church bulletin:

WORK

How true it is when I am sad

A little work can make me glad.

When frowning care comes to my door

I work a while and fret no more.

I leave my couch harassed with pain,

I work, and soon I'm well again.

When sorrow comes and vain regret,

I go to work and soon forget.

Work soothes the soul when joys depart,

And often mends a broken heart.

The idle mind soon fills with murk,

So that's why God invented work.

The Dairyman Brings Fresh Milk in Two Buckets Hung on a Yoke into His Dairy Giclee Print
Bedford, Francis
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Quotable Quotes (also from Grandma's scrapbook):
"The best way to leave your footprints in the sands of time is to wear your work shoes."

"If fifty million people do a foolish thing, it's still a foolish thing."

The Boatbuilder in His Yard with Two Nearly Completed Boats Giclee Print
Bedford, Francis
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The Caffeine in your Tea

Tea in the Garden Giclee Print
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There is an interesting article here about the caffeine in tea, including the caffeine found in the different types of tea:

http://elmwoodinn.com/about/caffeine.html

Sourdough Bread

Written By Food Editor Bessie Baker Cook

 Ms. R. shared a recipe with me years ago from her friend Mrs. C., for sourdough starter. I will share it here, with my variations.

2 cups flour

3 Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. active dry yeast

1/2 tsp. salt

2 cups warm water

Combine all ingredients in a 4-6 cup plastic or glass pitcher, using a plastic or wooden spoon. Cover with cloth and sit in a warm place free from drafts. Let ferment 2-3 days, stirring several times each day. 

Refrigerate with the pitcher lid on, feeding every ten days with equal amounts flour and water (usually 1 cup). Before making bread, leave the starter out overnight, take out what you need in the morning, and put the starter back in the fridge. 

I made this years ago, and had the starter for a long time, but did not keep it up. In the interest of frugality I got out the recipe again and made a new starter. I calculate that I am saving $250 a year (possibly more) by making my own bread. I have a one-month-old starter now, and as I found that I was making bread every day or every other day, I left the starter out on the cupboard. Also, I fed it a little more so that I could make a double batch of bread every once in a while. It is alive so far, and my children and I make several batches of beautiful bread every week. 

I take out the starter I need when I make bread, then immediately stir in flour and water to replace the amount I took out. 

Above: a beautiful mixing bowl can work for your starter, keep a plate or a towel over the top. I have recently switched to a pitcher I ordered from Pampered Chef that has a "plunger" in it; this enables me to stir it frequently without the messy spoon.

The Bread

First you make the sponge:

Pour 1 1/2 cups warm water into bowl. Add 1 teaspoon yeast and stir gently. Add 2 tsp salt, 2 Tbsp sugar, and stir (I have used molasses in place of the sugar, and even left out some of the salt, with good results). Pour in 1 cup starter (1 cup ricotta cheese is optional, for a moist bread). Add 1/2 cup oatmeal and mix well. Add 3 cups flour, one at a time, and mix well. Put uncovered into oven (oven should be off!) and let rise for an hour. 

Then the dough:

After an hour, gently stir sponge down and stir in 1cup flour (you can also put in flax seed meal, or other favorite grains). Put 1/2 cup flour on the table and turn out bread dough to knead. Knead 6-8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Divide into two and roll out with a rolling pin. Roll up into loaves and up in greased loaf pans. Let rise 1-2 hours. Bake a 350 F. for 35 minutes.  

I rarely roll my dough out for loaves; I use the "squish" method, which works just as well, but perhaps the top is more lumpy. I do many different things with the dough, as a matter of fact. As my starter is souring but not yet really sour, I even make cinnamon rolls with it. 

Here's a baking tip: I cover my small table with freezer paper, shiny side up, and tape it around the edges. It makes for easy clean up and provides a giant protected work surface for when the children help!

Above: Here is my one-pan method of baking for the family. Dinner rolls, bread sticks for the evening stew, and a loaf of bread for toast at breakfast. I made enough dinner rolls so that everyone could have one fresh out of the oven. 

Above: after the rising; below: after the baking. 

While on the subject of bread, this book makes for an interesting read- Bread: The Breads of the World and How to Bake Them At Home by Christine Ingram and Jennie Shapter

I am enjoying this book, and learning a lot about the history of bread and the art of bread making. 

"We are enlightened now..."

Tea Party Art Print
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Some tea-lover was telling me about these new Boston-style Tea Parties that are cropping up here and there. She thought it a grand idea to join in by having a cup of tea as a protest (you have to understand about tea lovers-- they will take any excuse to have a cup). 

"Wait a minute...." I said, "didn't they throw the tea overboard into the sea at the Boston tea party?" 

"Yes," she replied, "but we are a lot more enlightened now, and we drink the tea."

The Boston Tea Party

Giclee Print

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