I’ve been stocking up for weeks: dried beans and rice and pasta in the pantry. Vegetables, chicken and some meat in the freezer. Constant re-stocking of perishables just in case.
I wash my hands more than ever before, and for longer.
But today it got real. All those articles (and especially this one) about flattening the curve convinced me that “cancel everything” has to be on the table. I stayed home tonight instead of going to a wine dinner I was looking forward to, and for which I had tickets. It just wasn’t necessary.
I have lots of wine at home.
It’s a compromise. This morning I went to the dentist and chances are that tomorrow I will keep my appointment for a haircut.
What are you doing about the coronavirus and how are you feeling about it?
So Bernie Sanders is the front-runner. Personally I don’t like him much. Despite his admirable ideas, I find him too loud, too cranky, and too old (inexplicably older than my first choice, Warren). By March 17th and the Democratic primary, my vote probably won’t mean much, but it will go to Elizabeth Warren. In November, I’ll be voting for whoever is the Democratic nominee. Because this is existential. (Thanks to Bernie for pointing that out.)
Politics and climate change are hanging over my head like a black cloud, but I’d like to focus on a few positive moments from the week:
Although the IRS doesn’t know it yet, their suggestion that we owe them a bundle is wrong. I know that a blurry $ may look like a 3 on my 1099, but I earned $2500 for that project, not $32,500. Shouldn’t be too hard to prove, so I celebrated by making myself a Boulevardier:
Campari cocktails are the best!
Not all of the good times involved alcohol: On Thursday, we finally saw Fireflies on the Water. But the most magical part of our TMA visit happened at the Family Center in the dress-up room. Having recently been introduced to Harry Potter, Aloisa chose this ensemble:
Does it get any better?
On Friday, we got a jump-start on Mardi Gras at Bellwether:
Wish you could hear the music, too…Hot dogs and Sazeracs, the perfect pairing…
On top of all this deliciousness we got to listen to great music chosen by Ben Cohen’s perfectly-named for the occasion alter-ego, DJ Bennie Goodtimes.
My bean club order came today, a homely quarterly treat.
No breakage this time…
I’m fascinated by that word, homely, and how it has two almost-opposite meanings:
home·ly/ˈhōmlē/adjective
home·ly/ˈhōmlē / adjective
1.NORTH AMERICAN unattractive in appearance. Similar: unattractive plain plain-featured plain-looking plain as a pikestaff ordinary-looking unprepossessing unlovely ill-favored ugly …Opposite: attractive
BRITISH(of a place or surroundings) simple but cozy and comfortable, as in one’s own home.”a modern hotel with a homely atmosphere “Similar: cozy home-like homey comfortable snug welcoming friendly
Although we are by no means vegetarian, for so many reasons, I frequently cook meat-free meals. Since I discovered Rancho Gordo that often means beans. Beans bubbling in a clay pot is certainly a familiar sight in my kitchen. I value cozy and comfortable, but actually I think beans are often beautiful as well.
Christmas lima beans
Besides the beans, I appreciate the whimsy of Rancho Gordo. Old Mexican movie posters. Annual calendars that make me smile all year. And Stardust which is calling out to me: “Make margaritas.”
I can’t wait to use this on the rim of a glass!
I met RG’s owner, Steve Sando, once at a farmers market. He was on hand when I visited the store, too. Most of my interaction with RG is on line, but even there it’s easy to recognize that this is a special company. Great customer service. A bean club. A special facebook group for bean club members. I feel that I belong.
Food isn’t just food. Shopping isn’t just shopping. I REALLY dislike big grocery stores, and I avoid them as much as possible. I’m grateful for farmers and vendors of real food.
Ten days or so ago, the weather was miserable and John was getting a cold. We got a call from a friend/relative urging us to visit him in southwest Florida in February. The timing was just right, and we said let’s make it happen. Then I realized that I had a companion ticket ready to expire at the end of January, and our plans accelerated. We planned several days with our friend and then some time on our own.
We enjoyed exploring with Steve including a river tour, watching manatees, a kite festival and a visit to a holocaust museum (not fun but we’re glad we did it).
on the Caloosahatchee riverKites and more kites
Here’s where the gratitude comes in: when we got ready to pick up a rental car for the next phase of our vacation, we discovered that John’s driver’s license has expired and mine had disappeared. No rental car for us! But it turns out that using LYFT to get where we wanted to go, get around for a few days, and back to the airport actually is going to be cheaper than the anticipated cost of the car rental. And since we’re carrying all other kinds of ID, although it may take some extra time we can probably get home in a few days.
Our first celebration of the new year was a few days ago, a small family-and-friends party for John’s birthday. We ate, we drank, and all the guests went home before the storm hit.
birthday dinner table
In 2020 I’m going to enjoy life and share the enjoyment. The existential threat of climate change is always in the background but it doesn’t have to always be the focus.
Do you think Nancy Pelosi is enjoying life? What about Greta Thunberg? Alice Waters is another one of my sheroes; I’m pretty sure she is.
I crossed paths with Alice once, years ago, at an amazing Slow Food event in the mountains outside of Puebla, Mexico. Lots of mezcal and tequila, chocolate being stirred in a big vat, delicious food and, after dark, the spine-tingling surprise appearance of animal-costumed musician/priests making otherworldly music. It’s a nice memory.
For a few weeks I think I’ll jump on the gratitude bandwagon and write about it here. I’m grateful for the satisfaction it gives me to gather people together around a table, to connect people who enjoy each other, to share food and wine and conversation. I’m grateful when other people include me in their gatherings.
Our three-generation household means I am not often alone, but last week was different. We spent almost a week in Philadelphia. It was my first visit, and I explored the city while John attended conference meetings.
