Heart/wrecked

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Like a ship that runs aground because of low tide or unseen rocks or fog or navigational errors, our beautiful heart can be damaged when blood flow is restricted or when it flows unregulated.

Heart/wrecked.

I grew up hearing the term, “Stress kills.”

I was never quite sure what that meant, but then I did when it happened to me.

After a seemingly nonstop barrage of a personal stressful situation–like a ship hitting the rocks over and over again–it all finally took an undeniable toll on my physical health.

One of my favorite places to live is in the state of Denial, but I’ve been forced to temporarily move to a new town called Reality. Hopefully, I’ll just visit there for a bit until I can come home again.

After experiencing some intermittent and strangely terrifying heart pains, I went to the doc who took my blood pressure and was concerned about the results. It was super high. I had always had enviably LOW blood pressure since I exercise regularly, am vegan and never smoked, so this raised concerns.

Over the course of a couple weeks, my BP was checked daily and it stayed consistently high; dangerously high, which only made me more anxious and more stressed, and at one of the office visits, I started hyperventilating and had a panic attack. (Super embarrassing for the doc and absolutely mortifying for me.)

This led to an order for an Echocardiogram along with all the other heart-focused tests. The echo was done at a local hospital–a definite trigger. No one wants to go to a hospital at any time, but especially during Covid. It seemed like I was being admitted, with a wrist band and lots of little stickers, and I was devastated.

I almost bolted out of the front door at that point, but I persevered. I can share with you that it’s a scary time when you have to figure out why you don’t feel great. I’ve been a medical advocate for several loved ones, but it’s radically more difficult when you have to care for yourself. Poor me.

The technician was amazing, especially considering I tormented her with a million questions. I know enough about medical stuff to see that she was concentrating on a certain area of my heart. I really appreciated her patience with me and her detailed explanations during the hour-long ordeal.

The results showed a dilated aortic root valve and regurgitation of the mitral valve.

Risk Adjustment Coding Academy- Coding Focus

What this means is that the accumulation of stress and panic attacks and PTSD that I’ve endured during the last four years manifested medically and physically and caused structural damage to my heart.

Mitral valve regurgitation - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

“Severe physical or emotional stress increases blood pressure to the point where the tensile limit of the aortic tissue is overwhelmed, causing the rupture.”

“Over time, certain conditions, such as high blood pressure, can cause your heart to work harder, gradually enlarging your heart’s left ventricle.”

“Mitral valve regurgitation can cause complications such as atrial fibrillation, in which the atria of the heart don’t contract well. This leads to increased risk of stroke. Also, elevated blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary artery hypertension).”

Hypertension makes the blood push harder against the valve and causes it to dilate, enlarge, and that’s pretty much the same scenario for the mitral valve, which seems to be the cause of the intermittent chest pain.

I’ll need to be monitored regularly because if I can’t control the stress/blood pressure and the valves stretch to a dangerous size, the only solution is surgical intervention–or death.

Reducing stress and hypertension can possibly keep the valves from enlarging any further, but the damage is done–nothing will make them reduce in size back to normal, except surgery.

Let me tell you that it’s true. Stress kills.

Now I’m off to change course, take some magnesium, eat more beets, meditate, calm down and regulate my breathing so that I don’t have a stroke or an aneurysm.

Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

Heart/wrecked.

Shipwrecked.

Terrible Things Are Happening

This is the reality of where we are, and anyone who might disagree is living in a fantasy.
It’s time to take off the rose-colored glasses and WAKE UP to things like the murder of Renee Good (and others), Minnesota, ICE, Venezuela, Greenland, and what’s happening in your communities and mine, too.

Will you join the growing numbers of us who refuse to allow this travesty to continue? When this hell is finally over and we can once again breathe, will you be on the right side of the roaring rapids?

I’m cautiously optimistic that a slight ray of light might be emerging.

According to John Pavlovitz, this will all be over soon, America. The sundowning of the MAGA movement is upon us. The signs are everywhere.

As much as History can be an albatross in moments like these, alerting us to the terrifying ways in which we are repeating the past pathologies of inhumanity, she can also be a source of comfort; a reminder of the inevitability of the endings of all evil things.

If we consult her with a clear head, she’ll remind us that all brutal empires fall,
that all hateful movements dissolve, that every seemingly bulletproof regime reaches its extinction, and that all malevolent momentary victors eventually find themselves defeated and driven out.

