It is hard to believe that it is 25 years since the 9/11 attacks.

There are events in history that are of the “where were you when” ?

For me those are:

1. When JFK was shot
2. 9/11 Attack

#1 dates me of course … I was in 3rd grade. I happened to be in the nurses office and heard the announcement on the office radio and the nurses discussion.

#2 2001. I was 46. I was hosting a church prayer group function at my home in Whitefish, Montana. As I was making coffee and preparing to serve homemade scones to the small group, my brother phoned and asked if I knew what was happening. He was concerned specifically as he was supposed to be in a meeting in WTC1 and thought I might be aware via our mother.

I told the group and we turned on the TV.

Twenty five years later, it is incredible to remember, to review, to relive the events of 9/11/2001.

It is heartbreaking to be in a time of an incredibly corrupt, un-American, un-lawful and embarrassing “administration” and its enablers.

I seriously hope that the upcoming midterms turn the tables on the current administration and we hopefully remember 26 years from 9/11 with a more American leadership.

Whatever happens, I will never forget.

So.

My sourdough starter did not survive the last weeks in the cabin and then into the RV … cabin frig plus lack of baking.

I bought a King Arthur Baking sourdough starter and it did well, but I struggled with baking consistently in the heat, feeding/maintaining as well as managing the mess/cleanup. I discarded the starter and kind of stumbled along with a few freezer/bake from frozen things from the grocery.

And then … the breadmaker experiment.

Bread from the bread maker was good but ultimately, to make sourdough, I would only use the “dough” part of the machine and after juggling things, I got to thinking that I’d rather have my stand mixer for the “dough” part.

I returned the bread maker and retrieved my stand mixer from my storage locker.

In the process of setting things up under the dinette, I moved the Delta 2 and all of my USB charging as well as a few AC needs (Dyson vacuum) are set up and easy to access and charge all.

Ultimately, another step towards streamlining life as well as allowing me to make my sourdough items in Wild Thing II.

So happy!!

Above are a “dump” roll, aka Ciabatta roll. I used commercial yeast plus some of my discard starter as I’m getting a new King Arthur starter going.

My very new fed starter 8:11 a.m.

New starter looking good.

I used it and just a wee bit of yeast for bagel dough.

Shaped bagels.

Sunday morning bagels!

I am very happy.

It is a bit of a shuffle in my small kitchen/counter area, but I am sure that as time goes on, it will become easier.

I have been ridiculously unhappy with store bought goods and so am crazy happy that I have found a spot for the mixer and flours.

AND … for some time I have been looking at grain mills and all of the information regarding milling flour and using home milled flour. I thought to get a mill when I decide on a location and buy a house, but …

A Nutrimill Harvest mill is on its way to me.

I have grains.

The mill is scheduled to be delivered on 9/8. :) !!!

This coming weekend in the US is Labor Day weekend which marks the end of the summer season … mostly.

Typically things start slowing in tourist areas. School starts (started 8/26 here).

As noted, the weather looks to transition also. Today started cool, warmed up and then a whoosh of wind, rain, cooling temps sent us to a Fall/Autumn like feeling.

The bread maker is gone …

Where the bread maker was, my Kenwood Chef Titanium stand mixer now resides. It is clean and ready to go. I am very happy with this!

The cooler temps help with this transition. And while I can hand mix bread, focaccia, pizza dough and even bagel dough, the enriched doughs for cinnamon rolls, brioche .. the stand mixer is best and I have a routine for all of the things I make so as per above …. VERY happy to have the mixer.

Meanwhlle … I did a grocery shop this morning thinking that after today, I would hunker down and stay out of the way of the holiday rush. I happened across some mark downs and came home with a package of chicken legs and ground beef. The chicken I cooked in my Instant Pot …

Like the air fryer I downsized my Instant Pot when I sold the house. This 4 quart mini-rio is perfect. It stores easily in a cupboard and is plenty large enough for a pot of beans, chicken parts, small roasts and all I used the larger unit for, just smaller quantity.

As of this writing, the chicken has been cooked, slightly cooled, meat off the bones and pending complete cooling will be vacuum sealed.

Tomato meat sauce on the go…

Ready for the frig for a pasta bake tomorrow.

A neighbor … oh, well but as yet, no kids and no dogs so YEA!

