Hello Friends. It's lovely to see you.

 

HERE ~ YOU WILL FIND ME...CHATTING ABOUT LIFE, MY WORK (WHAT'S COMING, WHAT I AM WORKING, ETC)...  AS WELL AS RECIPES, MY LOVE OF SOURDOUGH BREAD BAKING & KNITTING.... AS WELL AS ANTHING ELSE I THINK YOU MAY FIND INTERESTING :)

I'LL ALLSO ADD HELPFUL HINTS FOR MY PATTERNS ~ :)  

be well friends ~ doreen

ON.....S L O W posting, LIFE, and a short video on stitching stems.

Here we are..... four months later and I am just getting around to posting again.  I really don't know what to say ~ One would think that I wasn't a routine person, which I very much am.  The trouble is, I have found it oddly difficult to incorporate blog writing into that routine.  SO, I shall pop in when I can, regardless of whether it is morning, afternoon or evening, and hopefully there will be someone out there wishing to read what I have to say and, if there isn't.....  at least I am writing and sharing :)

Today in Vermont we have heavy rain and storms forecasted.  This morning, I woke, made myself a cup of coffee and, regardless of the downpour, Oliver and I made our way to the front porch.  The rain was so heavy that Oliver refused to step off the porch and, who can blame him.  We stayed, me rocking and listening to the wind and rain as it washed away our driveway, once again, and Oliver sniffing around the porch trying to discover the origin of the animal that stole two large pieces of homemade bread, I had left out yesterday afternoon for the birds to enjoy.   We didn't stay long, the fire needed tending, the house needed tidying and Oliver was clamoring for his breakfast.   A few hours later, I made my way back out to the porch with my stitching.  The rain calmed down a bit, as the birds finally began to sing and move out of the shelter of our newly open leaves.   Oh, how I love to listen to the Robins ~ their song is one of my favorites!

I must be off now ~ much to do on this rainy day, but before I go, I wanted to share a very quick little video of the way I stitch floral stems.  As most of you know, I typically like to represent stems with Weeks Dye Works Kohl floss and an embroidery stem stitch, but I am finding that it doesn't always fit a particular piece, so I am forcing myself to do as our beloved Maggie B does, with wool and the ladder stitch.   I had a heck of a time getting the rhythm of this stitch when I first attempted it years ago.  Thankfully, a couple years ago, I was able to attend a workshop, in Salem, MA, with Maggie and  was able to see her do it in person which finally made it click for me.  I am definitely a visual learner which is most likely the reason my patterns are SO VERY WORDY and full of photos and sketches lol...I write them for the other visual learners out there...hoping I can write and show them enough, so it makes sense :).  Anyway, I hope the short little video helps you, should you need a bit of a visual :).

Until next time friends.  Be Well, Be Joyful, Be Kind. hugs to all, Doreen

~Home Again ` Home Again ~ Jiggety Jig~

 

Hello again my friends and welcome back to my original blog which I started back in...oh my heavens, 2012...  This is where I should have stayed, rather than flittering off to other "lands" only to find they did not suit me.  This is so much more personal...easily worked and maintained and best of all, easily personalized for a look and feel that is all ...ME.  

As I go forward, I am not going to commit to being here at any given time ~ I will just pop in and post when I have something to say. The brief time "off" I have taken, over Christmas and New Years .... a bit of WINTERING if you will....has taught me an important lesson.  I need quiet!  In an age where we are constantly told to be ON, I need to turn myself OFF...or should I say away (as often as my work allows).  Away from schedules, daily to-do's...posting here, posting there, oh, and don't forget here.....  Keeping yourself in the public eye is A LOT OF WORK....finding the right photo, coming up with something to say....it all takes away from the process of actually creating.  You reach a point when keeping yourself ion everyone's radar becomes a full-time job and your window for quiet contemplation to come up with new ideas becomes smaller and smaller.  I need the day to day routine of tidying my house, while classical music plays, baking bread.... the kneading, stretching and folding so meditative that this is where my ideas form, my sketchbook and a cup of coffee in the afternoons, hearing the fire snap and pop, and stitching in the evenings.   I shall become a bit smaller in this online world ~ simply posting, updating, etc. etc.....when I truly have something to share.  

