Friday Thoughts: Currently
Hi, friends. How are you? I’ve been off the grid for a while (I’ll explain more below), which is why there has been a short break from recipes. But I have been anxious to check in with a Friday Thoughts post! I LOVE connecting with you in the comment threads of these posts, and with so, so much going on right now for all of us, it’s time to have a friend therapy session together, wouldn’t you say?
Today, for this Friday Thoughts post, I’m sharing what I’m up to currently (both physically and mentally). And then it’s your turn to tell me what your “current” status is!
1) Currently eating all the things.
It took a good six weeks but I finally fully healed from the gum graft surgery that kind of rocked my world. Because the surgery involved slicing the roof of my mouth to extract the tissue used for the gum graft on my front lower teeth, the healing process took a bit longer, and I was only tentatively eating soft foods at week four (I also had a few issues with parts of the graft slipping so I was on extra strict orders).
However by week six, everything had healed, and I’ve been well on my way to making up for all the lost eating time since then.
Mostly, chips.
I pray mightily I never, ever have to have that surgery again. So much compassion and respect for those of you that have had it multiple times! It was not a pleasant experience for me. Now I’m prepping to get a crown redone as a result of the domino effect that is dental work.
2) Currently listening to a lot of audiobooks.
Right now, I’m halfway through The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden; the storytelling is captivating. I just finished Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson and have enjoyed talking about it and processing it with Brian and my kids who also read it (we’re watching the movie this weekend), and The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown is next.
Any favorite audiobooks to share?
3) Currently spending a lot of time with our quarantine-acquired, new-ish kunekune pigs.
I share more details about them on my @melsfauxfarm account, but they have been a fun addition to whatever you call the random hybrid lifestyle of country and suburbia we have going on.
Also, I’ve never scratched so many piggy bellies in my life. If you can’t find me, I am 100% most likely out in the pig pasture, which has become my favorite, peaceful place in all the world (except if the pigs are hungry, and then watch out) and best way to detox from the day (and chaos of the world as of late). Highly recommend kunekune pigs to all the world.
As a sidenote: we have four purebred, registered kunes. Two girls/gilts: Olivia and EmmyLou. Two boys/boars: Benny and Eddie. Three of my kids invested money from their savings in these pigs as breeding pairs. So, next year some time, we will probably be swimming in adorable piglets for sale. (Kunes are raised for breeding and meat.) They are friendly, gentle, *mostly* non-rooting and non-wallowing pigs that eat our pasture grass and make us very happy.
4) Currently hoarding all the huckleberries while enjoying short hair again.
I dragged the kids up to pick our annual supply of huckleberries (the last few years we’ve picked near McCall, Idaho, but don’t ask me where we go specifically, because if you huckleberry regularly, you know revealing your secret spot is an unpardonable sin). We pick them solely to make huckleberry milkshakes all year long.
Huckleberries are the best, and I missed them every single day of every single year we lived in the midwest. Also, I got eight inches cut off of all of my hairs, and I feel like a new woman (especially now that it has grown a few weeks and is *just* long enough to fit in a ponytail again).
4) Currently gathering books to donate to our middle school and elementary school libraries.
In a small effort to involve my kids in affecting change for racial equality and justice in our own community, we decided to research, gather, and donate 40-50 books to both the middle school and elementary school libraries.
Books that promote, champion, and highlight diversity, black lives, and racial issues and equality. We’ve been working with both school librarians to figure out what books they already have in their libraries. Thanks to a well-stocked middle school library, we’ve expanded the middle school list to include a few other books that champion diversity in other marginalized groups as well.
Photo credit: Jane Mount
If you’re interested in the full list of books, here you go. (Disclaimer: I haven’t read every single book on this list; use your own discretion if checking these out for you or your child.)
We are trying to source and purchase most of the books from independent and/or black-owned book sellers across the country, and hopefully, we’ll be able to get them to the school libraries ASAP. It has been a fun and rewarding project to work on together.
My secondary goal is to also get these books circulated among individual classrooms and also volunteer in the elementary school to highlight and read these books in the library and classrooms so these books don’t get forgotten on the shelves – all of this is dependent on how school will look this year due to covid, but we’ll take it one step at a time.
5) Currently learning that my anxiety is at an all-time high.
It’s been a weird, hard, rough, enlightening, chaotic, frustrating, stressful six months for me. The uncertainty of everything has me feeling stretched very thin, and I’ve had to dig deep for coping skills that I haven’t had to use in a while. I wish I had the answers and all the solutions and, mostly, A Detailed Future Plan to Write Firmly in a Spreadsheet and Follow Daily.
I don’t have any of that, dang it. But I just want to say that if you are feeling like some days you are drowning in all of the noise and chaos and uncertainty and hypocrisy (on every side) and fear and stress and judgment, you aren’t alone.
As someone who has googled “am I having a panic attack?” more than once in the last few months, I can also personally attest that there’s a lot of peace and happiness out there, too. It actually hasn’t gone anywhere, it’s just been pushed and nudged aside by the louder, dominating, noisy voices.
