Simple Joys
Written by Rachel, Posted in Books, Thoughts
I spent a good portion of my day with hands submerged in sudsy water. Washing glasses, plates, bowls, spoons – treasures that we found at an estate sale over the weekend. Cupboards and shelves had to be re-arranged to make room for my new toys. This delights me.
I spent the last 30 minutes pulling dried herbs off their stems and pouring them into labeled jars. Chocolate mint, thyme, savory – the smell lingers on my hands and it is divine.
I spent a while at lunch reading a book about cooking. I have two going at the same time. I stop one for a while and pick up the other. One, The School of Essential Ingredients, is a second hand book that Tim found for me. It’s a novel about cooking. And so far, the way the author describes things resonates so perfectly in my brain. It makes me want to shout, “exactly”! She puts things into words that I would have never known needed desperately to be described.
And then there’s the book that I am reading along with pen and paper close at hand, so I can jot down ideas. “An Everlasting Meal” by Tamar Adler. It makes me long for simpler times. But, at the same time realize that I have everything at my fingertips to create what I’ve begun to crave… Good olive oil, homemade bread, vegetables, cheese, salt… This will probably make up tonight’s dinner.
I’m on the first chapter, entitled, “How to Boil Water”. I thought I knew, yet I’m learning so much. I’m feeling a renewed desire to cook, to spend hours in the kitchen – creating, learning, boiling, stirring… tasting.
One of my favorite lines so far, “…fresh vegetables can be just as beautiful when they’re pale and faded. Nature isn’t persistently bright; it wears and ages.” The simplicity in these words takes my breath away.
Hope your days are filled with your own versions of these simple joys.
Would you mind sharing the book titles? And maybe take some pictures of your new treasures? I love how you decorate and arrange your treasures.
Hey Jenn! The first book (the novel) is called “The School of Essential Ingredients” by Erica Bauermeister. The second is “An Everlasting Meal” by Tamar Adler. There are links to each in the post. And, yes, I will take some photos. Thank you for the sweet compliment. 🙂