Better bread with science

Some months ago my son asked me to help him develop a science project

We looked over the suggested experiments and I gravitated towards those involving yeast.

We discussed ideas, he discussed them with his high school science teacher, and we settled on cooking multiple loaves of bread using different flours.

I liked the idea because using a bread machine would remove many of the variables.

It's now the second day of the school holidays and we've cooked almost half of the bread required for the report.

I'd assumed that hemp powder wasn't going to work and, although it required additional water, it seems it was too heavy to rise.

I've eaten some of it and it's okay with Vegemite, although very filling.

The big surprise just now was the result using supermarket's brand plain flour.

It's the cheapest flour we'll try and yet the result is comparable to the more expensive baker's flour, which contains higher-protein flour and also bi-carb.

The loaf is almost an extra-large size, despite being a large-size recipe.

In comparison, the Wallaby bakers flour didn't rise as high, but I guess the density is a sign of the protein content because it's definitely chewier and has a thicker crust.

Our final experiment is a blend of spelt and quinoa flours, which tasted great but didn't rise much more than the hemp powder. It was a lot tastier though.

Whitton scar

Our Riverina

A series of online videos produced with the Leeton Art Society explore the relationships between local artists and their landscapes

“I have a theory that being based in regional Australia gives artists distinct connections to their environments,” explained project coordinator Jason Richardson. “Each of the four Leeton Shire artists had landscape artworks to discuss and it was interesting to learn how their art-making had changed the way they see our region.”

Three-time Paniz Prize winner Lynne McQuillan discussed her love of the Murrumbidgee River, as well as the Impressionistic style that lends itself to representations of light falling through the River Red Gum forests on the banks.

Lifelong Murrami resident Dorothy Roddy outlined the inspiring landscape and the variations she can watch from sunrise to sunset.

Vita Vitelli shared her memories of her Father Frank Bruno Snr, living and working on the farm on Toorak Road, now Toorak Wines; and explaining how  picking up a paintbrush changed her outlook.

While longtime Leeton Art Society member Glenn Saddler reflected on the perspective he gained while studying and how it motivated him to become involved in creating opportunities for artistic expression when he returned home.

The videos will make the artists accessible to a wide audience but the original proposal was to run a series of exhibitions across the region.

“The Our Riverina project has adapted to the uncertainty we’ve all experienced in 2020, as well as the requirement for social-distancing. We’re hoping an exhibition planned for early 2021 will still go ahead,” said Mr Richardson.

“Viewing art is an opportunity to look at something through the eyes of another, so I hope that people will enjoy getting a fresh perspective on local scenes and learning something about a handful of the talented Leeton Shire artists.”

“I mention in my curator talk video that the environment has been a collaborator in my audiovisual works, so I was keen to learn how other Leeton Shire artists reflected our region. It proved to be a stimulating conversation topic as each shared details of connections to the countryside and how art had enriched their life.”

“Each was keen to see more people try art and discover the benefits for themselves and I appreciate the Leeton Art Society for providing opportunities for self-expression and supporting local art initiatives.”

The videos will be shared on the Leeton Art Society’s Facebook page during July, see www.facebook.com/leetonartsocietyinc

Our Riverina is supported by Create NSW’s Country Arts Support Program, a devolved funding program administered by Regional Arts NSW and Western Riverina Arts on behalf of the NSW Government.

Fivebough at the Heart of Leeton

When Leeton artist Jason Richardson started discussing a collaboration with the Community Op Shop in 2019, they could not predict that 2020 would have other plans

After a delay, the result will be a display during July in the Shop’s main street windows on the theme of Fivebough Wetlands.

“A lot of people know Fivebough as a swamp and I get the impression that relatively few locals have visited it,” said Jason Richardson.

“It’s a beaut place to walk around and you can usually spot majestic pelicans and graceful black swans, as well as a variety of other birds.”

“The significance of the site is actually incredible and the Wetlands should be seen as a jewel in the Riverina’s crown. This project aims to raise the profile of the site and hopefully help Leeton find greater pride in Fivebough.”

That site has a global significance recognised by the United Nations’ Ramsar Convention.

In a comparison of 360 wetlands as part of the Murray-Darling Basin Waterbird Project, Fivebough recorded the highest number of waterbird species and it ranked second for the total number of species recorded in a single survey.

The display notes the Wetland is a “popular international travel destination” for the migratory birds it hosts and the human admirers who visit to see them.

“Back in 2019 when we began discussing developing an art project, we arrived at using the community at Fivebough as a metaphor for the role the Op Shop plays in the Leeton,” said Jason Richardson.

“There’s a proverb ‘Birds of a feather flock together’ and it prompted me to think how the Shop take pride in being a place for everyone in Leeton. In a similar way Fivebough hosts a diverse community too, with over one hundred bird species.”

