Notes by Candlelight, An Introduction
Sewing again, a nesting box, and Shrove Tuesday
Dear friends,
Welcome to the maiden voyage of this new series, Notes by Candlelight, wherein I occasionally1 share a few ordinary things drawing me deeper into a rich, anchored life. Or in other words, the stuff of joy or curiousity.
If you enjoyed Ross Gay’s Book of Delight or Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts, you’ll feel right at home. The beloved poet, Mary Oliver, reminds us “Joy is not made to be a crumb.”2 The poet’s words echo throughout recent days, some days like a war cry. It seems insensitive, and yet, completely necessary to take inventory — a generous inventory — of the light around me.
And so, I take notes.
“You enter the extraordinary by way of the ordinary.” - Frederick Beuchner
Notes by Candlelight #1
My sewing endorphins kicked in again. Earlier in January I finished a simple tiered skirt made from navy gauze and last week I finished a vest cut from a vintage quilt. Over the weekend I even took to the scrap pile to free-sew a mini quilt I’ll eventually put on the wall. The time spent in my small studio nook is a gift, even with the baby perched in my lap.
We’re now hosts to a homemade nesting box, or a glorified bird house. My eldest assisted in assembling it for our friendly robins with my parents during their recent visit. A quintessential grandparent activity, if you ask me. I found the free plans here.
In preparation for Lent I’m practicing my favorite pancake recipe for Shrove Tuesday. Or Pancake Tuesday. Or Fat Tuesday. Or Mardi Gras. (What do you call it?) I’m a sucker for banana pancakes and Ina’s recipe is flawless. More on this later. I also purchased a set of beautiful art cards for Holy Week storytelling.
Linocut and block printing are some of my favorite art forms. Through the Substack grapevine I discovered these incredible art prints. They’re created by a Mennonite pastor in British Columbia. Proceeds go into peacemaking work.
Aaron and I snuck away for a breakfast date at The Yellow Deli. I gobbled up a waffle soaked in butter and house-harvested maple syrup with a yogurt parfait before we realized everyone working looked similar. Their long hair and simple clothing, along with the religious undertones of the painted murals, gave way to an interesting conversation with our server. The kind folks who run these delis live in communes around the world and believe in a peaceful, “tender” approach to the end days. (Perhaps a little too good to be true, eh?) Though we’re no hopeful converts, the maple syrup is already calling me back.
Where are you finding joy in your life right now?
Currently Reading:
Related Resources:
Still need a liturgical calendar for the year? Find one in the Library.
Write (or refresh) your Rule of Life with this three part video series.
An older post with my favorite books for liturgical traditions.
Monthly? Quarterly? Still unsure.
Don’t Hesitate by Mary Oliver