08/26/2026
We had such a wonderful time away as a family. ❤️
White sand beaches, warm Gulf waters, lazy river floats, beautiful sunsets, plenty of laughter, and, of course, a little history exploration along the way.
One of our stops was the USS Alabama in Mobile, and I don't think I was prepared for just how fascinating it would be. It was essentially a floating city, built to feed, house, and care for thousands of sailors while at sea.
Naturally, I found myself especially interested in how they fed everyone. 😆
There was a full kitchen and dishwashing area, and even an ice cream counter that reportedly served around 100 gallons of ice cream every day.
But then I found the bakery. ❤️🍞
I counted 18 ovens, two enormous mixers, and the most beautiful old wooden workbench. Of all the incredible things aboard that ship, I think I could have stood in that bakery for hours.
I can only imagine how hot that room must have been with all those ovens running, but also how appreciated those bakers must have been. Bread and baked goods were such a significant part of feeding the crew, and day after day, someone was down there mixing, shaping, baking, and making sure thousands of sailors had fresh bread to eat.
There's something pretty incredible about standing in a bakery from another era and realizing that, while the equipment and scale may look very different, the rhythm of it is still familiar.
Flour. Water. Mixing. Shaping. Heat. Bread.
We loved our time away, and we're coming home with full hearts, some wonderful memories, and maybe a little extra appreciation for the craft we get to practice every day.
Now it's time to feed the starter, dust off the workbench, fire up our own ovens, and get Rose Creek baking again. 🌹🍞
We're glad to be back. ❤️
