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I finally got around to trying that sourdough starter recipe you sent me last month. It took a few tries to get the fermentation right, but I think I've got it now. The key was keeping it at a consistent temperature, which meant finding a warm spot in the kitchen that wasn't too drafty. I've been feeding it every morning and it's got that nice tangy smell already. I made my first loaf last weekend and it came out pretty good, although the crumb L9OQExPi7Fn was a bit denser than I'd like. I think I need to work on my folding technique during the bulk fermentation. I'm hooked now and I've started experimenting with adding some whole wheat flour to the mix. Let me know if you want me to save you a starter batch. I've also been reading about different hydration levels and I'm thinking about trying a higher hydration dough next time for a more open crumb structure. It's been a fun project and I'm glad you pushed me to try it.

I've been getting really into bird watching lately, which sounds way more boring than it actually is. There's a pair of blue jays that visit my backyard feeder every afternoon and they've gotten so used to me that they'll stay even when I'm sitting by the window. I also saw a red-tailed hawk circling overhead the other day, which was incredible. My neighbor lent me his binoculars and a field guide, and I've been keeping a little log of everything I spot. It's surprisingly relaxing after a long day of staring at screens. I'm thinking about getting a better feeder with a camera attachment so I can identify the less common visitors. I thought you might get a kick out of that given how much you enjoy being outdoors. The other day I spotted a woodpecker that I couldn't identify at first, but after flipping through the guide I'm pretty sure it was a downy woodpecker. It had that small beak and the black-and-white pattern on its head. I'm hoping to see a northern flicker next, they have such beautiful markings.