Soul Sprout

Chautauqua- Wandering and wondering

Snap snap snap.  The sound of my gait on any given day is a metronome at full tilt.  My older daughter knows I'm coming by the rhythm of my step. One of the first things I noticed after settling into the Summerhouse Inn at Chautauqua in New York, was that my pace had been completely altered. 

Wandering down a lane past gardens, tangles of bikes, houses covered in gingerbread, and people on their porches, I realized I'd taken on the languid rhythm of a sheet on a line, blowing in the breeze- at once irregular and fluid.  Even when I was headed to a specific destination, I took my time getting there and went a different way whenever I stepped out the door.

I lived a little over an hour away from Chautauqua for 12 years and somehow never found the time to go there.  Now I live 11 hours away, but I knew it was time to find out what was so special about it.  Over the years I've heard about it from friends and strangers.  I've looked over the schedule of events many times and circled things I wanted to go see or hear.

For nine weeks every summer, a little historic lakeside community becomes the place to go to be immersed in culture.  Every week there is a different theme and all day from dawn until after dark there are several things going on at all times from art clasess to lectures to theater performances to concerts to religious services to discussions to meditations and everything in between.  When I found out I missed Alan Alda speaking there last year, I decided I would not let another year go by without experincing Chautauqua for myself.

Early this year I looked at my calendar and found one weekend I could make the trip.  I clicked on the schedule and, lo and behold, an author I greatly admire, Karen Armstrong, was speaking that weekend.  My mind was made up in that moment. 

Not only did I get to hear Karen Armstrong, but I got to hear Tea Obreht too.  I went to the symphony.  I heard the group Straight No Chaser.  I went to a sufi meditation and a Jewish service.  I learned how to bake challah and I met many interesting people.

 

I loved the confluence of solitude and community.  When I wanted to be alone, I walked into the woods or along the lakeshore or sat in the empty sanctuary of a lovely church and relished the silence, but when I wanted conversation there was always someone around with a smile and an interesting story or viewpoint.

In many ways, Chautauqua is how I picture the perfect small town.  There are very few cars and lots of open minds.  In the town square, there is always someone playing music.  Art, literature, music, and theater are highly valued.  There's always a lemonade stand somewhere.  There's a bookstore and a library and lots of authors come to visit.

I'm sad that I missed out on this magical place for so long, but I'm also thankful I got to experince it by myself the first time.  It was the right time for me to be able to fully appreciate all Chautauqua has to offer.  I look forward to bringing my family here, but I also want to come back alone again.

In my every day life, I don't often give myself permission to wander, but I had forgotten that it is essential.  When I wander, I am filled with wonder and as Socrates said, "Wonder is the beginning of wisdom."

My challenge to myself is to bring a piece of Chautauqua into my daily life.  This might mean writing in a journal, or staying away from the computer for a day or two at a time, or going to a lecture, or striking up a conversation with a stranger, or slowing my pace, or meditating, or wandering down a random street for no good reason.

A little summer food porn

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turning corners

There are things that obviously change our lives: marriage, children, graduation, death, moving.  And then there are things that at the time seem small, but later you realize caused you to turn a corner and set you on a whole new path.  Slipping back into the silk of Ella's voice recently, reminded me of those twists and turns.

    The first time I listened to Ella Fitzgerald I was babysitting.  I glanced through the CD's on the shelf and put Best of the Songbooks in the player. (Thank you Bousquets wherever you are!)   I was hooked immediately.  Before that moment, I knew nothing of jazz.  The impulse to play that album started a love of a whole genre of music.  I became a student of Mary Alice Brown and sang with her at the Paper Moon more times than I can count.  For a short time, I had a duo with a friend and we played every week at a lovely spot.  I was taken out of the mold of singing only in church or school and starting exploring what else I could do.

    The day I walked into the Roadhouse Theatre and auditioned for Picasso at the Lapin Agile I had no idea I had found a home of sorts.  Dear Scott gave me a small role and finally I wasn't sitting in the audience wishing and dreaming and trying to keep my heart from jumping out of my chest, I was on the stage!!!  I made so many friends there I wouldn't want to live without and at last had a place to belong.  I've been in lots of shows since then and hope to be in many more. 

    From there I realized how thankful I am for those unexpected blessings.  Knowing that some ordinary decision on an ordinary day might take me to places I've never known is one of the things that gets me out of bed in the morning.

 

A few new book notes

Reading a great book is a lot like falling in love.  It holds you in thrall and makes all your troubles seem to fade.  It makes your heart pound and takes you to new places.  When the last page is turned, it's like that moment when you finally let yourself see that it can never be.  And all the illusions dissolve into the dust motes.  You watch them float away as a new hole opens up inside you.  A longing you didn't know you had.

Here are some new books that were recent infatuations:

(Go here if you need a refresher on my rating system.)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson- These are two very different books, but are connected by an important thread.  They both highlight knocking down barriers and insignificant divisions between people.  The Help is about racism, bravery, and friendship.  It's set in the South in the early sixties and explores the relationship between African American housekeepers and their white employers.

