Keeper of Our Time

by Maren Stowman (guest writer)

Beep-beep-beep.  Ding-dong.  Ding-dong.  Come-come-come.  Several timers in the bakery call at once.  When this happens, Elsa, “the keeper of the time,” has to sort them all out. 

“Beep-beep-beep.”  One timer reminders her to start the mixer after giving the dough its autolyse  (rest) . 

“Ding-dong.  Ding-dong.”  A crusty loaf needs a thermometer probe to determine if it is baked to perfection.

“Come, come, come, come.”  Another oven reminds us that it is ready to be emptied of its contents.  Time plays a vital role in our bakery.

This year as we have baked, we have marveled at God’s perfect timing.

Summer 2009: We replaced the windows on our house.  Meanwhile our bakery operation was cramping our bustling home.  Four windows came the wrong size.  An idea grew.  Why not add on a bakery?

Summer 2010: We got a late start building after asking an architect relative for advice and starting the plans all over.  Due to that set-back, we love how every inch of our work-space has turned out!

2011: Bakery completed!  This was just in time for…

§  Our source for organic, unbleached flour fell through…  This meant taking a day trip across North Dakota for flour from another mill.  To make the trip worthwhile, we had to get lots.  We had the space to store it all which we wouldn’t have had a year ago!

§  Health required we get more help.  Again we had the space for extra people!

§  Two friends came to work for us each bearing their own story of God’s perfect timing.  Yay!

§  We had dreamed of whole wheat products being our nitch, and when the time was ripe, it took off—this year!  We have the space to store our wheat berries, too, and the grinder can blow flour all over the bakery.  J

§  Our aunt’s Alzihmers worsens, and she requires a quiet, orderly home.  This year with the bakery addition this need is provided for.

§  Dad has a new workshop below our bakery. He has been using it to build us more travel and display racks.  Each new piece has been crafted on the very weeks we have needed to fill them with bread and pack more into our market stand.

And so…  amid the activity and noise of our timer-filled bakery, we have constant reminders that our heavenly Father is lovingly caring for us.  We echo the Psalmists words to the Lord, “My times are in your hands” (Psalm 31:15).  God’s actions are not dictated by demanding timers.  Rather He is the creator of time and the great Timer Himself.

Beep-beep-beep-beep.  Back to work we go praising our Heavenly Father, who is the true “Keeper of the Time.”

"Count your many blessings..."

1)  A new and spacious prep-table in a 2) new and spacious work space.

3)  I haven't maxed out my new 30 quart mixer yet!

3)  The view from my forming table - graceful tree trunks... a spring blossoming plum tree... grapes climbing a home-made arbor... puffy, white hydrangeas... a pathway of pink roses... thriving vegetable plants...  (This is only a fraction of the amount of dough the mixer is able to handle.)

4)  The aromas of baked goods.  I can smell the dill and onion as I scale (weigh) the bread dough into 1-1/2 lb. loaves.

5)  One of my greatest blessings - Maren/family.
6)  Maren's new oven which has joined mine in "The Kilns" -- the small room that houses our ovens.  This is the place everyone wants to be on a cold day.

"...see what God has done."

November 29 - December 3, 2010 -- Painting Walls

Dad and Mom made up the roller team.

Maren and I were the primary edgers. This ladder work was left for me. Do not look down!

Looking down.

Hannah is thinking of becoming an electrician. (He-he!) We can hardly wait to get lights and outlets.

December 4, 2010 -- Installing accent lighting & paint touch-up

Dad drills into the ceiling for our cable lighting over the future work table area. Mom covers up wall paint that somehow jumped onto the ceiling.

Track lights for Dad's future photo gallery. I wear gloves to protect the halogen bulbs as I pop them into place.

Done!

December 5, 2010 -- First meal in the enclosed addition

The banquet table.

Loving the view.

December 11, 2010 -- Preparing for flooring

Dad sands the wooden frames around each heat vent level with our gyp-crete floor while Mom is dust control.

Dad's dust collector for his future workshop comes in mighty handy while sanding indoors.

The addition officially becomes part of the house when Dad removes what used to be our back door.

December 13, 2010 -- Preparing for flooring continues

Floor leveler applied in a few uneven spots.

Evening of December 13 - 16, 2010 -- Laying floor

Commercial vinyl plank, "Classic Oak Dark"

~Credits~
Gluers: Dad & Maren
Layers: Dad, Mom, & Maren
Substitute Layer: Elsa
Vinyl cutter: Dad
Floor designer: Elsa
Catering: Hannah

All took turns handling the 100 lb. roller. Notice we have lights!

These few inches can boast of taking more hours than any other part of the floor. Didn't Dad do a great job, though?

December 17, 2010 -- Moving day #1 -- The best birthday gift ever!

Before...
Our living room housed my proofing rack on non-bake-days.

The hutch in our dining room had to scoot over last spring to make room for one of my cooling/storage shelves.

After...
Hannah's jubilation after we move my other cooling/storage shelf from the dining room.

We have our dining room back!

My new bakery begins to take shape.

Initiation of the bakery -- refreshing barm (sourdough starter) on a make-shift table.

Hannah and I grab a few minutes to sip a cup of tea (Taiwanese green!!!) over a Christmas book full of delightful pictures. Soon the birthday company will arrive. Yes, this is in the addition too. The table was being stored in our three season porch, while my harp had it's home in our dining room.

Company has arrived, we have eaten a good meal, and now it is time for cake. Sadly Grandma Stowman is home under the weather, but Grandpa and Grandma Ronnevik make for lively company.

Scrumptious chocolate angel food cake with colorful sprinkles. Tradition...

More smog every year. :-]

A relaxing evening in the addition. Special memories.

December 18, 2010 -- Moving day #2

My trusty ovens on their way to their new home.

Tables and mixer find their place as well.

December 21, 2010 -- Moving day #3

Dad and his friend, Bill, muscle in the last of my equipment as well as a few pieces of furniture. Our house is no longer bursting at the seams. Joy, joy, joy!

October 25, 2010 -- First layer of attic insulation... "Foam it Green"


October 28, 2010 -- Second layer of insulation

Compact bales of fiberglass

Feeding half bales into the beater/blower. This stuff expands!

25 inches of fluff

November 21, 2010 -- Sheetrock, taping/mudding, priming, window staining, and floor heat complete
(Notice paint sample test under Hall window)

November 22, 2010 -- Gyp-crete poured

August 13, 2010 -- Pouring the main floor walls
Our cement crew returns.

The gravel road in front of our place became parking lot to the cement trucks waiting for their turn. Flashing thunderheads had us all a bit nervous. My sisters and I kept the cement crew up to date on what the radar showed while they worked as quickly as they could. Success!

One mishap - the foam blocks gave way in one spot causing a waterfall of cement to escape onto the floor. Once the wall was fixed the guys had a workout returning runaway cement to its proper home inside the wall.

August 19, 2010 -- Our first meal in the addition

September 3, 2010 -- Rafters!
Matt, our carpenter friend, at work.

Dad enjoying the view from his "captain's chair."

September 11, 2010 -- Shingles
Dad enjoyed helping the carpenters where he could.

September 15-17, 2010 -- Windows and interior walls
The carpenters return. Kay, Matt's wife, gave him a hand with the studs. In this picture: oven room (left), storage room (middle), coat closet (middle, back), basement stair (right).

Closing it in and sealing it up.

The monster window being assembled...

... and heaved into place.

We have a room!