Rain, again!

Gee, we just can't seem to get out of this particular weather pattern of rain and more rain. It is real muggy, too! Oh, a real down-pour has begun just as I am writing this entry. At least there are no severe weather warnings blaring on my weather radio at the moment!

Smells great in my house at the moment. Placed a wonderful loaf of Everyday Whole-Wheat Bread in the oven about ten minutes ago...... boy, does it smell great! Yeah, I know, should not be running the oven on a hot, muggy day, but when you need bread, you need bread. I wish I had a "summer kitchen"! (for my readers (imaginary?!) that are not familiar with that term, it is a separate, small building that sits near the main farm house. In days of old it was popular to have such "kitchens" in which during the hot summer months baking, canning, etc... could be accomplished without making the main living quarters intolerable. My folks have one on their farm, but my Dad has converted it into a fly rod production/fly-tying retreat! :-) Getting back to my Whole Wheat bread.... I found it in the magazine Eating Well. That is an EXCELLENT magazine, by the way. You can find the recipe on their website at eatingwell.com (I tried to attach a link here to the exact html SEVERAL TIMES, but for some reason, the link shows in my draft but not when I post. Grrrrr!!)

Finished reading Jodi Picoult's House Rules. What a great, yet at the same time, difficult book to read. I have a friend who has an adult autistic son. I've always admired her strength and commitment to his welfare. I often wondered it I could handle such a test of motherhood with such grace and determination. This book seems to capture the feelings such a mother must experience (overwhelming love as well as overwhelming physical and emotional strain); however, not being the parent of an autistic child, I can only guess that Picoult's book portrays that reality accurately. It also touches on how strongly and permanently siblings are affected by a developmentally, emotionally or physically disabled sibling. Picoult's book, Handle with Care, also touches on this issue. That is another thought-provoking and emotionally raw novel which I strongly recommend.

Well, the oven is 'beeping', so I had better get my bread out ASAP! Take care, and I hope your week is off to a great start!!!!!