lucille in the sky

for the love of homemade bread

Lucy — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:00:47 +0000

When I was a young girl, I had a play kitchen in a corner of our basement. I would create an entire “house” down there. It was dark, dank and made of concrete, but it was mine. I decorated it just the way I wanted with doilies and dolls and dandelions picked from the grass.

Speaking of grass, when my mother wasn’t looking, I tried to cook in her kitchen. I stood on a chair and put grass in the skillet, I turned the stove on, and I stirred. When the flames started leaping, my older sister went running for help. But I didn’t panic because I thought this was what cooking was all about: the fire.

When I was a tween, I went through a Martha Stewart phase. Mostly in terms of decorating my house for the holidays (I put an electric candle in every window during Christmas) and designing my bedroom (I painted a bright pink accent wall, bought a bedspread covered in clouds, and installed a wire closet organizer at the age of 10), but I would also experiment with her recipes. I watched her create all sorts of “good things” on the TV, and I subscribed to the magazine to further immerse my hungry brain into the world of homemaking.

But one thing I never attempted was making bread. We had a bread machine back then, and so there was no need, or desire.

That all changed this year.

I got a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer for Christmas and the book, “Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day.” I read the first few chapters, I dusted off my baking stone, I pulled my shiny white mixer out of the corner (not a necessary tool, but certainly helpful) and I baked my first loaf of bread.

Here is my one pound loaf, fresh out of the oven, cooling on a wire rack in the morning sun:

It was easy. I had no idea making bread could be easy. But when a baker and a scientist came together to create the basic recipe in “Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day“, which you can find on their website, they made an important discovery: you can refrigerate this dough (not just any dough!) for up to two weeks. Whenever you want fresh bread, you tear off a chunk, shape it, let it rest, and bake it. And that’s that.

You can have fresh bread every morning. You can use organic flour. You can add flaxseeds or walnuts or rosemary or raisins or whole wheat flour. You can shape the loaf into a baguette or a ciabatta or a pizza crust.

Fresh bread is romantic and comforting, a diverse yet basic food. Bread making is a lost art, but readily adaptable to modern life, thanks to this genius of a book. When I pull a loaf out of the oven, I am transported back to an earlier time. A time when women grounded the flour and men milked the cows and children played out doors rather than the Wii. An era we’ve progressed beyond, but can still learn from: humble pleasures, such as starting the day with freshly baked bread, will never be replaced.

The book offers hundreds of pages of advice and recipes, but you don’t really need it since they generously share the basic recipe on their website. You can make your own bread. You may be shocked at the simplicity of the recipe. Your house will smell like heaven. Your family will be impressed, and then spoiled. And you may never buy bread from the store again.

Disclaimer: I have reviewed this product simply because I believe in it, and I want to share it. I have no affiliation with the authors or publishers.

to see a rainbow

Lucy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:00:49 +0000

Every Wednesday I share another’s words of wisdom, exploring how I can apply this wisdom to my own life. Please join in the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments section. Because if you’re anything like me, you have a lot to learn in this life.

“To see a rainbow, you must survive the rain.”

~anonymous

Without the lows, would we know the highs? Without the pauses between the notes, would we still have a song? Without winter, would there be a summer?

We can know this is true, that we need the rain for the rainbows, but it doesn’t change our desperation for the blizzard to clear. And when the blue sky remains beyond the horizon, we start to lose faith that the clouds will ever clear away.

So we call on the wind, and we ask her to blow the clouds away. We wait and we cover our selves and our loved ones with a blanket for protection from the elements. We wait and we pray and we float in the ocean, our bodies suspended in the absence of gravity.

We count our blessings and we thank our challenges. We curse our heartbreak and we ask for another chance, and we promise to make the best of it. We turn our faces towards the sky and we quench our thirst by drinking the rain.

image via gamefront.com

Today marks the beginning of a brand new baby month. A month of pink and red hearts and boxes of chocolate, of jazz and beads and masks embellished with sequins and feathers.

For me, January was a time of unpacking boxes, scratched faces, back and hip pains, lost keys, a damaged hard drive, irretrievable data, a broken furnace, wicked viruses (the kind that occupies humans, not computers), crippling weather, missed work outs, sleepless nights, strong winds, a new home, and a very sweet second birthday.

It wasn’t the smoothest of months, but it wasn’t a bad month. Some days, I was unhappy. Other days, I had no time to notice my emotions. And on all of the other days, I felt blessed. Because I am blessed. Because the bumps make the road interesting. Because the rain makes the rainbow.

where do our babies go?

Lucy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:14 +0000

She started out like this.

