I’ve recently gotten back to baking homemade bread again. I forgot how very much I missed doing that. The amazement as the kids watch the yeast as it proofs and grows; the feel of the dough beneath our hands as we knead it for that whole ten minutes. Our hot water heater is in our pantry and is the perfect place to let the dough rest and rise. Ooohh, and then the super comforting aroma of the bread as it bakes in the oven. It fills the entire house and escapes out the door when the kids run in and out. It is truly the smell of home, of love and comfort and warmth.
I started back to bread making again for two reasons. One, I felt that tug at my heart and hands. And two, because the last time I went to the store to buy bread, just a loaf of multigrain store brand bread was $1.50/loaf or more!  That was enough for me. We love baking bread, we know what goes in it and it’s cheaper to make than buy. Time to start kneading again!
Below is our recipe. Tried and true. It’s a nice soft bread, good for slicing for sandwiches and my kids will attest to the fact that it makes an AWESOME French toast! Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Lori’s Bread

Makes 3 loaves

2 Tablespoons  yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup water
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup melted shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 cups water
1/4 cup molasses or honey
5 cups white  flour, plus a little extra for kneading
3 cups whole wheat flour

Combine yeast, 1/2 c. hot tap water and 1 T. sugar in bowl and allow to proof/set. (Until foamy, approx. 10 minutes).Add egg, shortening, salt, molasses or honey, and remaining sugar and water.Stir in flour slowly until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and can be handled.Turn out on a floured surface and knead until dough is smooth and pliable, 10 minutes .Shape into a ball and place into a greased mixing bowl. Turn dough over so greased side is on top, cover with a tea towel and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size. Approx. 1-1 1/2 hours. Punch dough down, turn it over in the bowl, and allow to rise again until almost doubled in size.  Approx. 1 hour. Punch down and shape into 3 large loaves. Place in greased loaf pans and allow to rise another 30-45 min.Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 min. until brown and sounds hollow when thumped. Remove from loaf pans and allow to cool completely. Freezes well.

I don’t know about you, but I’m flabberGASted by this whole gas situation. Yesterday and last night, almost all the gas stations in Asheville and the surrounding areas were out of gas, all grades. They started the newscast with the headline, “If you don’t have gas tonight, good luck getting to work in the morning.” Both my husband and I were almost to empty in our tanks. He was supposed to take his mother to the airport later this morning, so he called her and suggested she call a taxi company because he wouldn’t be able to get to work and then also get her back and forth to the airport on what little gas he had left in his tank. I emailed clients to reschedule meetings.

Joe called moments after he left for work and told me there was gas at the station just down the road, so after the kids got on the school buses, my youngest and I drove down to get gas. All they had is regular grade, which is fine with me, but the maximum you could get was $20. One man at another pump was very angry and was quite obvious and well, obnoxious, about his feelings. What good that was supposed to do, I don’t know. But I guess a great number of people were reacting in that same way yesterday as the stations that did have gas had to have police there to help with the situation.

What really gets to me is that last night everyone was in a total panic. Surely, someone knew that there would be deliveries to the pumps this morning so why couldn’t they have reported that and told everyone that they would be able to get at least some gas today? But they didn’t do that. Instead, they created major sense of anxiety when there was no need. I understand that this is not a laughing matter, but why make it worse than it needs to be by not reporting the answers people so desperately need?

Today my baby turned four years old! It’s so hard to fathom that so much time has passed already. Laying in bed last night, I was remembering being in the hospital that night with contractions, knowing that today would be the day. Wondering who that little person inside me would be. What his personality would be like. And here we are, four years later, and he is growing up so quickly. Poor little guy, though, as last night his asthma hit him pretty hard and he and I were up most of the night trying to get him comfortable and keep him from coughing. I think it was a reminder to me of those sleepless nights way back when! He was a bit subdued today from lack of sleep and just not feeling up to par, but he had a wonderful birthday celebration with our families and friends, even though, he insisted that he have his party at Chuck E. Cheese. But, he and all the kids had a great time and it was a celebration of his life, the last of our five children. These kids of ours….no matter how many books we put on their heads, they just keep growing up. HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRANKIE!