Leeton Community Op Shop make their windows available for displays to promote our town and welcome contract via Facebook or phone 6953 5664.

Originally the Fivebough project planned to develop a display during the Easter school holidays to coincide with the street parade, but that idea had to be reworked for social-distancing after the emergence of Covid-19.

While the scale of the installation has shrunk, it will have a longer lifespan.

“As I was planning activities to coincide with the project, Kathy Tenison from Landcare asked if I’d considered using the display at Fivebough after it had been exhibited in Leeton.

“It shifted my medium from paste-ups to designing a banner that will be installed at the Wetlands and, when I liked the look of that, I ordered stickers to be printed as well.”

The vinyl bumper stickers will be available for sale at locations in Leeton for $2 each or you can contact Jason Richardson to order three for $5, including postage.

“It’d be great to see Leeton displaying their Fivebough pride because each sticker purchased will also be assisting with the development on local arts projects.”

Fivebough at the Heart of Leeton is supported by Create NSW’s Country Arts Support Program, a devolved funding program administered by Regional Arts NSW and Western Riverina Arts on behalf of the NSW Government.

Matong Park after Red Earth Ecology

One year on from Red Earth Ecology’s urban regeneration weekend in Matong village and the park is thriving

In June 2019 Burners from Matong, the Riverina and interstate came together to revegetate private and public spaces using plants endemic to the area.

Here are recent images of the garden at Matong Park, which looks fantastic.

Thanks to the locals who watered and weeded to ensure the seedlings survived their first tough summer with very little loss of life.

The watering system installed by Coolamon Shire Council will benefit the area.

While Red Earth Ecology has had to postpone all activities for 2020, we will be back planting together in 2021.

Everyone deserves an arts degree

The other day I recognised a woman at the supermarket and decided to tell her how much I enjoyed a poetry event she'd run a while back

"Are you thinking about another?"

"I'm finishing year 12," she replied and I've been thinking about her since.

When I finished year 12 it was in the middle of a recession and uni courses were difficult to access. I ended up repeating the year and improved my tertiary entrance score by around 30% and got into an arts degree.

This year will see a similar increase in demand for degrees with the rise in unemployment and the Coalition Government have decided to raise fees, rather than invest in more university places.

I recall reading a piece that suggested that the state of the job market when you enter full-time employment shapes your earnings over your life.

It brings into focus that the current year 12 students might be battling to start a degree, saddled with increased debt for their studies, and will then continue to see those annual letters reminding them of how much they owe on their qualifications for decades to come.

I hope she continues to find some solace in poetry.

Remember

Hypnosis and The Lighthouse

Hypnosis (1904) by Sascha Schneider, which came to my attention from watching The Lighthouse (2019)

Robert Eggers, writer and director, has experience as a production designer and it was interesting to learn how much the artwork represented in the film also reflects other themes.

That's kinda satisfying for a former film studies major.

Here's a poster for the film showing how Schneider's image was interpreted for the story of two lonely men maintaining a large phallic symbol.

Painting with light

My youngest swirled a red and a blue torch under the full moon

I like the way the blue seems outside of the landscape, as well as the purple where they combine.

Image by Vadim Solovyov

Arteparties.art

Have you heard about http://arteparties.art?

It's a beaut online exhibition curated by Dubbo artist Kim Goldsmith that includes a music video for 'Ghostly Melody' from my recent album SING, as well as a zine of machine-learning-generated poetry that I produced earlier this year.

Edit: After two weeks, Arteparties has now finished.

Hydrometer drinking

Sometimes drinking the hydrometer sample is tastier than the bottled beer

After my last beer meme got a big response in a brewing group on Facebook, I thought I'd make another.

Beer bubbles

Been brewing beer again recently and I'd forgotten the thrill of seeing the yeast spring to life

What a beauty!

Meme template

Saw this cartoon this morning and thought it could be a good meme template

So here's a blank version for use at a meme generator.

Celebrate our goatse

Gluten-free vegan toastie

Foretold by the stars

Got up early yesterday and looked for shooting stars

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower was described as "one of the best shows of the year" and I'd been looking for it during the week.

It was cloudy around 4am but improved by 5am, when I saw a brief red streak after standing outside for around 10 minutes.

Thankfully the weather has been warmer this week.

As I peed in the bushes I was impressed to see more than a dozen lights, each as bright as a planet, almost evenly spaced apart as they flew from the south to the northeast.

A dotted line across the stars.

It gave me a sense of wonder that I haven't felt in a while.

They weren't flying in the path that I usually see planes but that's how I described them.

I went inside and typed about the experience on Facebook.

Soon there was a flurry of comments telling me I'd seen satellites and it made sense.