AT HOME TODAY ~ we have lovely sunshine and a mild 33* with a few snow showers on the way.  The last few days have been bizarre weather-wise, with 6" of snow falling on Sunday and then high winds and rain taking over Tuesday evening, stealing away most of our snow.  The winds were so bad in the wee hours Tuesday, neither Mark nor I slept.  They were bashing against the house with crazy force, coming from all directions (which was truly unsettling).  When the sun rose everything on the front porch was bashed about, chairs were on the ground, everything soaked through with rain, blankets, chair cushions and pine boughs littered the front lawn along with countless branches and a few limbs.  In our woods there are a couple tree's down and throughout our little village, many trees fell... power was out for thousands.  Oddly, our power remained on.  Quite unexpected as we have lost our power in far calmer storms.  We have another storm, of the same rain and wind, moving in Friday night into Saturday.... :(   Over the past several days, while this crazy weather bashed about, I have been busy baking and cooking.... Hamburger Soup, Peanut Butter Fudge (I should not make that again as I ate FAR too much of it), Baked Chicken, Sweet Potatoe Casserole and Cheddar Biscuits and last night, Chicken and Dumplings .... AS WELL AS, sketching, writing and stitching.  

I HAVE FINALLY begun the stitching on the project I will be teaching at the Big Blue House Spring Retreat in Tennessee.  CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.  I am afraid I cannot share details or sneak peeks of this project.

Okay ~ I must be off.  I've a fire to tend and stitching to do.  Enjoy the day friends.  See you soon.  Doreen

Mondays, Aging, Stitching & Baking

 

I woke early this morning, earlier than I have woken since November.  As I grow older I find (or perhaps finally realize) my body naturally moves with the earth's rhythm and this year, I listened to my body's wish demand for "wintering."  I use to force myself away from these natural rhythms, keeping the same schedule for work, life, eating, etc., all year round. However, one of the luxuries of growing older is the ability to listen to your body more...often out of necessity because, as you grow older, the refusal to listen to your body begins to have consequences. **Please excuse me for a moment, I must give my focaccia dough a stretch and fold/slap and shape**   Alright, my dough is now tucked into its proofing container for its bulk rise, on to today's post.... My mind and body are still working together, thank goodness, to let me know what is needed before everything goes awry. Those little hints and pushes have always occurred but when we are younger, we think we have forever to ignore them!  Now that I have reached an age where doing what is best for my overall health is no longer a luxury, I have started paying attention!!!    I go to bed when my body commands I do so, I eat healthier, lighter, and more seasonally, and I keep my body moving....  Eating seasonally has become an important thing for us...more on that in another post. I could go on forever but I actually did not have the intention of this post being about aging...insert eye roll here :) oh, well, I shall put it in the heading and proceed ;)

....I woke early this morning...to cold rain, a cozy fire burning (thank you husband) and the cold winds making the newly open leaves dance.    It may be necessary to burn the fire all day today, rather than simply lighting a morning fire to take the chill off! I also woke to my head swimming with creative ideas.  This always seems to happen during "gazette week"...is it my mind looking to distract me or the process of writing and creating the gazette that brings about new ideas?  I'm choosing it to be the latter. :)    Once the gazette has donned its traveling clothes (a first-class stamp) and is on its way to my subscribers (by the end of the day) I will be free to bring all of these creative ideas to life...but first, I must begin stitching my primitive stool topper, which is part of what set these bubbling creative ideas in motion! I am still playing around with penny placement but I will have that settled and be ready to stitch tomorrow.  

Before I go, I wanted to share a link to the wonderful focaccia recipe I am making.  Again, it is from my favorite sourdough book ~ Artisan Sourdough Made Simple by Emilie Raffa.  Emilie shares this recipe on her website and it is a FANTASTIC one. Here is the link;  Beginner's Guide to Sourdough Focaccia Bread - The Clever Carrot.  

What does this week hold for you, my friends?  

 Until next time, be well, be happy and...be creative :) Doreen

GREETINGS DEARE SEPTEMBER

 

"And the sun took a step back, the leaves lulled themselves to sleep, and Autumn was awakened." ~ Raquel Franco

Good morning my friends and HELLLOOO September.  The "BER" months have arrived!!! My favorite months!! A time for apple picking, cozy fires, glorious landscapes, and geese filling the sky!

