this is the official religious observance, The Feast of the Purification, and I expect it's another borrowing from folk tradition.
As in Candlemas Day, when you could throw all your candles away, metaphorically, meaning the daylight in the Northern hemisphere is visibly lengthening. And no doubt the groundhog will forecast six more weeks of winter, what a surprise!
On the raisin bread front, I tried to phone Gary to check if he'd like some raisin bread, couldn't get through, voicemail full as usual, so I just left a container with a couple of slices at his door. With instructions to toast, butter, enjoy.
Later he called, very anxious, not home yet, worried about me, he'd been on a conference call, was I okay? I explained, and he was hugely relieved, and happy about the bread. It seems he's always thinking disaster when my name shows up on his phone! I need to make it more balanced, I think. I don't want to call only when I need something.
I'm going to make this recipe again, with more AP flour mixed with the whole wheat, to lighten it a bit. It's very good, but I'd also like a lighter version. Not the air-filled stuff you buy, though.
So it's possible my social security, main income source, may be at risk in the latest power grab. I'm working on a Plan B, which I'll talk about with Handsome Son when he visits this week. This isn't how I planned to spend my last years, but one day at a time, one foot in front of the other.
Meanwhile, my sock is progressing.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpqlyr02125o - 160'000 anti-fascists in Berlin alone! My daughter and I froze our ass*s off in the tiny town of Rheinfelden (about 600 people stood to protest against an AfD election vent). YAY us!
ReplyDeleteBest from Switzerland
a
Go you!! Great showing.
DeleteI am so glad to hear you don't do ice. I hear it is a highly addictive drug.
ReplyDeleteI feel like we are in a horrible groundhog day type movie for four years (or more).
ReplyDeleteNever owned Yaktrax. Probably should get a pair. Be he3ll to fall on the ice anymore, that's for sure. I don't know if I could get up again! lol!
I have no plan B. :(
Yes, getting up, even without ice, is an issue! A lot of people have no plan B.
DeleteI am interested in your plan. I have no HS, just Mercy.Most of remaining fam voted the opposite to me, so none to help there.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I can implement my ideas yet, have to see if/how HS would cooperate.
DeleteYou are fortunate to have any kind of a plan B. I hope it doesn't come to that however.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to create a plan B. And I hope it doesn't come to that, too!
DeleteFrom a position of ignorance, I thought the business about social security had been rescinded?
ReplyDeleteAs of now, Musk people have gained access to the Treasury, from which all expenditures including programs like social security are paid.
Delete‘Asking for a friend’ is a common enough joke online, but you really are asking for a friend.
ReplyDeleteYes, and still hoping for ideas.
DeleteI sure hope everything turns out well with social security for you and every other senior who needs it.
ReplyDeleteI fervently agree! Some of our blogistas have no other income source, and some are on Medicaid. I'm blessed with relatively good health.
DeleteI had never heard of Yaktrax and had to google them. No need for them around here. Well, not until the next arctic blast.
ReplyDeleteI made the weirdest bread yesterday. I used some sourdough discard and some yeast, whole wheat and white flour. My loaves rose beautifully and I was just about to put them in the oven when they fell spectacularly. I waited too long, I guess. And THEN, one of the loaves would not come out of the bread pan after baking and I ended up practically ripping it out and you know what? That bread was delicious. I just served it in hunks.
That's funny, tearing the bread out of the pan. I wonder if King Arthur has a tool for that?
DeleteI completely understand about Gary being worried if he saw a call from you. Our boys are the same because they immediately panic if we call, so we don't. We always correspond online and they know they can answer at their leisure.
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm no help with the Yaktrax question, although I've often thought I should invest in some.
Never thought of the possible repurcussions on social security - one more thing to worry about. On top of the many.
Gary and I exchange calls all the time, but I get that he often thinks I must need help! He's calmed down now and he called me after breakfast to say he loved the raisin bread.
DeleteHe never reads texts or emails!
DeleteThe Musk business and the control of the money is quite scary. Good grief!
ReplyDeleteI'm anxious for the judiciary to throttle his attempts.
DeleteI think, surely someone can do something to stop what Trump and Musk are doing. And then I remember how helpless we were when Johnson and co were giving contracts to cronies and making the wrong people Lords.
ReplyDeleteYes, exactly that. And the law moves slower than the criminals.
DeleteWe need SS and Medicare. We have other income but SS is the bulk of it. We'd have to move, which means bad things for the horses. There is nothing democratic about this government. They aren't even trying to hide that.
ReplyDeleteI hear you. Right now, let's consider options and breathe!
DeleteRaisin bread sounds good. I think we're all trying to come up with a plan b. I'm very concerned about it.
ReplyDeleteFirst, fight back! Then make a cup of tea and check if you have any options, is my approach.
DeleteThese are such stressful times. No clue what to do about anything, but so grateful to not live in the States.
ReplyDeleteI remember when people were glad not to live in Franco's Spain. Just sayin.
DeleteI prefer Stabilicers Walk Traction Cleats! My husband has Yaktraks and likes them. He’s not a picky person, and they do seem to work well. I like the Stabilicers, though, because they are easier to clean (I always give them a quick wash after I walk where there is ice melt chemical. Mostly, I walk in the woods on ice with them.). I can even fit them into my cross-body bag/pouch if I take them off mid-hike. The Yaktraks get kind of twisted or tangled up, which seems annoying, and they aren’t as easy to clean because of the design. Again, my husband doesn’t care about those aspects! Both types have excellent grip.
ReplyDeleteThank you! That's helpful.
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