I’m learning that for me, one of the keys to finding my inner peace and resilience again is to disconnect. From social media, the internet, and technology in general. (And even from real life people who tend to bring me down.) It’s an almost instantaneous, shoulder-relaxing effect when I log off everything. And I’ve learned that, guess what, I actually don’t miss that much when I’m not checking Instagram daily.
And then once I disconnect, I try to simultaneously connect with what I already intrinsically know brings a longer-lasting peace: God, my family (like, really connecting with them one on one), the outdoors, and sometime just being alone if I can manage it.
As a verified introvert, I’ve been challenged big time since March. Listen, I love my kids and husband. They’re great. I want to live with them forever. And I genuinely would choose family time over just about anything else (as in, family night out over girls’ night out any day of the week). But all disclaimers aside, I am mentally rejuvenated when I have a degree of quiet alone time. And that has been noticeably absent the last little while especially since I’m in the parenting phase of early rising kids (who are too old to take naps) and late bedtime teenagers. {Admittedly, the aforementioned quiet pig pasture has helped with this introvert initiative a bit even if a kid, or two, tags along sometimes.}
It’s a process and a cycle – this disconnecting and connecting thing – and definitely not a one time thing. It’d probably be better if I could just learn to balance it all on the daily, but I don’t do that very well, so when I reach my peak, I just disconnect, restabilize, and move on. It’s meant I’ve been a little hit and miss here on the blog and on social media this year. Quality over quantity, right? 🙂
What coping skills are working for you right now?
Edited to ask: if you have kids at home, what are your school plans for fall?? The school year here was slated to start this coming Monday but it has been delayed until September 8. At this point I’m planning to send my kids back to school (although it’s doubtful they’ll be *at* school very often, if at all, based on our #’s and the district’s plan to keep them home if we are in the yellow or red zone).
6) Currently traveling across the wilds of Northern Idaho and Montana in Thor, the behemoth RV we rented on rvshare.com (not sponsored).
It was a whim of an idea. With so many of our other plans canceled this spring and summer, the normally unimpulsive Brian-Mel pair looked at each other a couple weeks ago and decided on the spot to rent an RV and drive around with the family, self-contained and fancy free.
It has been dreamy so far (except for when the concentrated family time has proven a bit too much – and also, I’ve learned which of my children have a serious stinky feet problem).
Most of the time we’ve been without cell service in places where beauty and hygiene standards are wonderfully, acceptably low. And we’ve done a mix of dry camping (no hook ups) and RV park glamping (full hook ups). Hi, lukewarm shower, I’ve missed you.
We left with a general idea of where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do with all the flexibility of changing those plans at any minute thanks to driving a creaky house on wheels.
So far we’ve been up by Redfish Lake near Stanley, Idaho (which now ranks as one of our favorite places in Idaho), Cour d’ Alene (the most gorgeous place on earth), and we rode the Hiawatha Trail yesterday on our bikes (a bucket list item we have now checked off and hope to do many times in the future – AMAZING).
We’ll have to get back to real life eventually, but I highly recommend the RV adventure-on-a-whim experience for regenerating good family vibes, forcing a break from technology and the chaos of the world right now, and showing your kids, especially The Teenagers you are still grand master of all.the.card.games and corn hole.
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Ok, this was a long one. I have a lot more to say, but I’ll let you get on with your life. Ha. Remind me to tell you about our dusty living room/kitchen remodel, my new favorite pants (and the shoes I’ve been living in all summer), a cookbook idea and question, and a few other things!
Love your guts. Thanks for being here. And don’t leave me alone in the comments! I want to hear about YOU and how you are doing.
521 Comments on “Friday Thoughts: Currently”
So, somewhere on here, once upon a time, I stumbled across a foot powder or cream that you recommended for stinky feet.
After searching your blog for the last 15 minute, I’m no longer as positive as I once was.
Am I crazy, or do you have a great product to recommend?
Oh boy, Salem, I’m drawing a blank. I don’t remember that??
I will have to go back and see if you’ve recommended audiobooks in the past, I’m hooked!
Also, do you have a go to menu of on the road camping recipes? I’d love to add to mine!
Hi Mel, I know this is an older post but I must say I love your wide brimmed hat! I’m not sure if it would even still be available but do you remember where you got it?
I must tell you, you are my favorite blogger! It’s so refreshing to read your posts, it always makes my day! You are the best, keep doing what you’re doing and standing up for good! You have an army of supporters, always!!
Thank you, Kristen! That hat is from Coolibar.com although I don’t think that exact style is still available, darn it!
Mel. I think you are the coolest. I am full-on homeschooling this year (#thankscovid), and taking advantage of the opportunity to get through every one of the books on your list I can get my hands on. Also we make at least one (if not four or more) of your recipes every week. Keep it up being awesome!
Mel, I had that tortuous gum grafting years ago when I was 21, and can I say after having 8 kids and being 57 years old. That surgery has to been the iconic worst thing that I have ever gone through. Back in the day the dentist said I wouldn’t have any teeth if i didnt go do the surgery. It took me a good 6 weeks also to heal all the way. But I still have my teeth HAHA. But Im sure the updates on the way they do the surgery is better but , I remember when they started to cut pieces out of the roof of my mouth and then said , Im not sure what we are going to do. You dont have enough thicker tissue to cover the whole bottom of my jaw line. Yes, the panic was real. But they only ended up doing the bottom teeth and somehow got enough tissue from around the sides to make it work. Question? Im not sure how taking the tissue from the roof of your mouth to attach it to the around the front of the teeth even works. Consequently, I have a dreaded anxiety for the dentist.
