mason garden

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Squaw Bread

MAKES FOUR 1 ½ POUND LOAVES

Liquify in blender, then add to Bosch mixer:
5 cups warm water
½ cup oil
½ cup honey
½ cup raisins
½ cup brown sugar

Add:
2 Tablespoons salt
1 cup instant dry milk powder
4 cups (1 lb.) rye flour
4 cups (1 lb.) whole wheat flour
8 cups (2 lb.) bread flour
¼ cup brown sugar
2 T. instant yeast

Some recipes call for unprocessed bran, corn meal, rye flakes, steel cut oats.

For 1 ½ pound loaf:

Liquify in blender:
1 ¼ cups warm water
2 ¾ tablespoons oil
2 Tablespoons honey
2 Tablespoons raisins
2 Tablespoons brown sugar

Add to Bosch and add:
1 ½ teaspoons salt
¼ cup instant dry milk powder
1 cup rye flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cups unbleached bread flour
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 package yeast

-complements of Joan R.

Just got back from Tahoe. Tired. Seemingly profound thoughts swirling through my head.

That happens when I’m tired.

Heard a second-hand story through Cheryl’s aunt from Phil Vischer, the guy who created Veggie Tales. He got so wrapped up in the success of his company that he had a nervous breakdown. Went to the hospital, couldn’t write anymore. Spent months staring at a blank wall, praying and reading the Bible. He found he had to give up his company so he could focus on God, then he could get his head on straight.

So now I’m thinking about obsessions. It seems we’re wired for obsessions. I know I am. But obsessions aren’t healthy. Obsessions destroy often as not. The Bible is full of stories of people who became obsessed with their blessings. Phil drew parallels to Adam, destroyed by his obsession with Eve, and Abraham, a man willing to sacrifice his obsession for God. It seems God’s plan is for us to be obsessed with Him. Apparently, that obsession is healthy… Here’s my theory.

1 John 4:8: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” If God is love, then maybe we’re supposed to be obsessed with love. Not love for anything specific. Not love of self or family or things. Just love. Obsessions destroy because they cut us off from the world. They demand our total attention. No time for family, have to work. Can’t work, need my fix. The left hand withers and dies while we fawn over the right. But love is the opposite. Love focuses on everything. Love elevates others without sacrificing the self. Love makes us whole.

I think this is what Ghandi saw. Change the world? Love it. I think it’s the core of most religions. Free yourself? Focus on others. There are no guarantees in life, but I think an action born from love will always have the best outcome possible. For all involved.

Love always. Every action. Every reaction. Always with love. That is God.

The rest is just implementation details.

Since June 1 was our anniversary this joke seemed appropriate.

Last Minute Gift

A man rushed to the jewelry counter in the store where I
work soon after the doors opened one morning and said he
needed a pair of diamond earrings. I showed him a wide
selection, and quickly he picked out a pair.

When I asked him if he wanted the earrings gift-wrapped, he
said, “That’d be great. But can you make it quick? I forgot
today was my anniversary, and my wife thinks I’m taking out
the trash.”

GCFL received from Andre F. Payson II.

Ps: Just so you don’t think James forgot, we celebrated plenty in Hawaii AND we both had massages the day before and went out to dinner!

So yesterday James and I headed down to the Sacramento Community Theater  with a group from AH to see the musical The Lion King. I have to say that it was worth seeing. The creative props used for the animals was amazing! and the lady that played the monkey was just very impressive singing and using the clicking dialects that most westerners are not real familiar with.

So this is basically the program cover

The Lion King Graphic Comments

and here are some random internet images that were basically what we saw last night, the swivel lion head pieces were probably my favorite.