Hello friends!
It’s been an emotional and exciting week and, don’t worry, I’ve eaten plenty of cookies and french fries about all of it. I’ve also gone in on comfort food like Apricot Chicken with couscous – which, if you’re looking for dinner this week, is a very good idea.
I’ve been working hard in my yoga teacher training and truly it feels like opening a box of infinity. There’s so much to learn and so many paths to take. It’s exciting and deeply overwhelming, and here I am also tryna put together an awesome playlist.
Tron (that’s my cat) and I have been talking about adopting a dog friend, and lemme tell you – that’s an emotional experience because you can adopt one, but not all 12 that you meet. Navigating… we’re navigating all of it.
I hope your week has been steady. Is it time to wear sweaters yet? Are we close? I know… I know… we’re not.
Here’s the offering this week. I’m very grateful you’re here!
• Critical: Journalists Are Not The Enemy – as more than 300 new publications band together to defend… oh just things we’ve taken for granted like a free press and democracy. (Boston Globe)
• “A profound reflection of her time.” Let those words absorb. Aretha Franklin: a legacy in music. (The New Yorker). But I think this piece on Aretha Franklin gives us a better understanding: musical genius, truth teller, freedom fighter (The Nation).
• Just a quick trip into the world of intergender wrestling and an argument for women and men fighting for equality… literally… but as entertainment: Equal Fights Movement. (ESPN)
• How do we feel about this? The End of ‘Ladies First’ Restaurant Service. (Eater)
• This podcast tickles my brain: Everything Is Alive “Who you are when you’re falling asleep, that’s who you really are.” Deep thoughts from a pillow. (Everything Is Alive)
• When Relationships Can’t Possibly Live Up to the Meet-Cute. I would argue there’s still a case for those little thrills of spark and romance, but maybe without all the expectation.
• Here’s the new card game we’re playing! Nasty Woman Card Game. (Shrill Society)
• I absolutely love this cognac leather bag from Everlane.
• I’ve had this song from Kacey Musgraves on repeat this week: Love Is A Wild Thing. (Spotify)
• A case for making Carrot Bread the new Banana Bread. Obviously browned butter is the key. (Joy the Baker)
• Me at The Container Store: I very probably need this very cute basket for something… I better buy fourteen of them.
I’m thankful for you. Enjoy today!
xo Joy
Nicole
Joy – did you end up with the leather bag? I keep thinking about it…
Kat O
We JUST adopted a dog, with our cat! (Well, technically we’re starting as fosters, which is a nice way to see if they’ll be a good fit together.) It’s been a lifestyle change for me, a devout Cat Person, but she’s so great (and our cat knows she’s still my #1 :) Good luck if you decide to do it!
Sara
I really enjoyed the ‘ladies first’ restaurant service article. As a female engineer, I am often at restaurants with groups of men and I HATE when the waiter says “ladies first!” or everyone stares at me expecting me to order first. Sometimes I act like I don’t notice and keep looking at the menu in hopes that they’ll realize I don’t expect to order first. I spend all day establishing myself as a competent engineer to my mostly white male coworkers and clients who are historically used to working with people that look like them. This behavior at restaurants just reaffirms that I should be treated differently and I don’t need that creeping into meetings where I am voicing my ideas and opinions.
Cassie Sue
When my sister was about to get a second dog, she was able to bring her current dog Dee to the shelter for a meet and greet. She basically told everyone Dee was picking out her dog, lol. They went through 5 dogs before they found the right match, but it made the transition easier and they love their new buddy. I’m curious if you could do the same thing with Tron. The shelter we went to was fantastic and judged the animals through a glass door before it was face to face (one was a no before he walked into the room), and no one rushed anything. It was a long process, but I believe it helped make the overall experience better.
Tash
I did the same when I got a kitten years ago. The dog and I went to the shelter and sat on the floor in the cat area. They opened a number of the kennel doors and the kitten who was brave enough to come over to be pet and who held his own when the dog came to investigate came home with us! It worked out well and they were good mates. about a year later the dog died and it was clear that both the cat and I were mourning the loss. Eventually I got a new pooch, a rescue who was in pretty dire straits. His relationship with the cat took some time to negotiate and resulted in a few scars on the poor dog’s nose (and a few bloody trails down the hallway walls!). However, they eventually forged a relationship and after some months the cats favourite place to sleep with tucked between the dog and the back of the sofa. The recomendation of the trainer I worked with was to make sure the cat had a place he can escape to that the dog can not get at (I put a baby gate across the door of one room, the cat could jump over but the dog could not) and reward both animals for sociable behavior.
