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Notes From The Road

March 9, 2014 by Joy the Baker 114 Comments

notes from the road

Thank you for bearing with me last week as I trekked from Los Angeles to New Orleans in a little Corolla with a very large orange cat.  I sure did see a lot of road and sky!  Palm Springs has the windmill game on lock.  Arizona surprised me with its dreaminess.  New Mexico has the biggest sky.  Texas made me lonesome for… something, I’m not sure what.  Louisiana was swampy and mysterious.  It’s strange, but even after a month of packing, driving across the country felt more like a road trip that a permanent move.  It’s funny how home became so connected with my little Venice bungalow.  I think it will take a lot of days to undo that.

Tron Cat fared remarkably well on the 30 hour road trip.  For as much of a beast as he is when I’m in the kitchen, he was surprisingly compliant and docile in his crate in the passenger seat of my car.  He only had a few freak-outs… but to be fair, I had a few mid-trip freak-outs myself.   It’s nothing a few cat treats and sour gummy candies can’t soothe.

On the road I filled my ears with The Moth Podcast (really beautiful, real storytelling),  NPR’s Fresh Air (I LOVE this recent episode with American Hustle’s David O. Russell), and 99% Invisible (I listened to every episode they made because it’s fascinating and obscure bits of pop culture).  Turns out I also know every single word to Fiona Apple’s “When The Pawn…”, so there’s that.

the quarter

Out of the car and into the French Quarter in three days!  Just like that!

living and dining room coming together

I’m slowly setting up shop here.  Unpacking is so much better than packing packing.

bike in nola

There’s a sunny spot for the bike.

spice drawer in nola

There’s a tidy spot for all of the spices.

I’d love to show you more of my kitchen but I’m still trying to figure things out.  There’s not a ton of storage and I’m going to have to do some serious tetris to figure it out.  This apartment is beautiful, but it’s not one of those perfect places that has a kitchen spot for each and every item.  Do those perfect places exist or is it just a thing on Pinterest?  Imperfection has its charm.

So far the spice drawer is the only reasonable zone, and that may even be changed.  I promise to show more as I figure the space out.

I’ll probably just invite you over to make biscuits… so, let’s just do that.

we need a cocktail in nola

Count on me to always find a way to make a cocktail even when the kitchen isn’t entirely unpacked.

through the window in nola

Outside of the front gates are more street musicians, cocktails, and crawfish that I can currently comprehend.  This lady was singing as I walked up with bags of groceries.  I suppose this might be a new normal.  I’ll share all of it with you.  It feels like we have time, right?

banana bread at home

What I’m really trying to figure out is how to make this kitchen feel like home.  Right now it feels like I’m baking in a stranger’s kitchen, but I’m sure that will change with time.

I wanted to make something that would fill my foreign kitchen with familiar smells.  Banana Bread!  So simple and comforting.  I’ll share the recipe with you tomorrow.

I feel like we’re in this together and I appreciate you!  Thank you for all of your kind words of encouragement and support!

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Filed Under: Beyond the Kitchen, New Orleans

Previous Post: « Ode To A Kitchen
Next Post: Brown Butter Banana Bread »

Reader Interactions

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  1. Rita

    April 14, 2014 at 12:52 pm

    can i come over? like seriously

    Reply
  2. Lauren

    March 22, 2014 at 7:21 am

    Welcome home!

    Reply
  3. Aqiyl Aniys | Natural Life Energy

    March 16, 2014 at 9:31 am

    Congratulations on your move and I am glad you had a safe trip. I drove from NY to Florida and that was long but not as long as yours. Peace and Blessings be with you.

    Reply
  4. chouchou

    March 16, 2014 at 6:41 am

    Sounds so excitingly new!! Can’t wait to see more! Lots of love <3

    Reply
  5. Lucy

    March 14, 2014 at 8:22 am

    So happy to hear you made it safely and are settling in. Your writing style is so inviting that I feel very excited and anxious for you as you go on this journey…just as I would for a close friend! As a cat owner myself, I was glad to hear your dear cat made the trip ok. Thanks for including us all in this fun experience!

    Reply
  6. paintgurl40

    March 13, 2014 at 12:11 pm

    Hi Joy, so excited that you made a big move from California to New Orleans! I wanted to live in New Orleans at one time (when I was 20). There was something so spooky/sexy/casual/elegant about the city that I couldn’t really put my finger on. Five years ago I made a decision to move back home to IL from AZ. With a hubby,a dog and cat in tow. I wish you THE BEST OF LUCK and I can’t wait to see upcoming posts you will have for us.

    Reply
  7. Emily @ Life on Food

    March 12, 2014 at 6:00 pm

    Glad you found your way home.

    Reply
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