Quote- "...it's a strange thing happening here cause nobody saying nothing and we still managing to have us a conversation."

Book rating- Beef stew 7

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is a unique tale of love, told from a man's perspective.  I enjoyed reading what it must be like on the other side of the fence.  The issues of classism, ageism, and the clash of cultures all play a role in this intriguing book.

Quote- "Memories were like tomb paintings, thought the Major, the colors still vivid no matter the many layers of mud and sand and time deposited.  Scrape at them and they come up all red and blazing."

Book rating- Beef stew 7 (with a dab of foie gras!)

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese- This book got inside me.  It was an experience.  The story revolves around the lives of twin boys, sons of a surgeon.  I don't want to give away much, because I like to go into a book not knowing and have the opportunity to discover everything on my own.  I will tell you that I was fascinated by the entwining of cultures, the history of places I haven't given enough thought to, and the rich, complex characters. 

Quote- "But if you did, if you had that kind of curiosity, if you had an innate interest in the welfare of your fellow human beings, and if you went through that door, a strange thing happened: you left your petty troubles on the threshold.  It could be addictive."

Book rating- Foie gras and beef stew all rolled into one 9

Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D.-  You could call this a psychology book.  You could call it a handbook for women.  You could call it an investigation and interpretation of oral literature.  It is all of these things.  I have to admit that I am not done reading it yet.  I read sections of it in between novels.  It is dense reading.  I read most pages at least twice to let it sink in.  From the first paragraph, I knew it was a book I needed to read. 

Quote- "I was an aesthete rather than an athlete, and my only wish was to be an ecstatic wanderer."

Book rating- Beef stew 9

Spring craft collection

If you have some time to waste, try Stumble Upon.  Give the site a little info about your interests and it will randomly take you to links you might like.  I don't stumble often, but when I do, it seems I always find something interesting, enchanting or inspiring.

A recent trip kicked off a firestorm of creativity for me and my girls that hasn't stopped burning yet.  It started with this site, called Craft Gawker, that is a collection of photos and links to tons of crafty ideas.  I've been swimming in a world of colors and textures ever since.  The first thing I made was some paper origami stars. (See the tutorial here.)  They are simple and lovely.  And if you put a secret message inside, they can brighten up someone's day.  When Julia got home, she went to town and made many more than I did (and is better at it too!)

Next up was a tree.  (Instructions here.)  Natalie and I gathered branches from our yard, cut out leaves, and glued wire on each leaf.  Julia helped put all the leaves on the branches.  It's as nice as a bouquet of flowers, but lasts a lot longer!

Then all three of us created a little forest of toadstools.  (Animated instructions here.)  Now our table has the spirit of spring!

Happy crafting!

Loving a lawnmower

Disclaimer: If you are a lawn-o-phile who loves those diagonal mowing lines or you have a lawn big enough for one of those riding monsters, disregard the following information.

Since we moved south almost 3 years ago, I have not mowed the lawn.  I hate the gas powered mower and with our tiny yard, it just seemed ridiculous to me.  I wanted a push reel mower.

Enter the UNC MBA program. 

Between work and studying, my husband will not have time to mow this year.  We considered hiring a lawn service.  Then, on a recent Saturday, I heard this whirring noise and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but my neighbor pushing the mower of my desire. 

I asked to borrow it, and fell in love instantly.  I can pick the whole thing up with no trouble.  There's no fight to get it started.  I just push.  Sure there were spots I had to go over more than once and there were times I had to give it a good shove, but I still found it easier to maneuver and push than the old gas one. 

Just a few days later, I made the trek to Home Depot and bought a simple Scotts push reel mower and assembled it in no time.  I read the very short manual and laughed at the warning to walk, not run, while pushing.  I had actually been tempted to do that!  I also discovered that I can drink and mow.  And since it can't throw projectiles the way a gas mower can, my kids can actually be in the yard while I mow. 

The other reason I haven't mowed in NC is the heat and humidity. Since my new mower sounds like a giant pinwheel and not a jet, I can now mow at midnight when the temperature hits that nice 85 low.

Go green and love your lawn again.  Join the push revolution!

The world according to Natalie

This doll is not naked.  He is a superhero and he is wearing a cape.

Everything she owns that is a girl is named Ella.

Everything she owns that is a boy is named Mike.

God is as big as her dad. (Size is always based in comparison to her 5'8" dad.)

All her boy dolls and some of her stuffed animals are her brothers and she's going to marry them some day. (And if you were paying attention, they are all named Mike.)

Her dad, her mom and her cousin Nick are all kids- grown up kids. (I'll take it!)

Since she is 3, that means she is big and little.

She wishes that on her next birthday she could be 10 like her big sis.

Baby Elliott should live next door so she can see him anytime she wants.  (He is her 19-month-old cousin who lives in Colorado.  I'm not sure how much he's going to like her calling him Baby Elliott when he turns 2 or 3 or 4 or 37.)

