Books And Bread

The past few weeks have been a complete emotional rollercoaster. We're in the process of buying a house. You can read about that here. Between packing, last-minute paperwork, waiting, and trying to stay focused, it has been overwhelming. However, amid it all, I have discovered that books and baking bread is a phenomenal distraction. 

The week after Christmas, I used an Amazon gift card to purchase a few books. I read all of them. Reading in the evening is my go-to method of unwinding at night before bed. I'm usually never without a book to read, but with all of the hustle and bustle with buying a house, I found myself...bookless.

Last weekend, Lisa purchased a few books off my Amazon wish list. They arrived on Sunday. I was like a little kid in a candy store. 

Right around the same time, I decided to take a break and make homemade bread. This came after the realization that in just a few short days, we'll be packing most of the kitchen essentials. If I'm going to bake, I need to do it now. 

That's kind of what I've been doing.

I've made several loaves of bread, made enough homemade dog treats and peanut butter chicken meatballs for our kids to last a couple of weeks, and I'll be making triple berry bread and muffins, and banana bread and muffins this weekend for Lisa's work lunches next week.

Baking provided almost the same relief as reading. 

It wasn't just about baking homemade dog treats or homemade bread.

I felt inspired. 

I thought about all the wonderful creations I wanted to make when we're all moved and settled into our new house.

For example, the Sunday we looked at and made an offer on the house we're buying, we went to Bill's Bread and Breakfast for a late breakfast. It's our favorite breakfast place, but we haven't been there in 7 years. 

Everything is homemade.

EVERYTHING.

We feasted on traditional and crab cake eggs benedict.

On. Homemade. English. Muffins.

We bought a package of homemade maple English Muffins before leaving.

They were the best.

I want to make homemade English Muffins.

Inspiration.

Yes, I already do a considerable amount of cooking and baking and DIY.

But.

I want to do more.

The house we're buying has a small backyard and a huge backyard. Both are fenced in. Next Summer I want to have a vegetable garden and plant fruit bushes and trees. 

I want to learn how to can. 

I need to buy a pasta maker/roller.

The list goes on and on and on.

When I bake, I think about all of that.

I know the next couple of weeks are going to be hectic because we'll be moving and unpacking and getting settled in.

I've already got a menu planned for next week because most of our kitchen essentials will be packed and we don't want to rely on takeout.

The week after we are fully moved in will be tough, but the kitchen will be the first room I unpack because, once again, we don't want to rely on takeout.

Our kids will have an abundance of homemade meals and treats. 

Inhale slowly.

Exhale slowly.

One day at a time.

We've got this.