Hello friends, good morning to you! It’s the 290th Let It Be Sunday post. That’s plenty right? Let’s keep it moving.
I had the best intentions of writing you a breakfast recipe this week but time just slipped through my hands. I spend much of the week preparing for the first Virtual BakeAway class. More than fifty of us made apple pies together yesterday morning and it was a major success. I say that with humility.
I had a truly wild thought trot across my brain this week and it was this: holiday gifts. Can we handle it? Is there space for it in our brains? I’m thinking of making holiday care package gifts for my friends who I won’t be able to see this holiday season. Little packages with something handmade like clay pressed leaves from Camp Joy, something yummy like jars of Ground Up Nut Butter, and… I’m not sure what else but my wheels are turning.
Let’s take a deep breath and find our steadiness as we dive into this week’s links. Take only what you need today. Remember that we already have everything we need within us to show care and compassion to one another. We have the power.
• I have faith in our democracy because WE are our democracy. We can’t pin all of the ideals of this nation on the few among us who are doing the heavy lifting. It’s all of our responsibility to make a safe and just place for one another. Barack Obama on the late Justice Ginsburg. (Medium)
• Here’s an important state by state breakdown on How To Vote In The 2020 Election. Democracy, friends. Flex on it! (FiveThirtyEight)
• Listen: Redemption Day (Spotify)
• Let It Be Sunday this week last year + this week two years ago. (Joy the Baker)
• Priya Krishna on How To Save Restaurants. (Indiebound and The New York Times)
• I’ve been watching the Netflix show Away. It’s about a set of international astronauts trying to land and create life on Mars. I LOVE movies about space. It’s humankind at its most vulnerable, most curious, most ambitious, and hopeful. It’s our biglittle brains thinking we can be more than our life on earth and that is absolutely terrifying and so beautiful somehow. (YouTube)
• I can’t talk about space without mentioning my favorite podcast episode of all time: Space on RadioLab. Also did you see there’s a documentary on Netflix about The Challenger? The preview alone left with with tears streaming down my face but I’ll steady my heart to watch it soon. (WNYC and The Ringer)
• I Don’t Want Kids But The Pandemic Has Made Me Miss Them A Lot. Gosh I really miss my friends’ kids, too. FYI I’m a REALLY good Auntie Joy. (Buzzfeed)
• Is she powerwashing the side of her house this weekend? She sure did borrow a power washer and will she fire up some YouTube videos about it? Yes, correct. This is what it’s like to be a single and capable homeowner OOOOKKKKK? (Hahahha no link, just me telling you what’s up.)
• If the question is, are you ready for cashmere? I’m waving my hand in the air as a big fat yes. (Everlane)
• I’ve taken to listening to old Sheryl Crow albums during in this portion of the pandemic and her Tiny Desk Concert is what we all need right now. (Spotify and YouTube)
Take good care today.
My love to you!
xo Joy
Alison
Coming to this late on Sunday and laughing at your power washing comment as I spent several hours earlier today power washing a particularly grimy side of my house. :) Feeling grateful for neighbors being extra kind during the pandemic as I borrowed a power washer from the ones next door to get the job done. I like to think that they also now have the joy of looking at a fresh house versus the sad state it was in prior to today!
Angela D.
Hi Joy!
Long time first time- I too enjoyed AWAY on Netflix- each person’s story was so unexpected and piercing. Love shows and movies about space exploration.
Have you seen THE FIRST on Hulu? There is only one season- but every episode is so good. Really beautiful show about the first attempt to send a manned Mars mission.
Thanks for the great links this week- as always.
Malia
The Everlane model is EVERYTHING!
Ellen W
Away is such a contemplative, melancholy show that I enjoyed more than expected. A few weeks ago our family power washed our driveway which was a more intensive endeavor than expected. Once my husband tied a rag around the handle to keep it perpetually “on” it was easier going.
nancy k
Joy..I was a few years older than you when I purchased a “fixer upper” bungalow in which I saw great potential. I had made a killing on a condo I bought for super cheap and sold 6 years later for close to a $1000,000 profit. I rememeber vaccuming my way out of the place on the day of the signing thinking …” I cannot believe this woman paying me so much for this four room condo”. That said, I made super low ball offer on a house that needed so much work…a real dump according to my friends. I was shocked when the offer was accepted…truly. That said,I had a limited amount to spend of the big things I could not do my self…a kitchen and bath renovation, a new roof, a new heating system, blown in insulation. So, it was up to me to tackle the smaller big stuff…stripping and sealing all the dirty but beautiful woodwork, stripping and finishing the floors, painting all the rooms and so much more. I also prepped and painted the peeling outside of the house…took me the entire summer.,
When I think back, it never occured to me I would not be able to do the work. I just informed myself and moved forward.
