simply look around and view it.

Most of you, I'm sure, are familiar with the Gene Wilder version of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". I love the scene when the kids first enter the factory's main room...when I was a kid, I was enamored by the giant gummy bears, lollipops, and edible cream mushrooms. I wanted to be Veruca Salt or Violet Beauregarde...I certainly would have been more appreciative.

Anyway, as you get older, and the love handles get more pronounced, you don't think so much about the candy anymore (much). Instead, you listen to Gene, singing about paradise, and chuckling as the man ever-so-nonchalantly takes a bite out of a edible daffodil/teacup.

And then, on a day like today, you think maybe you know what old Gene was talking about. Or least his songwriters.

Today is the last day in January here in Iowa. It's cold and the snow is still several inches evident. However, the skies are blue, the sun is shining brightly, and the roads are mostly clear. While yes, we are still bundled up very tightly in our coats and scarves, there is a hint of Spring in the air. The air has changed; I can feel it. Maybe the moisture has returned. I don't know meteorology, but change is coming. It is imminent.

So, while the outside environment is unfolding as it should, so is the inside. My house right now has the quiet hum that indicates everything is doing the things they should. The laundry machine, the furnace, and the children's downstairs chatter all lend to that happy household harmonic symphony. After I finish this post, I will recline on my couch and complete my reading before Universal Khaki tonight (an activity I haven't done for some time). Later this afternoon, the family and I will trek over to the Joneses' house and discuss the book, while making bread together, while learning about handguns.

Right now, I live in paradise, and I'm simply looking around to view it. I can't explain how big my heart is.

It's one of those moments when my blog title truly has meaning.

Well, after a month or so of rumors and hype, today is the Ax Day at my husband's place of business.

In this toiletrous economy, even a monster corporation like IBM is not immune to reductions, downsizing, firings.

My husband has been on tenterhooks these last couple of weeks as the rumors have been frenetically flying. He's somewhat sure he personally is not in danger (although, you never know), but he figures there will be several people he knows getting laid off today. Not for a very comfortable work environment, I can tell you.

Anyway, you know, thoughts and stuff. I'd like to think my husband is a very valuable asset to the company, but who can ever say that? Worst case scenario is that he gets the ax, and next year's plans drastically change. And I remain a teacher.

I hope not.

It may be true that Man cannot live by bread alone, but we sure try here at the Nelson homestead.

The bread exodus began sometime in November, when we switched from ready-to-eat store-bought bread to Rhodes frozen bread loaves. The price of a single loaf of bread had risen to the point of ridiculous, so buying a bag of three frozen loaves seemed to be prudent, financially.

It worked out rather nicely, as long as I gave the bread plenty of time to rise and bake. The kids loved it and began eating it like they were starving. And didn't I just feel like Little Susie Homemaker?

Until recently. See, I'm on a new kick. I want to make my bread from scratch. Totally in the way of Ma Ingalls.

Because...here's the list of ingredients from Rhodes frozen loaves:

Unbleached Enriched White Flour (this is not a simple ingredient - there's like five things that make up UEWF)

Water

High Fructose Corn Syrup (Sweetener of the Devil)

Yeast

Soybean and/or Canola Oil (didn't they know which one?)

Malt

Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate (Sounds like it causes cancer in laboratory rats)

Yeast Nutrients (which is actually made up calcium sulfate and ammonium chloride - huh?????)

Ascorbic Acid

Enzyme (added for improved baking, as opposed to worsened baking)

This is what I and my children were putting into our mouths. Weird. So, I wanted to try making my own bread, because 1.) homemade would certainly require less weird stuff, 2.) I'm all about keeping it simple and close to home and 3.) should I ever run for Mrs. USA, I don't want to be disqualified for not being able to bake my own bread.

Here's the ingredients:

- Bread flour (which, surprisingly is not as simple as it would seem: wheat flour, malted barley flour, ascorbic acid, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)

***As I type that out, I realize how chockful of nutrients it is! Pregnant women could eat my bread - it's got Folic Acid!

- Yeast

- Water

- Oil

Punching the dough down was fun, like a safe way to take out all my aggression. I didn't quite separate the dough as equally as I ought have, so I ended up with two regular-looking loaves and one that appeared to be on steroids.

Who cares, though? Everyone complimented how it tasted. My kids, my husband, my parents. And you know what? It wasn't that hard, and it didn't take that long.

Snap! Add bread-making to my list of mad skills. I am a bread Goddess.

Houston, the Yeast has expanded.

That's exactly what I feel like. This whole week has been a blur; I can hardly remember any of it. Kind of reminds me of those few times where I've drank too much...and I'm trying to recall the next day what stupid things I might have done the night before.

I feel just like that, except, you know, without the alcohol and headache.

Brent was gone Wednesday and Thursday on business, so I usually just kick into survival mode during those times. There were dentist appointments, gymnastics and basketball practices, and faculty meetings. It's just been busy, and I was lamenting to Brent that when it gets like this, I usually lose ambition to do anything.

On those super busy days, whenever I find a bit of free time, I usually do not want to to blog, or write, or cook, or play, or scrapbook, or anything creative. I want to sleep or watch TV.

Of course, the overall weather adds to this as well. It's cold, so I have no desire to leave my house, which adds to that general feeling of apathy.

So, yeah, that's about it. Nothing.

Mr Barack Obama was sworn in today as our 44th President, and I think I'm not alone when I say that he carries, for me, hope for the future.

I pray that he is able to fulfill everything he intends and doesn't disappoint us.

I pray that he can lift this country out of its economic funk and create promising futures for Americans.

I pray he doesn't get lost in the undertow of shady politics and sneaky Capitol Hill dealings.

I pray he gives America faith in itself again.

I fully realize the important historical time for us in this country, and it is a very exciting thing to be here at this moment. I feel as if we are standing at the edge of an enormous precipice...one false move and we damage ourselves beyond repair. So, I will end the serious portion of my entry with a message for my fellow Americans: don't mess it up for Obama. Let him do his job. OK?

Let's all play in the sandbox nicely.

Now, for the more important bits of discussion. The Inaugural Lunch. What does one serve the first African-American President and his wife? I've included here a list of the Top Five No-no Foods.

1. Crab Legs: Tasty, yes. Elegant, no. There is no way to eat this food and look sophisticated.

2. Fried Chicken: Again, similar reasoning to #1. Fried chicken is a bone-sucking finger food. Mr. President would look idiotic trying to eat fried chicken with his fancy Mikasa cutlery.

3. Peanut Butter: Too common, and yes, we really don't want to risk salmonella poisoning the President.

4. Soup of any kind: If President and First Lady Obama are anything like my friend Molly, they won't be able to avoid soup dribblage somewhere on their nice outfit. I do suppose, however, the problem could be solved with a Tide-to-Go pen...

5. Beets. As having been recorded as a staunch dislike of the President, it would behoove the chef to not serve these vegetables. Just a thought...

Second, in between the Swearing In, the Lunch, and the Ball tonight, Mr. President had a few hours at his disposal. What do you suppose he did? Did he go arrange his desk in the Oval Office? Did he hold a staff meeting? Or, did he tell everyone to sod off and go take a nap?

Hopefully, if he's smart, he did number three. I mean, I would. He's got a big job, might as well get all the sleep he can.