Chinatown, and me trying unsuccessfully to capture a pic of the woman selling vegetables on the streetI loved the dragons, two Korean and two ChineseCity Hall
We stayed first in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood and later in the historic district. Every day was sunny, but the tall buildings meant that I had to search out places to bask.
Rittenhouse Square
History, of course, was everywhere I went, including the history of public health, which fit with John’s purpose for being there.
An eternal truth, I guess…Christ Church Burial Ground, where Benjamin Franklin is buried
I visited some wonderful restaurants and a new-favorite museum (more on those later). I listened to some incredible jazz in a unique venue. I browsed a few stores. I slept late every day. My first visit to Philadelphia made me want to return, and I’m am grateful that I had the chance to go.
I started baking bread regularly about 15 years ago, during a time when much of my life seemed out of control and letting my mind wander while putting my hands to work with flour, water, salt and yeast was a great comfort. I suspect that’s been true for many women over many centuries.
Today, the whole world seems out of control.
I like simple breads. Flour, water, yeast, and salt. Sometimes I’ll add herbs or nuts or dried fruit, and quite often I’ll add oats or rye or some other grain. Mostly it’s white flour with a little whole wheat thrown in to make me feel virtuous.
After a summer hiatus, I’ve revived my sourdough starter. It’s still a little wimpy, so today’s bread had the benefit of some commercial yeast too. I let it rise in bannetons, baskets lined with flour-dusted kitchen towels. One round loaf baked in my old cast-iron Dutch oven, which belonged to my sister Martha. One long loaf straight onto the baking stone.
It’s a good thing no one in my family is gluten-averse, because baking bread is a joy for me and I can’t eat it all myself!
“Avoid those who don’t like bread and children.” (Swiss proverb)
My car was towed tonight. Actually not my car; I was driving Johanna’s car since she was driving mine. It was my own fault. I know better than to park in the Ferdo’s lot, even though it was empty and the Stubborn Brother lot was overflowing. I couldn’t miss the chance to celebrate with Sam Melden; his primary performance was outstanding.
Lindsey gave me a ride home and John drove me to the tow lot, where I paid $165 to retrieve the car I had parked not 2 hours earlier. Actually, since the tow truck drive/lot attendant didn’t have $5 in change he gave me a $20 so I only paid $150. I suspect that this is a rather loose operation.
Today was CSA pickup. My CSA bucket was in my car, which was in Akron with Jo, so I bundled the fruits and vegetable into an assortment of bags. It was also the night I picked up the 15 chickens (about 50 pounds) which we will enjoy throughout the winter. Fifty pounds of chickens is a lot to carry.
I am grateful for Sam’s willingness to serve. I am grateful to Lindsey for giving me a ride. I am grateful to be a customer of Shared Legacy Farms and to receive beautiful fruits and vegetables every week. I am grateful to Weber Ranch for pasture-raised chickens.
I am grateful that even after a surprise expenditure of $150 we will all sleep indoors tonight and no one will go hungry.
The last day of July. FB is reminding me that it’s Sue Wuest’s birthday. I’m sorry that she won’t be celebrating it with us. I lost Sue’s friendship long before she died, and it’s always painful to be reminded of the finality of that loss.
We have travel plans in August (lake house in Michigan) and in September (time share in the Berkshires). It’s looking like I may miss most of our our modest tomato crop and probably a couple of great CSA boxes. But in return I get a week with all my kids together and a pontoon boat on a nice little lake. I’ll take it. Traveling to western Massachusetts will take us through parts of New York State that hold great memories for us. Maybe we’ll even schedule a visit to Ithaca and lunch at Moosewood. With the (over) abundance of kale (from my CSA) and carrots (overenthusiastic Costco purchase) in my refrigerator, I’ve been turning to Moosewood lately for inspiration. Try their carrot salads!
Middle Eastern Carrot salad with mint. Dressed with lemon, oil, and maple syrup.
Last night I finished reading The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish. If you love history or if you love philosophy or if you just enjoy a good mystery, read this book!!! Especially if you like reading about strong women.
The bulk blueberry order I picked up last night is helping me think about the end of summer. I’ve put most of them in the freezer. But I haven’t given up yet. David Lebovitz’s recipe for blueberry cobbler is waiting for me this afternoon.
Blue berries on a pink plate
The warm sunny days have been great, but today’s clouds are motivating me to be out and about. I’m grateful for all the choices before me.
I used to look down on people who shopped through Amazon. I considered it unethical to spend money without trying to keep at least some of it close to home. That’s not an attitude I can afford to take any more. I still have localist leanings, but the pile of boxes in my entryway gives it away. I want things that aren’t available in local stores, and I like the convenience of tracking them down online. Isn’t it ironic, on Independence Day, to be so dependent on Jeff Bezos?
I’m still a localist, though, when it comes to food and my garden. My garden is not particularly colorful, but it is beautiful, and I gladly share it with the birds and the pollinators. No poisons, both for reasons of ethics and to protect myself and my family. Less gladly, I occasionally share with the deer. Ethics didn’t stop me from being grateful when the herd was culled. Along with occasional hired help, I maintain my garden and am eternally grateful to the guys who helped build it many years ago, Tom Schoen and Craig Wilkowski. When I spend time weeding, I know I’ll be achy and stiff for days, but sometimes I need to feel virtuous and hard-working.
My yard is too shady to grow vegetables, but my Shared Legacy Farms CSA provides seasonal organic ingredients. We eat a lot of meat free meals and I buy responsibly raised meats. I cultivate a range of herbs that make it into most meals. This year I’m particularly enjoying chervil. There’s milkweed for the monarchs, and the birds love perching in the fig tree.
“Ethics is nothing else than reverence for life.” Albert Schweitzer
As an American, I am ashamed of my country, but I am trying to be an ethical individual.
