jan '21 favorites
Small things that made my January just a little bit better.
Recipe
Lately, I’ve been making Ina Garten’s Winter Minestrone Soup almost every other week. Although I pretend that Ina is my best friend the soup really is that good. Healthy. Flavorful. And flexible. Last night I did not have butternut squash so I substituted bell peppers. The time before I left out the spinach. I rarely have pancetta on hand so instead, I use bacon. Give it a try. I promise it won’t disappoint.
Book(s)
Non-Fiction:
Be The Bridge by Latsha Morrison. Over the past 6 months, I’ve been in the process of gaining a better understanding of the painful topic of racial injustice, white privilege, and the resulting divisions. I appreciated the insights in this book for integrating the complexities of racism with a faith-based approach for reconciliation.
Memoir:
Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs. I listened to this book in my car on CD, old-school. I’ll admit initially it didn’t register that it was written by Steve Jobs’s daughter. Hello! Anyway, I quickly realized I didn’t know much about Jobs except that he co-founded Apple and wore black every day. I found myself swinging from shocked to bewildered at the odd behaviors of Jobs as seen through the lens of his oldest daughter.
Art Supply
Golden Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold Fluid Acrylic Paint. (Now there’s a mouthful!) A heavily pigmented color that I guess I’d describe as transparent orange-brown. I swear it makes everything I paint look better. Love, love, love.
“I would like to paint the way a bird sings.”
From the Garden (not mine)
l am not normally a fan of red but it’s hard to resist the Pyracantha with its flamboyant pop of color. In the dead of winter, it is a vividly, cheerful sight. Not that we are expecting snow here in Seattle but I imagine it’d be breathtaking against a white background.
Discovery
Nest Reed Diffuser - Bamboo. I have been on the hunt for a highly scented diffuser for months, maybe years. Cheapskate that I am I refused to spend money on the highly-rated diffusers opting instead to spend the same amount of money on a variety of cheaper versions. I won’t make that mistake again. An expensive splurge worth every penny.
I’m curious, what’s on your list of favorites?
“It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.”
