I was well in to my bread delivery rounds, yesterday, somewhere in Pender Island’s Magic Lake Estates, when I realized I was not feeling in the peak of health. The Magic Lake sub-division is a labyrinth of winding roads with pirate-themed street names. Jolly Roger Crescent, Foc’sle Road, Galleon Way … the list goes on.

The road in front of me was not heaving like a stormy swell off the Tierra del Fuego. I wasn’t being tossed about the decks on a three-masted barque, but I could definitely feel the onset of a cold. I was sleepy at the wheel, and fantasized about crawling into bed as soon as I was home.
I made it through the last deliveries, went to bed and slept two hours, almost through to dinner. Alas, the cold persists today. Headache, sore throat, you know the symptoms.
Spring colds are bitter medicine for those who have a penchant for activity, to-do lists, backyard chores. After a bake and delivery day, I am full of righteous accomplishment and want to carry the momentum into more task completions. Or, if tasks don’t inspire me, engage in something more like productive rest, such as lying in the sun with a book or making a pot of soup for dinner.
Look outside!
Outside, Spring continues its blossoming. The gorse of South Pender covers the landscape with its vibrant yellow flower and sweet scent. The clumps of purple and white lavender in our garden are in full bloom and seem to shimmer in the afternoon sun. The waters of Boundary Pass, so choppy and grey all winter, are calm, blue and inviting.
Perhaps I should walk down the road to Brooks Point Regional Park to see the Chocolate Lillies, the droopy, purple and yellow blooms now making their brief annual appearance. They won’t be there many more days, but my body wants to stay still.
“I’ve seen them before,” the ailing baker tells himself. “And they’ll be back next year.”
What about carpe diem? Seize the day! My alter ego throws up objections, remonstrations, accuses me of sloth and indifference! Behold, the world! Why let a sniffle and headache hold you back?
I should put my foot down! I’ve already written this week’s Happy Monk blog post, I should say. There is still time to make a decent supper. I won’t be “productive” today, but there is always tomorrow.
No, today, I rest.
Happy Monk Tidings - November 30, 2022 🍞 - Bakers Choice: Cranberry-Pecan Sourdough; BLOG: Tassajara Wisdom/Perfect Loaf Mastery; REMINDER: Happy Monk holidays fast approaching! [ See LinkTree in Profile ]
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#theperfectloaf #perfectloaf #perfectloaf #maurizioleo #tassajarabreadbook #tassajarabread #tassajaracookbook
Just rockin’ the Olive Sourdough at 4:30 a.m. in the morning. Into Mildrith’s fire they go!
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#woodfired #woodfiredoven #woodfiredovenbread #bread #realbread #naturallyleavened #baker #bakery #bakerslife #bbga #artisanbread #breadhead #breadmaking #breadmaking🍞 #sourdough #sourdoughbread #coboven #earthoven #earthenoven #olives #olivebread #olivesourdoughbread #penderisland #southpenderisland #happymonkbaking #happymonkbakery #happymonkbakingcompany #southerngulfislands #southerngulfislandsbakers #southerngulfislandsbakeries #penderisland
Cinnamon-Raisin bread, an enduring Happy Monk favourite. And here’s proof of Mildrith’s (the wood-fired oven) recent health check, as she just baked 41 loaves of this (and another 40 of Seed Feast) with lots of heat left to spare. Long live Mildrith and long live Cinnamon-Raisin bread!
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#cinnamonraisinbread #cinnamonraisin #woodfired #woodfiredoven #woodfiredovenbread #bread #realbread #naturallyleavened #baker #bakery #bbga #artisanbread #breadhead #breadmaking #breadmaking🍞 #sourdough #sourdoughbread #coboven #earthoven #earthenoven #penderisland #southpenderisland #happymonkbaking #happymonkbakery #happymonkbakingcompany #southerngulfislands #southerngulfislandsbakers #southerngulfislandsbakeries #penderisland
Bread (AppleRye), bread (a homely looking Salish Sourdough) and bread (fire brick authenticity) … and my new oven arrives!
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#rackmaster #rackmasterrm2020 #rm2020 #bread #sourdoughbread #woodfired #woodfiredsourdoughbread #woodfiredforever #artisanbread #realbread #naturallyleavened #baker #bakersofinstagram #bakery #breadhead #sourdough #sourdoughbread #sourdoughbaking #ryebread #appleryebread #ryeapplebread #apples #applebread #penderisland #southpenderisland #happymonkbaker #happymonkbaking #happymonkbakery #happymonkbakingcompany
Dog days. The beginning of summer mellowness. Baked in languor. But sometimes it's hard to let go. Shouldn't I be baking something? [See LinkTree in Profile ]
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#penderisland #southpenderisland #happymonkbaking #happymonkbakery
#happymonkbakingcompany #dogdays #dogdaysofsummer #southerngulfislands
#southerngulfislandsbakers #southerngulfislandsbakeries #southerngulfislandsbc
This is James Morton, my father, who would have been 100 years old today if we hadn't lost him 36 years ago. I've surpassed him in living age and spent more years without him than with him, yet he still whispers in my ear and is a great listener when I talk to him. Taken at 14th Ave. and Burgess St., Burnaby, 'round about 1955. Handsome devil, ain't he?