We wake, on this first day of September, to chilly crisp air, heavy dew, and a cool and lovely day ahead.  I am off this morning to watch our little man until noon and then it is back home and into the studio, I go to fill orders.  I have been out of the studio much this week and I have a lot of catching up to do.  

How is your week going?  

Hugs, Doreen

August draws to a close....

 GOODE afternoon my lovely friends.  I apologize for my late greeting ~ twas a VERY busy day.  I took care of our little man (Grandson, Kurt Evan) then ran errands on the way home, once home, Oliver needed a walk, the flowers needed watering and the bird feeders needed filling. I usually do these last two things in the morning however, I left the house quite early and did not have the time. 

In the studio and settled, I am doing a bit of watercolor painting.  I am forcing myself to make MANY color wheels and to learn to mix paints using the three primary colors before I venture off to purchase special colors.  Watercolor supplies are expensive therefore learning to create a variety of colors using the three primary colors is important to me.  And, creating color wheels and swatches is also a perfect way to create muscle memory, and improve your watercolor skills!  DO you see that little pool of yellow-green?  That was the final color I painted, on this color wheel and, all of the colors were mixed in that one pan section.  It began as a yellow puddle of paint, made its way through all the rest of the colors, on the wheel, and ended as a puddle of green. I know that is something so simple but I find it fascinating and thrilling. I am also quite proud of myself that instead of ending up a muddy mess, at some point, each color came to life without much fuss and was quite close to what I was hoping for.  

I am off now to create another color wheel or two before Oliver James insists on his dinner.  Speaking of dinner...ours will be leftovers!! :) I love it when that happens. 

Enjoy the day my friends. hugs, Doreen  

 

GOODE day my deare friends. Tis cool & sunny here in Vermont as August draws to a close and Autumn knocks on our door.  The heat and humidity, which seemed our constant summer companion has finally departed (hopefully for good) and cool lovely air has taken its place. Geese are already gathering in the fields (it is early this year.....)  stopping by for rest, as they make their way south, for the Winter.  Turkeys forage for acorns, and this year, seem to be accompanied, quite often, by bears as we've had so many sightings this year.  We believe the dry summer has brought them off the mountains and into the valleys, looking for food (and eating huge quantities of corn, straight from the stalks).  What a wonderful time of year.  I love the cool crisp mornings.  Even when the days were still hot and humid, the August mornings have been cool.  Just two days ago,  I stepped out onto the deck, coffee in hand, daylight still an hour off, and was greeted by an owl, who hooted so loudly and so closely that I jumped and spilled my coffee.  He, or she, must have been in one the treetops just off the deck.  Goodness, it startled me. :).

Anyway..now that I've written a book and not yet gotten to my reason for today's message....  

First of all, I apologize for being so out of touch. I have been quite busy getting the September issue, of The Little Brown House Gazette, out the door.  It was a larger than usual issue and, believe it or not, shipped a week early!!!!  I am still amazed I was able to pull that off!!  In the midst of it all, my son fractured his pelvis in a four-wheeler accident.  So very scary!  Thankfully, he is beginning to feel better now.    Due to his accident, I have been helping take care of our grandson and,  helping with our son as well....SOOOO..my web show, which was originally scheduled for 08/18/2020,  was put on the back burner.  I was hoping to have been able to fit it in before August left us, however, it is just not possible SO, I have now rescheduled the show for Monday, September 7th at 4:00.  I hope you understand. 

SPEAKING OF THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE....It has donned its traveling clothes (a first-class envelope and TWO stamps (it was a hefty issue this month) and began its trip around the world.  Tis a thick and lovely issue ~full of goode things and Autumn loveliness.  Another bonus ( the first one being it's a large issue) is that it shipped early!!!  It began its journey last week (August 21st to be exact) so it should be arriving at your doorstep any day now.  Please check back here, on the blog, on September 1st as I will have a Sourdough blog post to accompany the September issue.  Also, if you are not a subscriber, it is not too late ~ just pop on over to my website and subscribe.  Here's the link;  https://vermontharvestfolkart.com/collections/from-a-little-brown-house-gazette/products/from-a-little-brown-house-gazette.

