The Joy in Baking a Bread

Life has some strange twists and tails. Never in my life did I think that I would enjoy food from the perspective of making it. Practical things have been my focus as an engineer and I have enjoyed many opportunities to make things. Having the right mix to qualify as a success, each thing we end up creating should leave us joyful. Now having the view that the good things in life come with time and wisdom, especially considering our dependence on a system that caters to every whim humans can think off, I think the one thing we are always surprised by is the pleasure we feel when experiencing deep satisfaction when having created something new and useful.

So to my utter delight, I started enjoying the art of baking bread. We decided it was necessary to learn some home crafts to expand our ability in living off the grid. Bread baking was introduced to us by a passionate baker who showed us that using raw basic ingredients produces the most amazing breads. Stone ground flour (twice ground only) with wild yeast and Himalayan rock salt with spring water are my tools now. Every time I bake my Pain De Campaign loaf in our gas fired oven, it leaves me with more and more satisfaction.
Something so simple and enjoyable to do, can put a smile on my face every time I bite my first cut crust off a fresh loaf. This is a skill that I will cherish. Having made different styles of bread as in Essene bread and Corn loaf, my current bakes are pure pleasure. Knowing when to spray misted water into your hot oven to produce a light crust, slightly sweet from the cooling effect enhancing the sugars from the yeast are little skills that add to the comfort of making good food.

That reminds me, the bread is still warm. Another slice with real butter is calling me. Just the aroma of fresh bake leaves one self satisfied in having achieved again. I Love it!

No Power

Strange how we can be affected when our creature comforts become compromised. We lost electrical power early this morning. Probably some maintenance thing. But then I had set myself a few things to achieve today, and most of them where with using my computer. As I sat on my chair on the front veranda and had coffee this morning, it dawned upon me again that we are so conditioned that we are sometime unaware of the wonderful richness we are blessed with in life.

We live on a farm in the mountains surrounded by indigenous forrests with green fields as far as the eye can see. Blue skies with fluffy clouds slowly making their way east to the sea. The only barrier to happiness here is my mind. I am feeling frustrated because I can't go and do one of my favourite things and that is surfing the net. Food for thought here. We are in a place on this planet where we are determined to become self sufficient and less dependant on the system, and here I am having emotions about the system. Well, after a walk on the propperty to survey the rich growth in our new vegetable gardens soon gave me better perspective. Be more aware of the things you attach to and be more greatful for our blessings living out here in the country.

Life Worth Living

Today the world seems a better place. It is my perspective that has changed. Looking around where I am my eyes are full of Love for what I see. The sky is clear, the air is sweet and fresh and everything is green. Rain has soaked the earth and the springs are full. What more can one wish for?

Living in the country has allowed me to take stock of all in my life and it is clear to me what I need to be happy. It is all around me. Thank You!

One Year and Three days

That's how long it has taken me to find the inspiration to write here again. Strange how life finds its twists and turns - constantly delivering what we need to progress.

On the 14 th of November 2008 is when my little Indi went awol. She got up with me in the morning and went out for her morning explore in the garden to check up on which buck had been visiting the night before, and I never saw her again. My little orphan I inherited two years before and only the second pet I ever let into my inner space. A cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Jack Russell, beautiful black little budle of love. Eight days I looked for her, and found nothing. The sadness of losing a companion that only gave love and doted on a hug was not easy to process.

The changes in my life that followed that event has been quite amazing. Waking up from a consciousness sleep of 12 years to face life again with absolute insight has been the outcome this past year. Having the opportunity to release a lifetime of ghosts that haunt the Soul and form strange thought patterns has been great. Vigour for life in any form and shape is surely humanities greatest test. We are life and it has to be celebrated in every waking moment we are conscious of it. What are we without a dream to achieve something special with the time we are given here on this planet?

For three days I have been pondering how to take the outcome of a years' silent mourning for a friend - and the way on is celebration! Celebrate in all we do to be grateful for the gift of health and life. So wherever you are my little Indi - run happy with the wind in those long ears and let your heart beat fast for the vigour of life you own. May you find every bone you have burried and may each find make you happy beyond measure.

I love you - for I was loved and I will remember you forever.

Celerate life I will and I will write about it from now on!