Iron Ring and Missing Spring

 

Here we are. Monday of a new week. Almost Christmas and I am longing for summer already. Over the bouts of rain pouring down on us lately. Over the dog walks in the rain, the layer upon layer of clothing to stay dry on those walks. The sump pump in the basement is driving me nuts. On all the time now. I looked down there this morning and it flooded again. The motor is constantly kicking in, creating noises during the night. Unfortunately, I hear them. Eyes wide open for at least two hours every night. I can tell you, in full detail, what my ceiling looks like though. Every last little detail. Each patched crack. I have noticed the dust in the light cover. It's pathetic, really. 

My phone is consistently on during the night, playing shows like Parenthood, Switched at Birth, and Gilmore Girls. Three of my favorites that I have seen a million times so that if I doze off, I won't miss anything. Or if I turn facing away from the phone, I can still know what's happening by just hearing the characters speak. Since Terry can't hear at night, the shows never bother him. I can turn up the volume!

Back to the present moment. The rain is pouring down this week. I just miss the warm sun hitting our faces and heating up our bodies, although knowing the rain is a blessing too. It's a good thing. I'm pouting, but I do understand it is good for us and our environment. It cleans out the air and makes everything pretty and green. It just sucks that it is for about seven or eight months out of the year. 

Rainy days means I can bake though. Lovely bread loaves came out of the oven the other day. Two sandwich loaves. They are soft inside and the crust is amazingly soft. The coconut oil and raw honey completes the perfect bake. I have so much going for starter though, so there will be the customary boules as well. I have a need for feed. I fed several starter jars full of starter, expecting the recipe to call for cups (plural) of starter for the recipe. Nope. Just one cup for two loaves of sandwich bread. Well, now look what I've done. 

The one jar "exploded" with excitement! I had starter underneath and on the outside of the jar. There sat the Seymour sprout in a puddle of oozing mess. That was fun to clean. There are so many bubbles and acts of rising in the starter now that Seymour just can't contain himself. Neither can the jars, apparently. 

But he is making the best sourdough bread now! He put on his big boy pants and is getting the job done. I think back on when I first started this hobby and Seymour was barely rising, leaving me worried that I had killed him. But he always bounced back and did bake up some great loaves. Now there's no doubt he is sturdy enough to make the outcome what it should be and to make those loaves rise with pride. Loving the sourdough experience. 

Both jars and the bowl are full of bubbly, potent life. Baking this week is on the list of things to do. 

When dealing with the medical professionals since the onset of the COVID pandemic, have you been frustrated? I find myself just tying to wrap my head around the lack of staff and the amount of staff who are not actual doctors. I understand the levels of medical professionals. The physicians assistant is close enough to determine what illnesses you may have and they can prescribe drugs to help you in whatever may ail you. But where are the doctors? The good, old fashioned doctors you had in past years? 

I just read an article on it and apparently there is a large shortage of doctors in America. Hopefully this lack of medical doctors can be fixed before we end up with even fewer than we have now. It used to be people wanted to be doctors and lawyers. At this point in this country, I believe there are probably more lawyers than medical people. Sad situation we are in. 

I have seen a nurse practitioner and a physician's assistant. Both were ready to prescribe anything they thought I might need. Although there is that, there is also the desire to find out the underlying cause of illnesses or diseases rather than throwing prescriptions at them. I am someone who didn't even take Tylenol or Advil for headaches before I was diagnosed with diabetes. Now I find myself deep in the prescription mud hole, trying to tread water before I drown. If there is anything else going on with my health, they add to the list happily, without hesitation. I'm just not someone who enjoys medications and adding those chemicals to whatever issues are already happening in my body. 

Ingesting all the chemicals medications contain is not a good thing in my book. 

Anyway, enough of my medical rant. This week began with some frustrating dealings with my medical team and I find myself disappointed but will get over it, I'm sure. 

Taking off the wedding ring set to get my hands into my bread dough, I stared at it for a moment. Looking at the symbol of my husband and I bonding in our lives, I wondered when the first wedding ring was given or worn to show that love. What made a circle worn on the left hand, on the ring finger, symbolize your union? Is that ring to show you how your partner feels? Or is it to lift their leg and pee on you as their property? Is it to dedicate yourselves to the relationship? So much I don't know about the history of the wedding ring. 

According to Cape Town Diamond Museum, iron rings were given to brides to be by their potential husbands in Ancient Rome. Iron symbolizes the durability of the marriage, as is the metal itself. Strength and permanence were also seen in the ring as a way to wish the married couple the same in their bonding as a couple. 

The Gimmel Ring was introduced in the 16th and 17th century. This ring consists of double interlocking pieces, to be divided as jewelry for both the groom and the bride. Each would wear one of the ring parts as their dedication to each other. 

During the Puritan Colonial times, a husband would give his wife a thimble to signify his interest in marrying the woman he loves. This was before the rise of the diamond jewelry we know and love today. 

It used to be that only women wore wedding rings. In World War II, the idea of men wearing wedding rings to remember their wives back home came to fruition. So the wedding ring first came around over 3,000 years ago. The early rings were made from hemp or reeds, showing the commitment and loving bond between husband and wife. 

I love the way Terry did our engagement and our wedding ring sharing. He gave me the engagement ring while proposing. The surprise came when he showed me his own engagement ring. I loved the thought of him having an engagement ring too. His ring matched mine very closely in the color and design. They were a beautiful match. Informing me he bought his ring because he wanted to show others that he was engaged and "taken" made me smile. The idea was sweet and gave me confidence that he really was excited about our partnership. 

Of course, he has a wedding ring too. He wears his engagement ring on his right hand, while the wedding ring fits tradition by shining from his ring finger on the left hand. Both are fairly close in terms of appearance and they both match my set. I was happy he was so thoughtful in selecting the sets that we would wear forever. 

So, today being Monday is an odd day for a post, but I felt like writing. Sometimes I just get in the mood and let it flow through the blog. I had nothing else to write, so your poor eyes get the rants and ideas I am spewing today. 

Two sandwich loaves that are filled with Everything seasoning, basil leaves, and Parmesan cheese came out fluffy, soft, and wonderful. So good! The house smells awesome now. Better than any air freshener you can buy. Two hours of cooling time and I began to slice the first loaf. 

Tonight it is our zuppa Tuscana soup with grilled cheese sandwiches made with sourdough bread. Awesome combo of cheese, potatoes, the spicy Italian sausage in the soup, and the red pepper flakes. Perfect pairing. 

We are having a rather relaxed evening with my sweet man outside smoking his cigar and me inside typing out this post. I completed work earlier today and that left time to write. In between I'm watching Catfish, one of my favorite shows. 

Just keeping up with the week as it is. Hope you all have an amazing week and a lovely night. Hugs to all and just know that you are appreciated.