It’s been a rough week health-wise, filled with more tests, more specialists, more doc visits, so I’m trying to make it as pleasant as possible by filling my other moments with tasks and projects that I love.
I’ve started doing puzzles again, smiling to myself as I remember how much I love doing them. They remind me of Christmases past where a puzzle on the game table was always on the go for anyone fancying a few minutes of searching for just the right piece. The library was getting rid of stacks of them so I nabbed a few featuring beautiful scenes from Europe and am excited to clear off the veranda table as a designated puzzle spot.
I’ve also been reading, a lot. It’s amazing how much reading you can get done waiting for appointments. 🙂 I always have a stack of books on the go, and here are a few from my stack this week.
“Food DIY” by Tim Hayward. I’ve been researching how to make my own prosciutto, salami, duck terrine, and bacon, and this book is a wealth of practical, funny, and inspiring information.
I love history, any history, so I’m thoroughly enjoying “1913” by Florian Illies. It captures the lives and events of 1913 through the lives of people who would impact the 20th Century for good and for ill. I’m fascinated by the intersecting of personalities I’ve only ever studied on an individual level: Rilke and Freud, Hitler and Stalin, Kafka and Proust.
This month I have started knitting lessons, taught via Skype by my knitting wunderkind friend, Marie, from Knitting the Moment. To augment my studies, and give me inspiration to see me through the frustration of dropped stitches and befuddling techniques, I’m reading “Knitting Around the World” by Lela Nargi. I love seeing the intricacy of works from around the globe and learning the history and traditions of various cultures.
I’m also doing a bit of re-reading, delving back into books that have touched my heart and opened my mind. I love reading autobiographies and biographies, learning what shapes and alters the beliefs, hopes, dreams, and choices of people. “The Dance of the Dissident Daughter” and “Almost There” are two such books, gifts from dear friends that drew me right in and alternately comforted, shook, affirmed, startled, freed, and awakened me.
So much reading requires the accompaniment of comfort food, so I turned to my old favorites: hot scones slathered with butter and lingonberry jam.
What are some of your most pleasurable projects? xo
Scones
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp sea salt
1 Tbsp raw sugar
1/2 cup cold butter, grated
2/3 cup cold milk
1 large egg
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450 F (210 C)
- Stir together flour, baking powder, sea salt, and raw sugar. Add grated butter and toss with flour mixture to distribute evenly. Cut in more if pieces are too big.
- Mix together cold milk and egg and pour over flour mixture. Toss gently with a fork until it holds together.
- Turn over onto floured surface and mix with hands only until it forms a ball that holds together.
- Press ball flat until about 3/4 inch thick and cut into 8 triangles. (You can bake as is or brush tops with beaten egg and sprinkle with raw sugar.)
- Bake 10-12 minutes until golden brown on top.
- Serve warm or cool.
Krista, sorry to hear you’ve not been well and there are more tests… do hope all will be positive, my friend. You have a pile of very interesting reading here! And I love your scones! Liz from bizzylizzysgoodthings.com
Thank you, @lizposmyk:disqus , hoping for a positive outcome keeps me going. 🙂 XO
Hope you get sorted out ok soon. Love your reading list. I have the Tim Hayward book find it so inspiring (although living in a hot country means some of the projects aren’t practical). The 1913 book looks like something I would love to read and I’m searching for the knitting book right now to give to my sister.
Thanks so much, @MyCustardPie:disqus 🙂 Yes, I’ve been thinking the same thing about some of the Hayward projects that suit cool weather but not my hot Queensland weather. I’ve been trying to think how to make some of them work by building a cool cellar of some kind where I can hang meat and whatnot. I hope to get some creative inspiration soon. 🙂
My very favourite thing to do in the world, even more than eating and yoga…is to read. I have a few goodies on my bedside table that I keep sneaking up to delve into while the kids are otherwise occupied x
I’m delighted to learn you love books and reading too, Kristin. 🙂
There is nothing that fails to look better after some fresh scones and jam. I had some really nice ones this morning at my Ma-In-Laws place. She is having ongoing Chemotherapy and when her daughters come for a visit from out of town, they take on her role of making scones on Sunday for the extended family. My much loved Sis-in-law (49) made them this morning and I declared them the best ever. Even better than the Teacher’s! I like your triangular ones Krista with their golden brown tops. I know you must be sick of all these tests, but don’t give up cheering yourself up with special projects. We love hearing about them and seeing your gorgeous photographs.
