What I'm Into Lately, January 2013

January 2013

In the fall, I stopped posting my Monday Mixtape posts in favor of a more personal weekly series promoting independent art-makers.  That series Buy More Art has been fun and I'm looking forward to taking it up a notch this year with giveaways and interviews and more all-around hoopla.  

Still, I miss being able to share with you the daily bits of song and story and craft I'm enjoying that was the original intention for Monday Mixtape.  Yesterday at Sarah Bessey's place I stumbled onto a fun blog link-up hosted by Hopeful Leigh.  I think I've found the happy second generation of Monday Mixtape -- so ingenious it birthed two spin-off series:  a bi-weekly Buy More Art post and a monthly What I'm Into Lately.

I don't know about you, but happy mediums make me -- well -- happy.

from the bookpile 

to see the book pile from 2011, click here / from 2012, click here

1 The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared, Alice Ozma
I can't remember if I read a review for this book or if I just loved the title, but I picked it up in a quick sweep through our library last week.  It's a quick and sweet read tied together by the 3, 218 days in a row Alice Ozma's father read aloud to her before bed.  Occasionally sentimental, but often legitimately funny this book reminded me again what I love about memoir framed by a concept.  It's one of my favorite structures for storytelling.  Ozma's life has hard stories but she -- maybe unknowingly -- carried the weight of them in the grace of nightly reminders of her father's love for her, for reading, for story.  A delightful read. 

2 The Art of T.S. Eliot, Helen Gardner

I didn't get The Waste Land in my first attempt at T.S. Eliot.  I want to get T.S. Eliot.  When I stumbled onto an online book group at Greener Trees I figured reading along with community might be the second-chance I needed.  After all, the same method worked for Flannery O'Connor so why not Eliot? (next I need to find someone to help me with Walker Percy)

I'm reading, friends.  Not getting too clear, yet, but reading away.  You'll be the first to know what I learn, I promise!

on the small screen

Watch Call the Midwife - Highlights on PBS. See more from Call the Midwife.

Call the Midwife: You guys, this show is so, so excellent.  I like it way better than that other PBS blockbuster everyone's talking about right now (although I watch every episode just to be sure).  Only disclaimer: If you've had a traumatic childbirth experience this show might not be for you.  The stories are redemptive and beautiful but very, very real.

on the big screen (if not literally then at least via Netflix)

Les Miserables: Cried like a baby.  Plan to finally read the book.


in my ears



I'm loving Spotify -- a lot.  I don't own a personal computer so I'd given up trying to keep an iTunes library up to date.  This allows me to do much of what I loved on iTunes (including accessing my iTunes library):  create playlists, share songs/playlists via social media, see what my friends are listening to, check out new artists, etc.  Soon I'll create a "new songs I'm digging playlist" to share with you each month.   For now, thought you might enjoy the Sunny Day playlist I created for all the spring cleaning we've been doing around here this month!

art I'm loving

                                                                        Source: newbyart.com via Tamara on Pinterest

Shannon Newby's always making work I want to be able to see up close.  Check out photos from her recent exhibit, All Creatures Here Below.

in my kitchen

So you've probably figured out we're not really the crunchy type, but a few months back our daughters asked us to try a Paleo menu. We compromised and serve Paleo dinners while making lots of healthy, raw foods available for them to eat at breakfast and lunch. Thankfully, Emeals started offering Paleo menus right around the same time and we've enjoyed every dinner we've made so far. This week Brian made Winter Vegetable soup and it was delicious!  

Crock Pot
Winter Vegetable Soup

(3 T olive oil)
3 boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized
    pieces
(Salt and pepper to taste)
4 c peeled & chopped sweet potatoes
2 c chopped red onion
12 c chopped fresh kale, 2 large bunches
32 oz organic chicken broth
13.5 oz can coconut milk
(½ c white wine)
¼ c chopped fresh chives
(2 bay leaves)

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle
chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken to pan, and cook 4
minutes per side, or until browned. Transfer to a slow cooker.
Add potatoes, onion, kale, broth, coconut milk, wine, chives
and bay leaves to slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 hours

p.s., We weren't sure what to expect when adding coconut milk into the broth, but it added a lightly creamy and sweet flavor that we totally enjoyed!


on the blog (Get This Sacramental Life delivered by email.) 

• 12 Days of Christmas Photo Diary
• Murphy Family Year in Review (to 3 great songs): We didn't get photos of the crying and fighting but there was a lot of good stuff, too 
• from the book pile, 2012: Includes a brief review of John Dyer's From the Garden to the City.
• Wedding Weekend and New York Reunion (another photo diary)
• [Buy More Art]: bragging on a few creators in my family tree
• [Parenting Unrehearsed]: Family liturgies for Christmas and my mama's rule for feasting
• 7 Quick Rants: Weather Complaints, Job Complaints and my Bout with Author Jealousy
• [living the liturgical year] Seeing Salvation by the Light of Candlemas

favorite pin (You can follow me on Pinterest here.)

                                                                       Source: asubtlerevelry.com via Tamara on Pinterest

random thing making me happy

My dining room table right now.  By the way, the candles, candlesticks, vase are all thrift store finds.  That really makes me happy.

what i’m looking forward to next month

February is a big month for celebrating with friends: birthday parties, weddings, ordinations.  We'll probably try to have a little cozy dinner for Valentine's Day somewhere in there, too.  Alex will come home at the end of the month for Spring Break and I'll try to take a few days off for a minor out-patient procedure that was a bust last week.

Probably the biggest thing I'm looking forward to is staking my claim with the Anglican Church through an adult confirmation service on February 17.  If you'd asked me a few years ago if I could imagine myself in the place to do this, I would have laughed out loud.  But here I am; rather, here we are.  (Brian, Kendra and I will be confirmed together.)

I'm planning a short blog series sharing the story of finding my liturgical home in Anglicanism.  For now, I'm taking classes and trying to figure out how to share what I'm learning in a way that won't chase you all away.  I'll keep you posted!

So what about you? What’s in your book pile? What art, film, song has captured your imagination? What are you pinning or cooking or planning?

Linked up with Leigh for the monthly “What I’m Into” round-up.