Catching up. #reverb10
Ok, I’m more than a little behind on #reverb10. This is kind of a crazy time of year to sign up for something like this–especially this year. We’re moving (just 10 miles–but still!), I’ve taken on a new volunteer project, and it’s the holidays–parties, presents, obligations, travel, whew! This all just makes it more important to slow down and reflect, and #reverb10 is a perfect way to do this. So, I’m going to try to catch up!
December 3 – Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors). (Author: Ali Edwards)
Not long after moving to Boulder (Louisville really–but we’re fixing that), my hubby and I took a day trip to Golden Gate State Park, near Golden, CO. We wanted to get into the mountains without a lot of crowds. We took snacks, drove up to the top, and had a lovely little picnic. It was gorgeous. We stayed for about an hour at the summit, and mostly had it to ourselves. We breathed in the crisp mountain air, scented with pine and earth. We soaked in the views of the distant, snow capped peaks. We listened to the silence between occasional breezes. We connected with each other.
December 4 – Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year? (Author: Jeffrey Davis)
By being purely, truly me. My childlike wonder is something that I cherish. I nourish it. I listen when it is feeling crushed by adult pressures. It’s in the small things. I stop in my favorite store–a toy store called Into the Wind–on a regular basis and I play. I keep toys in my office at work. In fact, I have a pair of foam swords crossed on my office wall, just above the bookcase that my stuffed owl perches upon. I take play doh to meetings. (I run them–so it’s ok, right? ;) ) I smell all the lovely little soaps at Lush. I wear fun jewelry and clothes. Green sweater over an orange top? Sounds great to me!
I rebel against adulthood in all ways that I can while still being a responsible adult. I go to work. I volunteer. I pay my bills. I vote. I pay my taxes. I even do jury duty with a smile on my face. Why shouldn’t I wear a tiara while vacuuming? :)
December 5 – Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why? (Author: Alice Bradley)
I let go of my comfortable-but-not-quite-doing-it-for-me life. By most accounts, we were living a beautiful life. We had a happy marriage, owned a large home that we’d been making our own for several years, had good jobs, two cars we loved, and were surrounded by friends and family. BUT, and this is a big but, it just wasn’t working for me. I needed more. I wanted to be stretched intellectually, not just in work but also in my social life. I wanted options and opportunity. I wanted a community that got me. So, we picked up and moved to Boulder. We’re in a much smaller place, still paying the mortgage on that nice home in Missouri, and our families are about a thousand miles away. BUT, and this is another big but, we’re so much happier. We have experienced more in 7 months here than we have in the last decade in our small town in Missouri.
December 6 – Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it? (Author: Gretchen Rubin)
The last thing that I made that was new for me was a pumpkin flan for Thanksgiving. I cook all the time and love flan but had never made it myself. The hostess at my bridal shower made pumpkin flan with pistachio brittle (I was an October bride). It was incredible. I’ve thought of that dessert off and on for six years. My attempt was delicious but far from perfect. Most of our belongings are still in boxes in the garage since we’re in temporary housing (will be fixed on Saturday!), so I couldn’t find the correct pan. I found a spring form pan and figured the caramel would seal the flan so that it wouldn’t leak. Uhmm, no. After spilling raw custard all over the range and kitchen floor, I poured what was still in the pan into a plain ol’ cake pan and baked it. While it was baking, I attempted the salted pistachio brittle–also a first and a fail for me. Even after waiting overnight, my brittle didn’t set. If I try candy making again, I’ll be procuring a candy thermometer :) (The caramel for the flan and caramel I made for apple cider later in the week came out beautifully.) However, all was not lost. The custard which really couldn’t be called flan came out of the oven beautifully. I chilled it overnight, dusted on some maple sugar, caramelized it with a torch, and called it creme brulee!
As for things that I want to make? Plenty! I’ve started this Pinterist board to track my would-be projects.
December 7 – Community Prompt: Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011? (Author: Cali Harris)
We moved to Boulder for the tech jobs and natural beauty, but most of all, we moved here for the community. Before we even moved here, we were a part of it through twitter, trips to visit, and events like Ignite Boulder (want to see my spark? :) ). Since moving here, my social life has exploded. Instead of having to be creative to come up with things to do, we are invited–and have to choose what we have time for. It’s amazing. I’ve found mini-communities for all of my interests, many of which overlap.
Most amazing to me, we had our first Thanksgiving away from family. It was not the sad, lonely Thanksgiving one might expect. It was a week full of laughter, love, and incredible food. It had it’s own dose of holiday stress, but overall, it was just a joyous occasion surrounded by friends that we’d be happy to call family.