May 20, 2010
My major creative move for today: baking bread. I have a hand-written recipe from my long-departed grandmother for her "Scotch Oatmeal Bread" [that is delicious]. For some reason, I got it in my mind today to bake that bread. Part of the attraction is the physicality of the process: kneading dough and moving a large porcelain bowl around the kitchen, all followed by the physical act of eating something so darn delicious! Part of the fun is the creativity involved in taking a number of raw ingredients and blending them into something so satisfying. When I got into the kneading process, my mind drifted and carried me away down memory lane.
Along the journey I discovered that both of my double-ovens are "off" in temperature. One is low by 10 degrees, one is low by 25! No wonder the Thanksgiving turkey seemed to take forever. Guess I need to start compensating by adjusting the settings upward. Luckily, for some reason I tested the temps before I put the loaves in to bake.
While the dough was rising, I spent some time free-motion quilting a lap-size quilt I want to finish this week. I experienced a second time period in the 'drift zone', just like when kneading the bread. I can't remember anything in depth about my time 'away' at the sewing machine except a few highlights, most of which involved thinking 'art thoughts.'
Speaking of quilts: I got led astray this morning through several web-sites and ended up at one for a Cancer Hope Camp & Wellness center in Maine - sponsored by Patrick Dempsey, an actor on t.v.'s "Grey's Anatomy." His mom is a quilter and a cancer survivor, who has an applique quilt photo posted. The clinic gives quilts to patients and their children - and accepts donations. There can't be too many quilts made for folks of all ages who need comfort. Speaking of Mr. Dempsey: he was recently in Seattle and given an award for helping to raise funds for Children's Hospital cardiology. For a guy who didn't graduate from high school, and is severely dyslexic, he has certainly made his life's work a success as a pretend-doctor and genuine caregiver. His creative acting feeds the art of kindness and compassion. Thank you, Mr. Dempsey. Speaking as one who comes from a family touched way too many times by cancer, I personally applaud what he is doing to help battle this monstrous disease.
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