I hope that you heal great, and thank you so much for your Blog and for your fabulous recipes.
Loved your blog post!
I could so relate on a few things you shared-
*The haircut: I chopped off 14″ inches !!! I’m not gonna lie, I teared up a bit when I got into my car. Now 11 days later, it feels wonderful to have less hair to wash & style! Mine barely fits in a pony tail, the bun is almost non existent right now.
*Unplugging; ♀️ me too! I unplugged after rewatching Russell M. Nelson talks in April. One in specific stirred my soul. I decided to focus on things I needed to get done (packing) and let all else fall by the wayside. I had no desire at all for social media. I craved conversation in real time. I can honestly count on 1 hand how many times I’ve logged into my social media. And I don’t miss it! I enjoy “me & we time” & eliminating things I no longer need, want, or desire in my life anymore. I was discussing w my hubby all the wasted hours behind my screens that I can’t get back….change is a good reset button!!!
We’re outside more-huge plus!
We moved to ID this month & don’t know why we waited so long! Thanks for the local huckleberry & lake spots.
I’ve followed you for 8 years, maybe more & have enjoyed learning, & improving my cooking skills, thank you so very much!
Kunekune pigs are adorable! Might have to pet or belly scratch one someday.
Glad you’re on the mend & on this side of healing.
Be well & blessed.
Hi Mel, I have enjoyed your recipes for several years , but this is the first time I’ve read your post or made a comment.
I at one time suffered from panic attacks and I didn’t really want to take prescription drugs. I did a lot of reading and not to over simplify, it sort of boils down to breathing. When you are anxious or stressed your breathing becomes shallow and you may find yourself sighing a lot. That’s because you have been holding your breath and you didn’t even know it!
There are so many ways to re-establish healthy breathing. Physical exercise, breath awareness, meditation, prayer, dance, just to name a few. A book that helped me (although it’s a little older) is “ Healing Mind Healthy Woman” by Alice Domar
Good luck to you!
Hi Linda, thanks for taking the time to comment! Thank you for the breathing recommendations! I really appreciate it.
Just want to say I have loved hearing about your recent journey. Please take care of you and your family above everything else.
I’ve always wanted to do a spur of the moment RV camping trip. It looks perfect for these times.
I want to tell you how I have loved your posts and your recipes. Yours are the ones I always search first when looking for a particular recipe. They are always delicious.
If you posted only once a month or every other month or once a year I would look forward to your posts and recipes and know you are taking care of you and your family first.
May God richly bless you as you have blessed me.
Thank you so much, Terry! Your comment was so heartfelt and much needed to read today.
Mel, I love you so much. I always feels like I know you when I read your posts and often wonder, “What would Mel say?” and check your blog for inspiration and advice. And the recipes, of course, which are almost always big hits in our family. We had a year in Europe cancelled (well, postponed till next year), a trip to Disney World with my parents cancelled, tickets to Hamilton cancelled…so much disappointment in a short period of time. Then all the things you mentioned about loving my kids to death but also really really needing some time when the house is just quiet. We live in a big city and usually love it but the pandemic has been a hard time to live here because we haven’t been able to do so many of the things that make city living great, like go to museums, parks, beaches, libraries, stores, restaurants, etc.. Kids go back to school this week and am excited but apprehensive that things will shut down again. Have to hang on to hope and appreciate all the good that is still out there, just like you said. And unplugging is totally the way to go as it just adds SO much stress. Thanks for your honesty and helping us all to know that even as awesome as you are you still struggle too. And I can’t believe how cute your pigs are. Never thought I would say that about pigs.
Hey Chelsea! I hope school was able to start without a hitch. I’m so sorry for all the canceled adventures you had planned this year! It’s interesting and helpful for me to hear from others who live in other environments (big city vs rural) and understand how this pandemic has affected them, too. GOOD LUCK!
Loved The Bear & the Nightingale so.so.much.
Yes to unplugging & struggling as an introvert to get alone time and also adoring my family.
And boy have my anxiety levels been higher than I’ve ever experienced in my life.
We’ll all make it through this. But is sure is making me dig deep some days.
I have blazed through the trilogy! I didn’t even know until I posted about it that it was three books, and I have just eaten them up. It’s been a good distraction right now! Good luck digging deep, Jen! It’s a tough time.
Mel, I would love to be your neighbor! ( super big compliment in my language). Very sorry for the trials placed at your feet. You are so refreshing with your openness and realness. Thank you. That is very rare. I have raised 7 children ( youngest is 10) on recipes for many years from your blog and keep meaning to say, THANK YOU! Not only do you provide much needed great meal ideas, but your writing and sharing real life is always a delight. You are spreading much needed light.
My oldest child, has been total.care since infancy with intractable epilepsy, and I have been super blessed all this years to never really experience anxiety, and didn’t even recognize it when it first showed itself…let alone know what to do with it. I love living a FULL, vibrant life and all the sudden found myself struggling to do the very basics. I recently found this video that really gave me a tool that has made all the difference.