As my doula pointed out, she joined us peacefully and without hesitation. I will never forget the power behind her birth, nor the intensity of the pain, nor the completeness and immediacy of my love for her. The doctor handed her over and I thought, “this is her? This is the tiny person we’ve been waiting for all these months? Of course it is. This is her. This is my baby. Now how do I feed her?” Even though I’d been up since 4:30 am (when my water broke), and I’d completed the marathon that is giving birth, I didn’t sleep again until a day or two later. I couldn’t. Especially not the first night. All I could do was watch her, and nurse her, and kiss her.

Two years later, she looks like this. She is busy and curious and full of life.

image via colleendishy.smugmug.com

She doesn’t fit into my arms quite so comfortably any more. But she still fits.

image via colleendishy.smugmug.com

How do they get so big so fast? Where do our babies go?

Are they still in there somewhere? Are there little, squishy and helpless beings contained in those busy, wily toddlers? What about the adults, so complex and damaged and wise? What happens to our infant self? Is she gone forever or do we carry her with us every where we go, into every thing we embark upon?

I’d like to think so. I’d like to think that there is an innocent, tiny babe deep within each of us, living only off of our mother’s unwavering love.

a blanket of snow

Lucy — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:00:07 +0000

A blanket of snow covered the Pacific Northwest last week. I wandered into it, camera in hand, completely shocked, overwhelmed, awestruck by the beauty that had befallen us. As if I’d never seen snow before.

This snow fall was different somehow. Perhaps more severe, and more serene. The skies were ominous, the sunset blurry, the roads peaceful, the air quiet yet biting, the gnarly branches naked and desperate for reprieve. I thought for a moment I’d stepped into another realm, and maybe I had.

the laughing heart

Lucy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:00:28 +0000

“The Laughing Heart” by Charles Bukowski

your life is your life

don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.

be on the watch.

there are ways out.

there is a light somewhere.

it may not be much light but

it beats the darkness.

be on the watch.

the gods will offer you chances.

know them.

take them.

you can’t beat death but

you can beat death in life, sometimes.

and the more often you learn to do it,

the more light there will be.

your life is your life.

know it while you have it.

you are marvelous

the gods wait to delight

in you.

A dear reader and friend shared this profound poem with me recently. I recommend you listen via the video clip as you read.

How has the brand new year treated you thus far? For me, it has not been without its challenges, which I won’t go into here because in the grand scheme of life, these challenges are but a hiccup. An annoying, expensive, and potentially dangerous hiccup, but nothing else. (Thank you to my angels.)

As Bukowski says, “your life is your life.” It is what it is. Don’t let the bad take you down because there is good, too. This is the only life we know for sure that we have, and we cannot let it get away from us. If we do, we will miss out on something beautiful. For everyone, there will be opportunities, there will be setbacks, there will be failures. Tread carefully. Pay attention to the chances you’ve been given, and take them. Never doubt your own potential.

This poem advises us on how to lead a life that is bathed in light rather than darkness. The lesson is basic, yet one that many of us need to be reminded of on a regular basis: Believe in yourself, know that you are here for a reason, and that reason is divine in nature.

12 tips for finding good health in 2012

Lucy — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:00:05 +0000

Since many people have recently embarked on a journey to reclaim their health by shedding excess fat, it is an auspicious time to share my own wisdom on the subject. Not that I’m an expert, but I have lost weight in the past: baby weight, alcohol weight, college weight, comfort weight. I know what has worked for me (see below), and what has not (daily weigh-ins, counting calories, cutting carbs).

You’ve likely heard many of these before, and some may be new, but I promise that every one will take you a baby step closer to that elusive goal weight. In no particular order:

1. Turn each meal and snack into a ritual, which means: don’t eat standing up, don’t eat in front of the TV, don’t eat at your desk, don’t eat in your car. This might be the hardest one for me. If you have to, invest in pretty dishes, silverware, cloth napkins and placemats. Go to Ikea if you’re on a budget, go to Anthropologie if you’re not.

2. Avoid processed, refined and deep-fried foods as much as possible. Also hard. Even the humble, hearty and nutritious potato is repeatedly bastardized by modern man. Who doesn’t love a french fry or a potato chip?

3. Avoid added sugar. Sugar in fresh and dried fruit is, of course, natural and perfect. In my experience, a bit of raw honey can actually be beneficial. If you buy soy milk, go for unsweetened. If you buy yogurt, choose plain. But also allow yourself the occasional treat, and harness the discipline to indulge in moderation. Here are a few tricks to help: instead of making a batch of cookies at once, bake one or two at a time and freeze the rest; instead of buying a box of muffins or a bar of chocolate, buy one muffin from a bakery or an individually wrapped 1 ounce portion of chocolate (Ghiradelli!); for a chewy sweet treat that offers a bit of nutrition (in addition to dried fruit), eat a few gummy bear vitamins and vitamin D gummies each day. (My whole family is addicted to gummy vitamins.)