What a marvelous tradition to share with your extended family, @budgetjan:disqus 🙂 I do get discouraged some days but I try to take heart and be thankful to be alive, if nothing else. 🙂
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had to have more tests Krista. Time well spent reading through all of your lovely books and eating one of my favourite things – scones 🙂 May you get stronger day by day 🙂 Learning knitting via Skype – that’s amazing! Good luck with that. I’ve got a few cross stitches I need to work on, they’ve been getting neglected…
Thank you so much, @wanderingsheila:disqus 🙂 More strength each day would be wonderful. I’m so excited that I CAN learn to knit over Skype! 🙂 It is brilliant! She just turns her laptop around and knits in front of the camera so I can see exactly how to do it. She demonstrates as many times as I need her too and I show her how I’m doing it and she gives me tips and I can ask questions and we can visit and it’s great. 🙂
Sorry to hear you haven’t been feeling well, hope that will turn soon. Knitting is something I would like to learn as well, how is the Skype thing working out? PS lovely looking Scones 🙂
The Skype Knitting Class is working brilliantly, Gitte. 🙂 We both have laptops so we can swivel them around and put our hands in front of the camera if we need demonstrations. It’s great! I love having her there to show me (over and over again!) how to do things and to be able to show her what I’m doing so she can help me through any rough spots. And it’s great to be able to chat while we’re knitting. It’s almost as good as being in the same room. 🙂
Oh Krista, sorry to hear you are back in the waiting and examination rooms. . .glad you go equipped with diversions. Hope they figure out a plan of attack for you and get you back on the road to health. Love the variety of reading materials. . .if you are looking for another good book to escape those office walls, consider The Bone People by Keri Hulme. Set in New Zealand and one of the best books I’ve ever read! Show us the results of your knitting lessons when you get to that point, okay? Hugs. . .
Thanks so much for the book recommendation, @disqus_WseMqaTPwi:disqus 🙂 I will check the library tomorrow to see if they have it. 🙂 I will show you my knitting project when I actually make something. 🙂 So far it consists of one row of casting on. 🙂
Poor thing on the health front. You’re doing all the right things – good environment, happy relationship, clean water, good books and more. Oh and good food – those scones are calling me all the way up here.
I’m trying to do the right things, @disqus_v9uRgGTGfe:disqus 🙂 Hopefully one day they WILL be the right things. 🙂 XO
Sorry to hear about you not feeling well, but you are coping in the best way possible by enjoying all the little things you love so much!!
No worries, dear Val, it’s just how things are right now. I hope it will get better soon. 🙂 XO
My dear Krista, I am so sorry to read that you have still got to the bottom of your health problems, let us hope this latest round of tests, will help you move on. xx
You certainly have a varied selection of books on the go at the moment!
I’m afraid I can’t ever just focus on one book, @LindyLouMac:disqus 🙂 I dance around gathering snippets according my mood. 🙂
Scones and reading are the perfect companions. Or some good cheese. I just requested 1913 from my library- it sounds so interesting! So sorry to hear of all the yucky stuff but so glad you are keeping your spirits up. XO
I hope you enjoy 1913, @breannemosher:disqus . I’m learning so much about so many different people. 🙂
It seems that you are doing “all good things” as you go down this road. I’m thinking of you and sending good thoughts!
Thanks so much, Tracy. 🙂 I’m doing my best. 🙂 xo
I’m so sorry to hear you’ve had a rough week. I like how you’re trying to remain positive and are spending time resting and reading. I used to do a lot of knitting and I found it very therapeutic – couldn’t learn on-line back then though! xx
It’s good to hear that knitting was therapeutic for you too, Hotly Spiced. 🙂
I’m working on a new business (yes, another one lol), which is going to have me in the kitchen very soon. Right now I’m researching and learning more about nutrition, which I’m loving. I enjoy that you also have a stack of books that you’re reading — you know, most people have just one at a time =) Love puzzles too…haven’t done one in ages! Since we lived in Paris and had no English language cable actually…
You are amazing, @inspiringtravellers:disqus !!! 🙂 seriously, I don’t know how you do it all, but you are such an inspiration to me. 🙂 xo
Very intrigued by that knitting book. I read recently that the repetitive motions of knitting release calming endorphins that are catching for everyone around the knitter. It’s why midwives have typically brought their woollen projects along to births. Wishing you a rapid return to health!
Oh how interesting, @rachelfriesen:disqus 🙂 Hopefully one day I will master techniques sufficiently for it to be a relaxing project for me. 🙂