katre @katre@masto.henchmonkey.org

Four day weekend was wonderful, but now today I realize I have no idea what I was working on last Thursday and I'm not sure what to re-start.

Note the amazing tiny decorated sugar cubes.

I was at my mother-in-law's, fixing their wifi, when she asked me if I'd like some tea. Of cours I said yes, so she brought out this tray. "Just a few leftovers!" she said.

This year, we'll pray at home, eat at home, and call all the family members by phone. Not the same, and not nearly as fun, but it will still be a holiday and a celebration.

Normally, we'd go to the mosque tomorrow morning, say prayers with a few hundred other people, and spend the day visiting family. Of course every household will have cooked and will insist you eat a full meal, so any weight you lost while fasting comes right back. :)

Today is the last day of #Ramadan! Woke up the whole family for pre-dawn breakfast (most days it's just been me and Eldest Son), and now there's only 11 hours until sunset and the start of Eid ul-Fitr, the Feast of Celebration.

I need to stop baking while I'm fasting. The fact that I can't eat these donuts for another 6 hours is very sad.

My actual children are upset about my sourdough starter. So what if I named it (Elmer), if I call it "my microbiotic son", and if I actually make sure it eats every day, huh?

I don't think I've been secretive about this, but a short announcement: this is the month of Ramadan, I am Muslim, and so I've been fasting during the day for the past twelve days (and expect to for the next eighteenish). So if I seem very excited about sunset, that's why!

Mmm, Japanese-style chicken curry, you smell so delicious and yet it is still over an hour until sunset.

Today's sourdough is the best yet. It rose! It's not dense as a rock! The crust is actually tasty!

I apparently have a low bar to clear, here.

Baking bread and fasting aren't mutually exclusive, but the one does make the other harder.

But iftar this evening will be great.

The second best decision I made tonight was to make a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough and eat it raw.

The best decision I made was to stick half in the freezer for later, because if it was still here I'd be eating it, too.

Ramadan Mubarak to all of my fellow believers. It's a strange time to be fasting, but it's the right time to remember that we can all do something to help the people less fortunate than we are.

Made my weekly cup of coffee this morning. I'm about to cry because of how good it is.

I also drink tea, so that's my caffeine most days, but there's just something wonderful about a cup of coffee.

The sourdough loaf rose! Hooray!

Also I have sour cherry pie. It is a good day.

I'm taking the day off work to celebrate my birthday today. Can't go anywhere, of course, but maybe I'll play videogames or read or something and try to just relax a bit.

Oh, and bake. Definitely gotta bake.