Every time the pendulum has swung wildly toward barbarism in a society, it has invariably come back with even greater opposite force to bend the arc of the moral universe back toward justice again.

And History tells us that, despite the story in our heads or the one that comes through the partisan propaganda that we’re continually saturated by, our brutal national nightmare is likely in its final hours.

Few cults survive the passing of their leaders, and MAGA will not outlive the departure of Donald Trump from the White House or from this earth, whichever comes first. Read the full story here: https://johnpavlovitz.com/2025/12/02/the-maga-nightmare-is-almost-over-america/

I have edited this to add an important and powerful letter from Hillary and Bill Clinton to James Comer, responding to their refusal to appear before the House Oversight Committee to testify as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein:

WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
January 13, 2026

Chairman Comer,

We want to take a moment, given everything, to address you directly.

This past year has seen our Government engage in unprecedented acts, including against our own citizens. People have been seized by masked federal agents from their homes, their workplaces, and the streets of their communities. Students and scientists with visas permitting them to study and work here have been deported without due process. The people who laid siege to the U.S. Capitol have been pardoned and called heroes. Agencies vital to the country’s national security have been dismantled. Universities, media companies, and law firms have been subjected to threats to their funding, access, and licensing unless they made concessions and surrendered their right to constitutionally protected free speech. American troops have been deployed on the streets of our towns and cities. The Justice Department has been used as a weapon, at the direction of the President, to pursue political opponents. And most recently and searingly, an ICE agent killed an unarmed mother only days ago.

Every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles and its people, no matter the consequences.

For us, now is that time.

We are lucky by virtue of the positions we held, and the protections afforded by them. But we are not blind. Every day we see the country we have dedicated our lives to improving take step after step after step backwards.

As chairman of this powerful congressional committee, you have immense power to target anyone and subject them to closed door interrogation and more. The decisions you have made, and the priorities you have set as chairman regarding the Epstein investigation, have prevented progress in discovering the facts about the government’s role.

The facts speak for themselves: You subpoenaed eight people in addition to us. You dismissed seven of those eight without any of them saying a single word to you. You made no attempt to force them to appear. In fact, since you started your investigation last year, you have interviewed a total of two people. Two.

A legal analysis prepared by two law firms and provided to you yesterday makes clear your subpoenas are legally invalid. You claim your subpoenas are inviolate when they are used against us yet were silent when the sitting President took the same position, as a former president, barely more than three years ago. We call on you to release that analysis to the public to allow them to see how this is yet another example of the casual disregard of the law of the land. All the while, you have done nothing with your oversight capacity to force the Department of Justice to follow the law and release all its Epstein files, including any material regarding us as we have publicly called for.

Over the last year in the House, extending health care for Americans in any state succeeded only because enough Republicans joined with Democrats. The fact that the public and we are seeing any of the Department of Justice’s Epstein files is only because four Republicans, out of 220, joined every Democrat to reach the minimum number of Members to force a vote. You were not one of those four. Even now, despite the Department of Justice’s failure to follow the law the Congress passed, you have chosen not to consider subpoenaing the sitting Attorney General to follow the law.

Despite everything that needs to be done to help our country, you are on the cusp of bringing Congress to a halt to pursue rarely used process literally designed to result in our imprisonment. This is not the way out of America’s ills, and we will forcefully defend ourselves.

Indeed, bringing the Republicans’ cruel agenda to a standstill while you work harder to pass a contempt charge against us than you have done on your investigation this past year would be our contribution to fighting the madness.

We have tried to give you the little information we have. We’ve done so because Mr. Epstein’s crimes were horrific. If the Government didn’t do all it could to investigate and prosecute these crimes, for whatever reason, that should be be the focus of your work – to learn why and to prevent that from happening ever again. There is no evidence that you are doing so. Instead, you have forced the victims to relive their painful experiences, while doing little to give them and everybody else what’s deserved: truth and justice. There is no plausible explanation for what you are doing other than partisan politics.

You accepted the least from those who know the most but demand the most from those who know the least. To say you can’t complete your work without speaking to us is simply bizarre.

You have asked what we know. To answer your inquiry, we are providing you with the same or more than seven of the other eight individuals you subpoenaed regarding the handling of the Epstein investigations and prosecutions, which may be why you have not publicly released their written statements.