You keep up the great work you are doing, with your love for others, your family and shining your light!
https://youtu.be/PXw_5r5ZHpM
Thank you so much for your kindness, Jodi! I’m sorry that you have been thrown into a situation of high anxiety. I have no doubt with your positive outlook on life (and some newfound tools) you’ll be able to get back to your full vibrant life (love how you described that). Thank you for the link!
The Boys in The Boat is such an excellent book! Even my 86 year old Mom has read it 3 times. 🙂 PBS did a documentary that is also fantastic. Your kids would enjoy, and benefit from reading this book. It is such an amazing story of determination. I had heard a couple of years ago that a movie was going to be made but I don’t know if that ever happened. Does anyone know? Thanks so much for your wonderful recipes. Your site is a favorite!
Hi Norene! I’m excited to dive into the book after so many good reviews on this comment thread! I don’t know if they’ve made a movie; I’ll have to look into it!
Mel you are always my go to girl for recipes!! I saw this post of yours and read and read and read…comments too! Thank you for being “real” about life and COVID and anxiety and disconnecting. Keep on keeping on!
Thank you, Tandy!!
Thank you for gathering and donating those books to our libraries! Lucky us to have you here!
Thanks, Lori! I dropped them off last week – it was so fun for us!
I came on here for a stock-pot recommendation and read this post instead.
THANK. YOU. I needed to read this post (the fun-ness, the serious-ness, all of it) and all the fabulous comments. It really is like a major group therapy session. We all listen and then we all begin to understand one another, ourselves included.
I recommend the Long Way Home from Chicago series by Richard Peck because each chapter is almost a stand-alone story and it doesn’t take a lot of brain-power or emotional-power to get through yet touches the soul, stirs memories, and invokes quality laughter.
This year was full of keeping our 7 kids contained in our house/yard and not going anywhere or seeing anyone as we prepared for baby #8. Massive boredom intermixed with some fun family activities and lots of gardening and Amazon shopping. Boredom/anxiety/peace all at once! Little Hannah graced our family and smelling her and touching her brand-new-straight-from-heaven wonderfulness has been a gift. Of course 8 kids (15-13-11-8-6-4-2-0) is pretty much craziness.
In our city south of SLC, school is resuming full-time with masks and tons of new rules and safety protocols but the kids would take that over learning at home anyday. So I let them go (high school, middle school, elementary, and preshool) and try my best to have faith and be brave. And I also joke/fret that if our family got Covid we would probably be the only family in the district to shut down four schools!
Also eating our garden right now. Lots of tomatoes, squash, salsa, raspberries, corn, salsa, beans, cucumbers, apricots and did I mention salsa. I garden for the therapy session with Mother Earth…that and the salsa. 😉
I recommend the CALM app and American Express is letting its card holders have the premium version for free.
Once again. THANK. YOU! Thank you for your recipes, your stories, your openess, and letting us see bits and pieces of you. You rock!
Abi! I loved all of your recommendations. My goodness, baby #8 in such a crazy year! You are amazing! I always loved how having a new baby in our home slowed life down a lot…like a little piece of divine perspective thrown at us to cuddle.
Right now I am working from home fulltime, along with my husband. Our kids (14,12,10,1) are all at home until September 8th, my mother-in-law watches our 1 year old during the day and helps out with the older kids. I’m in Canada, the numbers in my province are really good, but debating whether to send the kids back to school or homeschool them somehow this year. The back to school “plan” here is sending all kids back fulltime…30 to a classroom…with masks all days. It seems to throw the social distancing, that we otherwise have to follow, out the window. There’s a lot of uncertainty here. The kids want to go back, sort of, mostly for their friends.
Hey Julia, sorry for the delay in responding – did you decide what to do about your kids??
Hi Mel, I enjoyed your post and thank you for letting us know we’re not alone in feeling anxious these days. Although our circumstances are different, I feel a connection to you. I am about 32 in my heart but 72 in actual earth years. Living with my husband in suburbia in a small town in Indiana. Our kids are grown & married & living several states away but it might as well be continents away due to covid. We can’t visit them & they can’t visit us. You can’t hug on FaceTime. I understand your need to be alone sometimes but sure wish I had the option to have kids & family close by. Years ago I had the same gum surgery as you had,, even same front teeth. It gets better, don’t worry. I confess I read your blog more for your sweet honesty than for recipes altho I’ve enjoyed several. At this age we are on low salt & low sugar diets. Take care, this pandemic won’t last forever. But love and life will.
Mar – you’re amazing! I love how you feel so young at heart. I hope I stay that way, too! I’m so sorry it has been a lonely time for you. I can imagine you are missing your family so much! Loved your thoughts.
