I moved from Los Angeles to Burlington, Vermont when I was eighteen years old. I decided, with all of my eighteen years of wisdom, that I didn’t want to rush off to college, and that instead… I would rush off to scoop ice cream for Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream in Vermont.
Brilliant!
From my bedroom, safe within the walls of my parents’ house, I was so certain of so many things. I would sit on my bed at night and pat myself on the back for the courage innate in my decision to move across the country. I felt bold and sure. It’s so easy to be bold and sure when you’re parents are sitting in the next room.
I packed my bags, boarded a plane to New Hampshire, boarded a bus to Vermont, put my feet on the ground and proceeded to f.r.e.a.k o.u.t. My parents weren’t in the next room. I wasn’t surrounded by a binding support system. What do you mean I have to pay my own light bills!? This is thoroughly confusing and 100% terrifying.
Shortly after landing in Vermont, my trusty eighteen years of experience quickly began to falter. Obviously.
A new friend was kind enough to let me stay in her small and charming Burlington apartment while she stayed with her girlfriend. She gave me a key, a tour of her collection of Dave Matthews and Ella Fitzgerald CDs and I closed the door on the big scary world I felt totally ill-prepared for.
Over the course of a week in my new surroundings I didn’t leave the house. Not once. Nope! Are you kidding? Outside was filled with strangers! Instead of exploring, I ate every last bit of food my host had in her cabinets. She had just gone apple picking, I remember. If she was hoping to make apple sauce upon her return, she was sore out of luck.
I ate a lot of apples. I took a lot of baths. I listened to waaaay too much Dave Matthews Band. I searched for that bravery I had previously been so proud of.
I found that courage eventually… mostly because I had only eaten apples for a week and I needed a sandwich. Hunger drove me out. Stepping off the porch and into the streets of Burlington felt big. Like I was alone in a thing and I had to learn how to make it work… and also manage figure out how to learn some things and have some fun.
With the thirty-two years of experience I have now, stepping out of the door in a new place isn’t as hard. It’s mostly dang exciting. Thank goodness years come with little bits of wisdom.
Still though… a few days ago I found myself hibernating here in New Orleans. For a few moments I could feel the strangeness of the ground below my feet. I understand that feeling now and try to make it more energizing than frightening.
All of this is to say that, in the strangeness… when I was trying to find my courage over my fear, I reached for a jar and stirred two things together. Sometimes the small things help to distract the mind.
Megan Gordon has some wonderfully simple instructions for infused honey in her new book Whole Grain Mornings. I reached for a vanilla bean and a jar of honey and this is the culmination of those efforts.
Small and big. It’s all allowed.
This honey is equal parts simple and decadent. I used a thick raw honey, warmed it just slightly and stirred in vanilla bean seeds. This honey is supreme is black breakfast tea or afternoon coffee. I also plan of spreading it onto peanut butter slathered toast.
Here we are and here we go!
Vanilla Honey
makes 1 cup
1 cup honey
1 vanilla bean, split
Place honey in a small saucepan over very low heat.
Split a vanilla bean lengthwise down the center and scrape out the seeds. Place the seeds into the warming honey and stir to incorporate.
Use the vanilla bean pod for Homemade Vanilla Extract or just toss it into your sugar jar for extra special sugar.
Allow the honey to warm slightly, but not boil. We just want to warm it to thoroughly incorporate and help bring out the flavors of the vanilla. Remove from heat and transfer to a small jar with a tight-fitting lid. Use in your morning coffee or afternoon tea.
Carlinne @Cook with 2 Chicks
Yum! It’s amazing how cooking (or even just stirring) can ground us and make everything okay.
Stephanie
Hi Joy! Thank you for sharing your journey. While I haven’t completely moved away, my husband and I are spending 3 months in England for his work. It’s scary and hard in a lot of ways, but I have appreciated many of the things you’ve said lately. You’re much better at putting feelings into words than I am. This time has been good for me, though, as I grow in new ways, and learn to rely on the Lord in new ways. Your blog is such an encouragement to me. You inspire me in so many ways. Thank you for being a blessing!
