In Which I Am So Tired I Could Cry

Two nights ago - perhaps traumatized by the violent fish death - AlmondGirl staggered into our bedroom at two AM. "I threw up!" she said, and then demonstrated on the rug. So we were up cleaning and laundering and bathing. Mr. Marzipan, of course, had to be up at five that morning, so I told him to go back to bed. I took the girl downstairs and fed her Saltines and mint tea, then escorted her back to bed and prayed that she wouldn't pee in her sleep.

I am one of those unfortunate souls who, once awake, is awake for good. I puttered around the kitchen for a bit and made some sandwich bread. I have been making my own in recent months due to frugality, personal enjoyment, and family preference. I use this recipe, but generally substitute whole wheat flour for the AP. And, because I hate having a bajillion kinds of flour in my pantry, I use unbleached AP + vital wheat gluten in place of bread flour. I also add in two cups of wheat bran per recipe.

If you've worked with whole wheat flour much, you know that it doesn't rise as high as white. It is one of those sad facts of virtuous living, I'm afraid. But yesterday, feeling pitiful over exhaustion and fish-killing, I made a single loaf with all white flour (still put in the wheat bran though) and it was scrumptious. The loaf rose beautifully, though a little unevenly because delirious people don't shape perfect bread.


AlmondGirl stayed home yesterday and we obtained Danielle the Second at the Aquarium Depot, and a variety of other fish related products so that the Aquarium Depot employees can go out and buy villas in Tuscany for when their children are exhausted from ski trips to Vail.

Anyway. For dinner last night we had Diner Meatloaf Muffins with raw sugar snap peas and baked sweet potatoes topped with brown sugar. Then, of course, AlmondGirl woke up at 4AM in search of tea and a cream cheese sandwich.

And so I continue to be sleepy, alas.