Louise Miller's Blog: snapshots - Posts Tagged "dirt"

I spent a lot of time thinking about balance this week. It was an excellent week—it began with an amazing production of Sarah Ruhl’s The Oldest Boy, directed by a dear friend, and ended with seeing the raw and honest and inspiring Eve Ensler in her new piece In the Body of the World. This week I had the good fortune of meeting two writers—one who is also publishing her debut with my editor, the other someone I had only met on social media. I went to a wonderful reading where I got to see author-friends of mine shine. Meanwhile, work continued to be busy—it was the 3rd 6-day week in a row, and everyone in the kitchen seemed pretty tired, myself included, but there was still cakes to be baked and decorated, tapioca to be stirred, chocolate-walnut cookies to be scooped—so when I wasn’t doing something fun and social, I was busy baking. This level of busyness, even when i'm participating in all things I am committed to and love, I find super challenging. I need a certain amount of space-out time to myself, and time to be outside, not to mention time to write! But it can feel challenging to make that time, and to commit to it. How do we carve out and keep sacred the necessary time to just be—with ourselves and with our work? I am determined to find out.

What I am reading: I have just started reading a friend’s debut novel for a potential blurb. It is the first time anyone has asked me to blurb them! I am deeply honored!

On the Ipod: I’ve been back to The Clash. This week it has been the record London Calling. The Clash hold an exuberance that I turn to when I need to be lifted up, and a wide world-view when I’m feeling stuck. Plus they make me feel like I am 14 when I am feeling a bit creaky. Music really is a time machine.

In the kitchen: I had to check my instagram feed to see if I made anything I was excited about. Nope. Another work-horse week. Hopefully this week will leave more time for playing with new ideas in the kitchen.

Book news: I spent yesterday brainstorming questions for a reading guide for The City Baker's Guide to Country Living. It is challenging and fun to try and look at my novel from the point of view of a reader!

Random cheer: The best part of the week for me was digging up and weeding my community garden plot. If you like playing in the dirt as much as I do, here is a super cheery tour of The White House kitchen garden—
http://www.eater.com/2016/5/11/116568...

Cheery, productive, balanced week to all of you! May we all make the time in our days for spacing out, aimless rambles, digging in the dirt and dreaming up stories.

When I think about this past week, almost all of my memories happened in the garden. Plenty of other things happened: Work continues to be busy. I saw two plays that were both amazing in very different ways. I had coffee with my meditation instructor and finished watching this season of Girls. I took a lot of notes about book two, circling it like a bird of prey, finding my way in. But I found myself over and over again returning to our community garden plot. It’s the place in the world that makes the most sense. We stayed until sunset on Wednesday planting the heirloom tomatoes that my partner started from seed. I stopped by the next day to water them, and ended up lingering for hours, finally planting my flower seeds I had been carrying around in my purse. All cutting flowers: giant zinnias and dwarf sunflowers, cosmos and snapdragons. If you want to experience faith first hand, try planting a garden from seed. It feels impossible that this expanse of dirt where I tucked tiny, hard brown specks barely under the surface of the earth will grow into a glorious patch of flowers. Every year I hold my breath until the little seedlings spout. I can’t wait.

In the meantime, I’ve been watching the ants work their necessary magic on my peony buds. The first blossom has opened! Here is a picture:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGNCuxZPZAn/

In the kitchen: Often my favorite recipes are ones I make up on the fly. This week I made coconut key lime bars by substituting shredded coconut for part of the flour in a short crust, and topping it with key lime pie filling. I’ll add more filling next time, but they tasted delicious!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGJ9vVvvZJd/

What I’m reading: Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler. As a writer, reader AND restaurant person, I’ve been dying to read this debut ever since I read about the sale. So far, so GREAT.

Book news: I had the very cheery opportunity to listen to clips of possible audiobook narrators! I am a big pan of audiobooks and am thrilled that The City Baker's Guide to Country Living is going to be one. Very fun!

Random cheer: My new favorite Twitter account: 100% Goats. https://twitter.com/EverythingGoats?r...

May we all have the opportunity to get dirt under our fingernails. Happy week, people!