Street Art

I found a little art around my neighborhood this week.

Moving Arts Studio Window

School Mosaic

 

please plant something in me

Knitted pole

Co-op building

Check out more street art in the 52 Photos gallery this week!

Squares

 

 Just fooling around.

Making a few photos square.

Sometimes it's inspiring to look at things in a different way.

It doesn't feel like being inside a box if this is actually an outside the box way of seeing for me.

52 Loaves vs. Reinhart: A Baguette Challenge

This is the third and final round of baguette baking.  Until, I come across a new recipe that I think could truly be a challenge to our reigning champion, Baguette a l'Ancienne!

In this third round, the sourdough was up against Classic French Bread from Peter Reinhart's Artisan Breads Every Day.  We didn't hem and haw this time, it was a quick, universal and almost weary choice of the sourdough.

It's good to know that it's worth the effort to maintain the starter.  An extra step in bread baking doesn't always guarantee better bread, in my experience.  I'm not sure what's next, but I'm ready for some more sourdough adventure.

May

May.  You are really too much for us. 

Too much celebration, too much sadness.  You host too many events.

Your garden needs attention daily.  Summer vacation insists on being planned before it is too late.

I'm trying to take in your beauty, yet not be late for where I am expected to be next.

I want to hike your woods, pick your dogwoods and azaleas, cook your asparagus.

I don't want you to bring the 14th around for the second time, nor do I have any clue how I intend to embrace turning 50.

And how, after I eat all the celebratory cakes, will I not embarrass myself fully in that bathing suit when the pool opens for the Memorial Day weekend?

April's Garden

Every spring I resolve that I will improve upon the previous year's garden.  Weed and mulch more, plant with forethought, not just plunk in a seedling where's there's space.  Create garden rooms, design.  Try a new method.

 

This year I am densely packing my beds following the suggestions in this book.  I am also planting by the biodynamic system.  

I couldn't resist these illustrated seed packets I found when we were in Hillsdale.  The Spotted Trout lettuce is coming up nicely.

Once the daffodils came up around Easter, we reached the point where there will always be something to snip for a vase on the kitchen table until October.

Now I just have to keep Charlie out of my flower bed.  He is drawn to the organic fertilizer I put down!

52 Loaves vs. ABinFive: A Baguette Search

We had another baguette tasting Saturday evening and once again the 52 Loaves loaf won. 

This second round the sourdough baguette was challenged by a long-time favorite from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day.  This is a no-knead, refrigerated method using the Master Recipe.

Just like the first tasting, Olivia and I quickly voted in favor of Baguette a l'Ancienne.  Mr. Savory again said he liked them both equally.  Rolling our eyes, we said he had to choose.  He went for the sourdough.

Baguette a l'Ancienne will return for a final round. 

Harry And Charlie Wag The Wissahickon: Hikes Four And Five

 

I've combined the last two hikes as the fourth was short and served the purpose of finishing a segment on one side of a road.  Rain threatened that afternoon and I didn't stop much to photograph.

Yesterday, a perfect spring afternoon, we were out for two hours and managed to scamper in elevation and yet not cover much distance in length.  We spent a good deal of time on the wrong trails leading in the right direction and eventually made it onto the trail I wanted going in the wrong direction!

On the way back, I looked down to notice a fallen tree with a white trail blaze on it.  No wonder I couldn't figure out what happened to the white trail. 

We were hot and tired by the time we returned to the car, and I have to admit I was a bit relieved to see my blue Honda waiting by the side of the road.

Details of Hikes #4 & #5

Trail: Orange (Hike #4), White (Hike #5)

Route: Orange: Hortter Street to Rittenhouse Town and return; White: Livezey to Monastery Stables and return.

Miles: Orange: 2 miles, White: 2 miles.

Number of dogs encountered: 3 total.

Number of horses encountered: 1.

What Harry and Charlie ate and drank:  Creek and runoff water.

What Clarice ate and drank: Nothing, but thought about a tall glass of fresh lemonade.

Harry and Charlie's most exciting moment: Running up the many steep steps to the Fingerspan Bridge ( a section I meant to avoid because of the trouble stated below).

Trouble: Even on leash, Harry wouldn't cross the Fingerspan Bridge (a steel, grated structure).  We had to turn around and climb up the embankment to search for that darn white trail I still couldn't find.  This was my second attempt to cross that bridge with him.

Lost Items: The White Trail.