It sounds like you are doing the same. You go girl…once you have powered washed the house, you never know what else you might want to clean!!
Dani
Love these weekly emails. I am enjoying some Sheryl Crow while cleaning with my windows open now that it’s a bit cooler. I hope you share more about the care packages for the holidays. It has me thinking about doing something similar. A treat, something handmade, a picture, and maybe a game or movie. Not sure yet.
Thanks!
nancy k
Yes, we are a Democracy..for now. But that Democracy is under threat, a serious threat on so many levels. It is my sincere hope that citizens take some time to really educate themselves about how a democracy is supposed to work based on our Constitution. There are forces actively and knowingly working undermine it all that we, as citizens, holld dear and yet take for granted. Right now, in this moment of time, we are on on a very slippery slope. The one thing we all can do is to vote…for the highest office in this and as well as for all the down ballot candidates. Change cannot happen unless change happens and making change happen is up to each and every one of us.
Poppy
Yes! You are so right! Please…everyone vote! Vote for President Trump and let’s keep moving towards good!
Sarah
Joy, I have mentioned this previously and got some “push back” from other commenters but I have to tell you again that Google is using your JoyTheBaker blog for pop up ads. I checked with my IT help and MY computer’s pop up blockers are at the highest level; moreover, your blog is the only blog I visit that has this issue. Today your blog page is littered with literally dozens of pop up ads, blocking your blog content, from these advertisers: Lending Tree, Pay Pal, and Verizon. I would like to emphasize that my computer is not the issue and I experience this only when visiting joythebaker.com. I would respectfully urge you to have your web advisor check into this for you. It is so disturbing that unfortunately I find that I won’t be reading your blog again for a while. Again – your blog is the ONLY blog I visit that has the issue. Please do consider checking into this. By the way I also have a VPN so this “invasion” isn’t likely at all on my computer and its local area network. Thank you. Please no more push back from your other commenters, this message is being sent to you in good faith and in appreciation of your blog which I have followed for many years.
Sara
That’s very weird. I don’t have any pop up ads at all. I’m on a Mac…maybe that makes a difference.
Colleen
I also access this blog through Google and have never seen a single pop up. It’s you.
JC
Also no ads here! hmmmmmm
Julie
Longtime reader, first comment:
SHERYL CROW.
Returning to her as an adult has been such a gift. I’m glad my younger self loved her.
CMG
Good morning. I just finished reading “Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger” by Lisa Donovan. It was a GREAT read by a truly GIFTED writer. Thank you for the book recommendation.
Also, I truly agree with your statement above that “we already have everything we need within us to show care and compassion to one another.” As we are want to do, we have over complicated our current problems (pandemic, race relations, etc.). We need to simplify and remember we are ALL full of care and compassion and love. WE are not broken. We need to treat ALL as we would want to be treated and do not judge anyone. WE allow ourselves to become broken when we forget the simplicity of these life lessons.
Thank you for another “Let It Be Sunday” post and have a wonderful day!
Maura Staunton
You are just so charming, and hilaaarious!
Sally
2020 keeps giving us challenges, opportunities and moments to remember. We will get through this year and be stronger, hopefully. Thank you for sharing your black eyed peas stew recipe. It was so good.
Darla
2020 has surely been a kick in the teeth, but it makes us stronger, and more focused on our priorities in our life. What is helping us get through. Books, clay pressed leaves, baking, talking on the phone with friends, power washing. We’re all okay. You’re okay. I’m okay ?
Leanne Gillespie
Be sure to wear ear protection while power washing!!!
Adrienne
I’d like to quit the rat race and power wash things for a living. SO satisfying.
Have fun with it. ;)