Some Happy Scribbles...
Some Happy Scribbles...
About Birds, Tuliphood, Familiar Faces & Genius Chicken on Friday, May 6th
If it wasn’t already clear that I am firmly ensconced in middle age, my new procrastination pastime of admiring the birds that have taken over our garden is definitive proof.
I cannot get enough of the tooting and peeping each morning when the sun comes up, the merry hopping and pecking across the lawn, the swooping and fluttering from tree to tree, and the nests they are busily building everywhere. We returned from a weekend away to find a large nest perched precariously above a shutter on our front porch with two fierce robins chirping and batting their wings aggressively whenever we enter and exit the house!
Watching and waiting for birds to take dainty sips of water from the birdbath on our patio is my current favorite form of non-screen entertainment, and I desperately want to get a picture or video of this exciting activity – but the birds are too quick for me.
So instead, I am taking millions of photographs of the tulips I’m growing in my cutting garden.
I am fascinated by the progression of these gorgeous flowers: from tight, bright and uniform, to open, blowsy and gorgeously faded.
They remind me of growing up and getting older, or at least my experience of it: when I was young, I desperately wanted to fit in and be just like everyone else, and hid much of myself.
Now, in my late 40’s, I am mostly comfortable being myself, and no longer spend as much time worrying that my thoughts and feelings are weird or embarrassing or odd or silly.
Which has me thinking that maybe it would be nice to think of growing older as “tuliphood” - the gradual process of relaxing into our truest, most beautiful, comfortable selves.
Here are some more of the things that made me happy this week.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Amelia
Familiar Faces
Last weekend we went to visit Jim’s parents in St. Louis as a birthday surprise for his dad. We caught up with relatives, and relaxed at Jim’s childhood home, which is one of my favorite places in the world because, set on a leafy cul-de-sac, with a handsome white-brick façade, it reminds me of the suburban homes in John Hughes movies from the 80’s.
But my very favorite thing about the Wilson house is not architectural – it’s the enormous, framed photo collage on the kitchen wall, curated for over 40 years by Jim’s mom, Susie.
It is at least 8 feet by 4 feet, and covered in hundreds of photographs of the Wilson family and their loved ones at all ages and stages of life. Visitors are immediately drawn to it; perusing is highly addictive.
Susie updates the pictures regularly, but many images are perennial and I love standing in front of the board, checking out my old favorites, and being happily surprised by new ones. I’ve noticed the same thing happens at our house each year, when we pin the holiday cards we receive to the (much smaller) pinboard in our mudroom. Everyone loves looking at it.
These collections of pictures are the most humble wall decorations, but I think, the most meaningful. It feels good to look at all those faces, relive those memories, and appreciate how much they mean to the family in the house.
Familiar Faces, Part Two
This week, I was lucky enough to have lunch with two close friends who I do not see often enough, and who happen to have faces I love!
The night before, I had been to an event where I didn’t know anyone well, which made me feel stiff and nervous. On the way there, I thought up a few non-controversial conversation starters, so as to avoid uncomfortable silences.
But at lunch, no such preparation was needed! We plunged directly into our worries, frustrations and fears, husbands, children, money - all of it. It was a good reminder that seeing close friends should be high on my priority list; and to remember this next time something little and less important threatens to get in the way.
Popcorn and Pieces of Her
I was home alone for one night this week and reveled in the facts that 1. I did not have to cook dinner for anyone else; and 2. I had the TV to myself!
And so I proceeded to eat popcorn (popped on the stove-top, therefore a home-made dinner!) and binge-watched season one of Pieces of Her, which is a suspenseful series on Netflix that absolutely did not resolve at the end, and undoubtedly will be back with more twists and turns.
Wedding Movies
I am working on a novel which is centered on a wedding to be held at the bride’s family home, and because writing is hard and I frequently run out of self-generated inspiration, I have been taking “approved research breaks” and dipping back into all my favorite wedding movies: Father of the Bride, High Society, Steel Magnolias, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and Meet the Parents.
Few things make me happier than a dreamy rom-com / wedding movie and my goal is that when it’s done, my novel will feel like these movies: fun, light-hearted and entertaining!
Genius Chicken and Mother’s Day Meals
I made this from Genius Recipes last night and remembered that it was the recipe that converted me to my current status as a chicken thigh-lover.
It is so simple that it’s barely a recipe, hence the “genius” title.
Some notes: you really must use a cast iron skillet to get the best crispy skin, and you can skip the preserved lemon and use regular lemons instead. In fact, last night I forgot all about the lemon, and it was still delicous!
I thought this NY Times piece on easy Mother’s Day dinners was delightful: if your family expresses the desire to cook for you this Sunday, foward it on!
