Hello, friends!
I’ve been alone with the fact that I hadn’t ticked off all the tasks on last year’s Summer Bucket List. My guilt was assuaged by the fact that my Summer Bucket Lists are far more low stakes than the work to-do lists or the ever present endless list of house chores. Summer Buckets are meant to be aspirational, and sure a little challenging but my goodness – they’re supposed to be fun, and maybe even give me a little sunburn (a tell-tale sign of a good time in my book).
It was somewhere along Ranch Road 1376 outside of Luckenbach, TX, on the back of Will’s bike a few weeks ago that my last Summer Bucket List task struck me like lightning.ย While I LOVE being on the back of Will’s bike, I thought – I’m ready to ride my own bike – no more delaying, I’m calling the Harley Davidson dealership as soon as I get back to New Orleans and they’re going to teach me how to ride.
That’s exactly what happened this week.ย Fuel, ignition, neutral, clutch, kill switch, start button.ย Roll off the throttle, pull the clutch in, shift to third, ease the clutch for the love of god, nope pull the clutch back in, hold it, back brake, front brake, guh…that was too much front brake.ย These were honestly the only thoughts in my head all week.ย And, despite flubbing my figure 8 during the riding exam, I passed my test and well… I need a bit more work before I can call myself roadworthy, but I’m so excited and so proud and I’m absolutely getting a full face helmet.
Finished one Summer Bucket just in time to daydream the next.
The offering this week is below. Take what feels good this Sunday!
โขย These feelings on what is love and what is labor in the kitchen resonates with me.ย Alicia Kennedy teases out the words in On Domesticity.
โขย Gems, diamonds, and actual treasures: 103 Bits of Advice I Wish I Had Known (Kevin Kelly)
ย โขย “If you are going to live a full life after loss, you have to find your way back to joy.”ย The Lesson My Mother Taught Me Before She Died (Cup of Jo)
โขย I love what Amy Estes brings us, every time. ย Ordinary Softness (Khora)
โขย Iย really appreciate when cookbook authors understand how we want to cook.ย Ali Slagle’s new book I Dream of Dinner nails it with her 10 ingredient or less, 45 minutes or less meals.ย Low effort, high reward, paragraph written recipes.ย It’s the book you’d reach for when trying to figure out what’s for dinner at 5:15pm.ย As a preview, Ali shares a caesar dressing that doubles as a meat marinade on Food52: Not Just Another Caesar Salad. (Penguin Random House, Food52)
โขย I have my first two mosquito bites of the summer which means it’s officially MARGARITA SEASON.ย Let tequila be the balm. The 9 Margarita recipes we’ll want to make all summer long arrived just in time. Now if frozen blender drinks is more your speed headed into summer, consider keeping several bags of frozen fruit in your freezer for the easiest boozy slushies.ย (The Kitchn, Joy the Baker)
โขย Speaking of summer, the latest issue of Joy the Baker Magazine could be your summer playbook with all of its backyard chili, no churn ice cream, and craft projects.ย It’s available for pre-order right here —> JtB Summer Magazine 2022!
โขย I love Jon’s commitment to the meatball:ย Beef Fajita Meatballs. (The Candid Appetite)
โขย On my wishful meal-prep list this weekend is Minimalist Baker’s Avocado Pesto Pasta Salad. Seeing as I have yet to buy avocados, this may not happen this very weekend but it’s bookmarked for my hopeful future.
โขย I bought myself this t-shirt to celebrate passing my motorcycle class.ย This has been my unspoken motto for years (especially the “take no sh*t” part).ย (Atwyld)
โขย This time last year we were baking Almond Flour Whipped Ricotta Fresh Strawberry Barsย and we discussed Nigella Lawson, post-pandemic thoughts from within the pandemic, and a song by PJ Morton here:ย Let It Be Sunday, 319 (Joy the Baker)
โขย It’s JAZZFEST season in New Orleans and I can’t help but think of the days before I lived here when I’d come to visit for the music and crawfish bread of these two glorious weekends.ย Sweet Crude, one of my very favorite New Orleans bands played this first weekend and I want you to have a little piece of their Cajun French this Sunday.
Enjoy this day, friends!
