Good morning, friends!
Welcome here! It’s the first weekend of May, my favorite month of the year (which probably has something to do with the fact that it’s my birthday month)!
I’ve always loved this weekend. When I lived in Los Angeles my girlfriends and I would throw a notoriously epic Kentucky Derby party. Since being in New Orleans, we head to Jazz Fest and dance in the streets this weekend. It’s ok that this year all of that has been stripped away. The sun will be shining here and I’ll be on my back deck staring at the sky through the trees with Jazz Fest radio on in the background.
I hope you’re staying well. I hope you’re able to take the time you need to make space in your brain for all this newness. We’re still in it, baby!
The offering this week is below. As always, take only what you need:
• Round here, we love a list. 68 Bits of Unsolicited Advice from Wired co-founder Kevin Kelly. Stay tuned for my 39 Bits of Unsolicited Advice as my birthday is coming up, lol. (KK.org)
• I’m ok. You’re ok. And we’re all absolutely crying just a little: New Orleans Musicians Perform Socially Distanced Funeral Song. (YouTube)
• A valuable conversation with Lucinda Williams. (The Guardian)
• One of my favorite Lucinda Williams songs: World Without Tears “If we lived in a world without tears / How would broken find the bones?” (Spotify)
• The Kind of Mother I’d Be. (The Cut)
• I’m easy to get teary-eyed these days and this one got me: They got married in the middle of the friendliest street in town. (MSN)
• Have you tried Audible Sleep? They have free downloads that are fantastic! (Audible)
• I mentioned this loaf cake on Instagram but it’s worth reminding you here that Brown Butter Carrot Loaf Cake is a very fine alternative to banana bread. I want you on it!
• Welp… now I definitely have to try Rice Cooker Bread. (Food52)
• Tissue Paper Tie Die has sent me digging through my closet for silks. (HonestlyWTF)
• We’re baking again with Bakehouse Live! This Mother’s Day weekend we’re making Raspberry Rose Cream Puffs! Join us? (Eventbrite)
• Pyne and Smith makes the most beautiful, functional, comfortable, everyday dresses I’ve ever come across. I have three and they’re basically my uniform. We’re hosting a little giveaway on Instagram but I can also vouch for the fact that these dresses last forever and are 1000% worth the splurge to purchase.
That’s where we’re at today. Enjoy this fine Sunday.
My love to you!
xo Joy
40 Responses
I’ve loved your recipes in “Homemade Decadence” since my mom gifted me your book last winter for my birthday. Now I love you even more for sporting the truly incredible Pyne & Smith bon bon dress. My two loved colliding in one place!!!
It’s my birthday month too! Thank you for another great blog post!
Hi Joy,
Getting ready to make my version of your trail-mix cookies (so good !). Glad all is well in New Orleans. Had to say that Lucinda Williams is one of my favorite song writers.
Take care and our best to your family.
Happy Birthday Month! May has always been a favorite of mine because I love the light cycle, I love the increasingly warm weather, It is the gateway to summer, and I love the holidays in this month. Enjoy.
Hi Joy! I’m a college student who’s been reading your blog since middle school (oy vey) and was happily surprised to see the link to the middle-of-the-street wedding on Walter St in DC. That’s the street I grew up on, and while I don’t live there anymore, it’ll always have a small piece of my heart. :’)
Oh my gosh that brought a tear to my eye – the world feels so small sometimes!
In your blog, when you write in RED – the “Y” does not show completely.
Looks like an old timey typewriter with a dirty letter. ENJOY your work !
I don’t know why that happens, Penny. But thank you!
After a couple months being the strong one, this weekend I had my first HUGE breakdown. I bet that is because I enjoy so much this time of the year and I cannot have anything from it.
I’ve been reading your blog for a number of years now, and whenever I tell my husband “this is a joy the Baker recipe,” he gets pumped. So it was super fun to “see” you on the muffin/scone zoom class, which incidentally were some of the best I’ve ever made, ha! I even convinced (very easily) my mom in MS to participate too. My favorite part was that it wasn’t weird at all (you know how it can sometimes be weird to hear/see someone talk after reading their writing for so long). We both loved it so much that my mom gave me your cream puff class as a mother’s day gift. Now I can’t wait for Saturday!
I’m planning a surprise toast for my friends getting married in city hall this Weds (In Oslo, Norway). They can only have their Norwegian sponsor and a witness inside so a few of us will be in small groups of 2-3 outside with tables with cake and champagne outside. Now I’m definitely bringing my sidewalk chalk too…
Also the I’ll Fly Away video made me sob and the 68 things was awesome.
That is so so sweet Erica! A big CHEERS to your friends from me!