We expect you will say it is not enough. We expect you’ll reject it. You may even set out an empty empty chair chair o or stand in front of the cameras and outright dismiss what we have provided. We expect you will direct your committee to seek to hold us in contempt. You may even release irrelevant, decades-old photos that you hope will embarrass us. You will say your caucus, and the Speaker and the President are behind you 100%. We hope, perhaps in vain, that they will not allow you to singlehandedly hijack the Congress by unilaterally making this decision for your colleagues, your party, and our country.

You will say it is not our decision to make. But we have made it. Now you have to make yours.

We are prepared to make our case to your 45 committee members, and if need be, more. Importantly, we also will defend ourselves in the public arena and ensure this country knows exactly what you are doing and why you are doing so, instead of helping the American people who need this Congress’s work and protection.

For most people, maybe even the bulk of the Congress, today will be the first they learn of this dispute. We are confident that any reasonable person in or out of Congress will see, based on everything we release, that what you are doing is trying to punish those who you see as your enemies and to protect those think are your friends.

Continue to mislead Americans about what is truly at stake, and you will learn that Americans are better at finding the truth than you are at burying it.

Continue to pursue autopens instead of penning laws Americans need, and you will learn that you are signing away any remaining chance of being on the right side of history.

Continue to abet the dismantling of America, and you will learn that it takes more than a wrecking ball to demolish what Americans have built over 250 years.

Sincerely,

[signed] Bill Clinton Hillary Rodham Clinto

Leon Russell Memories by Ann Bell, The Queen of Tulsa Sound

The “Queen of the Tulsa Sound” is Ann Bell, a pioneering vocalist and performer instrumental in defining the unique musical style known as the Tulsa Sound alongside legends like the one and only Master of Space and Time, Leon Russell, and J.J. Cale.

Inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, Bell’s distinctive voice and deep involvement with the scene earned her that title for her significant contributions and ongoing legacy.

As a backup singer for the original Joe Cocker and Leon Russell Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour and album, she was an important part of the band and is remembered for her contributions to the “Tulsa sound” that Leon Russell helped create. She has also participated in reunion and tribute events in the years since.

I never get tired of hearing this story. I surely wish there was a recording of Leon that night….

Ann is one of the very talented backup singers here (wearing an awesome outfit), along with the GAP Band. I love this comment: “No matter how cool you think you or your band is, you will NEVER be as cool as Leon Russell and the Gap Band doing this Marvin Gaye classic.”

Sunglasses off, shirt open, those EYES...”Wait now. WAIT!” So much Leon joy…

Recorded for the TV show, Midnight Special with Wolfman Jack, “Ain’t That Peculiar” is a classic Motown song originally by Marvin Gaye, but Leon Russell turned it into something spectacular with his signature energetic performance. Watch the entire show here: https://youtu.be/19z9JSaTm8c?si=n96fSGGrQxQuer2R

Easy Homemade VEGAN English Muffins

I love soft and chewy English muffins but they seem to be full of chemicals and dough conditioners and preservatives, so I thought I’d bake a batch of them since I’ve lately had some baking successes.

Did you know that English Muffins need no oven? They cook on the stovetop and it couldn’t be easier to whip up a batch.

In fact, it’s SO easy. I’m not going to bore you with too many photos to document every step; you can find them all over the internet if you need a more in-depth how-to.

Homemade English Muffins are crispy, chewy, golden brown, and full of nooks and crannies.

ENGLISH MUFFINS

-3 cups all purpose flour
-2 teaspoons yeast
-2 teaspoons sugar
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda (this is what creates the nooks and crannies!)
-2 TBS neutral oil
-1 cup + 2 TBS warm water
-1/3 cup cornmeal. (cornmeal gives muffins their authentic texture.)

I used my stand mixer which made the whole process way less time consuming, but you can definitely use a hand mixer or go totally old school and mix it all by hand, which will take longer, but is actually quite satisfying…your choice.

  1. Add all ingredients EXCEPT the cornmeal to the mixing bowl. I used the dough hook. Mix on medium for about 7-10 minutes until the dough comes together in a sweet little elastic ball. Only add a drop or two of more water if it looks too dry.
  2. Place the dough into an oiled bowl, cover and let rise for about an hour or so until doubled in size.
  3. While the dough is rising, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and coat it with the cornmeal.
  4. When the dough is doubled in size, it’s ready to roll out. Empty the dough onto a floured board and roll out to about an inch thick.
  5. Using a three-inch cookie cutter or a glass dipped in flour to prevent sticking, cut out about eight muffins. You can re-roll any remaining dough to use it all up.
  6. Place on the cornmeal sprinkled baking sheet, and dust the tops of the muffins with more cornmeal.
  7. Lightly cover with a towel and let rise again for about 30-45 minutes.
  8. Toward the end of the rise, heat a griddle, cast iron pan, or frying pan over medium heat. Do NOT oil the pan.
  9. When the muffins are puffy, gently place the muffins on the griddle. Cook undisturbed for about 7 minutes until a peek reveals the proper deep golden brown color. Turn and cook for another 7 minutes or until you see that same mouthwatering color.
  10. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. You can refrigerate or even freeze them, but trust me, they won’t last that long.
  11. They’re easy to fork-split and toast.