I am off now to put a chicken in to roast.  Our daughter and son-in-law, along with their dear friends raised chickens this summer to harvest.  They....harvested...them a couple of weeks ago.  We'll be having mashed potatoes and glazed carrots as well ~ perfect on this first, cool evening in August. 

Until next time my friends, wishing you health and happiness ~ Doreen

Autumn & WInter Workshops.......

GOODE day my deare and lovely friends.  I hope this note finds you healthy and in goode spirits.  Ahh, the lovely month of August has arrived with it's cool & dewy mornings, warm days and teasing hints of Autumn just around the corner.  Chickadee's sing, mama turkeys wander the fields, with their brood, and pumpkins grow fat on the vines.  Oh, I do so love this time of year.  

I am busy, in the studio, creating and finalizing plans for the remainder of the year.  With the world such as it is, and my asthma being a concern, I have decided I will not be doing my Autumn & Winter workshops, here in our home, this year.  I will surely miss the comradery and deare friendships however, the prospect of a more relaxing Autumn honestly fills my heart with contentment.  I am enjoying this bit of respite, for me it is a time to recharge and refocus.  I feel like this slow down is a gift I've been given and I need to use it as such.  Of course, my heart breaks for everyone suffering with their health or in other ways due to the virus, and I am grateful for our health and well being and certainly do not take that for granted, I am simply turning this situation into a positive as best I can. :). 

Let us hope that 2021 will be a fresh new year filled with goode will, excitement, new plans and gatherings of all sorts. Until then my friends, may we be patient and kind and make the best of a difficult situation.

I'm off now ~ my stitching calls.  Until next time, be well my friends.  doreen

ps....Beatrix Potter (my sourdough starter) is still going strong and makes the most scrumptious bread I've ever had :).

Farewell June

Greetings my friends.  Tis dark and cloudy here in Vermont as the sound of thunder rolls in through our open windows.  Tis been a day of changing weather in our little spot on the map.  One moment we've sun shining down warmly and air that is warm and muggy and the next we've a cold gust of wind, black skies, thunder rolling through the clouds and a sudden down pour that leaves the yard dotted with swimming holes.  Just a short while ago, I  had just finished opening all the windows, turning off the lights and turning on the fans when I had to go back around, close them down, shut off the fans and turn on the lights. I actually feel like the entire month of June has been a month of back and fourths.  Just as we had really settled in, and gotten use to the  "stay home, stay safe" way of life they began telling everyone to go ahead, get out and about, live life as you did before, go back to your life..all is well.  Now, they are thinking that isn't the case.   I know many folks are anxious to jump back into the quicker pace of life before the pandemic but I must tell you, I am not.  I enjoy the quieter roads, the lack of crowds, the clearer skies, the quieter life.  The removal of  the "pressure" to be out and about, living, doing, GOING. Over the past several months, I am so much more relaxed, creative, centered.  There's time now.... TIME to do the projects that were always put aside, time to relax and sit on the porch without quilt, time to just be.  I realize this isn't the case for everyone and in no way do I mean to diminish that (my prayers to everyone struggling) but I also feel compelled to acknowledge the fact that for some of us..this has been okay and perhaps even GOOD, and that's okay :).   For us, (Mark and I) it's been a great time to just be together and concentrate on our own little spot on the map.    Our vegetable gardens are flourishing, as are the pumpkin patches (we have three now..I LOVE it) we put in four blueberry bushes (which are doing amazingly well)  we've made home improvements, and plans for even bigger ones down the road.   I've learned new skills.....sourdough bread baking and sewing my own clothes (two things I've long wanted to learn and master) etc. etc.   Of course, we've also had our trials..... missing the kids (thank goodness we can see them now), nervousness over the state of the world, frightened awareness when you finally do go into a grocery store (taking all the proper precautions) only to see the shelves half bare (and people NOT taking precautions) AND fear for the health of family, friends and ourselves (thankfully we've all been healthy)...but we go on, because we must and the way I look at it is, if we all step up, embrace what we've been given to deal with,  do what needs doing, make the best of a situation, do what we should, take responsibility for ourselves, look out for others and do what's right...well, this world would be a far, FAR better place for all of us.  . But I won't lecture.... Because, I must be off....