On reflection I realised there hadn't been the flashing lights one sees under planes.

This morning I went and looked for the meteors again.

It's cloudy but I'm think I've identified that sense of wonder.

I'm reminded of a morning back in 2007, when I woke early and read the streamed descriptions of Steve Jobs launching the iPhone.

It gave me a sense of wonder of technological progress and a feeling that something remarkable has happened.

The comparison has been on my mind since.

For a while I had iPhones for work and found them almost irresistible, particularly for Words With Friends.

I've observed the way people will abruptly lose interest mid-conversation to look at their device and I still find it rude.

These days I sometimes get a surprised response when I tell people I don't have a mobile phone.

I see the impact the iPhone has had on lives and am now wondering about those satellites.

Is Starlink going to change the way I enjoy spending time with the night sky?

TikTok tactic

Mint and yarrow beer

There’s a lot of mugwort in the garden, so I thought I should brew

However, I’m short of bottles because there’s a huge stockpile from previous experiments.

Can’t remember when I brewed this one, which is marked as mint and yarrow.

Might’ve been 2018 and it tastes really good.

Dry bubbles with a mild refreshing tang.

Alcohol seems moderate.

Thinking I should brew with mint more often.

Butterflies love my mint

Some years ago I returned home from Burning Seed with a terrarium made from a plastic bottle and in it was a little mint plant

I’d built the terrarium at a workshop run by Di and Daryl at Mint Country Club, where they articulated the ten principles of Burning Man for an audience of mostly first-time Burners.

Di and Daryl are better known outside the Burner community for their attendance at country shows as First Light stilt walkers and they performed at Leeton’s show in 2019.

Anyway, I’ll cut a long story short, years later the mint now occupies a corner of my yard and is popular with a variety of insects.

As autumn begins the mint flowers are attended by bees, moths and an assortment of butterflies.

It’s surprised me how many types of butterflies flutter around.

At first I thought there were a few species, but after comparing my photos to Google’s search results, I think I’m up to around half a dozen now.

A photograph gives me the opportunity to identify their characteristics, like the spotted body on the Plain Tiger — which seems a misnomer.

And I didn’t know these small, bright yellow creatures are also butterflies.

I’ve said that nothing sorts out introverts and extraverts quicker than someone pointing a camera at them, and this seems to be true of butterflies.

The older-looking ones with faded and rough-edged wings will seem oblivious as I move increasingly closer to take photographs; while the pale ones are skittish and fly up over my head, sometimes circling around behind me to get back to the mint but other times continuing up over my house.

Another plant that seems to be popular with some insects is the basil I bought a supermarket

It’s worth getting a little punnet of living basil during spring, because if you treat it right it’ll supply you with fresh herb throughout the warmer months.

I found a caterpillar under one of the leaves this week, while picking the remaining leaves after the basil had flowered.

Love in the time of Corona

What will romance look like as social-distancing becomes part of life?

The impact of Covid-19 follows the conversation stirred by the #metoo movement about bodily sovereignty, which might be seen as a new beginning in recognising the negotiation of intimacy in western societies.

Now personal boundaries extend to within coughing distance of someone and a kiss might be construed as a serious form of assault.

Will flirtations retreat to the digital realm?

More weird dreams

Woke from a dream where I interviewed Kid Koala ahead of his tour of regional Australia

Eric was showing his website analytics that demonstrated spikes in searches for the towns on the tour as they were announced.

When asked why he wanted to visit these smaller locations, I saw the venues would be golf courses and the events were less like a concert and more like a picnic with an Easter egg hunt.

Except, instead of finding chocolate, the audience were playing golf with balls that broadcast drum breaks as they flew threw the air to seek out samples for the performance as they landed.

We have to be careful now

Watched Rams today, a documentary about influential industrial designer Dieter Rams

One poignant moment showed him standing in a crowd as the voiceover shared his reflection that no one would meet his eye in the streets these days.

He was commenting on the proliferation of mobile phones occupying people's attention, and it led to the observation shown in the screenshot here.

Earthwords for you

April Fools Day

Only spotted one post so far, which is a lot less than usual

Wonder how many will appear from the northern hemisphere later today and tomorrow.

Like the closed playground below, playfulness is vanishing from public -- even without the restrictions that have been placed on movement.

Playground closed

The playground at the end of my street was closed this week

It's an image I wouldn't have imagined, maybe even a week ago.

I can understand that Council's duty of care to maintain safe equipment poses an impossible burden, since they have dozens of playgrounds that would need to be cleaned regularly.

However, I realised that I needed to take a photo to document the impact of Covid-19.

Trailer for The Penny Effect

Dreams are weird

Woke from a dream in which Prince had written a book about sexuality for teens

It was written in that conversational style of his ‘Raspberry Beret’ lyrics and had scenes about people dealing with relationship issues.

