We're well into the new year at this point, but as my "holiday" cards went out only last week, I'm still in New Year's mode. And New Year's for me is a time of new beginnings. I tend to think about resolutions, rather than actually make them - I don't know, maybe to hold myself less accountable for them, or forgive myself in advance if I can't actually follow through - but there's still a small list that I work from and think about periodically. This year's items seem to be centered around home, ironic in a year when many of the months ahead feature intense travel. Here are a couple of the things I'm thinking about:
-Cook! I'm not an intuitive cook. I really just want to follow recipes that someone else has created and tested and hope that they really work the way the book says they're going to (ha!). My goal for the year is to make an actual dinner that is more than just thrown together, and likely following recipes, at least once a week. To make this even vaguely plausible for me, I have to plan. I can't necessarily count on choosing something and having all of the ingredients already at home. So I have to choose a recipe in advance, make a shopping list, actually shop, and then I'm ready to go for it. So far this year I've done scallops, chicken with a honey glaze and an apricot sauce, and a quick poached fish, and I think one other thing that I can't remember. If this ridiculously cold weather keeps up, there will definitely be some stews in my future.
To aid in my cooking Project, Craig got me an actual, real person's kitchen knife as a holiday gift. I don't really like big knives. They are scary. I will be the first person to admit that I don't know how to use one. And yes, I know that sharp knives are safer and big knives make everything easier, but I've never had one of any quality (and no, the cheap set from Ikea that bends if you look at it doesn't count) to practice with. Now I do. And it works! Yay! What should I make next week?
-Crafts! Of course. I always want to do crafts. I've even had runs of several weeks at a time when I have free evenings to spend in the craft room. But more frequently I don't. And moreover, I want to do crafts in company. The stuff that I do is solitary in nature, and I like my space, and as long as I have music on, it's often company enough. But what I think would be really fun is a regular - once a month, even - gathering of people who bring their own crafty projects to a location. It's a MeetUp or a tea party or a chance to gossip, or all of the above. I haven't quite figured it out yet, and I don't really want to take on another organization project, but if by some slim chance of the imagination you're out there, live where I live, and want a crafting evening, let me know, and I will attempt to figure something out.
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| Photo of this year's prescient holiday card by C. Whear |