I was in a hurry to taste the finished product so I didn’t take the time to perfectly roll and cut, so they’re not uniform in size.

They’re easy to fork-split and toast. These are definitely not the prettiest English Muffins, but they’re oh so delicious with vegan butter and raspberry jam.

K Pop Demon Hunters

First it was a unicorn obsession, now it’s this…have you heard of K Pop Demon Hunters? It’s a global phenomenon.

K Pop Demon Hunters

Up until a couple months ago, I never had heard of them, but it became front and center on my radar because of Angel Girl and what she wanted for Christmas and Hanukkah.

That’s all she asked for–ANYTHING Demon Hunter-related, and those are the songs she wants to listen to (NOT Leon Russell lolz), which meant I had to educate myself FAST so I would know what it’s all about.

K-pop stands for Korean Pop, referring to popular music originating from South Korea, known for its blend of diverse musical styles (pop, hip-hop, R&B, electronic) and highly visual, performance-focused productions, often featuring idol groups with synchronized choreography and elaborate fashion. It’s more than just a genre; it’s a cultural phenomenon with a massive global following. 

KPop Demon Hunters is about a world-famous K-pop girl group — Huntrix — who secretly use their music and powers to fight demons and maintain the magical barrier (Honmoon) protecting the human world. Their mission becomes complicated when a rival demon boy band, the Saja Boys, tries to steal their fans’ souls, especially as one member, Rumi, grapples with being half-demon herself. The film blends K-pop, action, comedy, and Korean folklore, exploring themes of self-acceptance, shame, and finding strength in community, all set against the backdrop of a musical battle for humanity’s souls. 

Some online pearl clutcher types have expressed concern about of the Demon Hunters messages but there are far more important things to worry about in this world, in my opinion. I’m not all that happy about the merchandising aspect of it, but I’ll support what the Angel Kids like, whether it’s unicorns or skateboarding, ‘cos that’s what grandmas do.

Angel Girl’s favorite character is Zoey, and I was able to procure a Zoey bobblehead that she adored, along with some of the figures to hang on her backpack, and posters for her bedroom wall. Other family members gifted her with sweatshirts and clothing, so I think she’s a happy Angel Girl.

And now you know about as much as I do about K pop Demon Hunters. Let’s just hope I can figure out how to create a Demon Hunter birthday cake when it’s that time again…

Cloud Art

These clouds are works of art.

I like what Bob Ross said about painting clouds: “Let’s build us a happy, little cloud that floats around the sky.”

At the beach.
Looking east.
From the front door.
Clouds of all shapes, sizes, and colors.

(Photo credit to Enchanted Seashells)

An American Nightmare

I couldn’t find an inspirational quote to distract me from the horrific news I woke up to yesterday morning, as if things here couldn’t get any worse. I mean, is there no longer a working Constitution?

Did you hear about the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, being captured by American forces and flown out of the country?

I don’t know much at all about Venezuela or Maduro or his wife, but I do know that this has nothing to do with drugs or drug cartels.

WTAF? Can’t ANYONE stop him?

it’s more likely about OIL to enrich him and his billionaire cohorts, to stay out of prison, and perhaps to further distract us from his disgusting obsession with underage females.

As the heat turns up on the Epstein files, that orange POS will continue to perform insane stunts to keep us from learning even more about what a vile, despicable, sociopathic person he really is.

Didn’t that orange POS just free a big drug kingpin Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, who was serving a forty-five year prison sentence?

Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do but shake our collective heads and hope Congress wakes up, does their job, and removes him from office, along with all of the people he brought with him.

There are legitimate questions regarding this attempt to oust Maduro and if they were genuine events or staged stunts, just like contrived “assassination attempt” or even what happened to that podcaster, Kirk. I think the bottom line is that nothing he or his administration says or does should be believed. They are evil incarnate.

I’m so tired and afraid of this dark energy clouding everything and ruining what is good about America. If only Hilary or Kamala were President now, none of this would be happening.

