A very nice day

After several sloppy days, it cleared and got very cold (20F) last night. This past week was a bit tough – the third week of antibiotics for Karl started to catch up with him and he was noticeably uncomfortable at times. We were out twice in the night last night but I’ve learned to relax and let him take care of himself. He would walk a bit and then rest and seemed to get comfort from lying in the snow. I was dressed warmly, the moon was out early and then a million stars so I rested also, usually finding a stump near him or sometimes just lying in the snow myself – watching the stars, listening to the occasional gust of wind in the trees.

The clear night skies continued through morning and the day. Karl and I headed for town early.

I reminded myself to enjoy the day – that I was doing everything I could for Karl and that I needed to trust in that and his ultimate care in my Heavenly Father’s hands.

I love this barn and the view of it with the backdrop of mountains. There were no other cars. I stopped. I rolled down the windows. Karl watched. I enjoyed taking some photos.

There is a road behind the area where I shop that is a favorite walking spot. It looks like there is a plan for a subdivision someday but at the moment, it ends abruptly in the middle of a field. There are no houses and the only other cars are the occasional other people with dogs. We drive to the end, walk a few paths into the fields and have yet to share it with anyone else.

In the middle of the photo, through the “V”, those squared off peaks – those are mountain tops in Glacier National Park.

Karl and I had a good time just meandering and enjoying the sunshine. The temperature was still below freezing. The snow was crunchy and hard enough that neither of us broke through making the walking easy.

Shopping completed, we headed for home with another quick walk in Somers on our way. At home, Karl meandered in the yard while I unloaded and then came in willingly for a bit of lunch. After lunch he lay down in the sunroom and I thought: “What a good idea!” but decided on my bed instead of the floor. Bob joined me at some point as he was snuggled against me when I woke up two hours later – refreshed! Karl got up with me, we went outside and had the first nearly normal walk around the property since early in the week.

He has been relaxing comfortably in the yard all afternoon. I enjoyed the emerging yard with him. Bob was out and about. It was a very nice day.

***Thank you – with all my heart – to all those who are holding us in prayer.

Being

Sometimes we just sit and look at the mountains, listen to the wind in the trees – and just be.

A more open look

Last Sunday, temperature 28, Bigfork and Somers Bay frozen over. (It’s not as cold as it looks)

This Sunday, temperature 38, and the bays are mostly open water.

Snow squalls were evident to the west over the Bitterroots.

But blue sky and sun hit the beach at Wayfarer’s Park.

Karl is moving and walking much more comfortably. Just like with human recovery of a joint – it needs to be used, but not over used, to heal. A warm (relatively :)! ), sunshiny weekend gave us ample opportunity to be outside whether walking or just sitting and enjoying.

Sunspots

Walking along my eastern property line this morning just before the sun cleared the Swan Range: The sun beams from below the mountain top were casting a pink alpenglow on two of the peaks where the range bends to the northwest.

Homemade Tortillas

I was asked if I ever made my own flour tortillas. I make my own tortillas – both flour and corn! These photos are actually from the 4th of July. I was experimenting with getting some “action” shots with the camera on a tripod and the timer…and was going to do a post on the whole tortilla making but then forgot or ???

Both corn and flour tortillas are very easy to make. The cooking method is the same for both. The recipe for corn tortillas is a standard ratio of Masa harina and water: slightly more than 1/2 the amount of Masa in water, form a ball, flatten in a press and cook in a hot, dry, cast iron comal or skillet.

Late last Spring I started experimenting with making flour tortillas. The recipes for flour tortillas vary widely. I tried several before settling on the following adaptation of Homesick Texan’s Flour Tortillas. This recipe has no lard, just a bit of oil and makes a wonderfully flavored soft flour tortilla.

Flour Tortillas
1 cup of all-purpose flour
1 cup of King Arthur white whole wheat flour (you can use all all-purpose flour as well)
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoons of olive or canola oil
3/4 cups of warm milk

Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and oil. Slowly add the warm milk. Stir until dough sticks together enough to knead.

Knead for two minutes on a floured surface. Dough should be firm and soft.

Place dough in a bowl and cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap for 20 minutes.

After the dough has rested, break into 8 pieces, roll them into balls in your hands, place on a plate (NOT touching!) and then cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap for 10 minutes.

After the dough has rested, one at a time place a dough ball on a floured surface, pat it out into a circle, and then roll with a rolling pin from the center until it’s thin and about eight inches in diameter. I just roll the dough as thin as I can and I don’t worry about it being a circle. Like pie crust, do not overwork the dough.

You can roll all of the pieces and then cook them, but I prefer to cook them as soon as I roll them. I roll the next while the prior one is cooking. The cooking process is very fast. On the hot skillet, it takes only 30 seconds per side so you have to work quickly with the rolling. Whichever way you choose, keep either the balls or the rolled out tortillas covered while you work so that they don’t dry out.

I spread them slightly in the skillet and then quickly roll my next tortilla watching the one cooking very carefully. As soon as it puffs up, flip it and cook the other side. It may puff as well. You can leave the air pockets or press them out.

Keep them warm and covered as you work. If you don’t use all of them immediately, they keep in the refrigerator for several days. I wrap them in a towell and then in a ziploc bag for the frig.

I warn you, though…once you make your own, you will not be happy with store bought!

**EDIT 3/6 For myself, I often make 1/2 the recipe and divide the dough into 6 pieces, making smaller tortillas.