“Hey, Self, we haven’t made bread in a while. Maybe it’s time.”
“Sure, sounds good. And while we’re at it, let’s play around with the rise. This sourdough levain looks great, let’s try using just that and a pinch of yeast and see where that takes us.”
“Terrific idea, Self!”
/hours pass
“So, this second rise is taking forever, right?”
“Indeed it is. Perhaps our fun and innovative exploration into alternative rise methodologies wasn’t a wise move after all.”
“True, true, but the fireplace is on, let’s see if raising the heat will help.”
/another hour passes with encouraging results
“This is working, we just need more heat. Let’s move the dough off the coffee table and snug it right up against the fireplace.”
“Excellent idea, Self. The cat’s super sacked out, what’s the worst that could happen?”
No, he’s not sorry.
/sigh, although in my defense, the dough was covered with several layers of tea towel plus plastic.
“Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means. And that posterity will triumph in that day’s transaction…” ― John Adams
If there’s one thing I frequently excel at, it’s doing things badly. And I don’t mean this in a negative way.
I find something really enjoyable about just muddling through low-stakes activities, because for me at least, it’s clear that it’s all about fun. If it’s something I’ve never tried before, I’m not going to be great right off the bat. And I’m not there to win prizes, head off to the Olympics, or generally ratchet up expectations to the point of stress. It’s a temporary retreat to childhood with many of the perks and few of the perils.
For example, we’re going snowshoeing today and I fully expect to be terrible at it. And that’s okay!
With any luck, a good time will be had even as I fall, get snow in my mittens, and laugh hysterically while generally have a blast.
Black history is American history. It’s a story of promise, setback, and redemption—all things at the heart of the American experience. We shouldn’t be afraid of this story. We should learn from it, be inspired by it, and celebrate it every single day… — Colin Allred
“There is a time for any fledgling artist where one’s taste exceeds one’s abilities. The only way to get through this period is to make things anyway.” ― Gabrielle Zevin
We’ve lived in this house for years but this morning I discovered something new. Some confluence of sun angle, time of day and positioning meant that the lampshade in the kitchen reflected a rainbow-colored series of textured light onto the ceiling. It was both joyful and unexpected, reminding me that there is beauty everywhere.
If I look.
Speaking of reflected light, there’s a full moon tonight.
Tonight’s moon is known by many names, including the Wolf Moon, Cold Moon, and Snow Moon. We may finally have clear skies tonight, too, and I’m looking forward to looking up.
February’s Full Snow Moon reaches peak illumination at 5:09 P.M. EST on Sunday, February 1. Step outside after dusk to see the Full Moon in all of its glory!
Since we’re here, I’ll share a link that led to a flurry of conversation in my family.
On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin aboard touched down on the surface of the Moon 4 days, 6 hours, and 45 minutes after having launched from Cape Canaveral. At 02:56:15 GMT, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on another celestial body.
My parents were remembering where they were when it happened (at the next-door neighbor’s in Michigan, because they didn’t have a television), and what it felt like to watch the landing. Uplifting.
And looking ahead, NASA’s first crewed mission around the moon in over half a century will be happening soon.
J.R. Johnson 
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