When will we wake up from this nightmare?

Year of The Fire Horse!

Well, this is definitely an intense start to a new year, along with the first full moon of 2026 on January 3, the Wolf Moon!

2026 is the rare Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac. It commences on February 17, 2026, and will bring powerful themes of passion, transformation, and dynamic energy.

This significant event occurs only once every sixty years, blending the Horse’s traits (strength, freedom) with Fire’s (enthusiasm, innovation) for bold action, breakthrough, and potential burnout if not balanced, a year marked by both great opportunity and intense change. 

According to Chinese astrology, Horse is confident, agreeable, and responsible, although they also tend to dislike being reined in by others. They’re fit and intelligent, adoring physical and mental exertion; they’re decisive but also easily swayed and impatient. 

Click this clink to find your Chinese Zodiac sign:


New Year Greetings With a Fling of Sandpipers 𓅪

And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.
Rainer Maria Rilke

We’re getting ready for another storm but yesterday it still was sunny and warm. Check out these south-facing sandpipers, all looking in the same direction. I wonder what they’re thinking about…

Maybe they’re hoping 2026 will bring peace and harmony and love to the world. That’s my wish, too.

Do you know what a group of sandpipers is called?

There are many recognized collective nouns for a group of sandpipers:

𓅪 a bind
𓅪 a cluster
𓅪 a contradiction
𓅪 a fling
𓅪 a hill
𓅪 a time-step

My personal favorite is a “fling” of sandpipers.

𓅪 Happy 2026!
Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou

Is It Rude To Dispose of Your Dog’s Poop in Someone Else’s Trash Can?

Yes. It’s rude. It’s disgusting and stinky and gross and can be left behind when the trash is emptied. 

Somebody keeps throwing their dog poop bags in my trash can. It occurs after I put the cans out before our regular pick up day.

THIS time I saw who did it only they ran away and I wasn’t able to follow them, but that proves they were obviously aware of their stupid action. I didn’t recognize the neighbor OR his dog, so I don’t know who it is.

I fished the VERY FULL bag of poop out of my trash can and left it on the curb.

I can’t understand why it’s so hard for someone to just take THEIR poop home. It’s not mine and I don’t want it. Don’t get a dog if you can’t handle carrying a poop bag. It’s poor etiquette as well as being lazy and RUDE, perhaps illegal.

While not explicitly a separate criminal offense in all cases, putting dog poop in someone else’s private residential bin in Carlsbad without their permission is a form of unauthorized dumping or theft of services, and it could lead to legal fines or civil action. 

  • Unauthorized Use: Trash collection is a paid private service to the homeowner, so using their bin without consent is essentially using their property and services without permission. This can cause issues for the homeowner, such as the bin reaching maximum weight limits, which could result in extra fees.
  • Carlsbad Municipal Code: Carlsbad, like many California cities, requires dog owners to immediately clean up and properly dispose of their pet’s waste in a trash receptacle. The law emphasizes that disposal must be done appropriately.
  • Illegal Dumping Statutes: Under California Penal Code § 374.3 PC, it is a crime to dump “waste matter” on private property without the owner’s consent. While this is usually an infraction with a fine, repeated offenses or significant amounts of waste can escalate the penalties.
  • Nuisance and Trespassing: The act of walking onto a private driveway or property to deposit waste without permission can also be considered trespassing or a public nuisance. 

In short, it is considered inconsiderate and can be illegal. The proper disposal method is to use your own trash bin or a public pet waste station. 

It’s not just about me. This behavior tells me you don’t care about our public workers at all. You’re fine with the trash folks having to handle bins that are lined with excrement.

In the summer time it turns into a shit soup that reeks to high heaven. It disgusts me that some of my neighbors have no respect for ME or the people who literally do your dirty work.

A little Googling reveals that this seems to be a frustrating and RUDE problem everywhere, not just in my community, as it’s essentially illegal dumping and disrespectful. 

Here are some solutions that are offered online:

Simple and Non-Confrontational:

  • Signs: Place a clear sign on the lid saying “No Dog Poop” or “Not a Public Bin”. 
  • Relocate Bin: Keep your bin in a garage or fenced yard until collection day to make it less accessible. 
  • Physical Barriers: Use a heavy brick on the lid or a bungee cord/strap to keep it shut. 

