Some Happy Scribbles...
The Benefits Of In-Between
I have long been disappointed with springtime in New York. In the Hudson Valley, where I live, spring is affectionately (and accurately) deemed “mud season.” And ever since March 2020, this time of year will always remind me of the fearful and eerie early days of pandemic lockdown, when we ventured outside every now and again to find grey, rainy, cold weather that seemed to match the depressing onslaught of news.
All of which is to say, spring is my least favorite season, so I must work extra hard to find things to appreciate. Because this season has a very “two steps forward, three steps back” vibe, I’ve decided to simply embrace it…For example: I’m still setting fires in the fireplace every night, but I’m no longer wearing winter coats. I’m keeping the cozy flannel sheets on our beds, but I’m buying fresh flowers to brighten up the house – like these humble grocery store tulips looking so handsome in the morning sun.
Here are some more of the things that made my happy this week.
Have a great weekend!
Love,
Amelia
A Surprise Compliment
Parenting is a job that comes with very little in the way of positive performance reviews, so I was delighted to receive some nice feedback this week, by way of one of Teddy’s teachers.
“I have to tell you what Teddy said to me!” His teacher said when I arrived to pick him up. “I was asking him about spring break, which he said was wonderful, and then I asked how you and Jim were, and he said, oh, they’re amazing!” She continued. “He did?” I asked. “Wow! Thanks for telling me.”
As I drove away with Teddy in the back seat, my cheeks began to hurt from the huge, silly smile on my face. Wanting to be cool, but desperate to hear more, I asked Teddy what he meant by “oh they’re amazing” - had we said or done something that made him say that? “No, I said that because you guys are great parents.” He replied, oh so casually, before changing the subject.
My smile grew wider as I drove home, savoring the compliment, and feeling, at least for a few minutes, like being a parent is the greatest thing in the world!
Wearing Sunshine
Given the ongoing need for warm clothes, and my aforementioned spring ambivalence, I decided to go out and buy myself some sunshine, in the form of this very bright yellow sweater. It’s slouchy and comfortable and wearing it on grey days makes me smile.
Ash Barty Is Doing It Her Way
In a very shocking move, Ash Barty, the world number one women’s tennis player, announced her retirement from professional tennis this week.
She’s leaving at the very top of her game, aged 25, to “chase other dreams.” Watching her speak about her decision to retire was inspiring – she says she’s basing her choice entirely on what feels right, and meaningful, for her. I can only imagine the huge amount of pressure for her to continue playing – from sponsors and the tennis establishment – not to mention the lure of the money she could earn from endorsements and winnings. I am in awe of her clarity - she knew what a successful tennis career meant for her, and now that she’s achieved it, she’s satisfied, happy and fulfilled, and ready to move on to other goals. It takes a ton of courage to walk away from all the “shoulds” and temptations of fame, success, and money, and I am so proud of her. I can’t wait to see what Ash does next.
Two Winning Dinners
I wouldn’t call my kids terribly fussy eaters, but they are quite specific about what they like and don’t like. Every now and again Sadie makes noises about being a vegetarian, and Teddy requests just mashed potatoes for dinner a LOT. So it’s always thrilling to cook something that satisfies everyone in the family, and this week, to my delight, I made two dinners in a row that BOTH kids approved of and actively enjoyed! Now that I think about it, the common link is clearly the fact that no vegetables are discernible in either meal, but this was solved by providing a side dish of fresh fruit or vegetables.
First up was this very simple chicken noodle soup recipe that I discovered in the New York Times. A few notes: I used chicken thighs instead of breasts, added some garlic with the ginger for a little more flavor, and used white wine not rice wine. It’s an excellent, brothy, cozy and filling soup for coldish days.
The other dinner winner was a plain risotto, using Alice Waters’ classic recipe below:
Risotto Bianco from The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters
2 tablespoons butter (I use olive oil instead)
1 small onion or shallott diced fine
1 ½ cups risotto rice (Arborio, Canaroli, Baldo or Vialone Nano)
5 cups chicken broth (homemade is best, if store bought, use low sodium)
½ cup dry white wine
Finish with:
1 tablespoon butter (I skip this)
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano)
Melt the butter or olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat, add the diced onion or shallot and cook about 10 minutes until it’s translucent. Add the rice and cook about 4 minutes. In a separate pan, bring the chicken broth to a boil, and remove from heat. Pour the white wine over the rice and cook, stirring often, until all wine is absorbed. Add 1 cup of the warm broth and cook at a vigorous simmer (some bubbles, but not boiling) while stirring occasionally. When the rice starts to thicken, pour in another ½ cup of broth. Keep adding broth ½ cup at a time every time the rice thickens, and don’t let the rice dry out. Cook rice until it’s tender but still has a firm core —20 to 30 minutes total. Once you’re almost out of broth, and happy with the rice’s texture, turn off the heat, add the last tablespoon of butter and grated Parmigiano cheese and stir to develop a creamy starch. Let it rest 2 minutes before serving.
A Screen-Free Saturday with Old Friends
Last weekend, we spent an entire afternoon and early evening with some of our oldest and best friends. We all met when our kids were babies and toddlers, so have known each other for more than a decade. Because the weather was warm, we were outside, and in addition to the joy of being with people we love, we had the rare pleasure of watching our children running around and playing games for hours on end with nary a screen in sight. It felt like a throwback to the backyard parties I remember from my childhood, and was so refreshing (and reassuring) to see a group of kids aged 3-16 interact happily without screens!
A Gift From My Past Self
Do you ever do something kind for yourself and forget about it? This week, I had a lovely surprise, when, scouring the pantry for dinner ideas that would not involve a trip to the grocery store, I found this jar of “Sensitive Marinara” sauce. As everyone I’m close to is aware, I have a few (!!) tummy issues and follow a specific diet to alleviate them. I must have bought this at the store, brought it home, put it away, and completely forgotten about it.
I loved discovering this little gift to myself from myself, and am thinking it could be a fun thing to do as a regular happiness-booster: leave a small treat somewhere I can find it later…
A Poem For Now
Every now and again I love to dip in to a book of poetry. This week, I opened Mary Oliver’s Devotions and happened upon this poem, which speaks directly to the way I feel at the moment: guilty and unsure about my “right” to live in comfort and safety, spending my time contemplating - and actively seeking - happiness and joy, when so many people are living with unimaginable terror, pain, and loss. I struggle with how happy and joyful I “should” allow myself to be - it can feel almost immoral when others are suffering. But I also believe these lines are true: Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.
What do you think?
Don’t Hesitate by Mary Oliver
If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty
of lives and whole towns destroyed or about
to be. We are not wise, and not very often
kind. And much can never be redeemed.
Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this
is its way of fighting back, that sometimes
something happens better than all the riches
or power in the world. It could be anything,
but very likely you notice it in the instant
when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the