New Baker's Second Loaf

Hi Everyone!

I am the proud mother of my second loaf this weekend.  I actually improved a bit due to your good suggestions and the info on the site.  In fact, when my husband tasted the second loaf he promptly threw the first loaf away.  I graduated from "good" to "very good."

 I decided to make my second loaf wetter by soaking the wheat bran, cracked wheat, and oatmeal.  I let the bread machine do the work of mixing and kneading, and then set it near the warm oven to rise -ahem- I mean proof (still learning the bread lingo).  Unfortunately a friend called who was very troubled by some happenings in her life and I just couldn't stop the phone call.  The dough rose to the occasion and became something like a blob in a B grade movie that looked as though it would consume me instead of the other way around.  This wet dough was practically impossible to form into a loaf.  I heaped it onto a baking sheet as best I could and put it in the oven.