Oh, I finally got around to trying that sourdough starter recipe you sent me last month. It took three tries before I got a decent rise, but the third batch made the most beautiful loaf with a really crackly crust. I brought it to game night and everyone kept asking where I bought it. I told them I made it and they looked shocked, which was pretty funny. The key was keeping the starter in a warmer spot in the kitchen, right near the window where the sun hits in the afternoon. I also started feeding it twice a day instead of once and that made a huge difference. My neighbor gave me some of her discard recipe for crackers and those turned out amazing too. I think I'm officially hooked on this whole process now. It's oddly satisfying to watch the bubbles form after a feeding. Anyway, if you have other bread recipes you'd recommend, send them my way. I want to try something with olives or rosemary next. Thanks again for the tip about the hydration ratio, that really helped.

We finally went to that farmer's market on Saturday morning and it was even better than I expected. The honey stand had three different varieties and the vendor let us sample each one. I ended up buying the wildflower honey because it had this subtle floral note that I thought would be great in tea. There was also a mushroom stall with the most beautiful oyster mushrooms I've ever seen. I grabbed a bunch and sauteed them with garlic and thyme for dinner that night. The weather was perfect too, not too hot with a nice breeze. I saw you there briefly near the bread tent but you were deep in conversation so I didn't want to interrupt. Next time we should plan to go together. I heard they're doing a special harvest festival event next month with live music and cooking demonstrations. That could be fun if we make a morning of it. I also picked up some fresh basil and a small potted rosemary plant that now lives on my kitchen windowsill. The whole experience made me realize how much I enjoy slow Saturday mornings like that, just wandering and tasting things without any real plan.