Out and About

It's been a quite slow week in the office so far, which is good since I'm still exhausted from the traveling. I hope none of you are counting on me driving very far over the weekend in the next few months, 'cause it ain't happening.

That said, I'm leaving at 4:30 Thursday morning for the Vegetable Growers Conference. I'm sure it'll be a really worthwhile conference, I just wish I didn't have to get up so early. I guess I don't have anything really exciting to say...so I'll just sign off and go back to my vegetating.

The Bread Bible by Rose Levy Berenbaum

I received this book for Christmas from Steven's family. It is every bit as scrumptious as I thought it would be. I'm only sad that my schedule will not allow my to start trying out recipes for a couple more weeks.

I've been making basic breads for quite a number of years, so I'm definitely comfortable with the yeast aspect of bread making. However, the idea of making starters and sponges and using some of the more artisan techniques and ingredients has always been a little scary. What I really appreciate about this book is that it includes a lot more than just recipes...it also covers the science behind why certain techniques work or why different types of flour are better or worse for each type of bread. I remember doing some things with types of flour in my Food Processing class at ISU. (For those of you who remember, this was the absolutely HATED class that had ridiculously long, boring labs...largely watching huge vats of various things boil for hours on end.) Anyway, I think that the information in this book is presented much more accessibly than the class, with a good balance of the Science of bread making with the Art of bread making. Duh...if it wasn't, no one would buy the book.

I have 10 recipes marked in the book to try, starting with the Rich and Creamy Ginger Scones. I'll keep you updated as I have the opportunity to test the recipes...and maybe I'll even torture you with pictures!

Absent Once Again

Once again I seem to have taken an unintended leave of absence from blogging. Not that it's a big deal, since I was actually interacting with many of you in person rather than through a silly website. But I still miss sharing my thoughts with the world on my own personal soapbox.

I've been keeping busy, since Steven and I drove up to Minnesota and then Wisconsin for Christmas with both of our families. I'm still trying to catch up from that. Then we're driving back up for a wedding this weekend. EEK! At least the weather has been pretty favorable.

I'm eating a pink orange for lunch. A Cara Cara orange, to be exact. Rather amusing. I'd forgotten that's what it was until I opened it up.

Work continues to go well. I'm starting to fill up my schedule with presentations at the senior centers and meetings with groups interested in community garden and youth urban gardening. I'm also going to be going to the Great Plains Vegetable Conference in St. Joseph, MO next week. I'm excited to go to a conference where I get to learn and gain ideas for programming here this year.

I think it's going to be a challenge to be busy but not overwhelmingly busy. Some people would absolutely love it if I would go to every single training session and event that might conceivably be construed to fit into my job description. Sorry, not going to happen. Even so, I will be happy as things get a little more busy here after Christmas. It's been a quiet couple of weeks. It still takes me aback a little to realize how different the climate is here. People are starting to prune their fruit trees already...something we would normally not do until March farther north!

At any rate, hopefully this has given you a bit of an update. I'll probably get around to more regular blogging later this month...or next month... It'll be nice once I get back into a regular routine with all sorts of things.

The 'O' Antiphons - O Emmanuel

(The "O" Antiphons, so called because each one addresses the God who comes in Christ with a different biblical title, beginning with the invocation "O," are prayed in the 7 days leading up to Christmas.)

O Emmanuel (God-with-us)

Not as a king you come here now;
No gold your throne adorns:
No royal crown is on your brow,
Except a crown of thorns.

You come a holy law to teach,
A perfect rule to set,
Give blind their sight and dumb their speech,
And be rejected yet.

Oh, make us one with you below,
In heart and will and love;
And when our time draws nigh to go,
Still keep us one above.

We wait in faith, we wait in prayer,
Until the happy morn
When you shall come our Flesh to share,
And for our sake be born.

The 'O' Antiphons - O Rex Gentium

(The "O" Antiphons, so called because each one addresses the God who comes in Christ with a different biblical title, beginning with the invocation "O," are prayed in the 7 days leading up to Christmas.)

