I like the Scandinavian concept of vårvinter, it being the time between winter and spring, almost another season, where the snow is gone, but it’s still cold, but spring is not yet here. It is still time to be quiet and to nourish oneself, but the impetus to be out and doing can wait, just a little longer…
"Forest Feast Dark Salted Chocolate Almonds (aaand I just discovered you can buy them by the case. Oh dear.)"
When I became vegan I was most worried about how I would cope with life, let alone air travel, if I didn't have Peanut M&Ms. Enter dark chocolate-covered almonds. Most brands (but not all) are dairy-free and even better IMO. I haven't tried buying them by the case, but I do seem to have some kind of homing device for health food stores that carry them in the bulk bins.
I feel you about creme eggs. My true food nemesis is bar-b-que chips/crisps, but creme eggs aren't far behind. I would never eat them, but I need to know no one else is eating them either.
Goodness, so much to love and relate to in this post. Bookmarking several items in the list of your recommendations, and grateful to explore those. I read The Black Utopians last fall as an ARC and loved it. 🥰
I also tend to hate March weather even though it’s my birth month. Savoring the last few weeks of staying inside as much as possible, curled up with books, writing, and tea. 🫖 ☕️ Those crocuses and daffodils look just fine from my window, thank you ☺️
Autumn arrived here in Auckland, New Zealand quite sharply and matter of factly. It is fresh, and suddenly I find myself wanting to collapse in a heap and hibernate. I recognize that bone tiered feeling in me, but the world is raging on and just never seems to tiere. Enjoyed making some pancakes on Tuesday, and have decided to fast from social media which already has allowed me more more mental room to enjoy and absorb this nourishing subscription . I hope you find some time to find a comfortable spot and take some rest like your cat. They make it looks so easy! As for the creme eggs everytime I go to the grocery store I convincingly tell myself they last year's stock, so far it is working 😂
Looking forward to the April book with a title for our time of rage! Just got it ordered at my local store instead of big bad A*****n which I'm proud of myself for. And, we are polar opposites in terms of short and long days, but to me spring coming back feels like hope and light returning (though less so this year for obvious reasons.).
March always feels like an odd month to me because my birthday is at the end, and somehow always triggers a “what have I done with this year/this trip around the sun” existential crisis… however it also has the whole “out like a lamb” vibe. Also, importantly, it’s not February which is the periodic equivalent of the crème egg.
A friend mentioned the audio app Audrey - it has beautifully narrated audio performances but also an expert guide explaining the story and background.
Ohhh I just had this conversation with a friend--I'm not a spring person. I love the fall and all the possibilities of campfires and hot chocolate and cozy sweaters. I feel like I never quite know what to do with myself this time of year.
I grew up in Nova Scotia, Canada, and have lived in the Southern United States for almost 25 years... still waiting for it to feel like home. Once, when I was visiting Louisiana I stopped at a restaurant to experience the local cuisine, and the food reminded me of home. Spicier for sure, but still familiar. I understand this is because of the expulsion of the French, and also because of the resilience of those who left and those who remained. I thought about this a lot when reading Braiding Sweetgrass.
I feel Indigenous to my place and my location because I'm so intimately connected to the plants in my native plant garden and the surrounding forests in Tennessee. I spend much of my time growing and photographing them. The Silverbell Tree in Braiding Sweetgrass was once a feature in my garden and later became a featured photo on a book cover and in an article I wrote for Fine Gardening Magazine.
Katherine do you like creme eggs? I love candy and chocolate but am not tempted by them at all...such an odd middle! How has Braiding Sweetgrass changed the way I see the world? I take even more care now to stop and notice. This week has been amazing with the creek waking up, 10 cranes each morning and more and more geese and ducks....so happy to be able to actually swim now that the thaw has begun! I am going to try my best to plant native to soil seeds and plants and speak up for the land even more. I have always done this but I have felt Robin's teachings in my bones and want to make sure the land is tended mindfully all around me. Sigh. I will be sad when I finish reading. Thank you for a lovely journey!💚💚💚🌲🌲🌲🍁🍁🍁
Finally someone shares my feelings about spring! I often get the "but winter is over!" answer. Personally, I love winter and really don't like the messy transition that spring is. I'm always sad the snow is gone and hate the muckiness that's left. However I'm also always surprised at how the spring energy finds it's way into my body and soul. So as much as it's one of my least favorite seasons, I still kinda like it sometimes? 🤷🏼♀️
I'm also reminded that when I was young March was always the time of year when my sports were done after occupying most of my free time from the beginning of fall. I was free and that was nice for a little while but I also didn't know what to do with myself. It seemed like everyone was going outside and I *should* be going outside too. I think that feeling of *should* has carried over. In late fall and winter it feels like nothing is expected of me and I can just hunker down, but then in spring there's so much possibility and with it comes expectations I'm not sure how to fulfill.
I like the Scandinavian concept of vårvinter, it being the time between winter and spring, almost another season, where the snow is gone, but it’s still cold, but spring is not yet here. It is still time to be quiet and to nourish oneself, but the impetus to be out and doing can wait, just a little longer…
Lovely word! I think that's what we have right now (although of course we never get snow in the first place).