Cassandra Sanchez
That’s great advice! I’m sorry for your loss, but it sounds like at least you both had each other in your trying time, and eventually a new buddy in your lives.
Shellie Andrews
My week has been a roller coaster. On August 10, our small city(60,000 people) was shattered by a shooting that took the life of 4 people including 2 police officers. The regimental funeral for the officers was held this past Saturday and though closed to the public, we lined the streets to watch the parade of officers from across Canada marching to the arena where the funerals were held. I feel like Sunday was a breath of fresh air for our city after a week of holding it all in.
On the up side, my dad sold his childhood home, which is a huge relief for all of us.
On the topic of cats and dogs, we inherited our grandfather’s 11-year old dog after he moved into a senior’s facility. We already had three cats and though one of them did not love the dog, one is her best friend and one tolerates her. Just a warning, having a dog completely changes your life. It’s a bigger commitment than I remember as a child.
Have a great week!
Blair
I really enjoy your Sunday posts and have followed them for years. Thank you for all the work you put into them. Unfortunatelty, I have to agree with the previous comment as well regarding the vagus nerve article you refer to above. As a medical physician I just want to say, the article’s comments on vaccines causing autism via their impact on the vagus nerve is not supported by any reliable scientific research.
Susan
Amen to this! I know that science indicates a strong genetic link, and I have truly come to believe this. I have two nephews who are on the spectrum. The interesting thing is that after my mom passed away, we started noticing all the traits my father had. We now believe she was his “bridge” and helped him with the quirks of his form.
Betty
Okay, just made the best browned butter cc cookies. They are delicious and got a two thumbs up from my husband! Will definitely make again. Thanks Joy!!!
Tracy
I look forward to reading Let It Be Sunday every week, and it truly never disappoints. Thank you for sharing and introducing me to so many great things. I just downloaded all the episodes of Everything is Alive. Thanks Joy, and good luck with the dog adoption, hope it doesn’t piss Tron off too badly.
nancy k
Wishing you luck in your quest to add a dog member to your family. Tron has been your one and only for quite a while and I imagine getting him to “agree” to a dog would not be the easiest task. I friend of my stopped by this week to introduce me to her new pup…an adorable fluff ball 8 week old Australian Shepard. My cat, Ivy, cautiously made her way to the sunroom where we were hanging out. As soon as she got close enough to see that Bayley was a creature like nothing she had seen before, she hightailed it
back to the other side of the house and out of sight faster than I have seen her move in years!
Thanks for another wonderful Sunday read, Joy.
Liz
There is a “The Container Store” in NO, where?
Any chance there is a “Pot Belly Pig” sandwich shop connected to it?
Both are native to MN.
Laura Weismann
pearliegirl@sbcglobal.net
Being a lover of animals especially cats many of my friends have gotten dogs and it does change their cats personalities for the worse so be careful !!
Also I did yoga for the first time on Saturday and I don’t know popular again I felt so horrible about how I did :(
Ruth
Joy! I love Let it Be Sunday’s with your links and thoughtful choices. It’s my favorite way to start quiet Sunday mornings. The vagus article though! The vagus nerve is cool and powerful yes, but this article is terrible and full of utterly nonscientific ideas (including casually perpetuating a link between vaccines and autism omg!). And really I think deep breathing and yoga and positive relationships are all great ideas. But this source is not a good one. ? — A doctor who adores you and yoga
joythebaker
Well I’m really glad to know that!
Kelly
Best of luck with your dog adoption quest! I cannot even walk by adoption events without growing teary and wanting to put them all in my car – sadly, we only have room for the one (adopted) dog we have. But it’s a wonderful thing and hope it works out for you and Tron!
Claire, UK
The vagus nerve is a fascinating subject indeed, but I strongly urge you to get medical/physiological information from a reliable source. The article you link to attempts to dazzle with science but then throws in a huge amount of misinformation and woo. If you are going to become a yoga instructor, I think you have an ethical obligation to ensure any information you may pass on to clients is actually accurate and not just assume that what you’ve been told by your own (no doubt well-meaning) instructors is actually the truth.
On another subject, how on earth did I miss that carrot loaf when you first posted it? It looks amazing!!
Lisa
A bump to Claire’s yoga note. My lovely yoga teacher during our teacher training helped us sort through yoga “myth” and science. She was calm about, added some context, and pointed us to strong sources. Super helpful.