Sooo knitting...yeah.  I kinda stink at it-But, I have 11 months to get to my goal.  I just need to be able to knit a scarf by February 2012 (provided the world has not ended of course.)  I stumbled across a knitting shop while visiting my husband down in Rockville, MD this weekend and met the nicest ladies.  They gave me great advice that I am going to put into practice this week.  They also pointed me to a great website for networking knitters:  www. Ravelry.com. You have to sign up for an account, but it is a great online source for patterns, people, various help and groups (blogs too).  I'm hooked. 

My other project this week was bread.  I’ve have been testing out different recipes and techniques for a few months with mixed outcomes.  This week I wanted to make a baguette. So I created a sponge that I let ferment for about 2.5 hours.  It was stringy and bubbly.  After combining all the ingredients I let it rise for 2 hours before deflating it and kneaded it.  I let it rise for 8 hours. Followed by another deflate. I let it retard in the fridge overnight and rise for 4 more hours before shaping it, followed by a final rise 2 hours.  I heated the oven to 450 degrees and placed a skillet with water on the bottom shelf for steam (just a cup) and baked my loaf for 22 minutes.

The results were good.  I was able to get the color and the crispness to the crust, but not the airiness I was looking for this time.  I think I need to knead more.  I guess it is back to the yummy drawing board.

The Sponge

Since my baking and crafting adventures have been a bit challenging this week, I felt I needed a success of some kind to boost my morale, so B and I decided to drive from Philly to DC and sightsee around the Nation Mall.   This is funny because my sense of direction is…is…hmmm…well it is not good.  I like to look around and rarely pay attention to “important” details like route numbers, street names, or the direction.  When it comes to travel I’m more of a, “It’s not the destination, but the journey,” kinda gal.  I should have a GPS, but that feels like cheating.  I also don’t mind being lost.  Otherwise I am all about details, instructions and structure (“all about” Circa 1993). 

B and I decide we’d most like to see the National Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.  B has been very interested in Abraham Lincoln thanks in part to Presidents Day having just passed and her teacher talking about her own trip to D.C.   We very enthusiastically walked down Independence Ave. (after a rather interesting time finding parking that will not be mentioned other than to say it was still easier than parking in Philly) to Constitutional Ave where B  shouted for joy at the sight of the Monuments.  When I write shouted, I mean, “MOMMA, MOMMA! THERE IS OUR NATIONAL MONOOMENT!!!LOOK MOMMA (gasping laughter)! I SEE IT! (laughter) WE HAVE TO RUN TO IT QUICKLY!!! HURRRY, I CAN’T WAIT!!!! 

She was jumping up and down and trying to run while shouting at the same time It was one of the funnies things I’ve seen, and she’s done (see caption below).

Note:  I, and the school, thought she broke her nose this week during a recess while playing tag.  She was running for base.  She did not make it.

I’d like to point out that this is not Disney.  I would expect that kind of wild excitement at princesses and such. For which there were none.  This was the National Mall.  Stone buildings. She was exuberant and effervescent over them.  I have never been this excited about anything.  Ah, to see things through the eyes of babes.

Falling up the stairs...

Needless to say we had a great week despite a bump or two on the nose—I mean-- in the road.   I did not get lost on our return trip to the hotel and we made it home safe and sound from D.C.   I met some nice knitters who gave me some leads to chase down and I made edible bread.  I guess my glass was fuller than it first appeared at the start of this post. 

J