Can you smell it? Can you hear it? Go outside! You will. There’s a definite change in the air today. Fall is making its debut in the mountains. The sky looks different. The way the light plays upon the mountains and dances through the trees. The world is crisper and brighter. As the breeze rustles through the leaves, you can hear them chatter, almost hear the words ‘crisp’ and ‘brisk’ carry through the air. Even the birds seem busier, hitting the birdfeeders with more purpose than before. The little hummingbirds are chasing each other, coming right up on the porch as I sit there in my rocking chair as they head for their sugar water. The kids came back in the house after stepping outside this morning to grab some jackets from the coat rack before they went out to wait for the bus at the end of the driveway. It’s that time of year again. After the stifling stillness of the hot, dry summer months, I’m ready for the change of season. The leaves have not quite started to reveal their vibrant colors, but it’s coming soon. And what a spectacular show it will be. Autumn in the mountains of western North Carolina; a regal and inspiring display.

Two weekends ago, we took the kids to Justus Orchards in Hendersonville for our annual apple pickin’ excursion. As the children loaded their baskets with ripe, juicy apples, we discussed the attributes of each mouth-watering variety; a mini taste lesson during the fun of twisting and turning those orbs off the branches. It was a gorgeous day in the mountains, nice breeze, not too hot, and great times spent together as we made our harvest. We came home with right around 140 pounds of local apples!

Our house is still being filled with the aromas of that harvest as pies and crisps bake in the oven, as apple butter , pie filling and applesauce simmers on the stove or in the crockpot, as we put up the apples we picked this year. Makes you want to wrap everyone up in one big quilt, lay back, tell stories and breathe in the smells of apples, cinnamon and cloves as they blend perfectly into those delectable treats for our palates. Our pantry shelves are looking colorful with the fruits and labor of from that trip, canned South Carolina free-stone peaches, tomatoes from our garden and grapes from our vine. Winter will be here and our stores are being laid up. A comforting feeling in our home.

Our Gang

Environmental Impact is Lessened
Local businesses make more local purchases which require less transportation. In general, they set up their businesses in the heart of the community instead of the outskirts which means less sprawl, congestions, habitat loss and pollution.

New Jobs are Created by Local Businesses
Nationally, small businesses are the largest employers. Locally owned businesses create more jobs in the community and, in some sectors, provide better wages and benefits than chains do.

More Money Stays in the Local Economy
When you purchase or visit a locally-owned business, more money is kept in the community because they often purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms. By purchasing local, it helps other local businesses grow and prosper in return.

Local Business Owners Re-Invest in the Community
Because local businesses are owned by people in the community, they reinvest in community programs.

Customer Service is Better
Local businesses invest in their employees for better customer service. They often hire people with more specific product expertise. They have a commitment to the community and their customers. You, as a consumer, can put a face on the owner of the business.

Competition
A marketplace with thousands of small, local businesses is the best way to ensure innovation, creativity, and low prices over the long term.

Local Decision Making
Local business ownership ensures that important decisions are made on a local level by people who live in the community and who will feel the impact of those decisions.

Product Diversity
A multitude of small, local businesses, each selecting products based, not on a national sales plan, but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

Non-Profits Receive Greater Support
Non-profits receive greater support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses.

Unique Businesses Create a Distinctive Community Character
In an increasingly homogenized world, communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character have an economic advantage.

Cross stitching Kane's

Today I am teaching Topher (Christopher) how to do counted cross stitch. The kids have watched me for years as I’ve made stockings, samplers, ornaments, and more. It’s always been with an audience surrounding me that I’ve worked on these pieces. They’ve been completely enthralled. And now, at eight years old, the triplets want to start doing it, too! I’m so pleased and excited to pass this craft along to them. Together we can sit at night and work on various projects. Topher started the trend and now everyone else wants to get into the game so as I am running my errands tomorrow, I must stop and get some more fabric so they can each have their turn.

