August has always felt like a threshold to me.
The gardens are full, the tomatoes finally taste like summer, and the evenings arrive just a little earlier than they did in July. We know autumn is still weeks away, but if we’re paying attention, we can already hear it whispering.
This past month has reminded me that ordinary days are often the richest ones. There were hours spent at my spinning wheel during Tour de Fleece, fresh loaves cooling on the counter, swims on warm afternoons, visits to local farm stands, and quiet moments with knitting in hand. None of these moments were particularly remarkable, yet together they became a beautiful reminder that a good life is rarely built from grand events. It’s built from faithful, ordinary days lived well.
From My Kitchen
Sour dough kitchen bread
“One of the highlights of July was trying a new bread recipe using sourdough discard. I almost didn’t change my usual method—I’m a creature of habit—but those two little golden loaves reminded me that sometimes trying something new is exactly what we need…”
Recipe:
100 g sourdough discard
280 g warm water
2 tsp active dry yeast
10 g salt
2 T olive oil
450 g flour – mixture of whole wheat and Canadian AP flour.
Mix and bench rest covered for an hour. Then stretch, fold, knead whatever is your preference but get a good feel for the dough. Shape it into 2 loaves, I like 4 small buns of bread. Cover and rest again for an hour.
Heat oven to 385 F. When ready place in the hot oven. I set the time for 30 minutes. I check the internal temperature of the loaf. If it’s over 200 F then they are ready to come out. Less than that I leave for another 5 or 10 minutes.
I know this may not mesh with other folks ideas of recipes and sour dough bread but it works for me. After making sour dough bread for a few years now this is my go to. Let me know if you try it. There’s lots of room for weeking
A Gentle Morning
“Lately I’ve been beginning my mornings before the world becomes noisy. Coffee first. Journal beside me. A few quiet minutes to breathe, pray, and simply notice the day beginning…” Some mornings I have matcha instead of coffee and most often a warm glass of water with a little lemon to wake up my appetite. I try to create space in the stillness of the day. I’ve often thought, “how I start my day is how my day goes.” What about you?
This month’s gentle practice: Spend five minutes outside before opening your phone.
Around the Studio
Well July meant lots of spinning and of course knitting.
The sweater is growing.
The socks have another few inches. I’ll finish the green socks very soon.
The spinning wheel continues its gentle rhythm. My spindles stand at the ready.
Looking Ahead
“In August I’ll be sharing…”
- a new YouTube video series on “Mending, Making Do, and More with Less”
- a favourite seasonal recipe…I haven’t chosen one yet but currently thinking about my Grammie’s fruit relish
- thoughts from Sunday’s sermon…Since I’m back in the pulpit on Sunday the 2nd I’ll share a short message here each week.
- knitting updates…of course there will be sock knitting, scarfs on needles, and the sweater
- slow living reflections…lots of writing and sharing about daily life living 100 miles, deep roots
A Word for August
I was reminded recently of one of my favourite passages of Scripture:
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
August always brings those words to mind.
The late summer perennials are putting on one last glorious display of colour. Gardens and farm stands overflow with the abundance of the harvest. Tomatoes are at their sweetest, baskets are full, and the shelves begin to fill with back-to-school supplies.
And, if you’ve been in the shops lately, you’ve probably noticed something else—Halloween decorations have already begun to appear. A little too early for my liking!
There is always a temptation to hurry into the next season before we’ve fully lived the one we’re in. But perhaps Ecclesiastes offers us a gentler invitation: to receive each season as a gift, without rushing ahead.
So, let’s savour August.
Let’s enjoy the warmth of the sun, the freshness of garden vegetables, evenings on the porch, quiet mornings with a cup of tea or coffee, and the simple rhythms that nourish our hearts.
August has so much potential—not because we fill every day with activity, but because we choose to be present for the season we have been given.
May you find joy in these summer days and give thanks for the season you are in.
For now,
May your kettle always be warm, your hands find meaningful work, and your heart remember that even the smallest circles can grow deep roots.
Blessings,
Grannie Doll 🌿
Thank you for sharing with your friends.
