I Named a Bread!

Every girl has dreams.

I had dreams, years ago, of making it big as a writer.

But alas, despite some success with my writing, I’m not exactly well known (well actually known at all) to the editors of the New Yorker.

But I named a bread!

For real and true.

My son-in-law, the brilliant baker, creates new styles of bread.

He recently sent out a call:

“We’re going to make a new whole grain bread next month with semolina flour, millet, and sesame seeds.  It will be topped with a thorough crust of sesame seeds.  I need a good name!”

The email went on:  “FYI, semolina is made from durum, which is a sub-variety of wheat that is typically used in pasta.  It has a nuttier flavor than normal wheat, a lot of protein, and is very sturdy.”

That all sounded complicated to me.

I really don’t get wheat and how it magically turns into bread, but I do know that Mrs. Sun assists grandly by shining down on those amber waves of grain.

Semolina Sunshine!

I submitted the name to the Editor of the Bread.

The next thing I knew, there it was, labeling the delicious loaves themselves:

They say every good blog post needs a takeaway.

And so here’s mine for today.

Nope, I didn’t make a lot of dough with my writing.

But I’m lucky enough to have a son-in-law who makes a lot of dough, delicious dough.

And I’m lucky enough, in mid-life, to have new avenues for creativity such as blogging and bread naming.

I bet you, too, have opportunities you never thought you’d have, in places you would least expect them.

Let the sun shine on us!

The Bakery:  The next time you’re in Charlottesville, Virginia, stop in to the bakery, Great Harvest Bread Company.  Try some samples from the Bread Board:

And meet the Baker, Matt Monson, and his wife:

Grandma Talk: What Will They Name the Baby?

My first grandchild, a boy, is due in six weeks!

I’m dying to know his name. We’ve only been told that it’s non-traditional.

I love it that Kath and Matt want to wait until their son is born to announce his name, but I sure would like to know.

Since they own and run the Great Harvest Bread Company in Charlottesville, Virginia, the family has nicknamed the baby “”Baker.”‘

Actually I like Baker for his real name, too.

Kath says that’s not going to be it.

Rats.

Daughter Laura has told me to shush up about the subject, but with only six weeks left, it just kind of popped out of me the other day.

“Will I like the name?” I asked Kath.

(Honest, Laura, I haven’t asked in like four plus weeks.)

“Yes,” Kath said,”but it might take you a day.”

A day? What’s a  day? Sounds good!

“Will your sister like it?”

“Yes,”Kath said. “Right away.”

Fair enough. Sisters often think alike.

“What about your dad?”

“It’s going to take him longer. He’s more traditional when it comes to names.”

I bet it only takes Cliff two days.

After all, a grandson, by any name, will be oh so sweet.

What about you grandmas (or grandpas) out there? Any fun name stories? Do share AND send any advice. Thanks!

Bingo Card:   I found the boys’ names on a site that generates Bingo cards. Seems like a good way to pick  a name when you’re stuck. Toss a bootie and see where it lands.

Here’s the delicious bread that inspired the baby’s first nickname. Photo courtesy Katherine Younger.

Contest Winner:  Congrats to Cheryl, who won the Dry Babe Nightgown. Thanks to Wendy for the guest post and for sponsoring the contest. Wendy has graciously offered to do another giveaway near the winter holidays. Thanks, Wendy!