Happy 2nd Birthday!

In the morning, Zara took a break from her workout to call Clare on Gabi's cell phone. Then we all drove to Lynchburg to visit "Amazement Square". Zara is pictured atop a BYO foam pyramid.

Birthday Party

Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Nearly two year old Zara eating it.

Speaking of rocks...

Here are some pictures of Zara "rock" climbing at Meade Park. The Wednesday afternoon Farmers Market is in this park, so we try to get here once a week.

Buds

Together, they rock!

Album Release Party

Great party, Dude, but where are my pants?

An Album Cover

Zara Finn and the Duck Herders

Duck Wearing

Zara is an attachment duck herder.

Aunt Infestation

Aunties Annie (in her mazel tov hat) with Evie and Sophie. Jo & Zara with excellent Aunt Debbi and Auntie Evie.

Bat Mitzvah

We drove up to Brooklyn for Annie's bat mitzvah, here we are in our finery. Zara was OK for most of the ceremony and loved the after-party: dancing with the big girls!

Bread

This is the fourth time I've made this recipe. The bread is outstanding: strong flavors, medium tight moist crumb, chewy crust. And dead simple to make.

It's based on Jim Lahey's recipe, owner of Sullivan Street Bakery on West 47th Street in Manhattan, as posted by Mark Bittman in the NY Times. I converted it to whole wheat.

Whole Wheat No Knead Bread

In a large bowl combine:

16 oz. whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. yeast
2 tsp. salt

Stir in:

12 oz. cold filtered water

until just blended. Dough will be shaggy. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let rest 18 to 24 hours at room temperature. Turn out onto lightly floured counter, stretching dough to form a large square. Dust top with flour. Fold dough four times. Let rest 15 minutes, covered. Form dough into ball. Place on floured towel, seam-side down. Let rise 2 to 3 hours. Place 3 to 4 quart heavy covered pot in oven to preheat to 500F, 30 minutes. Dump dough into pot, seam-side up. Shake pot to evenly distribute. Lower temperature to 450F. Bake 30 minutes with cover on. Remove lid and bake 15 minutes more, until crust is browned. Remove baked loaf from pan, cool on rack before cutting.