Tis time to take a batch of biscuits out of the oven (strawberry shortcake tonight) and to make sure the rain has not blown in too badly as we had another torrential downpour as I was writing this post.  

 FAREWELL JUNE ~ May July be full of promise and wonder.

 Until next time my friends, Be well ~Doreen

 

~The APRIL Issue of The Little Brown House Gazette~

Greetings one and all & a very merry April 1st to you.  I hope, with all of my heart, this little note finds you well & doing what you can to endure this trying time.  Currently, here in Vermont, the sun is shining, the air is warming, the Robins are singing, and a soft breeze brushes past my window.  At the moment the fattest Robin I have ever seen is hopping through the front yard....goodness, apparently her larder was full this winter!!!  

*THE APRIL ISSUE OF THE LITTLE BROWN HOUSE GAZETTE.**   This issue was a serious challenge & a joy all at once......  Exactly like the state of our world right now!!  Because of our stay at home orders, I was forced to redo & resize the entire issue & print it, here at home.   It was a challenge, to be sure, but a challenge I am grateful to have had because now, I know it's possible!  But my goodness, it was exhausting.   :~). 

The challenge and joy of it, really resonated with me.  After all, with everything that we do, and everything that happens to us, there are lessons to be learned, things to take from it, memories to be made and yes, even joy to be found, amidst the struggles and heartache.   For me, though our life is a slow and mellow one already...it has become slower still.   Some of it is good, some of it is challenging...Mark & I have time to sit together in the early evening with a cocktail or cup of coffee, chat about our day (and the state of the world) and cook dinner together.   Mark's 12 to 14 hour days are now 8 hour days. Yes, his paycheck will be smaller but, we have savings and we will be okay.  We will spend more carefully..... and, Mark will be able to have some much needed rest.  The kids are healthy and either working from home, off with pay or, still working at jobs that are taking very good care of them.  Our little man (1st grandson Kurt Evan) is getting lots of extra time with his Daddy who is now home.  We miss our children and grandson tremendously but we are doing what we must to stay healthy, and help to slow this out of control train, down before it wrecks.... in our neighborhood!!! 

Yes...cocktails help!!! :)

We are thankful for Video chatting, text and calls And..for all of us, out here in our internet neighborhoods and communities..... we have blogs and Facebook and community groups that keep us all linked to one another. :)  We are finding the good within the bad... I hope you all can find a little something goode to take from this difficult time.

 I  wanted to mention that.   I've lowered the cost of my Stitchery Guild (community of stitchers) to 1/2 price ($5.00 a month).  It is a lovely place filled with friendship, stitching, hooking, punching and whatnot. We are currently preparing to do a group wool applique project, together.

 If you would like to join us (it's free once you join the community), email me at Doreen@vermontharvestfolkart.com 

and I will send you an invitation.    **ps..you may create the group project any way you wish ~ you do not have to work in wool applique.**

One last thing before I go.... I saw this on facebook and thought..my goodness..how true is this...

~for me....I think it will be a mixture of both :)... lol.

~Maple Martini Recipe~

..show in my photo above.

2 Jiggers of Vodka (we like Tito's but any good vodka will work)

1 Jigger of pure Maple Syrup

good squeeze of fresh lemon juice. *I cut a thick slice of lemon & squeeze it all in.

Fill your shaker with ice and pour the vodka,  slowly over the ice.  Add the maple syrup and lemon juice, to the vodka and shake your little heart out (shake it for at least 60 second so it's really COLD).  Pour into a martini glass, add a bit of lemon peel and ENJOY!

Be well my friends ~ Doreen

~FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th, 2019~

                                                                        

GLAD TIDINGS MY DEARE FRIENDS...Oh what a whirlwind of a week this has been.  Monday was a 12 hour day of mailings.  I am proud to say every single subscription (all 200 of them) went out on MONDAY!!!! Tuesday morning was filled with new subscription mailings and the rest of the week, our little man has been here....sick with a cold, ear infection, in both ears, and sore throat..the poor little man!!!  Mark is also home on vacation!!       AND NOW....I've orders to fill this morning and then Mark and I are taking the day to head to the Adirondacks for a bit of relaxation.  Tomorrow....I am back in the studio and filling orders!!!   I've MUCH TO DO, before next weekends workshop :).

