April 15, abt 1 AM
Early feeding tonight...I didn't get much sleep and I'm tired so I'm going to try to go to bed early this morning.
There's a definite odor - maybe an acetone note? - and some bubbling - I think it was a bit taller in the jar.
Anyway...stirred it in the jar with a silicone spatula, tared out the whole works on the scale, added 4 ounces of tap water, stirred it, added 4 ounces of AP flour, stirred and scraped, covered it with the same cloth and rubber band, and put it back on the counter.
It occurred to me that I'm trying to start a wild yeast starter in the midst of a pandemic...G-d only knows what all the germicides and disinfectants are doing to microbial life.
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Getting some culture in my life...
I started a wild yeast sourdough starter on Sunday, April 12.
The purists on the videos and websites I've been viewing recommend keeping a journal of a starter's life and since I have this site doing nothing it seems like a good place to put notes. I'll write in a narrative tone in case someone wanders by and wants to learn from my experiences and / or be entertained.
So, the story thus far:
Sunday 4/12 - some time around 3 AM, I mixed 4 ounces by weight of Gold Medal AP flour of indeterminate age and 4 ounces of city tap water in a plastic bowl with a plastic spoon, scraped it into a new quart Ball jar, and secured a quarter-folded clean cotton handkerchief over the jar mouth with a rubber band. I put the jar on the kitchen counter behind the Keurig next to the refrigerator.
Monday 4/13 - again, some time around 3 AM, I uncovered the jar, stirred the contents with a silicone spatula, added 4 ounces by weight of city tap water, stirred it well, then added 4 ounces by weight of the same AP flour, stirred with the same spatula until all of the flour was combined, scraped down the sides of the jar, wiped the mouth with a clean, damp paper towel, covered the jar with the same handkerchief and returned the jar to the same spot.
Tuesday 4/14 - about 2:30 AM, I uncovered the jar. I could see some small bubbles on the surface and could smell something other than raw wet flour so I think something is happening. After stirring well and scraping the sides of the jar with a clean silicone spatula I tared out a plastic bowl on my scale and poured 2 ounces of the mixture from the jar into the bowl and discarded the rest in the sink.
The consistency reminded me of smooth but thick applesauce. I tared out the scale and added 4 ounces each of water and flour, stirred well and put the mixture into a used but clean quart Ball jar, cleaned the mouth of the jar, covered with the same cloth and rubber band and returned the jar to the same spot.
That brings me current.
I named the starter Baby, due to the 3 AM feedings, but then realized that nobody puts Baby in the corner, so I'll have to find a new place to put her.
The purists on the videos and websites I've been viewing recommend keeping a journal of a starter's life and since I have this site doing nothing it seems like a good place to put notes. I'll write in a narrative tone in case someone wanders by and wants to learn from my experiences and / or be entertained.
So, the story thus far:
Sunday 4/12 - some time around 3 AM, I mixed 4 ounces by weight of Gold Medal AP flour of indeterminate age and 4 ounces of city tap water in a plastic bowl with a plastic spoon, scraped it into a new quart Ball jar, and secured a quarter-folded clean cotton handkerchief over the jar mouth with a rubber band. I put the jar on the kitchen counter behind the Keurig next to the refrigerator.
Monday 4/13 - again, some time around 3 AM, I uncovered the jar, stirred the contents with a silicone spatula, added 4 ounces by weight of city tap water, stirred it well, then added 4 ounces by weight of the same AP flour, stirred with the same spatula until all of the flour was combined, scraped down the sides of the jar, wiped the mouth with a clean, damp paper towel, covered the jar with the same handkerchief and returned the jar to the same spot.
Tuesday 4/14 - about 2:30 AM, I uncovered the jar. I could see some small bubbles on the surface and could smell something other than raw wet flour so I think something is happening. After stirring well and scraping the sides of the jar with a clean silicone spatula I tared out a plastic bowl on my scale and poured 2 ounces of the mixture from the jar into the bowl and discarded the rest in the sink.
The consistency reminded me of smooth but thick applesauce. I tared out the scale and added 4 ounces each of water and flour, stirred well and put the mixture into a used but clean quart Ball jar, cleaned the mouth of the jar, covered with the same cloth and rubber band and returned the jar to the same spot.
That brings me current.
I named the starter Baby, due to the 3 AM feedings, but then realized that nobody puts Baby in the corner, so I'll have to find a new place to put her.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Wow...Twice In One Day!
What are the chances we're inhaling, ingesting, and absorbing so many disinfectants that we're gonna end up killing off the helpful bacteria in our guts and getting dysentery?
Tap...tap...tap...
Today's rant from the grumpy asshole with a blogspot account and a working Internet connection:
If you know someone who drives on public roads and streets with a "Persons With Disabilities Parking Permit" (that's what it's called on the Iowa DOT website) hanging from the vehicle's mirror, please pass on my thanks for providing the confirmation, but most of the time I can tell by the way the vehicle is being operated that the operator has disabilities.
If you know someone who drives on public roads and streets with a "Persons With Disabilities Parking Permit" (that's what it's called on the Iowa DOT website) hanging from the vehicle's mirror, please pass on my thanks for providing the confirmation, but most of the time I can tell by the way the vehicle is being operated that the operator has disabilities.
Friday, June 21, 2019
A Lightbulb Moment
I believe I've had an epiphany (or as Bob Hoskins' character Smee, in the movie "Hook", called it, an apostrophe).
Recently I went thru the process to request an exception to a newly-enacted policy with which I had a disagreement. My request was denied "for reasons of safety". I was told I should be glad the company has my best interests in mind.
The epiphany?
For all the fancy words, catchy slogans, and clever acronyms, the company doesn't give two shits about me as an individual. I'm expendable. Replaceable.
For all its blather about looking out for my safety, if I am injured on the job, the investigation process is going to focus on what I did wrong, which policies I failed to follow to the letter, and how I failed to act in the best interests of my own safety.
"Greasing the wheels" and taking my toolboxes elsewhere IS an option, but at this time, a very poor one, in the grand scheme of things.
Instead, I'll swallow a bit of my pride and dignity, kill a little more enthusiasm for my job, and bow to the demands of management.
When I started this job I couldn't understand why some longtime employees seemed so jaded, cynical and unhappy. Now I understand.
Recently I went thru the process to request an exception to a newly-enacted policy with which I had a disagreement. My request was denied "for reasons of safety". I was told I should be glad the company has my best interests in mind.
The epiphany?
For all the fancy words, catchy slogans, and clever acronyms, the company doesn't give two shits about me as an individual. I'm expendable. Replaceable.
For all its blather about looking out for my safety, if I am injured on the job, the investigation process is going to focus on what I did wrong, which policies I failed to follow to the letter, and how I failed to act in the best interests of my own safety.
"Greasing the wheels" and taking my toolboxes elsewhere IS an option, but at this time, a very poor one, in the grand scheme of things.
Instead, I'll swallow a bit of my pride and dignity, kill a little more enthusiasm for my job, and bow to the demands of management.
When I started this job I couldn't understand why some longtime employees seemed so jaded, cynical and unhappy. Now I understand.
Friday, January 4, 2019
Raspberry Pi Bluetooth Audio
If you are using Raspbian on your RaspberryPi, have added a new user (instead of, or in addition to, the default user 'Pi') and can't get Bluetooth audio to function, add your username to the 'bluetooth' group (sudo adduser 'username' bluetooth), log out, log in again, and try Bluetooth again.
Monday, November 12, 2018
It's Really Pretty Simple
If you ignore me when I talk to you, don't be surprised when I stop speaking.
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