More Direct Solutions:

  • Talk to Neighbors: Politely explain the issue; they may not realize how bothersome it is. 
  • Bin Locks: Invest in a lockable strap or padlock for your bin. 
  • Security Camera: A camera can deter offenders and provide evidence if needed. 

Last Resort:

  • Check Local Laws: Some areas have ordinances against using private bins for public waste; contact your local council. 
  • Document & Report: If it continues, you can document it and report it as illegal dumping to local authorities. 

Is this a problem where you live? How do you deal with it? I’d love to hear any suggestions…

Easy Vegetable Soup + Best Ever Focaccia, The Star of The Show!

I hope everyone enjoyed a peaceful Christmas as we count down to 2026! Here in SoCal, we had 56 mph wind gusts along with heavy rain for most of Christmas Eve, which made for a cozy holiday.

It seemed like a great time to choose soup as a first course. For whatever reason(s), as often as I make variations of this recipe, the end result is inconsistent. Sometimes it’s great, sometimes NOT.

This time, I nailed it! The flavor was absolutely PERFECT, exactly what I had hoped for, and I decided to dust off my baking chops and make individual herby focaccias to accompany it.

I don’t know if it’s because of their diminutive size or the infused herbal fragrance, but these are seriously the best — every single bite is simultaneously crusty and chewy — flawless perfection.

I tend to make gigantic batches of soup, enough to feed an army, so this time I thought I’d scale it down to a more manageable amount.

Easy Veggie Soup
🌿 Saute 1/2 onion, a couple ribs of celery, and 1/2 bell pepper.
🌿 When onions are translucent, add two teaspoons of vegan Better Than  Bouillon.
🌿 Cook for a few minutes and add 8 cups of water, along with two bay leaves.
🌿 Add two or three sliced carrots.
I think this is where the magic happened. For some reason, I was out of tomato paste AND canned tomatoes. I didn’t feel like going to the store and was lucky enough to find a jar of marinara sauce in the pantry so I added about 3/4 cup, stirred, and brought it back to a low simmer.
🌿 Let it cook for a couple hours or so, adding more water as necessary.
🌿 Cut one or two potatoes into bite sized pieces and add along with a can of beans (any kind will work, I used garbanzo beans).
🌿 Simmer until potatoes are soft, adding more water as needed for desired soupiness.
🌿 Finally, add 1/2 cup alphabet pasta, some garden herbs, a bit of Hawaiian sea salt and pepper.
Options: Add cubed tofu, more beans…or blend for a smoother consistency.

🌿🌿🌿 🌿🌿🌿 🌿🌿🌿 🌿🌿🌿 🌿🌿🌿 🌿🌿🌿 🌿🌿🌿 🌿🌿🌿 🌿🌿🌿 🌿🌿🌿

Individual Focaccia
*
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
* ¾ cup warm water 
* 1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
* ¾ teaspoon sea salt
* 1/2 teaspoon sugar
* 2-3 tablespoons olive oil. I use avocado oil because I don’t really like the taste of olive oil. Flaky salt for topping. I chopped some of the same garden herbs: sage, chives, oregano, thyme added to the soup.

* Add the yeast to a medium bowl, then pour the warm water slowly over it. Let the mixture sit for five minutes to allow the yeast to activate.
* Add the flour, sea salt, and sugar to the yeast mixture and stir together until it forms a shaggy dough. It’ll be sticky, so you can use a bench scraper or silicone spatula. Although hands work great, too, it’s messy.
* To develop gluten, fold the dough over itself a few times until it’s stretchy and no longer shaggy.
* No kneading necessary!
* Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap, then set in a warm place to rise for about an hour or until doubled in size.
* In a square 8 inch baking pan or a couple smaller pans for individual servings, drizzle a tablespoon of the olive/avocado oil to cover the bottom.
* When the dough has doubled in size, transfer the dough to the oiled baking pan(s). Gently spread the dough so that it covers the entire bottom of the pan. Push or lightly stretch the dough into the corners a couple of times to get it to stick.
* Lightly cover the dough and let rise for about 30-40 minutes, until visibly puffy.
* During the last few minutes of proofing, preheat the oven to 425°F
* Drizzle 1-2 teaspoons avocado/olive oil over the top of the puffy dough, along with herbs if used.
* Press your fingertips through the dough to the bottom of the pan and back out to form dimples.
* Sprinkle the flaky salt evenly across the top of the loaf. Bake for about 20 minutes or until brown.
* Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before eating. 

Soup + focaccia makes a great first course or dinner. Add a salad for a complete healthy meal.