4. Limit alcohol consumption. That means one drink per day, party people. Maybe two, if you’re a big strong man with a lot of muscle to metabolize the alcohol. I suppose you could save up all of your drinks and imbibe 7-14 in one evening, but be wary of the choices you make while you’re drunk, and hungover for that matter. If your social life depends on alcohol, take a step back. Do you need to drink to have fun?

5. Don’t eat after 8 pm at night. Unless you’re truly hungry and you’re reaching for raw fruits and veggies.

6. Eat more food from the earth (vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains) and less from the animals (meat, dairy, eggs).

via emedicalhealth.blogspot.com

7. Call on your higher power for help. For will power. For confidence. For patience. Also call on your most supportive family and friends. Don’t be shy, we are here to encourage you. Taking charge of your health is admirable and brave.

8. Eat to live, don’t live to eat. Is food the only good thing in your life? Are you always planning your next meal? Do you look forward to going home so you can eat in private? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are probably living to eat. You are probably also not living for your highest self, you’ve probably lost track of your interests and passions. When I’m preoccupied with my “projects,” it’s easier for me to eat less. Not that I ever “forget” to eat, I am not one who enjoys a rumbling stomach, but when I have had enough, I am eager to get back to what I was doing rather than continuing to eat. Likewise, if I am engaged in something that’s fascinating, I’m less likely to crave an afternoon chocolate. Rediscover your interests and passions by asking yourself the following questions: what did I enjoy doing when I was a child? if I could do anything and make money doing it, what would it be? what am I doing when I lose track of time?

9. Drink herbal tea. This is one of my best tricks. Tea is warming and satisfying. Tea can be sweet or savory. Tea provides nutrients and tea can even support weight loss. Drink tea instead of snacking, and you may find that tea is all you were craving, after all.

10. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated and feel full longer, and to stop eating when you’re thirsty rather than hungry. Squeeze a lemon into your water once in a while to help keep your system squeaky clean. The cleaner the system, the better the digestion, the flatter the tummy.

11. EXERCISE. Incorporate cardio, strengthening and stretching exercises into your weekly routine. Shoot for three hours per week at a minimum. We’re not lying when we say exercise makes you feel good. Endorphins are nature’s best antidepressant. Don’t be intimidated by the word “strengthening.” Do a few push ups, lunges, squats, leg lifts, bicep curls, sit ups, and you’ll be stronger in no time. But I do recommend mixing up your routine to keep challenging your body. Lucky for us, the internet has about a billion and one resources for exercise newbies. Google it, my dear.

: via healthy.com

12. Listen to your body. Listen deeply, listen carefully. If you can do this, portion control will come naturally. How does your stomach feel after you eat that movie theatre popcorn or that custard or that McDonald’s hamburger? How does your body feel when you go for a run or play with a child or practice yoga? Is your body serving your greatest good? Or is your body in despair and in need of some nutritious food and peaceful sleep and good loving? You have all the tools and wisdom and capacity to live the life you want, it’s up to you to listen.

If you follow all of these tips for a week, and you don’t notice yourself looking or feeling different, don’t give up. Please, don’t give up. If you don’t have patience, you don’t have anything. It takes time and determination to form new habits, but once you’ve gotten a grasp on good health, you won’t ever want to let it go.

home is wherever i’m with you

Lucy — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:00:41 +0000

“Home is wherever I’m with you.”

~ Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

We spent the quiet week between Christmas and New Years packing up our beloved townhome and moving to a big old Victorian house nearby. I dreamt of this home, and now it is a part of my sweet reality. But as perfect as it is, and as much as I love it here, I find myself missing the coziness and warmth and utter familiarity of the old place.

A lot happened over there, including the beginning of my marriage and the birth of a new family. It was the first home known by both Giovanna and Emile. But they’re not sad one bit. Now they have their own rooms and so much more space to play. Although the house has already “bitten” Gigi (she fell on the cement stairs outside, see photo below), she has not been dissuaded. There are endless nooks and crannies for curious children (and adults) to explore.

Only because of these two smiles can I also understand that there’s no reason to be sad. We’ve started a new chapter in this beautiful home, a chapter that includes sunsets and sunrises, many windows, an expansive lawn and a grand piano (which came with it). The old place will remain part of my past, and I will carry it around forever in the folds of my memory. I find myself trying to recall every detail of that home, how I felt when I moved through it, which floor boards squeaked and how the light filtered into the rooms. In time, the memories will fade like the color in old photographs. And even if I cannot summon the smell of the entryway or the number of steps to get from my bed to the toilet, it doesn’t make my life in that home any less real. It doesn’t make the love that blossomed between those four walls disappear.

