Phaedra's 2025 Journey

[Phaedra]

Thank you for sharing your journey with us Phaedra. It is such a a pleasure to read your posts, and to see your beautiful creations. You are such an inspiration!

Great that you like, and it's also my pleasure to have friends here to share my journey.

 

[Phaedra]

Cleaning and trimming and filling containers~
Kwern is a very reliable partner to clean and remove weeds from such a paved ground. DH takes care of the basic cleaning, and I take care of the planting.

Time for a hair-cut!

Okay, 65% ready for re-opening on March 7 - And there will be a pop-up event tomorrow for introducing spring drinks. I am appreciated that I sanded and re-painted the tables. For the black pots, I planted mainly two bulbs.

Narcissus 'Lemon Shake' and Tulips 'Novi Sun' - so we will have a warm yellow tone for late spring.

I mixed all 5 sourdough starters into one yesterday, and renamed it 'Nichi Star'. As I am not running a bakery, maintaining 5 different starters isn't that convincing to me.

Before going to bed last night, I mixed the discarded starters, water, and bread flour to make Levain. It looks very nice after overnight fermentation.

So, I made a batch of sourdough bread - multi-whole grain, cheddar cheese, and pulp (mainly purple cabbage, apple, and pear)

After 6-hour fermentation, the dough has a charming color presentation. The bulk fermentation will keep going for another 4-5 hours. The dough will be divided and shaped then and enter overnight cold fermentation in the fridge. Long waiting, but in fact pretty stress-free - the baking will be done tomorrow morning around 8am.

Joy of the day - Amaryllis 'Picotee'

 

[Phaedra]

Taking it slow—I want to embrace a slower life. The Amaryllis are in full splendor, a gentle reminder to live in the present.

The weather isn’t ideal, but after all, it’s still winter. I’ve been busy cleaning planters, trimming herbs (like sage, catnip, mint, and MUMs), and planting tulips—though a few daffodils and hyacinths are still waiting their turn.

This year, I’m in no rush to sow anything. What’s growing now are either propagated from basal shoots or self-seeded babies—strong enough to thrive on their own. They’ve already proven their resilience.

After some trimmings, four were transplanted into nursing pots and stay now with other frost hardy young plants on the outdoor shelf. As they are pretty hardy, staying outdoor can avoid a lot of troubles from the aphids.

Coleus - rooted so easily in water. I accidentally broke two stems, and after a few weeks, now I have two young plants.

But they came back indoors as they are not hardy.

I won't have time tomorrow, so hopefully, I can sow leafy greens on Thursday.

 

[Phaedra]

I sleep a lot this winter, but as spring is on its way, time to go back to my original schedule.

Last Sunday, I have a pop-up event for introducing new drinks for spring. The desserts are also charming and sold well - from one sourdough, I created four different end products, and people love them.

I also tried the other iconic sweet bun from Sweden, Cardamon Knots. I didn't know about it until recently. And guess what, I love it, even more than cinnamon rolls. Isn't it lovely to serve both in my cafe?

The sunday offerings include also panna cotta, almond tart, cookies, and chiffon cakes.

Now, I’ve also become a fan of using multi-whole grain flour in my bread. Lightly pan-roasting the grains before milling takes it to another level—the aroma is simply unbeatable.

I got up around 6 AM, and before taking the dogs for a morning walk, two loaves of Pumpkin and Pistachio Shokupan were already baked. The multi-whole grains are roasted, the levain is developing for the next batch of sourdough, and we have freshly rendered chicken fat and crispy chicken skin—what a win-win!

A good slicer can easily cut the bread into different thickness you prefer.

Tomorrow will be another bread day!

 

[SPedigrees]

Isn't it lovely to serve both in my cafe?

The variety of sweet goodies at your cafe is indeed lovely! I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing you were closer and I could visit in person.

 

[Marie2020]

I sleep a lot this winter, but as spring is on its way, time to go back to my original schedule.

Last Sunday, I have a pop-up event for introducing new drinks for spring. The desserts are also charming and sold well - from one sourdough, I created four different end products, and people love them.

I also tried the other iconic sweet bun from Sweden, Cardamon Knots. I didn't know about it until recently. And guess what, I love it, even more than cinnamon rolls. Isn't it lovely to serve both in my cafe?

The sunday offerings include also panna cotta, almond tart, cookies, and chiffon cakes.
View attachment 72820

Now, I’ve also become a fan of using multi-whole grain flour in my bread. Lightly pan-roasting the grains before milling takes it to another level—the aroma is simply unbeatable.
View attachment 72821

I got up around 6 AM, and before taking the dogs for a morning walk, two loaves of Pumpkin and Pistachio Shokupan were already baked. The multi-whole grains are roasted, the levain is developing for the next batch of sourdough, and we have freshly rendered chicken fat and crispy chicken skin—what a win-win!
View attachment 72822

View attachment 72823

View attachment 72824
A good slicer can easily cut the bread into different thickness you prefer.
View attachment 72825
Tomorrow will be another bread day!
View attachment 72826

I'd love that multi grain bread recipe in full.

Plus I'm dreaming of all your other goodies

 

[Marie2020]

Just saw this video, and yes, this is where I was from, Taiwan.


Visiting doctors here in Germany is also a pain in the ass, especially some will show very impatient faces when they realize you can not speak fluent German. It's very common to get an appointment after a few months, or you go to emergency and be sent home with some wishi-washi words.

There are good and bad doctors.
The good are a blessing but the bad should at least be put on another course and be taught how to adequately deal with their patients no matter their origins.

Somehow, I miss her, although I am no longer in her arms.

 

[flowerbug]

time to check on you and hope you are doing well?

 

[ducks4you]

@Phaedra and @secuono are the robot gardeners that never sleep!

 

[Phaedra]

Dear Friends, I am doing well, and so is my garden. Still a bit messy, but the basic cleanning is done.
We have a very bright and mild spring this year, also pretty dried. There was no rain in the past two weeks, and won't be rain for another two weeks according to the forecast.

Well, nothing is perfect.

The outdoor sitting area for my cafe - it will look even better after another few more weeks, I believe. As mentioned in the past, this is a tricky east-facing spot as the direct sunlight only happen after early summer. Therefore, I made here a container gardening area, also easier to replace and present based on seasonal interest.

My sowing progress this year is much behind compared with past years, but well, not big deal. Part of my attention goes to grow more perennials.

Part of my attention goes to treasure hunt - volunteer plants in the garden.

Those plants will be used as back-ups or gifts for my cafe customers.

I also keep doing cute designs for my shop

I also tried making Croissants with hands - and they are wonderful!

I wish in another few more weeks, I can udpate you more later about working for the landscape - still some cleaning and re-arrangement to do.

Enjoy your spring!