Word of the year: Devotion

While I've read about people who've advocated for picking a "word of the year" for many years, I never felt drawn to pick on for myself.  People would rave about how it helped them to focus their priorities, align their inner compass, and to help them get back up when they fell. 

My life is in constant flux and has been for as long as I can remember - regular moves my entire life (seven states), grand and small adventures, starting a family, my husband's undergrad, grad-school, and military career, and now my own degree. As each of these major changes arises, I reorient, reassess, and move forward.

However, for a couple of weeks, I've been hearing a whisper of inspiration to claim a word for the coming year. While much good has come from this past year, I long for more clarity, direction, and fulfillment. I've been feeling inklings of inspiration for about a week and then last night felt clear that I would choose a word of the year. It is: 

(click through for calligraphy of one of my favorite poems and more!) 

Book Studies Capstone Project for Fall 2020 - Smith College Ada Comstock Scholar

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I am proud to say that I have completed my Book Studies Concentration Capstone project. I was the happy recipient of the Rosenthall Fellowship for Book Studies Capstone projects and am so grateful for all the support I received from my advisor, Barry Moser. 

Make Ahead Cranberry-Orange Relish and Maple Walnut Pie

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Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the US. Many of us will be spending Thanksgiving away from our loved ones. My wish is that each of us is still able to spend time focusing on how much we can be grateful for - we are all surrounded by reasons to be thankful, to hold on to hope, and to know that life has many joys in store. 

You were a good Jakerdog, rest in peace.

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This morning we said goodbye to our darling Jakerdog. We were with him and telling him how loved he is to the very last moment. Soon we will plant a bulb garden.

Mindset Matters - Elevate your thoughts to elevate your experience.

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I'm fascinated by how our brains work. I love reading books about how to use our brains to our best advantage. 

Notes from the Atelier - 10/7/2020

  at·el·ier

/ˌadlˈyā/

1: an artist's or designer's studio or workroom

With midterms fast approaching, I've been watching and listening to a lot of content. If my hands are busy then my brain is free to soak up whatever is going on. I've been itching to get back into spinning for sometime. In grade school we made drop spindles and learned how to spin, and while I'm certain it's in the garage somewhere, I couldn't find mine. 

At the beginning of the summer I ordered a 4" Hi/lo drop spindle from the Schacht Spindle Company, and some Targhee top. Top is similar to roving but the fibers are lined up, particularly for spinning. 

Apparently the world sold out of drop spindles and a few months later, mine arrived. It took a couple months before I actually had time to give it a go.

Canning 101 - Water Bath Canning for Beginners

 Canning 101 - Waterbath Canning for Beginners

12 years and counting.

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My Favorite Canning and Food-Preservation Books - 2020

 

Pictured here: recommended food preservation books and jars of food I've canned so far this year. Reviews and details below!

Jars pictured from left to right contain applebutter, apple sauce, maple-sweetened bread and butter pickles, roasted pepper and tomato sauce, blueberries in honey syrup, honey-sweetened bramble jam, and maple sweetened strawberry preserves.

Notes from the Atelier - 9/9/2020

  at·el·ier

/ˌadlˈyā/

1: an artist's or designer's studio or workroom

It's been a couple years since I regularly posted my Work In Progress Wednesday (WIP) posts. I miss them. 

So here's another of my fancy fresh start on those posts. 

 September 9th, 2020 Notes from the Atelier:

Zucchini Flour Popovers - Popovers part 3

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Zucchini flour popovers = delicious! 

4th Annual Daddy Princess Cake - This time it's Boston Cream Pie flavored! 2020

 

Daddy can have a princess cake every year if he wants to. 

Self-Care for Dinosaurs

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Just because you're a dinosaur, doesn't mean you shouldn't take care of yourself. 

In order to be the best dinosaur you can be, you must take care of yourself. Taking care of yourself isn't selfish or self-centered. 

Self-care is necessary.

Zucchini Flour - how to make it and a couple of recipes!

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It's zucchini season everyone! Yes, I'm still excited. I've processed more than 30lbs and have more to go, and more on the way! 

Over the years I've tried freezing, dehydrating, drying, dry canning homemade zucchini chips, making zukenoodles (zucchini noodles), and I have a recipe for zucchini relish I may try this year.

What's really exciting though, is zucchini flour! 

Make Crummy Stuff - You have to start where you are.

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This is a picture of me building the steps for my loft. Right at the top, you can see the extra piece I had to add because I miscalculated. Also, the steps totally didn't work. I had to add wider treads on top of this structure to use them easily.

Notes from the Atelier - 8/6/2020

at·el·ier

/ˌadlˈyā/

1: an artist's or designer's studio or workroom

It's been a couple years since I regularly posted my Work In Progress Wednesday (WIP) posts. I miss them. But not on Wednesdays in particular.

So here's my fancy fresh start on those posts. 

 August 6th, 2020 Notes from the Atelier:

 

It's Snailing!

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Phew! My semester is over and summer break has begun. 

Finals are in, final projects have been submitted, and one of my biggest semesters, both courseload and world-event wise, has come to a close.

While making many adjustments to the major plot-twist of the season, I made some cool stuff!

For a final project for one of my classes, I make woodcuts and printed some snails! 

Practicing Calligraphy

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If you follow me on social media, you might have noticed I've been having a lot of fun with calligraphy lately.