She doesn't want to die and will be sad when the world "comes to the end of the days."  (Where did she get this?  I have no idea.)

She wants to learn to deer hunt. (When her dad and I informed her that she'd have to be older before she could learn to hunt and that she'd probably need to start with a smaller animal, she came up with the idea of hunting baby bunnies.  I've got to read her Watership Down!  I could never shoot Hazel!)

Her favorite song is The Birds Are Gone.  She wrote the song and it goes something like "The birds are gone they're not everywhere.  They're not at the beach."

She can't stop sucking her thumb, because she doesn't know how to big girl sleep. (After we tried the bad tasting polish she said, "That stuff didn't taste good, but I still sucked my thumb."  Yep, it's going to be a long battle.)

She wants to be an artist when she grows up.

Her favorite foods are green beans, waffles and macaroni and cheese.

When she puts on her Supergirl costume, she is Batman.

 

 

My best card trick

Pick a card.  Any card.  Ooooh!  That's the go potty card! 

Doesn't sound like your average card trick, but it does work wonders.  If you've spent any time around a toddler, you'll know they don't like to take direction.  They want to be in control.  This is only a problem when you want them to do what you want, in a timely manner.  In other words, most of the time.

Getting my little one ready for ballet every week was becoming a struggle.  I do my best to give her choices any time I can, because if she gets to choose the shirt, she doesn't mind putting it on.  Trouble is sometimes there aren't choices to be made.  So I came up with a card game.

Each card stands for an action (go potty, get dressed in dance clothes, put hair up, put shoes and coat on).  The first time I did it, I actually worked out exactly which card belonged to each action.  She chooses a card and I tell her what it stands for.  Getting ready became fun and easy.

I've branched out and sometimes use it at bedtime.  I've also discovered that I don't have to work out which card is which.  She pulls one and I announce what I want it to be.  I do mix things up and occasionally add something unexpected, like a piece of candy or a hug or an extra story.  This keeps her interested in the game, because she never knows what might happen. I'm also careful not to use it all the time, so it doesn't get old.  If she's in a great mood, I don't use it. 

I've also been somewhere without cards and needed it.  In that desperate situation, I put something in my hand (like a penny), put my hands behind my back and tell her if she picks the hand with the penny she brushes her teeth, and if she picks the one without, she puts on her pajamas. 

This trick has saved my sanity more times than I can count.  She feels like she's in control and loves it and I actually get what I want.  It's a win-win situation!

What kind of tricks do you have up your sleeve?

 

Digging and diving

 

Last August I had an eventful trip planned.  I put loads of time and effort into planning every detail.  I was all set to tape the first few episodes of Mad Good.  Then the curveball came.  My partner Lara and I both got sick the night before I was supposed to fly to Erie.  Really sick.  It was obvious the weekend was sunk.  I didn't mope about it, but a little part of me fell into a deep tar pit.

The tar immobilized my creative side and clouded my senses.  I questioned why I even attempt these projects.  What makes me think I can do these things? 

I threw myself into furthering my culinary education.  I cooked and baked.  I watched as much Julia Child as I could find.  I devoured books about and by real food people (from Brillat-Savarin to Ruth Reichl).  I learned how to bake bread, thanks to The Bread Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum.

I started to tread in the tar, but I couldn't get out.

Then someone held out a stick.

My sister-in-law gave me a necklace for my birthday that said "Dream" on it.  She said she bought it for me because I was the only person she knew that followed her dreams.  I didn't take it off for a couple of weeks.  She got it.

I grabbed that stick and dug my way out.  

Now I'm diving back into the seas of creativity.  I'm planning a new Mad Good trip in June, I'm back to my blog, I'm taking an online art workshop by Misty Mawn, and I'm taking some classes at Ornamentea.

New year, new possibilites, new hope.

Happy New Year!

 

 

Tomato inspirations

I intended to buy a pint of grape tomatoes.  I ended up with three.  I just couldn't resist them.  They seduced me with their shades of ruby and tangerine. 

I was already drunk on peach samples and my defenses were down.  No matter the reason, I had to figure out how to use all three pints while they were at their peak.

I started with a cucumber and grape tomato salad dressed with a buttermilk dill dressing from the Moosewood Restaurant New Classics cookbook.  Then I created a main dish I'll call Summer Shrimp.  I used the tomatoes two ways for the dish and topped it all with goat cheese, fresh dill and basil.  I don't want to give away too much, because I'm including the recipe as part of the incentives for backers of Mad Good on kickstarter.

Mad Good, a foodie and her toadie, is the food show created by Lara and me.  We are taping our first two episodes in August and are raising the funds on kickstarter.  If you pledge to give us just $5 I will send you my special recipe collection including Summer Shrimp and the Red Pepper and Bacon Frittata with Tomato Feta Relish pictured below.  There are other rewards too, like a DVD with exclusive outtakes and your name in the credits.  You know you want it, so go to kickstarter, laugh your way through the trailer and secure a set of awesome recipes to impress your friends with.  

Oh yeah, and you'll get my buttermilk cobbler recipe too!!!