i made my first batch with 1 cup of ww flour, 5 1/2 c unbl bread flour, 3 c water, 1 1/2 T yeast, 1 1/2 T salt, mix well, let sit 2 hours on counter..then refrigerate..i used a 5 qt ice cream bucket. pull off 1/4 to 1/3 to bake..use 1 c hot water in a pan in the stove to add steam when putting loaf in on stone or in a pan..or rolls.. allow cool bread to warm and rise until about double. preheat oven well. 450 for 40 min for most breads..20 min for most rolls..can reduce temp for smaller rolls to 350 but cook the 40 min. 425 to 450 for pizza..probalby most flatbreads as well. flour or cornmeal give a firmer crust..none makes a softer crust..experiment with flours and coatings..with flour..slash crust before baking

Ann, I've been gathering reading material for the winter, myself. That looks like a wonderful book to curl up by the fire and with. I have to admit I don't know near enough about that time period as I would like. I didn't care much for history in school, perhaps because there is so much more to be learned about it than what we were taught in school. It's the personal stories behind the events that make it interesting for me. Since I read your post I've spent a few pleasant hours at wikipedia and google to get some background info. If you have not been to the site, may I recomend www.gardenvisit.com. There is SO much information there. I've not yet made it past the history and theory tab--eBooks and eArticles- http://www.gardenvisit.com/history_theory/library_online_ebooks/ml_gothein_history_garden_art_design/jardin_de_versailles_chateau PBS has a wonderful page- http://www.pbs.org/marieantoinette/life/hameau.html and I hope you don't mind, I've included a link to a blog I ran across, I thought you might find interesting, called Tea at Trianon- http://teaattrianon.blogspot.com/2008/04/le-petit-hameau-de-la-reine.html This should be fascinating to see the pictures of the restored grounds and buildings, besides read the personal side of the history. Sorry this is so long, I couldn't sleep earlier tonight and your post sparked my interest. I hope you enjoy the book. Please let us know what you think of it. Donna

awm : thank you for the sweet and supportive wishes. I sure hope your ride goes well. Two of the folks I am with have done that ride and loved it. We are indeed fortunate in the support we get from our families. tina thank you too. I will keep up the updates as it helps to clarify things in my head too :). I am glad you are enjoying it. golddust. we had flashing lights but it was just a miserable set of circumstances....hopefully not to be repeated. Glad you like my TALL tales. Sue yes it never has stormed today but we have had a fine time. We walked several miles to go to a Dollar Store and to stretch our legs. Time for a nap I think. Your trip sounds wonderful. I bet you will always cherish that time as will I this trip. Most likely won't do another as I don't want to leave DH this long again but this one time it is good. More later. c

When we lived in the UK on a working holiday, we had a newspaper delivered by the local general shop even though another shop opposite my house sold them. It saved me getting dressed to go and buy it! One day the paper came with huge black writing above the front page headlines, demanding we paid our bill. This was upsetting as I always did on the day it was included in the paper. I was so angry at the vandalism of the paper that I went round, told them I hadn't had a bill, to the obvious scepticism of the manager, and paid up to date. I cancelled the service and thereafter went over the road (usually in a long coat over a nightie!) to get one. I still occasionally went to the offending shop for the deli products and one day the owner's wife came to me and apologised that my bill had been handed in by another customer. It had been included in their paper! She looked hopefully at me but I said that I had made other arrangements. Not the best way to treat a good customer, was it? Some people take their papers to read on the bus or train to work and that wouldn't have been pleasant to have such a message on their paper for all to see!