Little Things, Big Joy: Birds, Books, and Binoculars
Since March 2020, I’ve been embracing the little things that give me big joy. I don’t think I’m alone in this, but I do wonder as we move towards a new normal and our lives continue to fill up with the activities we had to let go of (temporarily), can we still receive big joy from the little things?
My answer is I hope so.
To keep myself grounded in this act of reflection, I’m sharing 8 things that are giving me big joy.
Tomato Jam
You could not pay me to eat tomatoes when I was a kid, but now I realize it’s one of those most versatile staples in my everyday cooking. Tomato jam goes well with everything. It’s also my favorite recipe to make for friends and family. When cooking, I’m of the school of “add a little of this until it tastes good”. So, I did my best to create reasonable measurements.
One pint grape tomatoes, cut in half
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 - 1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder (or fresh garlic, minced)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white vinegar
Add tomatoes and olive oil to small sauce pan and cook on medium heat to allow the tomatoes to release their juices. Stir in spices and fresh garlic (if using) and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add brown sugar and white vinegar a tablespoon at a time until dissolved. Taste and adjust as needed. Bring to a boil. Reduce temperature to simmer and let the mixture reduce to a jammy consistency, about 20 minutes.
Wildlife Ecology (FIELDWORK) Episode from Ologies with Ali Ward
This episode is full of everything I love to learn about, and Corina Newsome’s bright enthusiasm for what she does is downright contagious. Corina, if you ever read this - you had me at “Fiddler crabs are characters. I could watch this crab all day, sun beating down, sunscreen melted off me, I could sit here all day…they just have drama between each other and it’s just like telenovela for crabs.”
Listen to the Ologies Episode Wildlife Ecology
Follow Corina Newsome on Instagram and learn more about her work and creation of #BlackBirdersWeek
Follow Ali Ward on Instagram
Adding Water Sources for our feathery and furry friends
Adding bird baths and solar water fountains to the backyard has been a game changer for my evening birdwatching. Is there anything sweeter than a demanding fledging bothering its mother while she takes a quick bath in a water basin? No. It’s freaking hilarious to me and gives me ridiculous joy.
All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter
This book. It reminded me so much of the Grimms Fairy Tales, but from what I understand most of the stories within are from the imagination of the author and yet they feel old, like they’ve been told many times. Reading this book, I felt I could smell the salt air, feel the harsh stone under my hands, and the curl of fear in my stomach. It’s magical and lush, chilling, and unexpected.
Long ago Miren O’Malley’s family prospered due to a deal struck with the mer: safety for their ships in return for a child of each generation. But for many years the family have been unable to keep their side of the bargain and have fallen into decline. Miren’s grandmother is determined to restore their glory, even at the price of Miren’s freedom.
A spellbinding tale of dark family secrets, magic and witches, and creatures of myth and the sea; of strong women and the men who seek to control them.
All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter
Painting Crystals
During our first heatwave of the Summer, I spent time looking through older work and my beginnings as a painter. There was a time when I only wanted to paint crystals, to create layers and depth and straight lines - it was sort of an obsession. A friend asked why I didn’t paint them anymore and apart from it not being my current focus in my work, I also said “Because they take too much time.”
Hm. I stopped doing something that I enjoyed because I didn’t think I could allow myself the time that it took away from other things. Well, shit. That had to change.
Are they perfect? No. Will I sell them? Probably not. Do they make me feel happy? Yes.
In the Gardens
I’ve been spending more time visiting outdoor gardens, in all kinds of weather and it’s one of my favorite things in this Season of life. Photos below are from Chanticleer Garden and Longwood Gardens.
Celebrating 36 with Crust Vegan Bakery
Listen…if you’re local to Philadelphia area and you haven’t visited Crust Vegan Bakery yet, please do so immediately. We celebrated my 36th Birthday with a delicious pistachio, vanilla, raspberry cake that is making my mouth water again just typing this up.
Crust’s owner Shannon Roche is a real one, and I’m grateful we met through the Wellstruck Community.
Shop/Visit Crust Vegan Bakery
Follow Crust Vegan Bakery on Instagram
Binocular Fail or New Art?
About those birds and critters in the backyard…
I’ve been using my phone and binoculars to record video of birds taking quick baths in the basins I’ve set up, it’s a tricky business and lining up the lens of your iPhone camera and the lens of the binocular is not always easy (unless you have one of these, which I should probably purchase.)
So when things don’t line up, and the light hits all the glass in the binoculars - something kind of magical happens. I had to snap a few photos of what occurs when the iPhone is just slightly off center, tell me this is not the most wild thing you’ve ever seen?!
So, my friend.
Let me invite you to share some of the little things that are giving you big joy right now ↓
