Little Things, Big Joy: Summer Things, Ya Know?
It’s easy to admit that Summer isn’t my favorite season. I’m overwhelmed by the heat and it very quickly turns me into this basement dwelling kind of goblin. I want dimly lit rooms, frozen fruits, spooky podcasts, and evening walks when the sun has long slipped behind the horizon.
But I won’t deny that Summer does have its moments. Little gems of joy that have popped up, giving this goblin a reason to leave the basement for a few hours.
Perch Plants & Odds & Ends
This new shop is one of those gems that just popped up in Phoenixville. The owner Jes clearly loves filling spaces with interesting baubles and eye-catching plants - it’s so freaking cozy.
She Only Goes Out At Night
Night walks with a camera have become a new sort of habit. It’s been something nagging at me for quite some time - to bring a camera out with me, capture things with no pretense, love the moments I’ve captured even when they are completely wrong in composition or lighting. I’m currently renting the Nikon Z5 and it feels like I’m back in my early 20s. No expectations, just chance moments.
Ugh, I love beans.
How can I convince you to eat more beans? Possibly with this recipe. I love beans. Especially white beans with their creamy consistency.
Lemon & Thyme Marinated Beans
1 can cannellini beans (drained, rinsed)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 T. olive oil
1 T. freshly chopped thyme (oregano or basil would also be delicious)
Zest from lemon
Salt and pepper
I’ve also added smoked paprika, garlic, fresh parmesan or cumin to the bean marinade. It’s really hard to mess this one up, the brightness from the lemon makes it all taste delicious.
We eat a lot of avocado toast in this house and this little addition is so bright. Along with pickled red onions, I could eat this on everything.
A little self-care routine does a goblin good
This oil from Moss & Brooke is basically a dream for my sensitive skin. I use it right after a shower or at night when I need a little calming restore. It’s delicate but somehow makes me feel like I am transported to another time. It makes me feel special. That’s something, isn’t it? Especially when you’ve gone full goblin.
The goblin stays reading
My TBR list is long but I’m allowing myself to read slowly this Summer and read only what interests me. This means letting go of those books that aren’t holding my interest. As a complete-ist - this is new to me and feels absurd. What do you mean you DIDN’T FINISH A BOOK THAT YOU DIDN’T LIKE? But ya know, it’s too hot to be reading anything that doesn’t take your breathe away.
The Hidden Histories of Houseplants
The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni
Write for Life: Creative Tools for Every Writer
Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver
Books I did not finish and probably won’t go back to? The first one on the list is a hard pill to swallow.
Babel by R.F. Kuang *I do think I’ll give The Poppy War a go sometime this winter.
As I finish this post I am looking out the window that faces our backyard. It’s a cloudy, quiet Friday morning and it has settled me in a way that sunny days just do not do. There are a crew of sparrows taking turns in the solar powered bath and I’ve switched out my office chair for Mike’s so that I can sit a little taller and watch them.
Summer is all bad, I suppose.
