Oh 52 Projects how I have abandoned you. Luckily I am back and more motivated than ever to finish all 52 of you. While I was away, I did complete two projects.
I started Project #48 (Make a box with someone special in mind, something that will slide easily under the bed or fit in an underwear drawer. Then, place a single letter in the box, and mail it off to that special someone (even if you share a home). In the letter, make sure to mention that you plan, in the years to come, to fill the box with letters). The box of letters is not a new concept in our house. Writing letters first brought us together, so it seems quite fitting that we begin collecting a new stack of letters, even if we share the same address. I modified the project a bit and decided to skip purchasing a new box. Charlie showed me the box he's been keeping my past letters in. I think there's enough room for me to add a few more before he needs to upgrade to a larger box.
The last project I posted (Project #27: Take a picture of a kid you know well. Then, make a postcard out of the picture and mail it to the kid.) was a lot of fun. I wrote my favorite pen pal and sent a photo I took of her last spring.
Now it's on to Project #38. It feels good to be back on track.
It never fails, sometime during our first evening back in Charlie's childhood home, I find him digging in his old closet, uncovering lost treasures. On this visit he found a kite he sewed in seventh grade. Apparently he was never able to fly the kite.
It was a good time to be back. We spent our days visiting with Gramps, enjoying coffee and talks about the start of his career as a dentist and the early days of his marriage with Grammy. I treasure the time we have with family and feel grateful to have more of it now that we live in the Midwest again.
For a short time I lived in a house with a backyard full of lilacs. Each May, seemingly overnight, the hedges would burst forth with fragrant, large blossoms of purple and violet. After school I would play in the yard and stand under them, breathing in their heady scent. I would close my eyes and wish I could sleep in the grass beneath them, gazing up at the little purple flowers all night. In the morning before school I would run out and cut down a few branches. Then I would wrap the ends in damp paper towels and tin foil, carry them to school, and give them to my teachers. It brought me such comfort to gaze at the familiar blossoms on the teacher's desk throughout our classes.
This week the small lilac hedges in our own backyard blossomed. Yesterday I cut a few branches and brought them to the house. The scent recalls springs of the past and I only wish the flowers would last a little longer. Other good things this week: -- Capri blue candles, particularly the No. 6 Volcano scent. Worth every penny.
-- I start each day with this poem. It reminds me to think before I speak. Next Time Mary Oliver
Next time what I'd do is look at the earth before saying anything. I'd stop just before going into a house and be an emperor for a minute and listen better to the wind or to the air being still.
When anyone talked to me, whether blame or praise or just passing time, I'd watch the face, how the mouth has to work, and see any strain, any sign of what lifted the voice.
And for all, I'd know more -- the earth bracing itself and soaring, the air finding every leaf and feather over forest and water, and for every person the body glowing inside the clothes like a light.
-- This week I read a fantastic article titled, The Science of Happiness: Barbara Fredrickson On Cultivating Positive Emotions. You can read a portion of it here, though the real meat of the article appears after the online excerpt. I'd be happy to drop you a copy in the mail, or you can pick up your own copy of the May issue of The Sun.
-- Barefoot Contessa's spring risotto recipe. It's kept us fed all week long. Spring Green Risotto Ingredients * 1 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil * 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter * 3 cups chopped leeks, white and light green parts (2 leeks) * 1 cup chopped fennel * 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice * 2/3 cup dry white wine * 4 to 5 cups simmering chicken stock * 1 pound thin asparagus * 10 ounces frozen peas, defrosted * 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest (2 lemons) * Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper * 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice * 1/3 cup mascarpone cheese * 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving * 3 tablespoons minced fresh chives, plus extra for serving
Directions Heat the olive oil and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks and fennel and saute for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender. Add the rice and stir for a minute to coat with the vegetables, oil, and butter. Add the white wine and simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until most of the wine has been absorbed. Add the chicken stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring almost constantly and waiting for the stock to be absorbed before adding more. This process should take 25 to 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the asparagus diagonally in 1 1/2-inch lengths and discard the tough ends. Blanch in boiling salted water for 4 to 5 minutes, until al dente. Drain and cool immediately in ice water. (If using fresh peas, blanch them in boiling water for a few minutes until the starchiness is gone.)
When the risotto has been cooking for 15 minutes, drain the asparagus and add it to the risotto with the peas, lemon zest, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Continue cooking and adding stock, stirring almost constantly, until the rice is tender but still firm.
Whisk the lemon juice and mascarpone together in a small bowl. When the risotto is done, turn off the heat and stir in the mascarpone mixture plus the Parmesan cheese and chives. Set aside, off the heat, for a few minutes, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve hot with a sprinkling of chives and more Parmesan cheese.
-- The end of Charlie's finals, chocolate chip cookies, eating dinner outside, clean laundry, packing suitcases, seeing family
-- This song makes me think of summer and all of the good things that lay ahead in June, July, and August.
I have been very excited about the new film, Away We Go. Yesterday we secured our tickets for the pre-release screening on Friday May 15th. The screening will be followed by a question and answer session with director Sam Mendes and writers Vendela Vida and Dave Eggers. I am so looking forward to it! Tickets are $25 and all proceeds go to 826 Chicago. If you're interested in tickets, click here.
Beautiful Saturday in Chicago. The sun finally returned after a week of cloudy skies and rain. Kate and I spent the late morning painting trim and putting final touches on the walls of her new dining room. Kate and Adam moved into a new apartment late last week. It is a beautiful one, tucked on a quiet, lovely street. The trees hang low over the sidewalks and the neighborhood feels like it has real roots. The sun poured through the big windows as we balanced ourselves on stools and painted away. For a moment I could almost imagine that we were in our college apartment, painting and humming to the radio. There are no words to explain the comfort I find in the company of old friends.
After we cleaned up the paint, we enjoyed a leisurely late lunch and coffee. It was such a wonderful way to spend a Saturday.
This blog is a collection of photographs, short videos, items that catch my interest, the occasional recipe, and stories about my life with my partner in crime, Charlie. I've been blogging since 2001 and I think I've finally figured out how to edit html.
