Timelies all!

Went to the Washington Folk Festival today(and will be going tomorrow as well). Weather was lovely.

I gave the talked-up local restaurant with the enormous bland steaks another try tonight, this time for the beef tamales that everyone goes crazy over. I've had much better tamales out of TV dinners.

I don't know what's going on, usually I tend to like the food at places with really good reviews and when I dislike the food the restaurants tend not to last. But it's as if this one hypnotizes customers into believing the food is great and I'm not susceptible for some reason.

I never heard of a proving drawer before GBBO but I want one.

I also want to noe why when I flip through cookbook I think..l'll make that for dinner next week and that and that!And when it comes time to make a grocery list pro go shopping nothing sounds good and it seems like too much trouble.

What the heck is a proving drawer? Do you put a mathematical concept in, wait 30 minutes, and then open it up to find the proof?

You put dough into proof (rise) It keeps it at a consistent temperature and you don't have to go hunting for or try and create a warm spot

Someone should write a thriller called Fermat's Last Proving Drawer combining the excitement of number theory with the beauty of baking.

ETA I still prefer "proofing" but I'm not sure it works as well in this context

I don't think I'd need a proving drawer, particularly. I usually put my bread in the fridge to rise overnight. A slower, cold prove is supposed to be better for flavour.

When a proving drawer would be useful is if you were trying to bake under time pressure, which of course they're always having to do on Bake-Off.

I'm early for my self-defense class and there is an ice cream shop next door. Not that I want ice cream, but I am tempted to get a cone just so I can tell the server, "You should be very proud."

Interesting, Fiona. I wonder if my yeast cultures are active enough for that.

storytime:

The high school friend of my mother that my mom and aunt have been helping moved on Friday. Yesterday was my first day to go and help.

Recap - this woman has become a hoarder and not the clean OCD type, the her house was a health hazard type. In addition to this, she has had health problems in the last 5 years and stopped being able to care for herself or her pets (there were three, now only 1).

The new place is where we started. Due to miscommunication with the movers and a enabler friend to the woman, WAY more stuff was moved over than should have been. The night before I had been asked by my aunt to research for the nearest thrift store and to be prepared that rather than just unpacking, we would be taking out lots for the new pace.

I ended up taking the following to a thrift store: 1 end table, 1 credenza, 1 HUGE Christmas tree, 1 barstool, 1 microwave rolling cart, and 4 boxes of knick knacks and VHS tapes.

We ended up removing for a garage sale 2 small SUVs full of boxes.

AND I still think she has too much in the new place.

When we finally went over to the old place to get things like cleaning supplies and to try to catch the other cat (basically a feral cat she had living indoors that no one but her ever sees more than a blur of), I saw the horror. It was the worst place have ever seen in person. Also, some cabinets and closets are still full. The cat was never found and we discovered a floor vent cover off, so the cat could be in the ductwork.

My mother and aunt have been going over at least one day a week for almost 2 months and have already brought out at least 35 boxes of things they think they can sell. In addition, her other friends have had at least 4 garage sales with her. IN ADDITION, a charity came and took boxes from the garage on Friday. The house is still not cleared enough where you could start to just clean. It boggles. And smells oh my lord the house smells of human and cat waste, it permeates the boxes that were moved. Basically everything that was moved from there needs to be washed and aired out.

I am exhausted and sore from it, but I am absolutely cleaning in my own house today. More books already went for resale. A stack of papers were gone through and mostly tossed. A trip to the PO got some more things sent out.

I am folding and putting away clothes, have washed dishes, and am going to vacuum next.