Until next time my friends ~ wishing you a JoY filled day, Doreen

SEPTEMBER DAYS ARE HERE.....

~WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2019~

"By all these lovely tokens, September days are here, with summer’s best of weather and autumn’s best of cheer." - Helen Hunt Jackson

GOODE DAY TO YOU MY FRIENDS.  WEDNESDAY HAS DAWNED COOL AND W I N D Y HERE IN VERMONT.  TIS GORGEOUS. A PERFECT DAY FOR  HARVESTING (AS RABBIT WOULD SAY..I'm hoping you know what I am referring to there). MY SWEET ANNIE AND CHAMOMILE ARE READY FOR HARVESTING...I AM SO EXCITED AND PLEASED WITH MY CROP!!!   I'M OFF NOW TO FINISH TIDYING THE HOUSE AND THEN I SHALL HEAD OUT TO THE GARDEN TO DO MY HARVESTING.  

UNTIL TOMORROW ~ WISHING YOU JOY, DOREEN

~Rain showers & cool breezes~

Goode afternoon.  As I sit here at my writing desk a cool and gusty breeze is rushing in through the open windows.  The humidity has packed it's bags and headed on out of town!!!!  Thank HEAVENS!!! The a.c has been turned off, the fans, though still running are on their lowest setting and the sounds of bird song and the rustle of leaves, as the tree's dance to and fro, can once again be enjoyed.  I love it.

  A quick little journal entry today as I've still much to do before my workday is finished.  

• Harriet (my sourdough starter) was given a pre-bake day float test and I'm afraid she did not pass. :( According to Amy Duska, a tablespoon of the sourdough starter should float in a glass of room temperature water when it is ready to bake with.  I did this with Harriet this morning after her daily discard and feed ...and, well, she sunk right to the bottom of the glass!!  SO, we shall continue to feed and discard until she is ready :).  

• Much to do in the studio before I leave on Friday (orders, club kits, etc.)    Speaking of club kits...The photo above is this months kit ~ Mrs. Sarah Ann Sturbridge.  I just LOVe her!!  I do hope my club members enjoy creating one for themselves as well.

"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together" ~George Eliot

Take care, doreen

Sourdough Starter ~ Day Seven

OH MY GOODNESS, I am afraid the only word that fittingly describes today's weather is....GROSS!!!!  I try not to complain about the weather. I actually LOVE the weather and all it's interesting and unpredictable variables.  And, after all, it is not as if complaining will accomplish anything. Our weather will not magically change because I threw a fit about it or allowed it to alter my mood. THAT BEING SAID HOWEVER......humidity is one weather event that falls under the category of...you just can't help yourself!!!  It makes you it's prisoner, trapping you indoors with the hum, bang, and whirl of the air conditioner and/or abundant fans.  Heaven help anyone that isn't blessed with air conditioning!!!  We tried for a very long time to do without one but with my allergies and asthma, it just was no longer possible and I must say, though I do not enjoy the closed in, prisoner-like feeling that takes over me when it is on...I am SO very thankful for the wonderfully cool, dry, comfort it provides.

There is one thing that does benefit from warmth and humidity, and that is my newly created sourdough starter!!!  

~sourdough starter, day 7~

 Sourdough and it's growing micro's (natural yeast it captures from the air and from the flour you use) enjoy the heat and actually need warmth to grow properly.  Perhaps that is why, now on day seven, my starter is (I believe) ready to use.  I am a bit surprised she is ready this soon as I keep her (I've named her Harriet) in the kitchen, which is where the ac unit is and therefore I was expecting her to take 10 days or more before she was ready, however, according to all I've read..those peaks and valley's along with her abundant bubbles means she's ready for baking.  I won't actually bake with the starter today as I need to increase the volume before I can take from it and still leave enough, of the starter, to keep it going.  It is also too warm for baking today, so I will give her a large feeding this evening and another in the morning, and, hopefully, she will double in size a couple hours after the a.m discard and feeding and I can try baking a loaf of bread with her!!

