What I'm Digging

A round up of this and that catching my eye this week

Happy weekend, friends. You’re here. You made it.

I have to say. It feels strange, indulgent even, to be posting my weekly round up when the world is so fraught and delicate at the moment. It’s honestly crippling at times to focus on, well, nearly anything, when the daily onslaught of news is so gutting and catastrophic.

It’s just me here, writing these posts, compiling these online insights. Sometimes, the weight of it all, coupled with my real, lived life (snow days, snow day delays, sickness, appointments, work gigs, etc), takes its toll and I simply cannot shift my focus.

However. Balance is what carries us through. Balance is what provides equilibrium. Balance is the antidote to stagnation and paralysis. Balance gets me out of my head and back into my body.

And so, with that in mind, here are some recent things that sparked curiosity and joy in me recently!

*I’ve been prepping for next weekend’s Organic Growers School annual Spring Conference, where I’ll be teaching two classes. On Friday, alongside Julia Skinner (who will be there with us virtually), I’ll be teaching a full day workshop entitled Food Preserving To Care For Self and Community. Saturday and Sunday, I’ll be teaching Seasonal Wellness, Year-Round Remedies. Click this link to see the entire conference class listing. Locals, will I see any of you there?

*This Easy Miso Lemon Salmon is exactly what these emerging spring days are calling for.

*Oh, to have the wherewithal and resources to rehabilitate and entirely refurbish a series of stone dwellings in the Scottish highlands! The stories those buildings must contain! I do so very much love stone houses. My grandparents owned a 3-story stately one in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I grew up visiting their home during holidays and summers spent with my father, packed in with numerous cousins (dad was one of 8), and developed a deep, abiding appreciation and love for the solidity and regality of stone homes.

*Birding curious? No time like the present to get into the hobby: Birdwatching may reshape the brain and build its buffer against aging.

*In birdwatching-related tangents, we piled onto the couch Friday night and watched The Big Year, a film starring Jack Black, Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, Rashida Jones, Diane Weist, Anjelica Houston, and others. A fictional comedy based on a non-fiction book, the film (which came out in 2011) shares the journey of three folks on a quest to observe and count the greatest number of bird species in North America (north of Mexico) within a calendar year. Heartwarming and hilarious, I absolutely recommend it.

*Someday soon, perhaps even today, you’re going to need cake. Perhaps it should be this Earl Grey Cardamom Crumb Cake.

*I’ve been reading up on dragons lately. All cultures globally have mention of dragons in some shape or iteration. I was born in a dragon year, sip wine daily from a dragon cup, and have a mind to get a dragon tattoo for my big birthday coming up this summer. The Emerald podcast has a captivating recent episode on dragons. Give it a listen while driving or cooking dinner. Here be dragons.

*Before comfort food season wraps, I highly recommend baking this Japanese Curry Chicken Pot Pie.

*As I age, I’m doing my best to incorporate more movement and gentle care into my daily protocols. New to me is the concept of lymphatic face drainage brushes. Anyone tried them? They certainly seem affordable and non-invasive enough to give ‘em a whirl!

A friend is turning 70 today, and hosting herself a “Crow Party.” Guests are asked to bring something shiny to showcase and give away, as well as a snack to share. Isn’t that just the best party concept ever?!

Wherever you go this week, whatever you do, and whomever you do it with, may it be grand!