Let It Be Sunday, 306!

Hello, friends – good morning Happy Sunday! 

I hope this finds you starting a restful Sunday. If it can’t be restful, I hope there’s at least a few moments. 

I’m in the middle of a big project at the Bakehouse, shooting several dozen cake recipes with Denny Culbert, the photo mind behind Mosquito Supper Club. It’s one of those hard-working, work-for-the-dream projects that makes my feet sore but is so fun to bake for. The house is a pile of props and cake layers and bowls of ingredients measured for baking. Since The Bakehouse is a live/work studio, it’s hard to relax in the middle of a project. I think it’s also just excitement – which is a blessing to feel towards work! 

Let’s take it slow this morning. I’m going to make a mini Chilaquiles Frittata Bake, a big pot of coffee, and have a long sit on the couch with Tron and East of Eden.  How about you? 

The offering this week is below. Take only what you need and be sure to take good care of yourself today.   

•  The Hard Truth About Joe Biden.   Like holding up a mirror at ourselves. Here we are. (The New Republic via Ann Friedman) 

•  I found this to be such a beautiful read. It swelled me heart. I Might Be the First Second Gentlemen, But I Don’t Want to Be the Last (GQ) 

•  These are the lines from Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem that first started my tears (which of course streamed through her entire reading): 

…And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us
but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,
we must first put our differences aside
We lay down our arms
so we can reach out our arms
to one another
We seek harm to none and harmony for all
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:
That even as we grieved, we grew
That even as we hurt, we hoped
That even as we tired, we tried…

How a 22-year-old LA native became Biden’s inaugural poet. (LA Times) 

•  Go full on English major with me and read all of the inaugural poems throughout history. (Literary Hub) 

•  I don’t know how long you’ll let me bore you with the saga that is Joy Learns To Swim. It’s something so foreign to me that it’s become much more than just jumping in the pool and figuring out a stroke. For me it’s about finding ease and surrender before I can even master the rhythm of breath. Friends, it’s just so new to me. I had no idea.  If you need a visual (which of course you don’t), picture me in my local pool alone at night as a leaning torpedo.  A friend recommended Total Immersion Swimming to me and so far it’s the method that feels most right. I’m also listening to Why We Swim on audio book as I fall asleep. Wellness update: trying hard, doing just fine. (Amazon) 

•  A therapy. A way to defeat time and quell dread. I Recommend Eating Chips.  What would your chip of choice be? Could I get a hybrid bag of Cool Ranch Doritos and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and a Diet Coke? Would that be asking to much? (New York Times) 

•  You had me at elastic waistband. (Everlane) 

•  Have you listened to James Baldwin’s Home Records on Spotify? 

•  My sweet friends Amy and Amy sent me this Citrus Euculyptus Wreath and one sniff was like being back in my Venice apartment. Such a lovely gift. Thank you, friends! (Food52 and The Kitchn) 

•  I’m thrilled to report that I bought the Hearth and Hand Linen Blend Sheets from Target for a reasonable $68 instead of the hundreds of dollars linen sheets cost and I quite like them!  I also splurged on a new duvet set since it has been a cool five years with the same bedding. (Target and Wayfair) 

•  Minimalist Baker made this very cool Aquafaba Granola that’s oil free and it’s on my list to make next week! 

•  Run, don’t walk to the kitchen to make Crispy Fried Eggs in Breadcrumbs! (Food 52)

•  From the JtB archives I’m making a batch of Seed Cycling Balls because they’re a good energy snack to keep in the freezer. (Joy the Baker) 

•  A patient dog waits for days outside hospital which is proof that dogs are angel creatures with so much soul. I mean… my cat Tron would absolutely be outside of the hospital but only around 5pm to demand I get home to feed him dinner.  (The Guardian) 

Have a lovely Sunday, friends! 

My love to you.

xo Joy