This is spring!

 

While the view from the bakery window may not look warm and springy (Can you find the nearly buried bird bath?)...

 

 

 ...inside is warm and blooming. Happy Spring!

 

Meet Barm

Seven years ago "barm" became a part of my life. Barm, just one of the many names for plain, old sourdough starter, has been growing happily ever since. He is a bit of a demanding fellow, though, begging for food quite regularly. Today was one of those days.

 But barm doesn't get fed for nothing. He is a good worker in my bakery.

 2006 -- Some of barm's first successful loaves.

Barm is still at it! He is just a young thing, after all.

Christmas Vacation

Vacation is...

...treats.

...family and special foods.

 ...year-end bookkeeping.

 ...extra sleep.

 ...time to read.

 ...season's-end Julekakke.

 ...friends and games.

 ...loads of laundry.

 ...twinkling lights and tinsel.

 ...cross-country skiing.

 ...hot tea.

...Mt. Clothes-to-Iron.

 

 ...mounds of dishes.

 Christmas is... 

... Immanuel, "God with Us."

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12).

“[Christ Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:6-11).