One scene recounted his father as a younger man taking two girlfriends to the swimming pool.

They differed in a funny way, with one having large breasts and the other having a pronounced arse.

The young man overheard them fighting in the pool and realised he could avoid having to deal with their jealousy by staying in the change room.

Later in the dream I was sitting down to watch a TV adaptation of Prince’s book with my kids.

I was confronted to find that the lessons about recognising sexual energy were being told by characters in ’80s-style leather outfits with headbands, who walked around with their hands on their erect (but clothed) body parts.

Then, in a plot twist, I realised the Prince character was a young woman.

Dreams are weird.

Dream are eternal

My friend Nick posted an interesting observation about dreams:

Another reality filter.
We're all eternal beings, and our dreams are the experience of that eternity.
Eternity is living a life where everything is possible, as in a dream.
Being 'awake' is when a tiny subset of those possibilities are acted out in cooperation with other eternal beings - it takes effort.
Death returns us to eternal dreaming, to 'resting in peace'.
Pictures like this are so misleading, you don't dream 'in your head'.
Dreams are a full reality, they're eternity.
In our 'waking lives' little parcels of eternity still appear - our memories, colours etc., what some philosophers call 'eternal objects'.

Krautchi

I'm taking a further step toward merging kimchi and sauerkraut by substituting Chinese cabbage with ordinary cabbage

Since wombok are currently $19 each, I'm hoping the result will be tasty and will use fennel and horseradish again.

Cabbage requires weight as well as salt to squeeze the water out of the leaves, so I'm using myself and possibly contributing microflora in the process.

Oboe Cop

Tortilla toasties

After being impressed by pressing my own tortillas, it was only a matter of time before I attempted a tortilla toasted sandwich

The result is tasty and easy to prepare.

I expect I'll make a video in coming weeks, but currently I need to make a song for the soundtrack.

I feel strange

Aviatrix Remove Borders

The Disquiet Junto recently offered an opportunity to revisit a track from 2016



Remove Borders was a response to a Naviar Haiku prompt and I'd consciously develop a section of the song that sped-up and had in mind that it was a plane taking flight.



So when the Junto asked for "a short piece of music that is intended to blend in with the industrial drone of modern air flight," I'd remembered the earlier track and thought it could be reworked in an ambient style.

Eight arms to light you

Gained in translation

I was admiring Julian Mithra's poetry in The Lifted Brow, particularly the one using a recipe format, when I noticed this "translator's note":

I've made English-to-English translations... 

In these experiments, I isolated nouns, verbs, adjectives, and some adverbs, and used a couple of wide-reaching thesauruses and online dictionaries to replace each word with a distant synonym. 

In selecting words, I was primarily attracted to sound, with some compensation toward theme and consistency of symbols. 

The process owes a debt to Dada's advice about incorporating chance...

It's a cool idea and a technique I can see myself using sometime.

I really appreciate it when an artist shares their process, as it allows the viewer to understand the work beyond whatever thought process it triggers for them.

Dark chocolates with roasted almonds

The supermarkets have been super recently

In the last week I've scored a small pile of discounted chocolate.

I thought it would be interesting to compare the dark varieties that contain roasted almonds.

The Lindt also has sea salt, which doesn't diminish the sweet flavour and silky mouth-feel.

In comparison, the Green & Blacks has an almost powdery mouth-feel and rich cocoa flavour.

Looking at the ingredients I see the latter is around 65% cocoa, while the Lindt is a minimum of 47%.

This might explain the difference in their energy labelling.

Mystery solved

A self-seeded vine started spreading across the yard recently

I thought it was pumpkin but was told the flowers were the wrong colour

Cucumber was my partner's first guess, but there didn't seem to be any seeds.

So, thinking it was zucchini, I added it to a couple of sauces and it seemed kinda sweet with pasta and tortillas.

Then I realised yesterday, it's a watermelon.

Seems so obvious now it's grown bigger.

Thinking I might try pickling it, since it's too late in the season for the fruit to mature.

Learning about Penny

It's been fascinating to learn about Leeton Art Society Inc's former President, Penny Paniz

The art prize named after her continues Penny's work in setting new deadlines for local artists and encouraging them to exhibit.

Some of her story will be told in the video I'm producing to accompany the exhibition next Easter in Leeton.

Shown is Glenn, her nephew and initiator of this CASP project with support from Create NSW and Western Riverina Arts.

Notes From Last Night

Shown is one of the illustrations in a zine I'm taking to the Halfway Print Fest in Wagga next weekend

Notes From Last Night is a collection of prose written in collaboration with a machine learning service.

Then I developed illustrations that aimed to represent the style of feeding images into a computer -- which was basically the process for developing the first draft of the poetry.