There are so many different varieties of orchids, each variety unique and beautiful in their own right. We have enjoyed having these lovely plants in and around our house for years. In recent years, we have made several trips to orchid growers and been to exhibits where these beautiful flowers are showcased (Longwood Gardens, the Philadelphia Orchid Show, Filoli Gardens, and Biltmore Estate are just a few) Although we admire the diverse varieties of orchids, we are still novice growers, and stick with the phalaenopsis or “moth orchid”. It is one of the easiest orchids to grow and the blooms last a long time. After one memorable trip to R. F. Orchids, a wonderful orchid grower in south Florida, I came home with a new found inspiration to throw orchid bowls in my studio. After countless attempts, I am now very pleased with the results. Recently, I was asked to create a phalaenopsis arrangement for a friend. The catch was, she wanted a plant that would remain in bloom and wouldn’t require a lot of maintenance. I quickly realized, it couldn’t be a real orchid. After doing a little research, I found some beautiful options. I had so much fun designing it, I thought it would be fun to share the process here. Whether you are looking to make a real or artificial arrangement, these bowls definitely accentuate the simple beauty of an orchid. Orchid bowls will certainly be a highlight in my next pottery sale.
Baking Bread…
The ability to make a delicious and beautiful loaf of bread from scratch is a skill that I have admired for years. Learning to bake a good loaf of bread requires practice. Taking simple ingredients like flour, water, yeast and salt and turning them into a quality loaf of bread, is not a simple skill to master. This past year was the perfect opportunity to test out recipes. With the entire family living and eating at home, we were able to bake loaves of bread that the entire family would enjoy. After watching videos of bread making enthusiasts, practicing in our kitchen and then adjusting the recipes to meet our own tastes, we have learned how create a high quality product at home in our own kitchen. For sourdough, it’s all about the cultured starter. We began cultivating a sourdough starter over a year ago. We continue to feed it regularly, so that we are able to bake our favorite Shookhill sourdough bread at any time. A strong sourdough culture is the key to making delicious tasting sourdough bread. We have happily shared the starter and many loaves of bread with friends and family. In addition to sourdough, we have made whole grain bread, baguettes, dinner rolls, pizza dough, calzones, cinnamon raisin bread and focaccia. This has certainly been a uplifting baking journey in the midst a challenging year. I now understand better, why we say, “bread is the staff of life.” Bread, in moderation, can be a delicious part of a healthy diet. Whether it’s a quick bread, yeasted dough or dinner rolls, the smell of bread baking is always a welcome aroma to come home to.