Quiet birds in circled flight, the soft stars that shine at night.
The Looby list: things from my week.
Hello hello,
Apologies for not posting last week. It was a hard one. One of my husband’s best friends passed away unexpectedly, and we have been struggling a bit to get back on course.
But the sun is shining this afternoon, and there is an order placed for take-out chicken, darts will be played in the carport, and some crazy video game later on if the kid gets their study done… and life is for living, my friends. This is what our departed friends would want us to do (and I can tell you, Jesse in particular, would definitely encourage living. He would have also encouraged nudity, dancing, lake swims, mysterious moves, disc golf, darts, and laughs … he will be missed).
What everyone needs on an almost warm, sunny afternoon
I had too much to do today to get to a yoga nidra class a friend has been recommending, so instead I will indulge in ASMR bookbinding videos. Make sure you’re in a comfy place; you might need a nap.
Penning
This comprehensive list of The Best Pens for 2023 covers everything from journaling, to note taking, drawing, lettering, highlighting, and pens for lefties. The list is broken down neatly into categories so you can look up precisely the kind of pen you need. If you feel super keen, you can order sampler packs and decide for yourself. As far as my favourites go, I am very happy with my Tachikawa Model 40 nib holder and Nikko G Nib, which gets “The Best Manga Pen for Art,” so I can vouch for those. My other favourite is a Faber Castell Artist Pitt Pen (XS lately) - which tops the list for “Best Marker for Art.”
Not weeding, waving
I have a garden full of spring weeds. It’s on the brink of looking a little overgrown and crazy, but right now, it’s bursting with tiny weedy flowers, and I can’t bear to tear them out or mow them down. I was encouraged by this piece Ditch your spade, forget fertiliser, listen to the weeds: Alys Fowler’s guide to laid-back gardening. It's a good read before you leap out into the garden for a Sunday frenzy.
“In all of this I am not advocating giving up on gardening, but shifting the perspective on what needs doing. If the dandelion, dock or bramble isn’t in the way, leave it. If the plant goes down in an orgy of aphids, leave it for some other garden being to clear up. Let plants die in place, learn to watch and observe before you make a move. You’ll see that nature is way more willing to help than cause trouble.”
The monthly covet:
Things that I have been eyeing in May:
Watching:
Best in Miniature, Season 2 - CBC Gem
I binge-watched the last few episodes of Best in Miniature a week or so ago, and wow, the top three contestants are super-talented miniaturists. If you are interested in miniatures or people making amazing, tiny things in tight timeframes, you should definitely find a way to watch this. It screened on CBC Gem here in Canada. The production company is currently on the hunt for next season's contestants … and I will not be tempted to apply. Really. I won't… gahhh…
Lavish and creepy. Excellent performances make this newest version of Great Expectations great viewing. Young Pip and young Estelle blow it out of the water. Older Pip and older Estelle can't quite compete, but by that point, you will find yourself already invested. And I mean, Olivia Coleman as Miss Havisham? Can't be beat. She is almost as creepy as Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs. Almost.
Reading
This poem by Sandra Cisneros, which is entirely relatable; At Fifty I Am Startled to Find I Am in My Splendor.
Listening:
Y La Bamba - Lucha
Luz Elena Mendoza Ramos’ new record Lucha is their first since moving to Mexico. I was excited to dive into it this week. I loved their album Ojas Del Sol. The title track from their 2016 album is one of my all-time favourite songs. I listen to it often and sing along despite not knowing any Spanish.
I feel like I have heard this song recently as part of a viewing experience… Bridgerton? Nah, something cooler, I think. It’s like I need an app that’s the opposite of Shazam, one for when you hear a song and it brings a strong emotion rushing back, but you can’t quite pin the experience. “Oh wow, what is this song reminding me of?? That weird pub in Richmond in 1995; That long drive to the beach to stay with friends in 2003; The precious weeks before the oldest kid left for University in 2021; etc.”
Anyway, I looked into Erland Cooper a bit and found this lovely piece of music and also this very pro film made for Highland Park’s 54-year-old scotch whisky. “54!” I thought, “What a perfect present for my 54 year old husband!” It turns out it’s $54,000 - and, well, he’s turning 55 this year, so it’s irrelevant.
Crone Cooking: Roast Chicken (and veg)
In an effort to cook 52 essential recipes by the time I turn 52 (March 2024), I have started a little list, and this week was dish number seven: Roast Chicken!
This, along with a good old pavlova, is part of my standard “If I have to cook something, this will be it” repertoire. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no point making a roast chicken if there aren’t roast potatoes to accompany it, so this is an all-in-one.
I can’t for the life of me find the recipe online anymore, so I will leave it here:
Gross. It’s much loved, as you can see.
Crisp Roast Chicken (serves 4)
2kg free-range chicken
1 lemon
1 bunch of thyme
50g butter, melted
2 Tbs olive oil
6 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and chopped in half or quarters
Other steamed veg to serve
Method:
Preheat oven to 220°C / 428°F. Remove excess fat from the chicken cavity and wipe it out with paper towels. Select a roasting pan with 4 cm high sides.
Place lemon and thyme in the chicken cavity.
Here’s my side tip: If you boil the lemon with the potatoes beforehand and then pierce the hot lemon a few times with a fork before placing it in the cavity, the juice will run out into the chicken right from the start, which is pretty nice.
Tie chicken legs together with a piece of string. Combine butter and oil and brush. Brush over both sides of the chicken. Place it breast down in the greased pan and roast for 35 minutes.
Meanwhile (unless you did this first with the lemon), place potatoes in a saucepan with water and bring to the boil over high heat. Cook for 10 minutes until almost tender. Drain. Return to the saucepan and cover to keep warm.
Remove the chicken from the oven. Turn over and baste with the butter mixture. Arrange potatoes around the chicken. Brush with butter mixture and roast for a further 37 minutes (or until juices run clear when a thigh is pierced with a skewer). Cover and stand for 15 minutes. Carve and serve with potatoes and steamed veg.
I am still working on a good chicken gravy recipe, so google that and experiment.
Next week - Poached eggs! (good grief).
That’s it for this week. See you soon.
xo,
Claire
Hi friend!
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I love that poem, "I am a woman of a delightful season"
I’m so sorry about your loss.