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Thursday, 17 October 2024

Walking the Fields with Winston + First Bread Oven Trial

 When I lost the use of my laptop computer I decided to embrace the change and make good use of the time I would normally have spent online.  Extra dog walks, lots of reading, a little extra cleaning (that one didn't last long) but the reading and walking were enjoyable.

Now that the computer has been restored and secured things are almost back to normal.  Almost, but not quite.  The extra dog walks are here to stay.  Winston is now old enough to be able to do 35-40 minute walks which means that he is able to come on some of my favourite walks along farm tracks, and old rights of way.  

One particular route is still out of the question because he can't jump over the stile and there is no dog-friendly alternative offered.  He is not a particularly agile dog and I don't want to encourage him to jump over gates or fences anyway, lest he take it into his doggy head to set off on an adventure following the cats into the field around the house.

Once we get home he has a quick rub down followed by a quarter of an hour in his crate, while I sort myself out and catch up with jobs, feed the cats, etc.  Then he takes up his favourite sleeping position and is soon snoring.

The bread oven is finally complete and has been fired up a couple of times.

Once the correct temperature reached, the ash is swept out and the bread quickly popped in.  Today's recipe was for a milk bread, it rises well and keeps nice and moist for several days.  One for the pantry, one for the freezer.


Unfortunately, the oven didn't retain the required temperature for quite long enough, so I had to pull out the loaves and finish them off in a hot fan oven for an extra ten minutes.  Almost there, but not quite.  Still, I like a challenge.

The bread is excellent, I couldn't resist cutting off a crust and having a nibble.


This photograph was our morning walk,



and this one, our afternoon.  Lots of space and plenty of good sniffing time.  Winston is still able to fit into Toby One and Toby Too's old harness at the moment.  It won't be too long before he needs a larger one though.   He is built on a much bigger scale.


Wishing you all well,

Elaine

20 comments:

  1. I love the look of your oven. The brick work and that solid door give an aesthetically pleasing look. You'll be be baking up a storm of excellent bread and a lot more I imagine. I have heard of a milk loaf but had to Google to be sure. It sounds delicious. I just might have to give it a try.
    Young Winston is certainly keeping you fit. He looks very relaxed on his sofa!

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    1. Hello Linda, I think George made a really good job of building it for me, now I just have to learn to use it correctly. The milk loaf recipe is one I often use because it keeps really well and makes excellent toast - however, I have just found a source of locally grown and milled wholemeal flour, so I need to work on a healthier loaf.
      Winston is a brilliant walking companion, he takes as much pleasure in walking the local fields as I do although his delight is in 'reading' all the scents.

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  2. That dog looks totally whacked! But the bread oven looks great, as do the loaves which came out of it.

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    1. Hello Mary, I hope you are well. Winston is going through another growing phase, he sleeps a lot. He plays hard, eats well, and sleeps for hours. Lucky boy! The cats find him entertaining, he has spiced up their lives.

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  3. Enjoying reading about your pace of life. We dog sat on Tuesday to Wednesday. Maple, the dog, loved to stretch out on the back of the couch where she could kee an eye out the slider and be on watch through most of the downstairs.

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    1. Hello Marcia, We lead a quiet life, but keep busy with our various hobbies and interests; the grandchildren certainly spice things up! Maple is a lovely name for a dog, she sounds like a bright girl.

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  4. Now Winston will be keeping you fit!!

    I.like that bread oven....

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    1. Hello gz, It is a real pleasure to be back out walking the tracks and the fields again - especially on the dry days. Winston tends to be a bit of a mud monster - old Toby Too used to avoid puddles and mud, hated to get his feet wet. The bread oven is due to get another work out, it feels great to be able to use kindling from Owl Wood to bake the bread.

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  5. What beautiful loaves and dog.

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    1. Hello Anonymous, Thank you. Winston is a lovely dog, he fits in really well and has brightened our days.

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  6. Winston is growing up well. I'm sure he enjoys the scents from the bread oven.

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    1. Hello jabblog, He is very much a scent on the ground type of dog (so far) up to now he has shown no interest in cooking smells, even meat. Long may that continue!

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  7. I do like that bread oven. Love your final photo - a typically English scene.

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    1. Hello Susan, Those two photographs are taken in fields on either side of the village. Part of Owl Wood is visible in the final one, top right.

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  8. Good to hear Winston is now big enough for a good walk, he looks worn out afterwards!

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    1. Hello Sue, He puts a lot more energy into the walks than I do - he comes home for a snooze and I have a cup of tea and a read. Goodness knows what he will be like when he is old enough to do a proper walk - right now I am trying to stick to the exercise guidelines for protecting his joints.

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  9. Your bread ( and outdoor oven ) look amazing. The countryside photos are lovely too. At the moment one of our much loved local walks in the woods is impossible as there is extensive tree felling going on there, we and the dogs miss it so much, I think we took it for granted 😏
    Alison in Wales x

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    Replies
    1. Hello Alison, I hope your woodland is still open to you again and that it hasn't been too severely 'managed'.
      I have finally got my hands on some locally grown and milled wholemeal flour so the bread oven will be back in action shortly - fuelled by sticks picked up in Owl Wood - just to keep it all nice and local.

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  10. I hope life hasn't sent you some hiccups. Miss reading your posts.

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  11. I don't now how I missed this post. SOOO envious of your bread oven. That has reminded me that I have two doors out in the stables which Keith found - probably at a car boot sale. I will have to take them to the next Fair with me in February. I always wanted to use the old bread oven at Ynyswen, but nowhere for the smoke to go.

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Lovely to hear from you.
I will try to answer comments in the next post.