I can see our Christmas tree being trimmed with countless handmade ornaments, made by our children. I’ve done many over the years, along with hand-painted glass ornaments but to have their creations hanging from the branches will make it all the more special. Teaching them something to do with their hands, something creative, something from yesteryear just warms my heart. But above that, I’m not teaching them because it’s something I want them to learn, I’m teaching them because it’s something they want to learn.

6pm-Sept. 12, 2008

The Rising Cost of……

EVERYTHING! Where will it end? How long can it continue and the average household survive? This current gas crisis is just plain scary. Most stations are completely out of gas and those few that do have it, only have premium and that’s running over $4.75/gallon. How will businesses stay open? How can employees get back and forth to work when they can’t buy gas? How can they afford to put almost $5.00 per gallon gas in their cars when they’re only making $7.00/hour? But they have to work in order to eat and pay rent and bills. Oh, now they have to make a choice. Should they eat or put gas in their car so they can get to work? What sort of choice is that for someone to have to make?

From what I’m reading, this situation could last several days or a couple weeks. The only positive way I can look at this is that maybe it will make us all really take notice of our driving habits and make some changes. Not just changes during the crisis but changes that we will really take to heart and integrate into our everyday lives for the long term. Joe and I have been very thoughtful about only making trips out for absolutely necessary things (ie: groceries, medication for the children, etc). We’ve also been planning out the week ahead and making changes to our schedules so that what running needs to be done encompasses many errands at one time, in a logical circle. We had already been doing that quite a bit with the already insane gas prices, but now we’re becoming even more aware. It’s amazing how much unnecessary we (and I believe our whole nation) do on a daily basis simply because we’ve been accustomed to just hopping in our cars and going whenever we feel we need to. It’s time to slow down. You know how they say ‘sometimes you need to hit rock bottom before you realize that it’s time to make a change’? Well, I personally think that we’re as close to rock bottom as I want to get. I’m ready to make some serious changes, no matter how uncomfortable they may be at times. How about you?

That was the question laid before the Asheville City Council on July 8, 2008. With the constantly rising cost of food along with an ever-increasing awareness and movement toward knowing where are food comes from, many citizens in the city limits are petitioning city leaders to change Section 3 of the pet ordinance which addresses keeping chickens and other livestock in the city limits. The current ordinance requires that chickens must be 100 feet away from any neighbors property line, but there are no restrictions or limits for the keeping of roosters. The proposed change would reduce the distance required to 25 feet. Citizens who want to raise chickens for eggs and meat are willing to make concessions such as limiting the number of chickens they can have to nine and not allowing roosters so they don’t disturb the neighbors. Those opposed to the idea are wary of the noise and the smells, but if chickens are properly taken care, especially with no more than nine allowed, the smell would be minimal if at all noticeable. Since roosters would be taken out of the equation, chicken peeping is no more obtrusive than our native birds, which most of us would never even consider thinking about as annoying. Some have even gone so far as to state that if their neighbors want to raise chickens, they should pack up and move to the country. My question is why? Why can’t people enjoy ‘city’ fresh eggs and help supplement their groceries on their own? If they are taking care of their animals and not disturbing anyone, what is the harm? Hmmm. . . maybe the neighbors might even find they enjoy some of those local eggs!

Presenting…yet another reason to buy locally! With products being shipped in from all over the country, sometimes from all around the globe, how can we know where they’re grown, under what conditions, etc? We can’t. And with this recent tomato scare, even the distributors couldn’t pinpoint exactly where the tainted tomatoes had originated. That alone speaks volumes.
However, if you are buying local produce, you can speak directly to the grower or at the very least, to the grocer who is selling the product and ask the questions you need the answers to. Questions such as 1) What, if any, pesticides do you use? 2) Are there livestock pastures positioned right next to the produce fields? These are questions that can be very important to your health. That much has become glaringly obvious over the past few years.
Once again, the answer is right in front of our faces, right out our own backdoors. Buying local, supporting local businesses has so many more benefits than initially meet the eye.