The rent an RV for road trip sounds amazing! However the thought of being trapped with a traveling port-a-potty horrifies me. Now I have to ask a question. Do they give you a quick lesson on how to deal with that and other features of the RV? I mean…I don’t need details. I just need to know they don’t just take your money and throw the keys at you and point at the RV. lol
Anxiety? Smanxiety… I have pending wisdom teeth extraction coming up probably late September/early October and I have a chipped crown that I can’t get replaced until after… AND THE HORROR of it all. Only one wisdom tooth is a ticking time bomb and I’m like- yo! Dentist- just yank it. He kindly informed me that pulling teeth on someone in their 40s is different than in their 20s because of bone density. Let’s just say I’m so freaking scared. Which is why I’m having all 4 done. JUST stick a fork in me I’m done. What’s that saying? There’s stuff you know, stuff you know you don’t know and the stuff you don’t know you don’t know.
On the upside I’ve lost weight during quarantine, when most claim they’ve gained weight, darn near 25 lbs, edging close to 30. It’s been slow so I know it’s the good kind that will last. I gave up daily coffee at the beginning of the year and I think I’m finally seeing the positive outcome of that and other healthy food choices.
Haha, Andrea…I had the SAME fears. The same. And no, they don’t throw the keys at you and walk away. We would have been a huge liability. The owners gave us an hour walk through. It was so helpful for my nervous brain. That’s amazing you’ve been able to lose weight and feel better…but man GOOD LUCK with that dental work. I’m slightly horrified for you, but I know it will all work out! Leave it in the hands of those who do it on the daily – your dentist has your back.
Some days are good and some days are bad. Some days I cry and some days I can handle everything. I have 4 kids, but they are older. Just took child#3 out to college and hope they actually get to stay. Child #1 just started law school and child#2 is a junior in college. Hope they can all stay and actually attend. Child #4 is a sophomore in high school. We have low cases in the rural area we live in, and our schools are in person starting tomorrow, but we know the plan for switch to online if we hit a certain number of active cases, so that possibility is real. We have been reading Harry Potter books out loud again as a family and started that in mid March when the world turned upside down. We recently finished Harry Potter #4, and then we watch the movie as we finish each book. We also played a game a day every day since mid March until end of June. We still play games lots and do lots of puzzles, but do not force ourselves to do it every day like we did before. Also, in mid March I made my then high school senior and freshman cook dinner every night for over a month. They were home and why should I be the only one to make dinner, right? They did an awesome job, and then their summer jobs started and I had to start cooking again….bummer. Reading books, going on nature walks/hikes (we are blessed to have some great trails close to our house) has saved my sanity. Would love cooler weather to help with that too. Hot and humid summer means lots of indoor time. Anyway, I am a huge fan of yours. Been following you for about 9 years (I think?) and make something of your almost every day. You save my sanity in the kitchen. Thank you! You are a rock star! There is so much good in this world! Thanks for being part of it!
I loved your comment, Jen! And I love all the things you’ve incorporated into quarantine life (meal assignments, Harry Potter). Definitely seems like you’ve made lemonade out of the lemons. Good luck to your kiddos in all their different phases of life!
Love this post Mel! And I totally want to rent an rv and GO! We were actually just at red fish lake ourselves! Amazing spot! We stayed at May family Ranch in Challis, ID. Amazing place! I love how you find peace in disconnecting from the internet. Me too! The mountains have become my peaceful place. Also meditation! I really loved this post. It made me laugh and feel grounded. I’ll have to check out those books, my husband is an audio book reader! Thank you!!
Is Challis about an hour from Redfish Lake? I hope you had an amazing time! I need to start meditating. I tried once and fidgeted too much.
Mel, buy the book The Power of Stillness: Mindful Living for Latter-day Saints, and then read and ponder it slowly at your own pace, or at least on Sunday afternoons while you soak in some quiet alone time. It is helping my anxiety and my ability to see things in a different, more fulfilling, more peaceful way. I too need quiet alone time frequently. I feel guilty sometimes prioritizing that over everything else, but I do it efficiently and meaningfully and it makes a big difference in my life and I’m a happier wife and mother because of it. Love your guts right back!
Thank you so much for the recommendation, Stacie!
Your RV adventure sounds awesome! What a great idea. I’ve actually been thinking how an RV might be a fun, safe get away during this time. I’m so sick of being in the same place! My kids aren’t in school yet, so we have time for more adventures. Also, I’m sorry healing from the gum graft was so awful! I’m getting a gum graft this week. Yay. I’m eating all the crunchy things I can until my surgery. I’m a crunchy girl, so I’m not looking forward to all the soft food. What did you eat for 6 weeks??
The RV trip was definitely worth it, Valerie. Highly recommend! And so many blessings of healing for your gum graft. How many teeth and where in your mouth? I literally subsisted on yogurt and pureed soups from Trader Joe’s. I honestly don’t think I’ll be able to eat either for a long, long time.
Ugh. I have a feeling I’m going to be so sick of yogurt and soup. Such a bummer. Luckily it’s only two teeth on the bottomleft side. Hopefully that will make the recovery semi okay. I just got it done yesterday, so the fun begins. I had your loaded baked potato soup for dinner after (the pureed version with no toppings
ha!) and it was a good start. But man, it takes forever to eat – even soup!