My love to you.
xo Joy
26 Responses
So happy to hear of another new woman rider! I bought my moto at 25 (I’m 39 now), called my mom and said “Guess what?! I just bought a motorcycle!!!” She was less ecstatic than me, for good reason since she’s my mom and all, but I love being able to ride anytime I want. I will hop on the back of my husband’s from time to time, but it is rare. Full face helmet is the way to go! I live in a state that doesn’t require helmets, and for the longest time I didn’t wear one at all as that’s how my elder family and friends rolled. About 4-5 years back as we were getting ready for our first ride of the season, I turned to my then bf/now husband and said, “I think I’m going to wear my helmet.” It was a halfie, and it was unpleasant, but I had it for whenever we’d cross over into a helmet required state. Rode that season with it and its constant pulling and thought “I need to go full face,” as I steadily had bugs hitting and glued to my face ( I don’t have a windshield on my 883L). Got an amazing full face Evel Knievel inspired Bell and after the first wear thought “I’ve been a fool…this thing is amazing!!” The more you ride, the more comfortable you’ll feel, so hang in there and don’t give up! Hopefully Will, or another rider, will gift you a bell for your own moto to help keep the evil road gremlins away :)
Joy, I love your voice and I’m so inspired by your learning to drive a motorcycle! Sometimes as an adult I get frustrated not learning things on the first try (which I realize is very unrealistic), but there is something so satisfying and thrilling about learning something new. In fact, I’m going to give the friendship bracelet pattern I gave up on last week (and hid in a drawer!) another try and just go for it!
What a roundup, Joy! I love stumbling across these lesser known (at least to me!) platforms and places on the internet with beautiful stories and pearls of wisdom. Love the motorcycle life for you! Saving this post for reference, for many reasons!
I love that you are learning to ride a motorcycle – so cool. I’d love to ride on one sometime. That would be so fun. Can’t wait to read the summer edition of the JtB Magazine!
It was so nice to read the nigella article somehow I missed it when it was published !! I adore her and so miss her on American television :(
Isn’t it a great article? I miss her on American television, too!
Ooh this is very exciting news that there is a Joy the Baker summer magazine out!! I can add it to my treasured two Christmas JTB editions. Iโll for sure be seeking this out in my little town in British Columbia.
Oh I love that Amy! I’m so proud of these magazines and it fills my heart that you treasure them too!
Your description of the bike couse brought back memories…not good ones. I took a similar course offered by my Registry of Motor veheicles. I wanted to learn how to ride the Sturgis my younger brother had rebuilt the year before he passed away. Unlike you, I was a miserable failure. After I flunked the test, the instuctor alluded to a fact I already knew…I should remain a passanger only. I realized I didn;t really want to be a solo. I just wanted to be closer to something my brother loved so much.
But, a big high five to you Joy. Enjoy your new freedom and stay safe.
Oh Nancy thank you so much for sharing this. I’m sorry you lost your brother. I only hope you had someone ride you around on his Sturgis. Also… I’m not done being a passanger even though I’m learning how to ride.
Congratulations on accomplishing a big item on your list of goals. Enjoy honing your new skill and riding to new places.
Are you….writing motorcycle ertoica now??? Listen, I’m here for it. Also, thanks for linking to I Dream of Dinner. I am the target audience for that cookbook and it was completely not on my radar. Love, Yours in Vroom
KIM! Motorcycle erotica? It hadn’t crossed my mind but YES I AM THANK YOU. And you’ll have to let me know what you think of I Dream of Dinner. There are some real gems in there imho.
Congrats, Joy, on completing your Summer Bucket list with the uniquely you style your list embodies. You are an inspiration to go easy, but go for it living!!
Go easy, but absolutely GO FOR IT.
Ordinary Softness piece was so touching, Joy. Iโm 68 and have been with my husband 30 years and feel that closeness with him. So grateful.
What an absolute blessing that is! Love to you both Noreen!
Congrats on your newly found interest in solo motorcycle bike riding. You are not
alone in that thinking. It appears that more people are choosing to ride than ever before. Lots of adventures ahead. And those almond strawberry bars look
like a great recipe to try. Thank you.
I’m here for all the adventure!
Haha COOL!!I ride my own harley…theres nothin like it!!Have fun and congrats on joining all of us lady riders out there!!
That’s amazing Crystal! See you on the road!
Congrats on being an official Biker Babe! So rad.
Congratulations on passing the MSF class! And thank you for sharing awareness of it. My dad made me take it waaay back when I was 20 when I told him I was tired of the view from his bike. He was a founding member of the Charlotte HOG chapter and itโs president. In the years of riding (thinking of so many National HOG Rallies makes me smile), the skills I learned in that class served me well. Iโm 5โ nothing and rode a Springer Softtail. For everyone who asked me โHow can someone your size ride?โ (Ugh) I would always reply, โIโm not carrying the bike on my back, just balancing it!โ Enjoy the open Road Joy! And remember to check the front fork lock before hopping on! :)
Hahahah thank you for the good words, Amy. I chucked at “I’m not carrying the bike…”. Sometimes I feel like when I don’t stop the bike with the handlebars straight that I’m trying to carry the dang bike… and it’s way too heavy.
So, so happy for you. The things you were describing are enough to make my head spin. Well once you learn, it all falls into place and you do not have to go through all of the saying in your head. Just natural.As I wrote, I am happy for you passing your test. Good luck.
Sincerely,
Dolores
I’m working for the day when it all falls into place, that’s for sure.