**The rubberband represents where the starter was after the a.m. discard and feeding.  As you can see, it has doubled in size!!!

I wanted to share with you the video's, recipes and help I've had while diving into this SOURDOUGH Journey.  There is a lot of information out there on Sourdough bread baking, making your own, and maintaining, a sourdough starter and it can be confusing.  I am, by no means, an authority on the subject but I have found a few things that are consistent with everyone....

1. All you really need is flour and water.  The flours can vary (whole wheat, bread, all-purpose, rye) and the liquid can vary as well.. One lady uses pineapple juice another uses smooshed GRAPES!!
2. Basically, you feed and care for your starter every 12 to 24 hours until it is ready to use.  Which usually takes 7 to 14 days, depending on the environment you are growing your starter in (temperature, air quality, etc. all play a part).  After that, it can be fed once a week.
3. It really is quite forgiving.  If you forget to feed it at 12 hours, just feed it when you remember and keep going, OR, wait until it has been 24 hours.  It's okay.  Or, if you forget to feed it for a day or two, just feed it when you remember and then continue feeding every 12 hours until you've brought it back to life again.  

MY SOURCES....

• AMY DUSKA ~ YouTube Video "How to make a Sourdough Starter".  
• Joshua Weissman ~ YouTube Video "The Ultimate Sourdough Starter Guide"

**I made two separate starters; one from Amy's recipe and one from Joshua's recipe, and then I combined the two on day four.  Amy uses cup measurements and is very straight forward and easy to follow. Joshua uses grams, a scale and gives you all the little scientific details.  I LOVE both, but in the end, found Amy's easier to follow and didn't really trust my scale ( I think I need a new one)..so I went with Amy's method once I combined the two together. 

EXACTLY WHAT I DID TO BEGIN;

Following Amy's recipe;

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1/3 cup tap water (we have well water so chlorine is not an issue.

Following Joshua's recipe;

100g   whole wheat flour

150 g water

I followed each recipe, for measurements & times, and then combined them, in equal amounts, on day four.  Discarding the remaining flour/water mixture into my compost bin. :~). 

 I now have one lovely, bubbly little lady named Harriet :).  **Call me crazy for naming my starter but in almost all the video's I have watched, in the last week, ~ most folks had named their starters!  Some people had several starters, all with names!!  They really are live little beings so why not!!  I am going away, on Friday, for a few days and Mark is going to have to take care of Harriet while I'm gone!!! 

OH..one more resource. KING ARTHUR FLOUR!!! Their information is SO very helpful!!  I refer to their Sourdough Starter page often!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, must run...work calls.  Enjoy the day, doreen

~As July Comes To A Close~

Goode morning everyone and thank you for dropping by my new At Home With Doreen Frost journal.  The sun is warm, here in Vermont this morning as I write this entry.  The air is muggy and a gusty breeze is blowing unable, it would seem, to choose a direction.    Oliver & I are just in from our morning routine of weed, water and walk.  A bit of weeding, a bit of watering, a bit of walking.  Each morning the enjoyable time is much the same; a chat with the herbs & flowers, a goode morning to our newly blossomed and sprouted vegetables, a grand HELLO to the tiny little pie pumpkins, of which I am so excited about. Oh the joys of pumpkin pie made from my own, homegrown, pumpkins!!!  Oh, the delights of cooking and baking with my beautiful herbs, the enjoyment of my carefully tended and harvested Eucalyptus & Sweet Annie hanging from pegs and hooks inside our home.  Life is goode.

Next on my list;

• Discard and feed my sourdough starter (recipe and link in the column on the right). I will share more details in tomorrows journal entry.
• Tidy house.
• Studio work;  two orders to print, pack and pop in the mailbox.  Finish packaging and shipping this months club kits.  Pack and ship wholesale shop pattern order.
• Dinner on the deck this evening;  Tossed green salad made with fresh garden lettuce and herbs and farm stand tomatoes.  Grilled chicken and Crusty bread.
• Feed starter this evening before bed.

Until tomorrow ~ wishing you a joy-filled day, doreen