Hello friends! Happy Sunday turned Monday.
This springtime soft sun, breezy days, and Easter gatherings beckoned me this week. I shut my laptop and went out to live a happy life. I hope you took a bit of a spring break one way or another this month. It’s just too good not to. I said yes to everything that involved not work and found myself at a grownup sleepover in the country on a Monday night and out learning to drive a horse trailer behind Will’s big truck on the farm.
These are good days. The offering this week is below. I hope you find something here you didn’t know you needed. Have a great week, friends – do all the little things that make it a happy life.
• Every spring since living in my Bywater house I dip my fickle toe into the gardening waters and fill the forgotten pots on my back porch with bright and poppy spring flowers. We both know they don’t stand a chance as the summer heat rises and my travel schedule intensifies. This year I thought I’d save us both the heartache. Instead of pots, I’m dipping my fickle but eager gardening toe into sprouting edible seeds in these clever seed sprouting jars jars using these seeds. I make very fancy sandwiches and salads but would you expect any less? (Amazon)
• “Why are offline partners so appealing? For starters, there’s something about being online that is just fundamentally embarrassing.” It really is a cringe and I can firmly attest to the fact that a boyfriend without social media is, in fact, very hot. (Dazed)
• Rene Ricard’s hilarious 1978 essay on LIVING makes me wonder why I’m out here taking everything so seriously: ‘I Class Up A Joint‘. (New York Times)
• I’m captivated by Danielle Joy McKinney’s paintings. (Instagram)
• Kim reminded us that it’s national poetry month and Abby reminded me of this poem by Ross Gay: Thank You. I’m so thankful for the friends who work on the site with me. (Instagram x 2, Poetry Foundation)
• Casually exploring eternal questions and answers with this podcast: How to Identify What You Enjoy. (The Atlantic)
• This week I bought non-alcoholic Kin Euphorics to experiment with and I’m also researched how to make hard kombucha this summer. How very Gemini of me. (Kin Euphorics and Booch Craft)
• Adding Pastitsio to my scratch paper list of dishes I’d like to make. Extravagant, right? What’s on your To Bake List? (Pssstt… speaking of lists – it’s almost time for The Summer Bucket List). (Instagram, Joy the Baker)
• It’s crawfish season which means it’s time to stand around the folding table eating crawfish until our lips and fingers burn. My preferred way to crawfish is Jessica’s Crawfish Pie. Less mess, more butter. Incidentally this is also delicious with shrimp if crawfish leaves question marks in your head.
• Here’s what was on my mind a year ago this week: Let It Be Sunday, 218! We talk about denim, aging, and how I made my parents binge watch The Jinx with me. (Joy the Baker)
• In the kitchen this time last year I made Baklava Granola. This is LUXURY so if you’re a Taurus I need you on this recipe immediately.
Enjoy this beautiful day!
My love to you.
xo Joy
Kim
Ahh, I love that Abby reminded you/all of us about that Ross Gay poem. Look at us, making the dream work.
Abby Mallett
I don’t know why this makes me want to yell “SYNERGY!” but it does LOL
Megan P.
True story: I’m reading this while eating fruit, yogurt, and baklava granola (with some cardamom thrown in).
Noreen
GM Joy, love the poem so much. My husband went to the final four in your wonderful city and had a blast! And looking forward to your version of pastitsio. I’ve made Ina’s and it’s delicious. Have a restful week.
Gigi
If anyone out there, Taurus or not, may be eyeing up the baklava granola I’m here to testify that coconut sugar, maple sugar, honey without added sugar, basically refined sugar free versions of this in general work incredibly well. Use gluten free oats and hell won’t want you but sainthood is all yours. Luxurious for sure, and totally addictive!!
Lorrie G Fulton
Bravo for you, Joy!
Everyone should learn to pull a horse-trailer, and learn to back it up too! It should be part of every ‘Driver’s Ed’ class. I think pulling live weight makes you a more careful driver, and certainly a more considerate one
Happy Tuesday!
Georgette
I love the room .but here is tue an it is s n o w I n g
Ellen
Thank you, and Abby, for reminding me of that poem as well. <3
Dawn
That living space is divine!