The in-between
Annie & Alison Newsletter #7
We’re in the “in-between,” aren’t we?
In between the cold of winter and the buds of spring. In between total fear of the pandemic and vaccination against infection. In between recognizing injustice and making restitution. In between Good Friday and Easter.
I am in between jobs. In between my move to Minneapolis and impending move to Chicago. Smack dab in between my late 20’s and early 30’s (yikes).
What do we do in the in-between? Maybe we blast the music and sing along, like on a long car ride, distracting ourselves until we get there. Perhaps we decide to sprint to our next destination as fast as we can. Right now, I’m walking slowly from one thing to another. Trying to notice the fleeting things that I pass by: the sunset from our balcony, the solitary goose waddling through the REI parking lot, the smell of roasting tomatoes. I’m trying to purposefully use this time (though I don’t always succeed). As much as I love singing in the car, I don’t want to arrive and feel like the trip was a musical blur.
Oh, and speaking of a solitary goose! …Kidding. Here’s this week’s reviewed recipe round-up:
42 recipes cooked, 183 to go.
During this week of cooking…
I learned… how to strain and reuse chicken fat. To do so, simply strain your chicken fat and reuse it. Then up your breakfast game and fry some eggs and kale in it!
I read… so much Mary Oliver. As always, I am moved by her particular way of noticing nature and its fleeting beauty. When I read her poems, I’m reminded of how remarkable the world is. Here’s an excerpt from her poem, “Snow Geese” that hit me over the head this week: “Oh, to love what is lovely, and will not last! / What a task / to ask / of anything, or anyone, / yet it is ours, / and not by the century or the year, but by the hours.”
I watched… moreee Survivor. We’re hopping around to different seasons. Currently watching Season 27: Blood vs. Water, and yes, Cierra did just vote out her own mom!
I was serious about the chicken fat. Give it a try this week.
xo,
Annie
