Bread Thought

So Dad baked bread today- Walnut Bear Bread, which was very good, and which Em had made for Thanksgiving. He kneaded it, we think (we didn't time well) significantly less than was called for, and it turned out much lighter and softer than when she did it. I figured that that was due to less formation of gluten, but really, I know zilch about this. Other thing being- the purpose of kneading: formation of gluten and/or getting rid of air bubbles? ANyone (well, shirei_shibolim I'm sort of looking in your direction in particular, since you're notably good at this stuff) have input?

Bread Thought

So Dad baked bread today- Walnut Bear Bread, which was very good, and which Em had made for Thanksgiving. He kneaded it, we think (we didn't time well) significantly less than was called for, and it turned out much lighter and softer than when she did it. I figured that that was due to less formation of gluten, but really, I know zilch about this. Other thing being- the purpose of kneading: formation of gluten and/or getting rid of air bubbles? ANyone (well, shirei_shibolim I'm sort of looking in your direction in particular, since you're notably good at this stuff) have input?

The Day That Doesn't End

Today the house has been overflowing- with people and with energy. The grandparents (maternal) arrived at around 11am. Shortly thereafter, as planned, my mother's youngest brother, his wife and their two kids arrived. And the little ones were Active, with a capital Active. Lovely and wonderful, Morgan is getting much more interactive and affectionate as she gets older, and she's grown a ton since I saw her last- at Thanksgiving. Amazing what a month and a bit will do, when you're a year and a half old. She's just delightful. But well, they were here until my grandparents left when I did to go get a haircut around 3:30. When I got back, the cousins were still here, and Dad's friend from high school (Rachel) was here, with her husband and two boys, ages 5 and 8 I think- or something like that- maybe 4 and 8. Soonish thereafter the uncle-aunt-cousins left, and Rachel and family left at 5:45 or so. ANd the house just felt silent- I didn't know what to do with myself: I spent pretty much all of my day with either the 1/5 year old or a 5ish year old.

And my hair feels so short- the hairdresser took off about 4 inches. No one else will probably even be able to tell a difference- but it's above my waist. It just feels incredibly strange. Always does. But it's really weird for me. I don't like that feeling. Hair should get longer, not shorter. I don't know- it's sort of an identity thing. (The hairdresser insisted that I could do all the same things with it if it was significantly shorter- Ha, at some of the lengths she was suggesting, I couldn't even braid it, let alone braid a scarf into it, or put it in a nice bun... Not that I do the latter often, but still- I like to be able to.)

The Day That Doesn't End

Today the house has been overflowing- with people and with energy. The grandparents (maternal) arrived at around 11am. Shortly thereafter, as planned, my mother's youngest brother, his wife and their two kids arrived. And the little ones were Active, with a capital Active. Lovely and wonderful, Morgan is getting much more interactive and affectionate as she gets older, and she's grown a ton since I saw her last- at Thanksgiving. Amazing what a month and a bit will do, when you're a year and a half old. She's just delightful. But well, they were here until my grandparents left when I did to go get a haircut around 3:30. When I got back, the cousins were still here, and Dad's friend from high school (Rachel) was here, with her husband and two boys, ages 5 and 8 I think- or something like that- maybe 4 and 8. Soonish thereafter the uncle-aunt-cousins left, and Rachel and family left at 5:45 or so. ANd the house just felt silent- I didn't know what to do with myself: I spent pretty much all of my day with either the 1/5 year old or a 5ish year old.

And my hair feels so short- the hairdresser took off about 4 inches. No one else will probably even be able to tell a difference- but it's above my waist. It just feels incredibly strange. Always does. But it's really weird for me. I don't like that feeling. Hair should get longer, not shorter. I don't know- it's sort of an identity thing. (The hairdresser insisted that I could do all the same things with it if it was significantly shorter- Ha, at some of the lengths she was suggesting, I couldn't even braid it, let alone braid a scarf into it, or put it in a nice bun... Not that I do the latter often, but still- I like to be able to.)