Already, even with boxes still to unpack and pictures waiting to be hung, the new house feels like home. Because home is wherever I’m with them.

she’s almost 2

Lucy — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:00:18 +0000

My sweet baby girl is almost 2. In the past few months, a lot has changed. She’s talking in full sentences and asking for what she wants (usually with “I need” rather than “I want”). Her strong will has developed into an iron one and so we have no shortage of tantrums around here. She counts to ten and sings the ABC’s, among other songs, sometimes belting out a familiar tune to her own words, usually the name of something or someone she likes. On most nights, she can fall asleep on her own, in her own bed. But at some point in the middle of the night, every night, she finds her way into our bed. I’m okay with it.

Whenever I tell her that Grammy is coming over, she is overcome with joy, and she runs to the window, expecting Grammy to appear at that very moment, believing that every person who passes is her beloved Grammy, or “Dammy,” which is how “Grammy” sounds when spoken by Gigi.

This girl loves nothing more than her family. And babies.

The activities that hold her attention span the longest are playing with her big brother, and drawing.

One of our favorite things to do, together as a family, is bundle up and take a walk.

We took her to the snow for the first time in December.

I don’t think she loved it though. She was cold and she couldn’t get to her hands.

She’s very sweet to her Daddy. If he gets out of bed first in the morning, she’ll perk up, either sitting up to say “dada?” or following him into the bathroom. She runs to the window to wave good bye when he leaves for work and greets him at the door with open arms when he returns.

She’s still nursing often, she loves being carried around in the front pack, and she’s not potty trained. She will sit on the potty and wipe herself, but she will also stand next to it and pee on the ground. She likes to wear “big girl panties,” even when she wets them. She prefers to dress herself, and she loves her red boots, which still fit.

She can often be found at the piano, or in the arms of her favorite uncle, Uncle Jimmy.

She is sweet, and she is sassy. She gives hugs and kisses, but only when she feels moved to. Not when she’s asked to. (Unless it’s first thing in the morning, in which case she’s exceptionally affectionate.) She has recently discovered popcorn. We were at a kitchen store last weekend and she tried to leave with a popcorn maker (a WhirlyPop, to be exact) because it had a colorful picture of popcorn on the box. She has finally (mostly) stopped crying when I leave her with a babysitter.

The next year will pass in a flash, like they always do. But today, she’s not quite two. Today, she’s still my nursing baby. I like to believe that somewhere, deep down, she will always be my baby.

5 keys to a happy 2012

Lucy — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:03:12 +0000

Sharon, my beloved aunt and creator of the above infographic, expertly captures these 5 keys to happiness along with demonstrating why they matter.

How to stay positive? It’s tough. But like any habit, with practice it becomes easier. Plant little reminders in your surroundings. It could be the words “think positive” written on a sticky note or a silly little string tied around your finger.

How to love your work? This one is harder because it could entail a radical life change, although you may get away with simply changing your attitude. If you focus on how your work contributes to the greater good of humanity (assuming that it does), you will find more meaning in the mundane tasks. For example, if you are a barista, a finely crafted cup of espresso and a warm greeting can transform a bleary-eyed human to a smiling one. Smiles spread like rapid fire on this planet. Smiles also lead to joy.

How to value experiences? Go on a trip instead of buying that expensive new TV. Visit a friend who lives far away instead of buying a new wardrobe for 2012. Take your family to the zoo or the museum rather than the mall. The memories will last much longer, while the material possessions will fade into the background as soon as you put them away.

How to give more than you take? Volunteer for a cause you believe in. Donate money to those who need it more than you do. This one’s easy.

How to keep healthy? Exercise a few times a week. Take a walk or ride a bike. Drop in at the YMCA and go for a swim or take a class. Consume more fruits and vegetables and less sugar and processed foods. Shop on the perimeter of the grocery stores, where the healthy foods reside. Watch your alcohol consumption and quit smoking. Eat mindfully. While staying healthy is not easy, it is simple.

Here’s to the next 12 months. May they be as beautiful as you are.

cs lewis: take a step

Lucy — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:23:47 +0000

“What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step.”

~ C. S. Lewis

Faced with a monumental task such as packing up a household, losing weight, writing a novel, or starting a business, we can easily become overwhelmed to the point that we decide to do nothing at all. We decide not to move or follow our dreams or respond to that email or write that blog entry, remaining stagnant rather than progressing. With each day we procrastinate, it becomes harder to surmount the obstacle.

All it takes is one step, one day at a time, because that’s all we can do. Open up your word processor and write a page, it doesn’t matter if it makes sense or not. Put on your running shoes, it doesn’t matter if you’re slow. Get to it, even if its just for five minutes. The next time, you’ll last for ten minutes. And the next time, even longer. Until you start to enjoy writing that book or running that mile or living without sugar.

You don’t have to turn a profit the first day or month or year. You don’t have to lose all the weight before your vacation. You don’t have to get 1000 subscribers before your 30th birthday. All you have to do is take action in this moment, making decisions for your greatest good, moving in the direction that you want to go.

Take one step, then another step, and rejoice that you’ve been given legs.