Advent Day 13: Bread redemption, a musical evening and candlelight stroganoff

 Mark and I woke up early this morning. we worked in quiet tandem....he folded laundry, I did the dishes. He picked up the living room, I started the crockpot. He didn't wake up the kids, I didn't wake up the kids.

It's like we read each other's minds these days. 

It was....quiet. 

I felt inspired to have another go at the braided bread. I had them done and rising before any of the offspring were even conscious. 

After church (we zoomed), we scattered and pursued our separate interests for a bit...then we all come back together for some beef strogonoff....by candlelight! 

Then we gathered for our Hufford Musical Evening....our pared down, covid-friendly version. I gave them only 10 hours warning. I have learned that any more than that doesn't actually translate into additional practicing. Better to just jump right in!

Anna: The Holly and the Ivy on the piano

Everly: Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam on the ukulele

Laney: Joy to the World on ukulele

Mark and Megan: Mele kalikimaka on guitar and vocals

Maren and Mat: The First Noel on piano and vocals

Megan: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen on piano

It was such a fun night! And really fast! The whole thing lasted about 15 minutes! 

The Doors

 The garage doors finally got installed today! And we seriously love them. They make the whole house look so fresh and crisp. 

And the light inside the garage is wonderful. I love seeing the trees through the windows!!

And that concludes the parade of pandemic-inspired home improvement projects for the year!

Sabbath Discovery

We were just minding our own business and singing Book of Mormon stories after a very lovely home sacrament meeting when we realized that there are LOADS of verses to that song...

And we couldn't resist singing them all.

Mark provided the questionably offensive raindance strumming.

You really never know what's gonna happen in Hufford First Ward.

Home Church

We're still going strong.

The ukuleles are a viable option for accompaniment these days. Honestly, I keep praying that Mat will work up a number on his Ocarina...now that's variety.

I did a little watercolor doodle on the top of the programs this morning. It's the first thing I've done without a tutorial, so I'm kinda proud of it. Is it okay to be proud of a sacrament meeting program?

 We are hearing through the grapevine that we will be going back to church in late July. But even then, we'll attend the building only every 3rd week. I'm pretty happy about that. I love doing this with our family. Even when we all forget to make assignments and we sleep in on Sunday morning. We figure it out.

The Murph...Gargefit edition

On Track is closed. 

But the Murph goes on. We had some friends over and we got to it. 

The reason we do the Murph:

In early 2005 Murphy was assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE as officer in charge of Alpha Platoon and deployed to Afghanistan. In June of that year, Murphy was leading a four-man reconnaissance team in Kunar province as part of a counter-insurgent mission (the other men in Murphy’s team were Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson and Marcus Luttrell). During the mission the team encountered a group of local goat herders.

.A discussion was held among the four SEALs regarding the rules of engagement and what they should do with the herders, who were being held at gunpoint. Eventually the men decided to release them, but not soon after the SEALs were surrounded and ambushed by an overwhelming Taliban force. Murphy, who was trying to reach HQ via satellite phone, willingly exposed himself to enemy fire by stepping into a clearing where he might get a signal to make the call. Murphy was shot in the back, but still managed to calmly complete the call for reinforcements and return to his position to continue the fight with his men. HQ sent an MH-47 Chinook helicopter to rescue the team, but while attempting to set down in rugged terrain, the helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, killing all 16 men on board.  In early 2005 Murphy was assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE as officer in charge of Alpha Platoon and deployed to Afghanistan. In June of that year, Murphy was leading a four-man reconnaissance team in Kunar province as part of a counter-insurgent mission (the other men in Murphy’s team were Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson and Marcus Luttrell). During the mission the team encountered a group of local goat herders. 

In honor of Lt. Michael Murphy, killed June 28, 2005, in Afghanistan:
Murph
1-mile run
100 pull-ups
200 push-ups
300 squats
1-mile run
Partition the pull-ups, push-ups, and squats as needed. Start and finish with a mile run. If you’ve got a twenty pound vest or body armor, wear it.

This workout was actually created by Murphy himself, and he originally titled it ‘Body Armor’

Quarantine Theater

Laney and Anna have spent the entire day shooting a gripping romance called Daveo and Romiette featuring their hand puppets. 

There are no words to describe....

The very second they are done in post-production, I will post it. I am telling you, the walking while holding hands alone is worth a ticket price.

