ODDS AND BODS ON TUESDAY, JULY 21ST, 2026

 

Good Morning! How are you today?

Sorry I’m late. I was telling the trees how beautiful they are - Healing Hearts

Let’s walk down to my imaginary cottage.

We can enter by the gate.

I like coming home to wide open windows where I can see the curtains dancing in the breeze.  As we walk around the back, there is the smell of bread baking.

Oh yes, this looks like the perfect recipe.

Homemade Artisan Bread - Ingredients: 3 cups of flour 

1-1/2 teaspoons salt - 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast 

 1-1/2 cups warm water (heated to 100 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit).

Instructions: 1. Mix dry ingredients and add warm water, 

stir to a sticky dough. 2. Cover and rise 12 to 18 hours. 

3. Shape gently, rest  30 to 45 minutes. 4. Preheat oven to 

450 degrees Fahrenheit. 5. Cool 1 hour.  Tips: Wet dough = airy loaf 

Dutch oven makes a crispy crust. Longer rise = deeper flavor.

We have a choice of cottages today. What do you think? A bit too hilly? Do you have a favorite?

Both come with lovely neighbors. 

Are you a Woodlarker? 

Woodlarking - Not everyone walks through the woods the same way.

Some see trees, and some see stories, others notice the tracks, the 

feathers, the old stones, the things that happen in the corner of your eye. 

We are the ones who stop. Who listen and look closer. Woodlarkers. 

Maybe you are one too - Woodlarking. 

Ipsety (English) - (n.) the quality of being oneself; embracing our 

Individuality + what makes us unique.

Liberosis - lib.er.oh.sis - the feeling of wanting to 

care less about things, a sense of calmness that comes 

when you let go of unnecessary concerns.

Orophile - a person who finds peace and serenity, 

and connects with themselves more deeply in 

mountainous settings; a lover of mountains.

And because we must remember our cat lovers.

Ailurophile - noun - meaning: one fond of cats.

Last one!

niksen (NEEK-sen) noun (Dutch) - the mindful

practice of doing nothing. A pause for your

mind to wander, rest and refresh. It’s not

avoidance, but a quiet space where clarity and

calm naturally emerge. 

This little one has all of that figured out.

Do not disturb! Bee is sleeping. He has had a busy day being a bee. 

I am feeling like a bit of a snooze myself...

but I am trying not to nap today as I know it will cut into a good night's sleep.

Sometimes it’s okay to stop doing and just bee.

Have you had a banana today? I had mine for breakfast, along with a cup of blackberries and 1/2 cup plain Greek Yogurt. I have been on my journey to eating healthier for a long time. Let’s just say it’s a long journey, with a few side-trips, and leave it at that. Each day is a new adventure.

Advice from a Banana - always be ready when the time is ripe - Friends 

are better by the bunch - Just because someone calls you “yella,” it doesn’t 

mean you’re a coward - Ignore all the monkeys, they’re just trying to get to you.

Sometimes when you’re slightly bruised is when you’re at your very best

Life’s little surprises are what makes it so apeeling.

Now for some recipes. I thought I would start off with brown bread…

Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread - Ingredients: 2 cups warm water

1 tablespoon yeast - 1/4 cup honey - 2 tablespoons molasses 

1 tablespoon espresso powder (optional) - 4 cups bread flour

1 cup whole wheat flour - 2 tablespoons butter, softened - Oats for topping

Instructions: mix yeast, warm water, honey, molasses. Let foam for 5

minutes. Stir in cocoa, espresso, flours, butter, salt. Knead until smooth. 

Let rise 1 hour, shape into loaves. Brush with melted butter, sprinkle 

With oats. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. 

to go with…

Slow-cooker Sausage, Potatoes and Cabbage 

Ingredients: 12 ounces sausage (such as kielbasa or smoked sausage), sliced

5 potatoes, peeled and chopped - 5 cups of chopped cabbage - 1-1/2 cups

chicken broth - 1 white onion, sliced - 1 teaspoon dried thyme seasoning -

salt and pepper to taste - Instructions: 1. brown sausage in the skillet.

2. Layer the sliced kielbasa, peeled and diced potatoes, cabbage and sliced 

onion in your slow-cooker. 3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and dried thyme.

4. Pour the chicken broth over the ingredients. 5. Cover and cook on low for

5 to 6 hours or until potatoes are tender.  -   With this Slow Cooker Sausage,

Potatoes and Cabbage recipe, you can effortlessly create a satisfying and comforting 

meal that pays homage to its European roots. Whether you’re looking for a crowd-

pleasing dish at a family gathering, this recipe is sure to delight your taste buds

and warm your heart. Enjoy! 

Or maybe we want something easier and simpler to prepare on a hot summer day.

Cucumber Sandwich: You will need 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 

2 tablespoons mayonnaise - 1 tablespoon lemon juice - 1 tablespoon dill, chopped

and let’s not forget thin slices of a hot house cucumber. You don’t need to deseed

those. 

Mix all the ingredients up and spread it on your favorite bread. Add the sliced cucumber and there you have it. I love a cucumber sandwich.

Wise Words!

Be like a sunflower - bright - sunny - positive - spread seeds of happiness

stand tall and always turn to the light

Joy can be found in the tiniest moments.

Never stop looking. 

Pep Squad arriving! You are going to get tired of me telling you, but it’s important to remember the reminder. 

Sometimes you forget you’re awesome, so this is your reminder.

Pep talks - you’re doing better than you think. Even on the days when you 

feel tired, unsure, or a little behind, you’re still moving forward. Give 

yourself credit. Give yourself grace. You’ve overcome so much - and

you’re still rising. 

Take a deep breath. Feeling scrambled? Let that go. 

It’s a great day to be you. Strut your stuff. You got this.

I am proud of you and everything you have accomplished. Keep shining brightly, and never stop

believing I yourself.

Okay, that is the end of my Odds and Bods for today.

You all take good care of yourselves and

thanks for stopping by.

(My thanks to Pinterest for today’s inspiration.)