I made your carrot cake yesterday and every step of it was a comfort—assembling the ingredients (I especially appreciated the excuse to break out the nutmeg & its teensy grater), the smell while it was baking, and the look of bliss on my 14-year-old son’s face when he took the first bite. If you know any 14 year olds, you know looks of bliss are few & far between. Thank you for a lovely afternoon.
Happy Birthday Month!! ?
We made the peanut butter bread in last week’s email and it was Delish.
Hoping to get to NOLA someday and maybe we’ll meet face-to-face. Meantime, I am happy to read and follow.
Thank you Joy
Elle
Oh I’m so glad you made the peanut butter bread! I need to bake it up this week! Hope you’re well Elle – I’ll see you in New Orleans one of these fine days.
Hi….you are the spitting image of your mom….but you look so much like your dad in today’s post. The way your head is lifted up…and your expression…just like your dads expression in the Your parents anniversary photo ?
That’s too funny and such a compliment Dee!
Thanks for another great Sunday morning post. Want to try the carrot cake bread… definitely my jam.
Happy Birthday month – it is mine too. Love May means we may start to see good weather here in New England. Did miss not having the KY Derby but it is one of the many things missing right now. Thanks for keeping our spirits up!
Happy Birthday month to you too, Jill!
Sitting here with coffee, cookies & tears in my eyes on the WASH POST story. My son & his fiancé just made the decision to do their ceremony virtually as so many of their guests can’t travel yet from all around the world. They just moved to a new home and have no family or friends yet in their community & both sets of us parents can’t travel. Luckily there are many going thru this sad moment and are supporting each other in social media groups. I hope & pray that my lovely future daughter gets to experience some of this happiness on her special day!
Oh Theresa. Gosh it’s all so much, isn’t it? My love and congratulations go out to your son and daughter in law. We’ll all catch up on our celebrations one day soon, I know it.
Happy Birth…month? I don’t know your birthdate, so you get the whole month! My birthday was yesterday, and while the celebration wasn’t the same, it was still wonderful! I Zoomed with my family, had an outstanding meal and my wife made my favorite pie, lemon cream. The weather in upstate NY was superb.
Reading you on Sunday’s is the tonic this world needs. Stay beautiful, strong and safe.
Happy Birthday Adam! Thanks for all your kindness!
Hi Joy, hope your birthday month finds you healthy, safe and happy. I particularly liked the article, “68 Bits of Unsolicited Advice;” so many gems to share with my daughter and a few to ponder for myself. Thanks for the weekend’s uplift, it really sets the tone for the week ahead. Be well.
I’m so happy you’re here, Stella. I appreciate you.
Your “Let it be Sunday” is part of my weekend routine so thank you for the wonderful read week after week. I love this week’s photo of your kitchen. Would you happen to know the paint colour of your walls? The whole look is so refreshing.
Gosh I’m sorry Isabelle. I don’t know the paint color name.
Please, please continue your unsolicited birthday advice posts. I go back to read them every year for my birthday and they always help me reflect.
Hahaha! You’ve been here a long time Erica!
I admit New Orleans is not my favorite city. But seeing the empty streets, Cafe Du Monde empty, it really made me cry, Thank you to the musicians who brought music back to New Orleans streets, even if only for a few moments
It really is touching no matter how you feel about the city.
Oh my gosh, I read the wedding story earlier this week via a Washington Post story. It made me so happy and a bit envious of the wonderful neighborhood. I live on a fairy busy street but nonetheless, there is a small cluster of homes/residents that have become a close little “neighborhood” all of our own over the years. We check on each other, share recipes and food creations, care for each others pets …and sometimes kids, run errands and just share special friendships.There is a certain comfort that comes from knowing that those around you will be there if needed.
I love your Sunday post. Thanks for sharing with us!
May is my birthday month, too! Loved your offerings today, thanks for Let it Be Sunday, I look forward to it all week
Tissue paper tie dye is so much fun to do (and easy)! FYI, if you don’t find any silk pieces at home, Dharma Trading Co. (dharmatrading.com) is a good resource.
BRB going down this rabbit hole forever. Thanks Suzonne!
It’s my birthday month, too! Actually, we are birthday siblings as my birthday is the 25th as well :) Are those the new Everlane clogs that you are sporting?? I am so curious to know what people think of them. I’m hoping to jump into the clog-sphere and there are too many options. Thoughts?
Birthday twins! And yes, they’re the everlane clogs. They need a little breaking in but I really love them!
May is also my favorite month and my birthday month too. I love the 68 Bits of Unsolicited Advice, it’s a keeper. Happy birthday!
That kitchen ????????
Those question marks were supposed to be hearts. I’m in love with your kitchen!