Artisan Addiction

We have discovered artisan bread. It's crunchy and chewy and soooo soft and it makes the very best toast....assuming there is any left after it comes out of the oven.  And did you know that it literally takes 5 minutes to mix up? Then you let it sit and rise for 24 hours. So, we got wise fast and realized that if you mix up two more loaves while your current batch is baking, you LITERALLY HAVE FRESH BREAD EVERY SINGLE DAY.

These are our very first loaves!!! awwwww.....(mine is the weird one)

Then I did one loaf of plain and one with Everything Bagel Seasoning (garlic, onion, poppy seed, salt and toasted sesame seeds).

When those came out of the oven the next day, I mixed up another plain and a parmesan/cheddar with just a hint of cayenne pepper....yum.

Then I tried cinnamon raisin pecan....mmmmmm

Then cranberry walnut...be still my heart.

I did push it a bit too far and made a loaf of chocolate coconut. It was nasty and it got thrown in the trash. I will not dignify it with a photo.

I made two rosemary loaves for my friends, Lauren and Alisa. They smelled fabulous, but I took them right over so they could get that "fresh out of the oven" experience.

And now I'm back to making mostly plain loaves. They are the most versatile. I'm not sure we'll ever need to buy bread again!

Artisan Basic Recipe

3 cups flour
2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp yeast
1 1/2 c warm water

Mix just enough that the dough is combined and "shaggy" looking.  Cover with plastic wrap and leave on countertop for 18-24 hours. When ready to bake, place two dutch ovens or corningware dishes in in the oven while it preheats to 450, no need to oil pans.
Turn dough out onto floured silpat and knead just enough to make into a round ball. Set aside until oven is ready. Place loaves into hot dishes and cover with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes. Done!

Don't forget to mix up two more loaves while those are cooking. Bread is everything.

Pandemic reality

Life looks pretty different around these parts. Kansas went under a stay-at-home order on Monday, March 16th.  We have been asked to stay at home as much as possible. So, the occasional grocery run and going outside for walks and bike rides. 

That means the kids are using Zoom to see their school teachers and classmates.

I'm zooming in to my Crossfit class as well.

Seminary and high school classes online for the big kids.

We've been finding random things to occupy our time, like looking up what picture the Hubbell telescope took on our birthdays. This is mine. I like it...looks like angel wings.

We've been trying this science experiment...

 The results were.....underwhelming. That little green splotch is 10 days of patient observation, friends.

Megan straightened Ethan's hair and we all felt an immediate increase in our peace, love and good will toward our fellow humans, dude. It was totally righteous.

We have fallen in love with the crested geckos. They are adorable. They are low maintenance. Their poop is so tiny.

We are finding creative ways to see our friends. Mark had a band practice/food bank fundraiser jam with his band. It was amazing, as usual.

Megan and her friends are hanging out on Zoom...

Young Women chats on Zoom (SOOOOOO much zooming)

I have Zoom Fatigue (its a thing) so I have turned to late night meat ups with friends in abandoned school parking lots. We are extra far away from each other and usually freezing, but it is totally worth it and cheaper than therapy, which would probably be conducted over Zoom anyway....

We are baking and baking and baking. Mostly delicious combinations of carbs. Anna has really blossomed and learned how to make just about anything by following the recipe. 

Grandma Kathleen's zucchini muffins!

The joy I felt when these pitas puffed up. Be still, my heart!

Speaking of cooking, everybody is helping these days. Because if they don't I won't be able to stop crying and nobody wants that. 

Mathew was finally granted permission to set all his gaming gear in one fabulously central basement location. He is sooooo happy.

Mark visited Anna's nail salon because no one else would go and she was starting to cry. He requested the platinum package....rainbow nails! Fabulous fingers and no regrets.

The kids have discovered that staying home with mom means random pick-up parties and window cleaning sessions.

All the hair salons are closed, so we are taking care of Mathew's luscious locks in the kitchen.

Jackpot!

We are working out together in the mornings. We don't have much of a routine and we have different kids and combinations show up each day.

We are seriously obsessed with sidewalk chalk. It's all the rage. 

Mark has set up shop in the closet... he'll be working from home for the foreseeable future.

I'll be doing all the puzzles.

The dogs have never been happier. They are getting oodles and oodles of Megan piano time.

And honestly, maybe the best thing is having church at home. I love watching my kids take turns sharing lessons and testimonies. I love have the hymns accompanied by Mark's guitar or Megan's piano, or the girl's ukuleles. Even Anna practiced a primary song for weeks so she could accompany us. It's definitely not perfect and we have our funky moments. But I am grateful that we get to experience this and that we have this time to spend together.