Oscar snuggling in the covers … Emmett and I had a mid-afternoon nap. Oscar did not join us, but after we got up, the first front whooshed through with wind, lightning and rain… so Oscar decided the bedroom comforters were the place to be.

A relaxing end to a calm, cool, rainy day.

I love the “bar” months and here we go.

This morning …

No smoke, that is a true color sunrise this September 1 morning.

It started cool at 48F but over the course of the day reached 83F. Hot but there is relief on the way so bearable. Plus, it did not get hot until midafternoon.

It was an RV chore day: bedding change, shift Wild Thing II a bit on our site to allow access to plumbing/sewer without being attacked by trees on that side AND to allow a better parking spot for the Yukon. And a failed replacement of the gas strut that allows the bed platform to be lifted and stay lifted … I knew that the strut I ordered might not work but took a chance and it did not work. Another strut which corresponds to the original part number is on the way. The failed set has been donated to the RV Park’s “parts” inventory and hopefully can be used by someone else.

It doesn’t sound like much, but all of the above entailed in and out, up and down RV steps and by lunchtime, my legs and hips were seriously feeling it. Add walks with Emmett and as I write this I am approaching 12000 steps!!

Late afternoon, I looked at the weather. Rain, wind, cool-cold is forecast for the foreseeable future and mostly through the Labor Day holiday weekend. I decided to make a quick trip to Bigfork and retrieve my stand mixer. It is in the Yukon … I lost the oomph to lift it up the stairs into Wild Thing II … tomorrow.

And it needs to be cleaned. Holy Cow. As I’ve gone through bins looking for things off and on … anyway, chores for another day.

A pizza is calling my name … not sourdough crust, but homemade commercial yeast crust with good mozzarella, local pepperoni and maybe some other things.

That boy!

We had a lovely, cool/cold and rainy Sunday (8/30) and then a sunny pleasant Monday.

A little hard to tell, but that picnic table outside is wet. And Emmett is enjoying a rainy Sunday almost snooze.

What a relief!

Open windows, no A/C and even if overcast/gloomy skies it was a welcome change to the heat and smoke.

Today, Monday 8/31 started at 47F outside and 59F in Wild Thing II. I resisted turning on heat as forecast was for sunny and 75F. As I am a cool/cold temp lover, I just enjoyed putting on some cold weather clothes.

Also I had mixed up a dough for focaccia and pizza. It was in the frig overnight and baked this morning so the oven warmed things up nicely.

I neglected to film or photo the focaccia or the small maintenance project I did.

The “basement” storage doors are “hatch type” doors. They have gas struts which allow them to stay fully open. I had 2 doors that would not stay open. I watched some YouTube videos on replacing the struts … took photos of the struts with part numbers and was able to order (Amazon, of course) replacements. As “advertised” on YouTube, they were 5 minute replacements. SHEESH!! One of those things that was an annoyance for months and easily fixed.

Later…

After a lunch time walk, Emmett and I sat in the shade for a bit. Our view was Wild Thing II.

I did feel bad that Oscar couldn’t join us. Maybe tomorrow … we’ll see how quiet it gets before Labor Day holiday.

On the bread front, I have decided to sell the bread maker. It is on Facebook marketplace. If it does not sell, I will either take it to a Thrift or to my storage locker.

BUT, knowing that I can store something like the bread maker, I will be retrieving my stand mixer!

A girl just wants to have bread!!!

We are doing all of the normal life things: walks, cooking, cleaning, laundry … as well as experimenting with the new Air Fryer and Breadmaker.

Size comparison …

And the new large air fryer has much better (healthier) interior. I am not getting rid of the small unit unless/until it fails, but I am loving the larger unit so will not mourn the small one.

Oscar has no strong opinion either way.

Bread maker loaf … top collapsed … maybe too much yeast or not strong enough flour … BUT …

Despite the collapsed top, the bread was delicious. Crumb and crust perfect. Flavor wonderful and the collapsed top meant a “square slice” so really NOT a fail.

On Friday, 8/28, we moved sites for the last time. We will be in our current location until we depart on 9/9.

Not too shabby of a morning view out our passenger side window in the new spot.

It started cloudy, then sunny, then cloudy … but remained in the pleasant range of low 70’s F all day!

The day started with a walk, laundry, a walk, breakfast, shower, errands and then back home to enjoy a mild day – YEA!

Late afternoon light…