Bara Brith for Boys

I made bread today. I leafed through my Breads book and looked for one that didn't take days to make. I found the Northern Welsh favorite "Bara Brith" or speckled bread. I used to be huge into Ancestry, where my people came from. The more I found out about other parts of the world I got the impression that they didn't care where you think you came from but that you are an American (USA) citizen. So I stopped talking about it. I am 1/2 Welsh and the other half is German and Swedish and Irish and some rumours of Native American. I like the 1/2 Welsh part the best. My Father's Grandfather came over from Wales but they are all dead. So I just know it is Wales. I think I look fairly Welsh, but as I have never been there and "Welsh Women" Google image search doesn't result anything positive I can only assume. Perhaps they describe the common characteristics of Welsh Women at the Welsh National Museum.

As I made the bara brith, I felt that I had made it a thousand times before. I even was going to add ingredients that were not in the recipe like orange marmalade because it felt right. I searched the internet and that is a traditional ingredient.

It makes me wonder if these feelings are from a past life or if I have an ancestral memory. I felt so warm and connected with my womanhood. And my little man loved it too! So did my big man and my mama! Slather a little salty butter or add some cheddar and you really have a delicious snack!

My little man said "More" so sweetly of course he could have as much as he wanted. (And with Sunflower seeds, Almonds, Cranberries, Raisins, Honey and mostly Whole Wheat it was good for him too)

Yesterday's Apples are Tomorrows Pearly Chompers

Little big man loves his apples. The bigger the better. He carries it around working on eating it as he rearranges his toys. He says apple "bapple" and demands them at odd times. Here is a time when he wanted it and I could give him an apple.

Snacks for Champs

My mother and mother-in-law visited me in my little home today. I showed them the re-arranged rooms and we went out to lunch. We also visted the little store here. I tell you there are some really stupid people in the world. The checker was right up there with the best of the popped light bulbs. My mom bought 2 NECCO wafers at $.59 each. This should ring up as $1.18. The checker rung one up on the touch screen fairly easy to use cash register and requested that my mother pay $.59. My mom pointed at the other NECCO treat she was trying to buy. The woman said $.59. My mom said loudly hoping some other employee would hear "Oh its a 2 for one sale?" and gave the $1.18. The cachier gave $.59 back to my mom. She decided it was time to move on.

My mother-in-law found a good deal on peaches $.69 cents a pound. She had about 20 peaches and each peach was large probably over a quarter pound. The above mentioned cachier carefully weighed the plastic bag of peaches and looked at the flat screen and said "$.69 please." Of course my mother in law questioned that the bag was only one pound. The cachier said, yes it is "$.69 please." My mother in law finally talked her into acctually charging what they were worth.

We went for a drive through the countryside and enjoyed the blues and yellows and whites. The Crazy Mountains have a fresh dusting of snow. It was lovely. lovely lovely. My mother offered me one of the aforementioned NECCO wafers. I took it and got an orange and grey wafer. I tried the orange one. PUKE. it is a disgusting chaulky nasty chemical tasting chicklet of shit! I gave the otherone back. My mother-in-law ate it and a putrid black licorice rank odor filled the car. It turned my stomach. I felt like I had just gone from zero to 10 G's. I rolled down the window and the crisp fall air helped my ralph-reflex. As I am not shy about how I fell both women got to hear how I felt. My mother said "My mom taught me to love NECCO wafers" This was my beloved grandma of course and I mentioned that she also loved Pinkies and Marshmellow Peanuts. Both of which I hate with the passion of 45 devils!

When I went back to the store for spuds for our dinner I decided that I did like some things my Grandma loved. I love homemade baked macaroni and cheese with peas. I love popcorn (just not with milk). I love the smell of Ciara. I love traveling. I love my mother. I love buttermints and peanuts. Which i am eating tonight. I love you gradma. I miss you. You would love my son and the young man my brother is becoming.