Chrissy
Go to CC’s Community Coffee on Magazine Street in the Garden district. Order an iced tea, sit in the courtyard, watch people walk by and I assure you that you will feel right at home.
Chelsea
of course, as usual, i love many things about this post. but i have to say: i think what i love most is the lighting and that table! so lovely and bright and worn and homey-good.
Kristin | The Dinner Concierge
Joy, I am a regular follower of your blog but have never left a comment. This post struck a chord…my 18 year old daughter is getting ready to graduate HS in a couple of months and then both she and her horse move from our home in San Francisco to the “outer banks” of Philadelphia, PA where she will compete and travel with her horse for a {gap} year before attending college in Philadelphia the following year. Many years ago that girl was me, plopped down in France {and I couldn’t speak French}…talk about hibernation! In that year, among many other lessons, I learned to speak fluent French and became a “European” driver. Scary as it seems, it is amazing what you can do/learn when all of your senses are submerged in the unfamiliar. KUDOS to you for heading into unchartered waters…as the saying goes: “A ship at harbor is safe…but that is not what ships are for.” I have introduced you to my daughter and I believe you may have a new young follower.
joythebaker
this comment means so much to me, Kristin! it’s a big world we have to go and see. best of luck to your daughter! i’ll be thinking of you all! xo!
pamelaprussel
Hurray for you in being so brave once again. We just moved from CA to TX and although unsettling it’s also exciting, which I why I bet you ventured out once again. Time is a big healer. And no better place to be welcomed than the friendly south. Can’t wait to try out this recipe knowing that it’s helped someone else feel at home in a new place.
Dine X Design
It makes me so happy to see you using that little wooden spoon. Hugs from Los Angeles Friend xo
joythebaker
love this little gem! thank you my friend!
Rebecca
Yum! Making tea now, but not before I make this honey! Love hearing of your travels!
sundiegoeats
That honey would be so good on granola with apricots (love honey and apricots for whatever reason) and on plain yogurt…and on vanilla ice cream! Have never used raw honey but it looks more ‘sugar crystal-y’ than regular honey? Or is it just more opaque?
julkooi
it’s so cool that you moved to new orleans. i have been itching to make a bold move some place completely new and your courage is inspiring.
JNJxn
hey joy!! the south is a fabulous place to need to rub elbows with strangers. :) everyone loves to help one another out–especially to acclimate newcomers. stay strong and breathe. i have found your banana bourbon chocolate chip bread to work wonders. ha!! i live not too far away from new orleans and look forward to some southern book signings and the like! psalms 24:1
Magda
I only peek your life through your blog. It shouldn’t really matter that much if you are in New Orlean or Los Angeles, but just by looking at photos I can feel strangeness. The view, the light, the table, it’s all different. I’m excited for you, moving out is addicting. I hate packing, I love making places my own. I can’t wait to hear more about New Orlean. Enjoy and I hope your cat is well, I know changes can freak them out more than us.
Judith herring
You are the reason to make me smile when I need it
bakerkat
It’s always difficult to move someplace new. I can understand staying inside your new home for a bit. I think it’s the beginning of feeling your home and safe.
I like the idea of vanilla honey I will have to try it.
Good Luck in your new place may you eventually feel Blessed to live there,
Baily hollen
I can totally relate. I was 18 years old and moved 1200 miles away from my parents, friends, and everything I ever knew to go to college and record a music project. I really went into hibernation mode for a while after I moved to Washington. It took me forcing myself out into the world (which is very unlike me), and numerous coffee houses, to meet some amazing people and build friendships that I will have forever. I just wanted to stay inside and eat cereal but knew I couldn’t do that forever. Eventually I had to go buy groceries! :) Thank you for this post and the vanilla honey looks so delicious!