Really good bread

I've been thinking about bread. No, not the money, the food. In my quest to stay healthy, I'm trying to eat fewer added chemicals. What has surprised me is the stuff that is in some bread.

I took these pictures today at the grocery store. The loaves carried labels trying to appeal to people who want healthy complex carbohydrates. They were some of the most expensive on the shelves; the cheap white bread has a much longer list of ingredients with lots of words I probably can't pronounce. I don't eat a lot of bread, but when I have a piece of toast I'm picky.

I could do a commercial for Prairie Grain bread. The company is in Salt Lake City and they make several varieties that I love. Look at the ingredient list on one of my favorites.
Isn't that simple? I even understand what everything is. Besides, it's delicious--heavy, moist, with a little crunch, and not too sweet. Now the problem. I can't buy any here. I've only found it in the Salt Lake City area. So, when I go I stock up and freeze it. If I run out, I'll have to calculate the cost of driving the 300 mile round trip to buy a dozen loaves versus paying the shipping to buy it online in smaller batches. Of course I'll have to factor in the other things I could do while I'm in the city. But I've got enough for a while.

Read the label on your favorite bread. It could be enlightening.

The way it shouldn't be.

I'm not sure what to do now. We just received a wedding invitation for a nephew, complete with a note on the announcement that they are registered at Target. It also said "There will be a Card Box." I guess that means there will be a place to put congratulatory cards, especially those containing money. I've never seen a note like that on an announcement before; there are usually places at a reception to put cards. This felt like avarice.

The wedding ceremony will be at "their house" where they have been living for more than a year. I guess I am hopelessly old fashioned, but if they already have a functioning home, why do they need a reception and gifts? Greed.

I think a standard white wedding and reception is stupid and selfish. They should get married in a simple family ceremony and then, if they want, have a party and invite friends and family to celebrate with them. Doing things this way is all wrong and I am really worried about the mind-set of so many. It's so much me, me, me, what I want, what you need to give me, what I deserve.

Mom told me she had caught some new reality show about a man, with his teenage children, looking for an engagement ring for their mother. Really? After being together long enough to have teenagers, getting all old-fashioned about proposing with a diamond? Then I imagine they'll plan a lovely traditional wedding. The media puts it on air and young people watch and learn.

I'm stopping now, so much is being lost and I feel a bit....sad.

The way it should be

I just attended a niece's wedding reception. She was beautiful, the weather was lovely, the groom was handsome, the parents were proud, and friends and family were everywhere. I have no doubt that this marriage will be successful; they did everything right. They have known each other for years, they are best friends, their families know and like each other, and they made a very serious faith-based commitment to each other.

As odd as it is nowadays, they fell in love without falling into bed. They did things in the order than was expected of young people 50 years ago. It seems pretty rare today, and I have to say it does irritate me to get a wedding reception invitation for a couple who has been living together for several years or already has a child together. If you are going to do things that way, don't expect a new toaster from me, that just seems greedy.

Most of my family members are still married to their original spouses, but there are several who have been through divorces or had children without being married. Sometimes it takes a mistake or two before you get it right, but it is sure harder that way.

Congratulations to this new couple, and best wishes for a long and happy life together.