Thanks so much for stopping by to read my blog.
I love sharing experiences of making, baking, and random learnings, I hope you get some learning or a little laughter from these stories.
Solo Birthday Vacationing (with the Cat)
I have the very unfortunate displeasure to have a birthday that falls during “Spring Break.” As a child, that meant birthday parties on or near my birthday were next to impossible because everyone was on vacation! Including me… with my family. I was out of town, away from all my friends, stuck doing family activities. (I used to pack a lot of books… which I sat and absorbed for hours wherever I could find a quiet place to read).
Watercolor Whimsy
Sometimes life surprises us, revealing parts of ourselves to us in the most unexpected ways.
This month began with excitement for a three-whole-day Watercolor painting workshop exploring portraits. Each day was full of discoveries and revelations at how water and paint can work together in a composition. I learned that color in no way detracts from a portrait, and in fact enhances the beauty. Purples in shadows of the face, blue around the eyes and forehead, and when you begin to layer in more neutral colors the painting begins to take shape… but it really is the blue and purple and green that bring the subject to life!
Our days began with quiet reflection
Pondering 39 Plus Two Weeks
The last Friday in March was my birthday. One year after the pandemic began, a full year after selling my dream home of what now seems like a different era, six months post-hysterectomy, one year away from forty, I am now, finally, feeling life begin to settle.
I’m not talking about anything to do with people getting vaccinated (although, I am grateful for this), or about businesses opening back up, or summer being on the way, and life “getting back to normal.” What is normal anymore, anyway?
The Beginning
Sometimes it takes many tries to finally make a change stick. For me, today is this new, and final (for now), beginning. I’m starting my adventure blogging again, after nearly three years of “wanting to blog” I’ve returned to the page to bring you … something.
Anything.
Holiday Ginger Cookies
One very cold Christmas Eve, three years ago, I was pulling my last batch of cookies out of the oven when I spoke with my sister on the phone. She informed me that my brother in law was on the way to pick me up, as it had started snowing and was really starting to stack up. Life was going wonderfully - I had more time due to a part time job, and was loving my time at home cooking, and the opportunity to spend time with my sister and brother in law, and especially my nieces. But because I was reliant on others for a ride (I sold my car a month earlier, one week after quitting my corporate job of nearly 11 years) which meant I was reliant on others for transportation. My brother in law would be at my door in just five minutes, and I had yet to gather the gifts and my overnight bag!
American Values
So, how are you all doing? Are you sleeping? Still stress carbo-loading? (I have been, and made brownies this week, and am now enjoying a 3 day juice cleanse…) Have you made time to do the things that bring you some peace or joy like getting out for a walk, taking a bath, cleaning the kitchen, baking your favorite cookies, making a really good meal, getting your favorite take-out (and supporting that local restaurant you love), or simply sitting down with a good book for thirty minutes to let your mind be at ease for a small amount of time? If nothing else, take fifteen seconds right now, to slowly breathe in for a count of five, hold for one, out for five, and repeat…
2020 - Quietly Waking Up
This year certainly went in a different direction than I expected. I meant to get back to you all in April about what was going on with my body (more on this soon), and wedding updates, but all the nerves, decision-making, the pandemic, and watching as the world protested for the rights of Black people and womxn's rights took me off track. Possibly, out of body for a while, staying safe and cozy in my home. Then out of my mind with fear of my personal health journey choice, concern for my fellow Americans, and distress over all the loss and hate that was spreading all around our nation, and the world.
Peaceful Birthday, Life Uncertainty, and a Global Pandemic Lead to Contemplation
More than anything right now, I'm feeling introspective. This is by no means a normal time in which to celebrate in a normal way, and truthfully, I chose a comfort-food dinner, and made a (real, with sugar) dessert to enjoy. As a kid, we used to celebrate nearly every birthday with dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Portland, and I went with nostalgia …
Setting Goals, Scaling Back, and Stepping Up in 2020
I’ve honestly not done myself any favors with this website and blog adventure – I’ve quit the ease of one web developer to have more control over my website, and quickly discovered there is so. much. more. to learn to manage the site (but it is more malleable!). Additionally, I’m holding myself responsible for a lot of things home-related, started working for my partner’s arborist business (in the home office), and at the end of 2019 decided I want to run another 50k (in 2020… and I have been doing ZERO training). Plus, the lovely (very early) symptoms of peri-menopause have made their presence known over the last year. (YEAY to the aging process!)
Making dinner, memories, and the first chicken tenders since I quit gluten!
I recently discovered a crispy chicken tender recipe from one of my favorite cookbook authors, Diane Sanfilippo. Her new cookbook is KETO Quick Start. This main dish is SO Delicious, and they took me all the way back to childhood. Seriously. I dare you to try this recipe.
I love cooking alone, and I used to thoroughly enjoy the breaded and fried things a la KFC. . .
but now these are both things of my past!
fabulous breakfast bread and how to make it (gluten - free!)
Many of you have been asking about this bread for quite some time, and I really want to share the recipe with you, and I have to be honest …
This recipe is … well, somewhat improvised. Every single time!
freedom, forgiveness, & the wild search for edible fungus
Two weeks ago, I was starting to feel in command of my life.
Each end of day, I would plan the points of interest and to-do’s for the next day in my new-found freedom. What am I talking about, you wonder? For the last three months, I have been living life job-free, and honestly, really struggling with this new position. I know that sounds ridiculous, but hear me out. For the last 22 years of my life, I have been at the very least, part-time employed. The importance of being a productive member of society is a value that was ingrained in my psyche as a child.
fueling up with an Age-Old Favorite: Banana Bread
My childhood was full of delicious, gooey-topped sweetly satisfying banana bread. In college, I became an avid baker (of sweet treats), and banana bread was my go-to. Any night I needed a "fix" or some tasty treat (which I frequently called breakfast...) this familiar quick-bread was there to keep me moving while running around like... well, college student chasing good grades, too many extra-curriculars, and a part-time job.
boxing games
For years, I have been struggling with boxes. Not the physical, cardboard type, but the metaphorical: these are the things I do, this is what I like, therefore, I belong in this box categorization.
Finding my place within the cliques in high school, study groups in college, or the coworkers at my corporate job never really worked for me. I just don't seem to fit the mould, and by "the mould" I mean ANY of them. And that was fine! I got along quite nicely with many different people, making great acquaintances along the way. I'm not friendless, I have been fortunate to have one great friend - my best friend since third grade (yes, that is 25 years of friendship) - a constant confidant in my life.
Recipe for Change: Self-Care, Self-Sabotage, and the perfect Pancake
I’ve had one of those days today when I wish I was sitting with my sister in that old, maroon faux-leather booth bench seat across from my dad, gleefully waiting for the arrival of our German Pancake. It’s been a great, groaning, grinding, personal growth experience since the day I decided I wanted to own a home almost two years ago, and many things have moved into the “high-priority” column, taking precedence over any previously held habits of self-care and exercise. As I write this to you, I am uncomfortably poised over my computer in my bedroom desk (also known as my dresser) which is the wrong height surface for me to be working on, in a hard, wooden chair that has no flexibility, in my wonderful, old, historic home that is slowly warming up to a comfortable temperature thanks to the (eco!) heaters a friend recently helped me install …