Thekla McDaniels

Ah, here comes another book!

The reason I don’t bake much these days is that a woman moved to town and opened a sourdough bakery.  They buy local grain and mill it, it’s organic, and it’s really really good.  That’s an idea for one of your future bakers.  This bakery sells out.  If you go a couple hours before closing time there’s often a sign out that they are out of everything they baked for the day.

Used to be I baked all my bread.

As for the barriers to baking, I think you have covered it.  People are intimidated by the process and afraid to try.

Seems like they need encouragement and support, and the process needs demystification.  

I can’t wait to see what you do with this idea!  

PS, I’m baking your sourdough crackers
a lot these days, great Christmas presents.

The starter I have now, I started with kombucha.  I can’t remember if it was commercial (GT’s Synergy) or my own which I have kept going for ages.  

(I used the liquid I bought in a bottle.  Brew with honey, in a capped growler about 1/3 cup honey diluted with 3 pints filtered water.  Dissolved and at appropriate temperature, it goes into the growler with the remaining pint of starter.  No mother, no boiling, no sugar, no caffeine.  Since I cap the growler, it gets carbonated, and I think that is also what suppresses the formation of the mother.)

Just thought I would explain that to prevent confusion.  Anyway, the same organisms in the scoby are in the liquid.  I don’t think I could get my sourdough to make kombucha though, because populations drift, but the original kombucha as starter has worked for me.

My breakfast is an herb blend I make.  Coffee, black tea, chicory root, hawthorn are the backbone.  I add gingko, ashwaghanda, marshmallow, ginger, cocoa powder, brahmi, turmeric black pepper, cogotu kola, nettle.  Lots of other things too.

I soak it overnight in a pan of water. Then boil it in the morning, strain and add milk to the perfect temperature.  I end up drinking 2 quarts, which includes almost a pint of milk…. cow or goat.

Years ago it was a similar amount of tea and milk with honey added.  I used to have homemade granola with yogurt and fruit and nuts added, but I became a low carb enthusiast and cut out most carbs.

I need to eat something substantial about 1030 or 11, but can push it as late as 1ish, but sometimes when I do, it’s a mistake.  When I get that hungry, I can’t seem to satisfy my hunger and eat more than is reasonable, and am still hungry.

I have 2.5 gallon stainless steel milk cans that seal pretty tight.  Smaller than you’re looking for, but worth mentioning.  I have really liked mine, I use them for everything from milk to cheese making to dry herb storage.  I carry water in them too, when like now it isn’t getting higher than 25 degrees, wind is blowing, I carry hot to boiling water to add to the ice in their water tub.

Currently there are some on sale at Hamby Dairy Supply.

I’m posting a photo of one of mine, in use several years, and the sale page from Hamby Dairy Supply.

Thanks everyone!

I like it!

Knits are good because they stretch and spring back to former shape.

I used to knit mine with a double strand:  an eyelash type yarn I don’t know if they make anymore… but the eyelash camoflaged any mistakes or weirdness, in addition to another layer of insulation.  
The second strand was wool or wool mohair.  It was the one that gave the cozy its shape form and substance

I did make a couple out of Lopi, but those had to be knit to fit.  They looked quite tailored….

Hip hip hooray

And millions of thanks

And is there anything required from us?  Sign off and stay off?🤷🏻‍♀️

I don’t have the slightest idea.

Dunno about geese, but turkey DOES have significant tryptophan 😊

Yoga nidra has alleviated lifeee long insomnia.  Both falling asleep and staying asleep.  It’s an ancient practice, like other yoga disciplines.  And it is like a guided meditation.  There’s a woman on apple podcasts ad free and no cost.  Yoga Nidra and beyond.  There are others, she is my favorite.  If you search Ayla Nova or Nova Nidra anyone of them should find her.

I use my phone to play it, so it won’t work for those without some kind of internet access.

Other important considerations, get early and late daylight into your eyes.  Do NOT turn the light on at night, you need darkness in the night to keep your body’s sleep cycle undisturbed.  Sleep at the same time every night.  If you wake in the night and you seem like you’re going to be tossing and turning, get out of bed, go sit somewhere, develop a routine to perform, often times you will be able to go back to sleep.  That one is a matter of training.

There are a few podcasts that are supposed to put you to sleep, if you find you don’t take to yoga nidra.  The nice thing about YN is that after using it nightly (and if I woke in the night as well) for 18 months, I rarely have insomnia anymore!  

Comfrey topically if the skin is intact.

I use both comfrey and aloe,

But I bet the sunburn that inspired the OP to post is long healed.