O Rex Gentium (King of Nations)

O Christ, on whom the nations wait,
And kingdoms far away,
The Gentiles will own you as great
And all your words obey.

Far from the West bid hatred flee,
And unbelief and pride;
How long shall those who do not see
Your seamless coat divide?

Do not forget the faithful East
Where once your Truth was spread,
Where all your saints your Name confessed,
And holy martyrs bled.

To God, the mighty and the just,
All praise and glory be:
To him in whom all lands shall trust,
Our God, the One in Three.

The 'O' Antiphons - O Oriens

(The "O" Antiphons, so called because each one addresses the God who comes in Christ with a different biblical title, beginning with the invocation "O," are prayed in the 7 days leading up to Christmas.)

O Oriens (Dayspring)

O very God of very God,
And very Light of Light,
Whose feet this earth's dark valley trod,
That so it might be bright:

Our hopes are weak, our fears are strong,
Thick darkness blinds our eyes;
Cold is the night, and, oh, we long
That you, our Sun, would rise!

And even now, though dull and grey,
The east is brightening fast,
And kindling to the perfect day
That never shall be past.

Oh, guide us till our path is done,
And we have reached the shore
Where you, our Everlasting Sun,
Are shining evermore!

The 'O' Antiphons - O Clavis David

(The "O" Antiphons, so called because each one addresses the God who comes in Christ with a different biblical title, beginning with the invocation "O," are prayed in the 7 days leading up to Christmas.)

O Clavis David (Key of David)

O key of David, hailed by those
In fetters long confined;
For where you open, none may close,
Nor where you loosen, bind;

Without one ray of light around
To comfort and to cheer,
Poor pris'ners we in fetters bound,
Await your drawing near.

You, only you, can loose the chain,
You only end our woe,
You only give us light again,
And let the captives go.

The 'O' Antiphons - O Radix Jesse

(The "O" Antiphons, so called because each one addresses the God who comes in Christ with a different biblical title, beginning with the invocation "O," are prayed in the 7 days leading up to Christmas.)

O Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse)

O Root of Jesse, upon whom
The Spirit comes to rest;
Whose boughs through all the world shall bloom
To bless and to be blest:

True Vine, in whom we must abide
To bring forth plenteous fruit;
Whose branches when by tempests tried,
Are firm in you, their Root.

You are a shadow from the heat
That burns the thirsty ground:
A hiding-place when tempests beat
Upon the plain around.

O Root of Jesse, day by day
To you our prayers we send:
Come now, and through the world, we pray,
Your healing leaves extend.

The 'O' Antiphons - O Adonai

(The "O" Antiphons, so called because each one addresses the God who comes in Christ with a different biblical title, beginning with the invocation "O," are prayed in the 7 days leading up to Christmas.)

O Adonai (Lord)

O God, who once came down of old
To bring salvation nigh,
When all the people of your flock
Sent up a bitter cry.

Your servant turned aside with awe,
And that great wonder learned:
A bush that flamed with fire he saw,
That yet was never burned.

To God, for ever to be feared,
All praise and glory be,
To him that in the bush appeared,
Our God the One in Three

The 'O' Antiphons - O Sapienta

(The "O" Antiphons, so called because each one addresses the God who comes in Christ with a different biblical title, beginning with the invocation "O," are prayed in the 7 days leading up to Christmas.)

O Sapienta (Wisdom)

O heavenly Wisdom, hear our cry,
Great everlasting Son;
Who with the Father, God most high,
Are now and ever one.

Ere you had formed the realms afar
Or all the world we see,
Before the heav'ns were made, you are
And when they fail shall be.

You made the waters like a robe
To gird the solid land;
The wandering stars, the firm fixed globe,
Were formed by your right hand.

Come, heav'nly Wisdom from on high,
And give us what we need;
Unloose our ear, unseal our eye,
And make us yours indeed.