On Sunday, I made bread for the first time in, well, a month of Sundays. I think it can safely be said that I have emerged from my summer estivation, when I feel energetic enough to mix, knead, and bake bread by hand. The only measure I use is the two and a half cups of lukewarm water, and the premeasured packet of yeast. The rest is done by eye, and much more importantly, feel. Now, when Dr. Omed was a journeyman baker I used formulas—recipes to you amateurs out there—many of which I developed myself, which required more precision, but no good baker (outside of the industrial setting of a bread factory that produces your daily sliced and plastic wrapped product) ever forgets a bread dough is a living thing, thus not entirely predictable. Alertness to change and condition—tactile sensitivity amounting almost to a sort of intimacy is required to produce the real thing, the pan du jour a baker stakes his pride on. Sunday's bread was more humble—the aformentioned two and a half cup measure of water produced two loaves of bread. I could go blind, and still make it. I meant to take more pictures, but was distracted by other matters. Above you see the dough, almost still a batter, near the beginning of the bread making. Here is one half of the final product:

The other half was devoured still warm from the oven, with butter, by Rob, Els, Ariel, and I. I wrapped and hid the loaf pictured, so there would be some left Monday morning.

At the beginning of August the festival of Lammas, Lughnassad, or Loaf Mass, is traditionally celebrated, particularly by Celtic peoples. It is meant to herald the passage through midsummer, the ripening grain, and the beginning of the harvest. Thus, bread in involved in the ceremonies. Loaf Mass is also supposed to mark the coming of Autumn. In Oklahoma, at the beginning of August there is generally speaking not one hint of autumn to be found. I can't speak to the passage of summer in Wales, Brittany, Ireland, or Scotland. So, Dr. Omed's Late Loaf Mass was held on the last Sunday in August, and as old J-Ho is quoted in Genesis when speaking of his own work, it was good.