Yeah, I finally got around to trying that sourdough starter recipe you sent me last month.

It took a few tries to get the hydration right, but honestly, the third batch turned out pretty well.

I had to feed it twice a day for about a week before it got really bubbly and active.

My kitchen counter is a constant mess of flour dust and jars, but the smell when it bakes is totally worth it.

The crust came out super crispy and the inside was chewy with those nice irregular air pockets.

I think next time I will let it proof a little longer in the fridge to develop more of that tangy flavor.

My neighbor stopped by when she smelled it and asked for the recipe, so I sent her your way too.

Anyway, let me know if you have any tips for keeping the starter alive when I go out of town for a few days.

I have been thinking about drying some of it so I do not have to start from scratch again.

Also, your suggestion about using a kitchen scale instead of measuring cups made a huge difference.

I was always adding too much flour before and the dough was way too stiff.

Now it is much easier to handle and the results are way more consistent.

Thanks again for all the guidance on this, I would not have attempted it without your encouragement.mTRwzrzlB1jYzCu

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We finally took the dog to that new trail you mentioned last weekend and it was perfect for a long walk.
The path was mostly shaded and there was a small creek where she could cool off halfway through.
We brought a picnic and just sat on a log for about an hour watching the birds and listening to the wind.
I saw a woodpecker working on a dead pine tree and a couple of squirrels chasing each other around.
The trail was not too crowded either, which was nice because we pretty much had it to ourselves.
My legs were a little sore the next day but in that good way where you know you got some exercise.
We are planning to go back again this weekend and maybe try the loop that goes up the ridge.
If you have not been there yet, you should definitely check it out, I think you would really enjoy it.
Let me know if you want to join us sometime, we usually go pretty early to beat the heat.
Also, thanks for the recommendation on that hiking app, it made navigating the trails really easy.
I downloaded a few offline maps just in case and they worked perfectly even where there was no signal.
Anyway, just wanted to share that it was a great day out and we appreciated the suggestion.