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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 »

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  1. Vicky

    March 12, 2014 at 6:52 am

    lovely pics! I love travel too! I invite you to stop on my new blog https://www.traindevie.com.ar/
    kisses from Argentina!

    Reply
  2. Carlinne @Cook with 2 Chicks

    March 12, 2014 at 6:21 am

    Welcome to your new home!

    Reply
  3. TaylorMay

    March 11, 2014 at 9:02 pm

    How crazy!! crazy good and just crazy. I know exactly what you mean about it feeling like a road trip.. when I moved from NY to Seattle the road trip was fun and insane in my head.. just seemed like dreaminess and the occasional lostness.. and then you’re there.
    Congrats on your move. So psyched to see more and learn much about your new soon to feel home.

    Reply
  4. Naomi Hattaway

    March 11, 2014 at 8:55 pm

    Lurker, first time commenter. You said “I suppose we have time right” in reference to you sharing about your new digs. Don’t wait too long, because it can quickly become your new normal and normalcy forgets to share the cool, quirky stuff. Love that you’re living there!

    Reply
  5. Melanie

    March 11, 2014 at 8:30 pm

    Looking forward to your adventures in your new city Joy! Your big move is seriously inspiring me take the plunge. Would love to read more about how you summoned up the courage!

    Reply
  6. Xochi Navarro

    March 11, 2014 at 5:55 pm

    The apartment looks great so far! Is it weird I’m scared and excited for you? You can do it Joy!!

    Reply
  7. Molly Staggs

    March 11, 2014 at 3:17 pm

    I love your blog, Joy, and I’m glad you made it safely to your new home. Welcome to the eastern side of the U.S! I also enjoying reading about and seeing pics of your sweet kitty, not to mention all the yummy food you cook/bake. Your cookbook is one of my absolute favorites and I can hardly wait for the new one!!

    Reply
  8. pagefiftyfive

    March 11, 2014 at 9:27 am

    Your new adventure sounds amazing! I’ve made a few big moves, and truthfully, it makes me feel brave. I hope you feel it too!

    Reply
  9. Taylor

    March 11, 2014 at 8:15 am

    I’m so happy for you! How exciting! I’m also thoroughly impressed with your kitty cat. My cats can’t even make the 15 minute trip to vet without having a mild heart attack, let alone a three day one! I must meet this cat that isn’t terrified of car rides!

    Also, the house looks absolutely beautiful!

    xoxo
    Taylor

    http://www.welcomehometaylor.com

    Reply
  10. Liss

    March 10, 2014 at 11:14 pm

    Love the new Casa Di Joy! Even more so now that I see you and I have the exact same dining furniture! I hope I can fill my dining table with as many goodies as yours :) from the other end of the globe in Melbourne AUS x good luck with this exciting new chapter!

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      March 11, 2014 at 7:18 am

      love!!

      Reply
  11. Renee

    March 10, 2014 at 9:07 pm

    So glad you both arrived safe and sound. Can’t wait to hear about this new adventure, Joy. It’s gonna be awesome :)

    Reply
  12. Catherine

    March 10, 2014 at 8:42 pm

    Joy, I think perfect organization is a myth! Also, saw the creole seasoning in your drawer and my suggestion is that you try slap ya mama seasoning. If you try it let me know what you think. And enjoy your new home…

    Reply
  13. Seppy's Montreal

    March 10, 2014 at 8:15 pm

    Glad you made it in one piece!!!!!!!! Good luck settling in, it’ll feel like home in no time! And I just posted a blog post about Banana bread too!! But..not my recipe unfortunately. Working on developing recipes!

    http://www.seppysmontreal.com

    Reply
  14. Joan O.

    March 10, 2014 at 7:06 pm

    Welcome to your new home Joy. I’m looking forward to seeing what goodies you make and share with us in your new kitchen. I know they’re gonna be good.

    Reply
  15. lee

    March 10, 2014 at 6:57 pm

    I am infinitely jealous of this new experience you’re having. New Orleans is definitely a city I can’t get enough of…so I’m looking forward to living vicariously through your adventures. (Maybe there could even be a club of all the people telling you that…)

    In the meantime, I’ll relate to your story of learning to cook in a new kitchen. Reading your Ode to a Kitchen made me realize how much I miss my own previous kitchen, where I spent five years really settling into my liking of cooking and baking. The place I’ve lived for the past month just doesn’t do it justice.

    All the best as you settle in!

    Reply
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