January slog

January is a month in which I feel inspiration trying to make its way out from a heavy fog. As I type this, sunshine is touching my ankles, which is more than I can say for this time last year. Nevertheless, I'm finding myself without aim for this post, so I'm going to take a cue from a few of my favorite bloggers and share a LIST! Partially made of LINKS! It's the lazy person's way to blog and a good way to make me feel like I'm actually doing, making, reading, feeling, eating, etc., because, well, I am.

Winter fruit compote from the slow cooker

Reading: Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. I unofficially joined this reading challenge, and this fits into the category of "book I've been meaning to read." I'm loving Stegner's style so far and how he sets the stage with a curmudgeonly, physically disabled narrator who is writing a book about his family. I'm a sucker for generational novels, and cranky grandpas, so this just right.

Watching: Where to begin? We're checking out as many Oscar nominees as we can (or care to). I've been carrying out a slow-going Dustin Hoffman film fest since Christmas break (more on that in a future post, probably). Also, we binge-watched "Transparent" over the course of about a week (because that's what you're supposed to do, right?). What can I say about Jeffrey Tambor except that I am absolutely in awe. With the caveat that there is a lot of nudity and sex and potential for discomfort for the average primetime viewer, this is the first show in a long time that has infiltrated my thoughts. I think about it often over the course of a day. What is love, acceptance, gender, family, when it comes right down to it? What really matters in relating with each other? 

Eating: A few weeks ago, I went over to a friend's house and we made pie crusts. Tons of pie crusts. They are all in my freezer now, so if you have a sweet or savory pie filling suggestion, please send it along. In the meantime, I've been satisfying my sweet tooth with a winter fruit compote. This is unlike me to like a fruit compote, but this one is quite good, especially with some plain yogurt and sliced almonds. I posted the recipe over here. Also, SOUP. I am eating soup all the time for lunch lately. Turns out it's easy to make on a Sunday afternoon, it's cheap, it lasts all week, and I don't even get tired of it. I made this one (tomato and chickpea) two weeks ago, this one (carrot, cannellini and coriander) last week, and this week I'm enjoying a lentil and sweet potato soup. 

Making: In my last post I mentioned that one thing I wanted to do this year is to sew with knit fabric. On Sunday, I successfully finished a really fun smocky thing! It's Burda pattern 7645, view A. I've been wearing leggings with a frequency that would make my 13-year-old self squirm, but my 32-year-old self, who happens to be wearing leggings right now feels okay about the fact that the top meets my stringent length requirements (i.e., covers my butt). It looks really cute with a thin belt. It will be great for spring. I'll ask my photographer to snap a photo of me in an easy-breezy pose, like the models on the pattern, so you can see for yourself. 

Writing: I've already noticed an improvement in my handwriting (a new year's resolution), not to mention my mental clarity, through my effort to keep better notes about life. Much as I love my online notes on Evernote and Wunderlist and boards on Pinterest, there is something that will always appeal to me in physically writing things down. I have a daily combo of writing in my Line A Day (at the end of each day) and a bullet journal (throughout the day). And then I read this article in The Atlantic, which highlights what I've long known since starting a blog all those years ago - that there is value in documenting ordinary moments. It's fascinating and you should read it. I was also featured on my friend Cara's blog, sharing a story that continues to challenge me. It was really fun to read and respond to readers' notes! Cara does an incredible job of building community online. She's inspiring.

Listening: While I've felt like I'm falling so out of the loop when it comes to music lately, podcasts are making me feel like I'm in the know about everything else. I just added "Invisibilia" to my weekly listening mix, which is a new one from the NPR folks. The first episode was all about mental health - which I thought would be a total snoozefest, but I was riveted. I'm also enjoying a podcast called "Reply All," which is a "show about the internet." Others in weekly rotation, in case you're looking for new stuff to listen to: Dinner Party Download, Pop Culture Happy Hour, A Tiny Sense of Accomplishment, The Splendid Table, Death Sex & Money, Spilled Milk, You Must Remember This, To The Best of Our Knowledge, and This American Life.