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homeschool mom of 4 trying to fit in some time for writing and reflection

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Autolyse, A Metaphor

Posted on July 7, 2020February 1, 2021 by Gwen Shaneck

I have no new ideas of my own and during the coronavirus pandemic’s initial lockdown stage as I watched my yeast stash slowly diminish I became one of those people who bakes sourdough bread.

In sourdough bread you combine all of the ingredients together into a bowl and then you let the mixture rest for at least a half hour. This is called autolyse. (Here is a great article about it from King Arthur Flour)

Basically autolyse is where the magic happens. It allows the flour to fully hydrate and helps the dough to develop flavor. It also helps to develop the gluten bonds in the dough so that when you begin to knead, if you knead, the time will be greatly reduced.

The other morning as I mixed my ingredients I thought about autolyse.

I thought about my kids.

I thought about people in general.

I thought about how sometimes we have to sit with an idea.

We have to sit with the idea of change.

We have to sit with new ideas before we can add them to our being. Before they can start to change us.

It’s almost like we have to feel around. Try things on. Back away. Reach out. And then embrace our new selves.

Changed.

I give myself a lot of grace during my autolyse stage.

I need to give that same grace to those around me.

What is this place?

Welcome to my little place in the internet. I write about my family and what it’s like to suddenly find myself homeschooling my four children – including a high schooler and two middle schoolers during COVID-19. I also spend some time writing about writing and how I am trying to get more of it in my life.

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Apparently I am a vanilla sock knitter. This one i Apparently I am a vanilla sock knitter. This one is flying off the needles. At this rate I might get a pair a month out of our homeschool time

#socks #sockknitting #sockknittersofinstagram #socksofinstagram #knittersofinstagram #knitting #knittersgonnaknit #knittersofravelry #instaknit
Making Sweet and Sour Eggplant Caponata (a surpris Making Sweet and Sour Eggplant Caponata (a surprise hit last month for all 4 kids!) from the amazing @tanseyclaire I just love the colors and the taste is amazing 🤩 #sweetandsourcaponata #clairetansey #dinneruncomplicated
Twinning! New sock cast on matches my mug and our Twinning! New sock cast on matches my mug and our lesson on “The Lungs”. This colorway seems very spring to me, a welcome relief this year. 

#socks #sockknitting #sockknittersofinstagram #knittersofinstagram #knittersofravelry #instaknit #knitstagram #homeschoolknitter #knitting #homeschoolingmom
Sexy man modeling my seamless raglan sweater that Sexy man modeling my seamless raglan sweater that I finished back in November. Thanks @markshaneck for being such a good sport and bringing that smolder 🥰

#seamlesssweater #seamlessraglansweater #ezsweater #bottomupseamless #northamptonyarn #websyarn #knitstagram #knittersofinstagram #instaknit #husbandsweater #stockinettefordays #sweaterformysweetie #laboroflove #knittersofravelry #knit #knitter
Ready to hike in my #alfmæli in #lettlopi and my Ready to hike in my #alfmæli in #lettlopi and my #rikkehat 

#familyhikes #hikingadventures #hikingwithkids #knitstagram #knittersofinstagram #instaknit #knittersofravelry #knit #knitter
From our chilly hike today. Turkey tail #turkeytai From our chilly hike today. Turkey tail #turkeytailmushroom #mycology #mushroomhunting #mushroomsofinstagram #mushroomsofinstagram #turkeytailfungus #fungusamongus #fungusphotography #fungiphotography #fungi #fungilove #winterhikes #winterinvirginia #nature #naturephotography #getoutsideandexplore
After months of sloggy knitting I finally finished After months of sloggy knitting I finally finished two things in one day! I saw someone’s socks on ig years ago and was inspired to make my own version which is these windowpane socks. (I finished the first sock in 2018!) I made myself a sockhead cowl (designed by @bohoknits ) using @blueskinyarns and some minis from @unplannedpeacock just in time for some more icy weather. The socks were made with #westyorkshirespinners and #huntingtonyarn 

#sockknitting #sockknittersofinstagram #sockknitter #westyorkshirespinnersyarn #sockheadcowl #blueskinyarns #unplannedpeacock #knittersofinstagram #knitstagram #knitting #instaknit #knit #knitting
Cuteness overload #coonhound #coonhoundsofinstagra Cuteness overload #coonhound #coonhoundsofinstagram #rescuehound #rescuehoundsofinstagram #houndsofinstagram
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