This bread is from my second take on the dough and I learned a few things. While the first certainly looked pretty and tasted okay, in my haste I made a few mistakes and the crumb (interior) was off. This time, it's as I would expect.
Things I learned:
1. If you keep your house cool, you will need to let the dough rise for a lot longer than two hours. Closer to four.
2. It is important to totally incorporate the flour and water and light helps you to see that you've accomplished this task. Don't be afraid to use your hands (unless you are lucky enough to have a heavy duty stand mixer).
3. When you shape your bread, be prepared to let it rest longer than 40 minutes. Closer to 90 minutes.
4. It is incredibly difficult to wait for bread to cool before eating.
5. Bread is a serious weakness.
6. For the foreseeable future, I will be mixing up a batch of dough for the week and baking fresh bread as needed.
7. So happy that I still had my old pampered chef stoneware pizza pan. Being a pack rat can be a good thing.
8. I like to take pictures of bread.
In case you are brave enough to try this method, here is a link to a video which helped me. I tend to be very visual sometimes.
Those of you who are used to getting a Christmas card from me early don't be too disappointed. I'm not even sure I'll be getting them in the mail before Christmas such is life this year. I'm much in a bah humbug spirit. 
The other day, I was walking into the grocery store when I saw a woman bend to pick up a quarter, stopping some traffic along the way. No big deal, right? I've done it many times. But what struck me as odd and selfish, there was a Salvation Army bell ringer standing at the door. She walked right by him, giving the quarter to her husband instead. Can you say Karma? Now that I have seen the bell ringers out and about, I will be sure to carry change and smallish bills to donate. It's the right thing to do, in my heart. 
I know it should be simple to follow, but it just doesn't make sense to me? I want to make this necklace but instead of the peace symbol, I'll use a shell. Maybe it's a blond thing but I've read the beginning countless times, started it and been puzzled by it many times. Any tips?
I played around a bit yesterday with the soft optic focus lens and really like the background (bokeh) blur. 
Isn't she just the sweetest? I did something I so rarely do. I bought a new camera lens and accessory. Curious? I bought the 
As much as I would like to get out and about to find autumn color in all its grandeur, until the weather improves that won't happen. I'll have to make do with leaf studies. 
I've had a headache all day and decided to fill the house with the smell of baking apples. I chose this recipe from 
Just playing with my Lensbabies lens and special effects. The border was created with a film canister I modified and placed in front of the lens. It was toned in Lightroom
I'm as impatient as this Christmas cactus, which is blooming early (and the other part will most likely bloom in December). I left a message at the place I get my hair done and waiting for a return phone call and about to give up. Maybe they aren't open today because of the Monday holiday. They are never in on Mondays. Who knows but I have things to do and left my home phone number.
With a Lensbaby lens and flower aperture. And my latest necklace style. This will take much more practice to keep the loops a consistent size.
It's another of those cold, rainy days. The kind that makes me want to curl under a warm blanket in front of the fireplace, watching a movie or reading a good book. Maybe even munching on some air popped corn. 
Lots of new music in the last few weeks. 