Mel, PLEASE write a cookbook. Pretty please? For me? That’s all thanks 😉
Haha. Ok! I mean, I want to. I do. And it’s on my bucket list. Goal list. Whatever you call it. I’m closer than ever before. But I have this paralyzing fear I’ll sink all this time into it and no one will buy it. So. At least I know you will. Thanks for that. 🙂
What?! I alone would buy enough to make it worth it!! No really, you should absolutely do it and I know most reader can’t wait to directly THANK YOU for all you have given us over the years by buying one and gifting it to all our neighbors at the holiday!!
Thank you for sharing your audiobook recommendations! To me, audiobooks are their own genre as a good one can add depth that a print book can’t. My favorite audiobook of all time is “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah. You will laugh, cry, and think and you won’t want it to end. I highly, highly recommend it. I’d love to hear more audiobook recommendations as you have them. Thanks, Mel. PS love your sun hat, where’s it from?
I totally agree about audiobooks, Kelly! In fact i think there are several audiobooks I would have hated as print books if I would have gone that route (but I loved the audiobook). I’m so excited about that audiobook recommendation. Thank you! The sun hat is from Coolibar! https://www.coolibar.com/women-s-tempe-sun-hat-upf-50.html
I love hearing an update about your life! If I would have read this sooner I would have driven the half hour to Coeur d’alene to stalk you 🙂 The Pacific NW is beautiful!
Not only do we have the same tastes in food (I’ve made probably 20 of your recipes in the last month and EVERY.SINGLE.ONE. is one that I print out, laminate and put in a binder…I’ve made the curried popcorn cauliflower 2-3 times a week lately and every single member of my family loves it) but we seem to have the same taste in books. Just Mercy is one of my very favorites and so is Boys in the Boat. I will have to read the Bear and the Nightingale now. And please let us know what your favorite pants are because I’m positive they’ll be my new favorites too.
Thank you, as always, for the really really great recipes and life advice! You’re just the best!
Oh you are so sweet. Thank you, Nicole! Seriously. I can’t believe you live so close to where we were hanging out! It was breathtaking up there. A few weeks later and I’m not sure the Bear and Nightingale book is my fave. I’m kind of slogging my way through the audiobook. It was great at the beginning but kind of lost steam for me.
We have twin girls who will be 4 in October so we haven’t had to worry about school. Respect to all the school-age families out there! Mid-July we started babysitting a 4 month old cutie pie who lives across the street Monday through Friday. Baby Sloane has been a great way to entertain us all! She is darling and you know how a baby can just heal sometimes? The snuggles, the feedings, the certainty that you don’t have to know it all to give of yourself and care for someone else. Largely we are bored, but safe and healthy (minus regular sugar cravings) so surviving. And now I want to go around Arizona in an RV! Great idea! Love to all your family, Mel.
The truth of how a baby can divert and distract and heal us is so true. What a fun, tender mercy for you guys right now! Love back to you, Theresa.
Oh it was fun to hear from you! What a fun adventure you’re having with your family. We moved just before the world shut down. We decided to not take any of our old junk but only the nice things we wanted to keep and replace the rest when we moved. ha! We are all alone in a lovely but very empty home 🙂 It’s been an adventure! We have met a couple neighbors but that’s about it. Oh well. The view is beautiful and I dream I’ll be able to travel a little in the new year as we found out our first grandchild is coming then and it will be horrible if we can’t visit. Loved both Just Mercy and Boys in the Boat! Reading has been a challenge for me during all of this – short attention span stress I guess. I am trying to resist making those peanut butter chocolate frosted wicked cookies you shared. The covid weight gain is real 🙂
What a transition during such a crazy time in the world, Marcella! Oh my! I really hope you can see that new grand baby when he/she comes!
Mel, up until 6 months ago, I was an English professor and had lived alone for six years. I’ve always loved cooking but cooking for one looks more like heating a baked potato up in the microwave and going fancy by adding chopped tomatoes and cottage cheese. Then, I met my husband who is fabulous and came with 5 fabulous children, three of whom live with us (the other two are grown). We got married Leap Day 2020 and when we returned from our Weddigmoon, Covid-19 cancelled the world. Suddenly, I was home with 4 hungry faces and a lot of time on our hands. My mother, who is also a big fan of yours, suggested your blog. And boy have you ever saved my life!!! I really cannot thank you enough for your plethora of recipes which match my own food philosophy (from scratch and crowd pleasing). I now have a binder full of recipes my new family loves and a dinner schedule that is full of good food, laughter, and delightful chatter. Sit down dinner was not something they did before—More of a grab and go style. But as you know, family dinner time is sacred, and healing, and bonding, and so I have it as a top priority, which I let nothing interfere with. Thanks ever so much for all your help over the last six months of my life. And I love your blog—I think you’re hilarious. Keep the good work coming and know that all your hard work is very much appreciated and going towards the best of causes—feeding peoples bellies, hearts, and minds.
I loved reading this so, so much! Oh my goodness. So much. First of all, what a huge life leap and transition – and then to have an instant family brought into your life and face it along with covid. You.Are.Amazing. I am so happy the recipes have been helpful, but I’m more impressed that you’ve been able to execute it all.