"Forest Feast Dark Salted Chocolate Almonds (aaand I just discovered you can buy them by the case. Oh dear.)"
When I became vegan I was most worried about how I would cope with life, let alone air travel, if I didn't have Peanut M&Ms. Enter dark chocolate-covered almonds. Most brands (but not all) are dairy-free and even better IMO. I haven't tried buying them by the case, but I do seem to have some kind of homing device for health food stores that carry them in the bulk bins.
I feel you about creme eggs. My true food nemesis is bar-b-que chips/crisps, but creme eggs aren't far behind. I would never eat them, but I need to know no one else is eating them either.
Goodness, so much to love and relate to in this post. Bookmarking several items in the list of your recommendations, and grateful to explore those. I read The Black Utopians last fall as an ARC and loved it. 🥰
I also tend to hate March weather even though it’s my birth month. Savoring the last few weeks of staying inside as much as possible, curled up with books, writing, and tea. 🫖 ☕️ Those crocuses and daffodils look just fine from my window, thank you ☺️
Well that ruins my theory that September is my favourite month because of my birthday!
Autumn arrived here in Auckland, New Zealand quite sharply and matter of factly. It is fresh, and suddenly I find myself wanting to collapse in a heap and hibernate. I recognize that bone tiered feeling in me, but the world is raging on and just never seems to tiere. Enjoyed making some pancakes on Tuesday, and have decided to fast from social media which already has allowed me more more mental room to enjoy and absorb this nourishing subscription . I hope you find some time to find a comfortable spot and take some rest like your cat. They make it looks so easy! As for the creme eggs everytime I go to the grocery store I convincingly tell myself they last year's stock, so far it is working 😂
I now have full-body yearning for your autumn! I hope you get a good rest :)
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQZTVvwWkxpFjRDdlTbtcGQpKMR
Saw this poem and thought of this section in the book about trees. 'Berta
Looking forward to the April book with a title for our time of rage! Just got it ordered at my local store instead of big bad A*****n which I'm proud of myself for. And, we are polar opposites in terms of short and long days, but to me spring coming back feels like hope and light returning (though less so this year for obvious reasons.).
I do like the light returning bit, but I think I get impatient 😂
March always feels like an odd month to me because my birthday is at the end, and somehow always triggers a “what have I done with this year/this trip around the sun” existential crisis… however it also has the whole “out like a lamb” vibe. Also, importantly, it’s not February which is the periodic equivalent of the crème egg.
A friend mentioned the audio app Audrey - it has beautifully narrated audio performances but also an expert guide explaining the story and background.
Ohhh I just had this conversation with a friend--I'm not a spring person. I love the fall and all the possibilities of campfires and hot chocolate and cozy sweaters. I feel like I never quite know what to do with myself this time of year.
I grew up in Nova Scotia, Canada, and have lived in the Southern United States for almost 25 years... still waiting for it to feel like home. Once, when I was visiting Louisiana I stopped at a restaurant to experience the local cuisine, and the food reminded me of home. Spicier for sure, but still familiar. I understand this is because of the expulsion of the French, and also because of the resilience of those who left and those who remained. I thought about this a lot when reading Braiding Sweetgrass.
I feel Indigenous to my place and my location because I'm so intimately connected to the plants in my native plant garden and the surrounding forests in Tennessee. I spend much of my time growing and photographing them. The Silverbell Tree in Braiding Sweetgrass was once a feature in my garden and later became a featured photo on a book cover and in an article I wrote for Fine Gardening Magazine.
Katherine do you like creme eggs? I love candy and chocolate but am not tempted by them at all...such an odd middle! How has Braiding Sweetgrass changed the way I see the world? I take even more care now to stop and notice. This week has been amazing with the creek waking up, 10 cranes each morning and more and more geese and ducks....so happy to be able to actually swim now that the thaw has begun! I am going to try my best to plant native to soil seeds and plants and speak up for the land even more. I have always done this but I have felt Robin's teachings in my bones and want to make sure the land is tended mindfully all around me. Sigh. I will be sad when I finish reading. Thank you for a lovely journey!💚💚💚🌲🌲🌲🍁🍁🍁
Finally someone shares my feelings about spring! I often get the "but winter is over!" answer. Personally, I love winter and really don't like the messy transition that spring is. I'm always sad the snow is gone and hate the muckiness that's left. However I'm also always surprised at how the spring energy finds it's way into my body and soul. So as much as it's one of my least favorite seasons, I still kinda like it sometimes? 🤷🏼♀️
I'm also reminded that when I was young March was always the time of year when my sports were done after occupying most of my free time from the beginning of fall. I was free and that was nice for a little while but I also didn't know what to do with myself. It seemed like everyone was going outside and I *should* be going outside too. I think that feeling of *should* has carried over. In late fall and winter it feels like nothing is expected of me and I can just hunker down, but then in spring there's so much possibility and with it comes expectations I'm not sure how to fulfill.