If you like bread, you have to visit this incredible site [Blue Bowl Breads] (and sign up for it’s blog). Mark has created some of the most unique, interesting and amazing bread recipes, and accompanied each with absolutely wonderful anecdotal stories detailing what inspired each new creation. Mark has taken the bread baking magic of his Mom, Betsy Oppenneer (author of The Bread Book, Celebration Breads, and other books), to a whole new level. Even if bread baking is not your thing, you’ll love the stories! I say this not because Mark is my son in law… I simply love reading the blog!

Sometimes, when the world starts to get me down, I just have to go into the music room and play piano. Music is a sweet salve to my soul. Other times, I need to hit a nature trail or lose myself in the woods to find solace and balance.

And then there are those times when I wake up at the crack of dawn, head to the kitchen and start baking bread. I love to take my time mixing the ingredients – to find the perfect meditation only a practiced kneading rhythm can bring – to hum along to Eva Cassidy while cleaning the kitchen as the dough rises – to wait with eager anticipation as the oven does its special alchemy… and finally, to share the finished loaf with people I love and who bring me great joy.

And for a blessed moment, the world doesn’t seem so bad after all.