Love to hear about your adventures, Mel. Our garden is one of the things that is helping me remain sane. Our tomato plants are over my head (literally) and with the corn (an experiment), it looks like a jungle out there. Getting some big pumpkins too which is also an experiment. Also working on getting new flooring in the house, so hubby and I are making those decisions. Fun stuff but honestly, I am bored almost every day. I work from home out in the country and do not see many people. I’ve moved to a new town (got married last year, sold my house and moved earlier this year) and thought I’d find friends through the Y, through church etc…well that hasn’t happened. I am however grateful that I do not have to deal with distance learning or school decisions!
Ha. My garden looks like a jungle. but definitely more in the “scary, overgrown” category of things. So many of you are commenting with the same type of lifestyle change – a HUGE change right before or during covid. That is so hard! Especially to be bored and lonely. I hope things start looking up for you and you can meet some wonderful souls in your neck of the woods!
Cookbook!?! YES! I would love it if you wrote a cookbook. I much prefer to look at a cookbook, then to get a recipe from on-line. I actually have a huge cookbook collection, and I read them like novels. I love to read the recipes and look at the pictures. 🙂
I am also glad you are feeling better, and your pigs are adorable.
I have 5 kids, and only 1 left to get through school. She is in 8th grade, and is so excited to go back to school tomorrow even though she has to wear a mask. She is tired of being home, and can’t wait to be with her friends and teachers and to have a more structured schedule. 🙂
Thanks, Stephanie! The cookbook dream is getting closer (although how close I can’t say for sure because I need about 28 more hours in the day). I hope your 8th grader has a fantastic school year, mask and all!
Rats, I thought I left a comment last Friday! Oh well, I’ll try again 🙂 We are planning to take our kids on a short RV trip in September, but I am SO intimidated by the food aspect of it all. What was your strategy for cooking/eating on the road?
Hi Amy – I think your comment DID post just WAY down the thread. This was my response: For someone whose life revolves around food, we did the RV food thing super low key and basically ate the same thing for breakfast and lunches every day (cereal and yogurt and granola for breakfast/sandwiches and snacky stuff for lunches). And then for dinners, I premade tinfoil dinners for one night of camping, we did hot dogs another night, and then I had a few Costco-type shelf stable meals for other nights (lentils and rice, etc). It wasn’t fancy but it was filling and no one complained! We also had access to a grocery store midweek where I picked up some bread and fresh foods.
I’m so glad you’ll be reading The Boys in the Boat, it’s one of the best books I’ve read in the past 10 years (and I read a lot). And please share it with your kids, it’s about youngsters. Have you ever had a coach? Been a coach? Have you ever thought your life was hard? Hint – it hasn’t. I hope you love as much as I did.
Thanks, Margie! I’m excited to read it.
Hi Mel,
First and foremost I am so happy to hear that you are feeling better. It’s absolutely no fun to have this painful oral surgery especially now with all that is going on in our world.
I must tell you that you had me at your huckleberry adventure. I have never had a huckleberry let alone a huckleberry milkshake? Do you have any recipes that include huckleberries that you can share with all of us? I would love to introduce my family to your huckleberry milkshake recipe. 🙂
My milkshake recipe is super simple. One quart vanilla ice cream, one can evaporated milk and about 2-3 cups huckleberries. Blend it all up!
What are those cookies (in the pic) and are they on your site? They look great. Thanks!
Just posted them last week! https://www.melskitchencafe.com/peanut-butter-sugar-cookies-with-chocolate-frosting/
We just started school, 8th and 4th grade so we’re going to see how that goes. I have for the last several months, have started working out religiously to feel better and for my anxiety. I am starting to see results so I am pretty excited. My husband had COVID at the beginning of June but thankfully he got over it without any issues.
I’m so glad your husband didn’t have any serious side effects! And great job on exercising! I’ve found that getting some kind of exercise in regularly has helped me stay sane, too.
Oh Mel, you get so many comments I almost hate to bother you. I read your blog and cook your recipes faithfully and consistently. It was exciting to read THIS post though because I am in the middle of planning a little Montana road trip for the first few weeks of September and I had never read of this Hiawatha trail. Looked it up – was amazed by the gorgeousness and now that is on our list of things to do. What I can’t find is info on the age suitability. My youngest is 6 and just this summer started riding a two-wheeler without training wheels. She’s doing great but 15 miles sounds far for her – is it go until you get to the end or are there places to stop if someone’s legs are getting tired?! Or maybe Dad will have to pull her. 😉 Just wondering how it went with younger kids. All my other kids are big enough to handle it.
And by the way, I now eat a dairy-free plant-based, wheat-free diet which is sometimes super challenging for me and so I was ECSTATIC when you posted the recipe for peanut butter cups. They are amazing and are saving my life on days when I can’t find anything I want to eat.
Hi Kelly – I hope you see this! Sorry for the delay in responding. Ok, so I think the Hiawatha trail is amazing for younger kids (if you start at the top and go down the bottom and then catch a shuttle back up, it’s basically a 2% downgrade the entire time). Having said that, it’s still 15 miles. I think I’d probably recommend a tagalong bike for your 6-year old unless she is really rocking it on her bike. Camryn (8) did it just fine but we stopped a lot. There are LOTS of stopping places. Signs to read, overlooks, and just places to turn off. Good luck! So excited for you!
I love your library diversity project. In between the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd, I felt like I should start an Instagram account with resources for families to use to talk to their kids about race and diversity. So that’s been my covid summer project. 🙂 @the.inclusive.family
Sorry about your surgery recovery. That doesn’t sound fun.
Thank you for sharing your Instagram account, Alissa!
Mel, you’re awesome! Your recipes are a staple, but beyond that, you’re an amazing person for the book donation (and many other endeavors as well). We just pulled our kids after a week of in person school and I’ll definitely be using that list to choose book study books with my fifth grader. Thank you so much for being you and sharing you with us.
Thank you so much, Amy! Good luck with homeschooling!
Love your updates! The RV idea sound awesome!! How did you bring your bikes? My recommendation for anxiety is a magnesium supplement. We use “Natural Vitality Calm” gummies. They’ve been a true life saver
Thank you, Rachel! We borrowed a bike hauler that hooks into the trailer hitch and used that.
I am fine and stay extremely busy learning how to do all kinds of creative things, cooking, card making, art, health issues, etc.
I totally understand what you went through with your mouth. I too have had issues and remember.
You are wise about the disconnect issue, Peace and quiet can heal.
Take care…
I love that you focus on your creativity, Laura. I think that’s amazing!
Everyone is worried for the extroverts but I’m with you– introvert at home with ALL the kids ALL the time is tough too! Here in AZ my only escape is getting out for a walk by 6am when it’s *only* 83° out Just Mercy is on my list of all-time favorites. That book really changed the way I think about a lot of things. Like another commenter, I also couldn’t get through The Boys in the Boat, much as I tried. Maybe I should give the audiobook a try. Your RV trip looks amazing!
Gah. “only 83” that makes me cringe. You Arizonans are hard core with the heat. Your daily walks sound like they are a good escape. I hear you. Being an introvert right now is challenging.
I’m having similar feelings as an introverted mom… I miss my alone time! My kids are old enough that I can leave them home while I run errands, but I miss being alone in my own home. I haven’t had much of that since March. And I also have early risers and teenagers that stay up late, so there’s always someone around. Yardwork and morning walks have been my saving grace. And I’m with you, disconnecting from social media has been an important thing for my mental health. I sure love your blog!
Yep, that’s exactly me. I just need a little time alone in my own house. It sounds like you totally understand where I’m coming from! Hang in there!
Those pigs are so darn cute! And I love that you and the family went on an RV adventure. It sounds heavenly. And lastly, I can’t imagine how painful your post surgery recovery was. Not being able to eat all these wonderful foods that you’re so good at making…..
Thanks for being an inspiration to all of us, anxiety and all!!
Thank YOU!!!
My husband took our older two kids camping and hiking at Redfish Lake last month and they loved it. The Hiawatha trail sounds amazing, but we’ll need to wait about five years for our kids to get old enough.
School starts here in Owyhee county next week. Our town is very laid back, shall we say, about covid precautions, which was causing me a lot of anxiety, but I feel good about sending them now. The nature of my husband’s work means he’s fairly exposed and I’m signed up for a vaccine trial, so hopefully within a couple months I’ll be immunized (or possibly placeboed).
I really enjoyed The Boys in the Boat and really appreciated Just Mercy (the movie version). I’ve definitely been in a reading slump (generalized anxiety, kids being home, overflowing garden, etc) so I’ll have to check out your other recommendations.
I hear you on disconnecting and alone time. Both are so critical and so hard!
Super interesting about the vaccine trial you’ll be a part of, Emily! And I hope your kids do well going back in person!
Googling whether or not I’m having a panic attack was not a hobby I expected to pick up in 2020, but here we are. Thanks for sharing your thoughts/concerns! We go back to school 2 days a week for my kiddos, and 4 days a week for me(I teach). My anxiety/excitement/confusion has been all over the map! Thankfully, I know we can get through this, and we’ve had some pretty great things happen too. Onward and upward, hopefully!
Nicole, wow! A teacher amid all this. I hope all goes well for you this school year as you balance teaching and having kids in a hybrid learning environment. I think it’s true what you said – the emotions have been all over the place and pretty unpredictable (at least for me!)
Thanks for your honest post Mel. I am SO glad that your gums are healed. That’s tough normally let alone for a recipe/foodie blogger!!
I too am highly introverted and although I love to be home, I’m feeling stir crazy and miss people. WA has had a strong and continued state COVID restrictions.BUT… thankful for our trip to Montana (my home state) It’s quite possible that we could have crossed paths on Hiawatha Trail – it’s such a beautiful trail. I picked up a great new cookbook and am looking forward to curling up to read and cook from it; The Western Kitchen by Seabring Davis.
At home, my husband and I have also been canning and pickling ALOT. Our favorite so far are pickled lemon cucumbers. Truly refreshing, beautiful and the best snack on everything.
I hope that your trip in Thor invigorates. Thank you for allowing all of us to be part of your home cooking and adventures. I’m looking forward to many more meals “with you” this year.
Thank you, Diane! The Thor trip DID invigorate. It was amazing. And wow, I cannot wait to try pickled lemon cucumbers. That has my mouth watering just thinking about it!