elephantine

april 4th

Camellia season! The best time of year.

march 29th

Currently reading.

march 21st

fig and strawberry thumbprint cookies

I've been wanting to make thumbprint cookies ever since I first tried one. Unsurprisingly, they're fun and easy to make! Here's the recipe I used...

Thumprint cookies
recipe from Food Network

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup jam*

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer, whip the butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla until just combined. Carefully add the dry ingredients, mixing just until incorporated.

Scoop and roll the dough into small balls. (I made mine a little over 1" big.) Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving a few inches between each cookie. Using your thumb, make an indentation into the center of each ball. Fill with jam.

Bake cookies until the edges are golden, about 15-20 minutes. Cool, then serve. Store in a tightly sealed container for up to 5 days.

*I didn't actually measure out my jam – I just scooped it directly from the jar – but 1/3 cup is the amount the original recipe calls for. I used strawberry jam and fig preserves.

Reading Partners

I recently started volunteering as a tutor for Reading Partners, a wonderful program for helping kids who are behind in their expected reading level. It's great because as a tutor you get to work with the same student every week and there's a structured curriculum to follow. In Seattle, there's a waiting list of kids who are in need of tutors, so if you're looking for a way to give back and have time during school hours, I'd definitely encourage you to consider becoming a tutor, too. You can read more about the program here.

(Also: the Seattle branch of Reading Partners has a wish list of books they'd like to add to their library!)

march 12th

An abstract moment.

march 9th

Some bright flowers for a rainy day.

march 5th

Over a year ago, Grant had started noticing so many little yellow notes stuck up all over the house. That was not entirely new. Fiona had always written things down—the title of a book she’d heard mentioned on the radio or the jobs she wanted to make sure she got done that day. Even her morning schedule was written down. He found it mystifying and touching in its precision: “7 a.m. yoga. 7:30–7:45 teeth face hair. 7:45–8:15 walk. 8:15 Grant and breakfast.”

The new notes were different. Stuck onto the kitchen drawers—Cutlery, Dish-towels, Knives. Couldn’t she just open the drawers and see what was inside?

Rereading a beloved book, which contains probably my favorite short story of all time.

march 3rd

Happy Friday!

february 27th

New earrings in the shop.

february 24th

Leaf collecting.

bliss

It arrived! A very good mail day indeed.

I mentioned this last month, but in case you missed it: my short story, "Bliss," was just published in Carve's Winter 2017 issue. It's a story about a couple on their honeymoon. After 9 drafts and 7 rejections, I'm very happy that this story has finally found a home.

If you'd like to read "Bliss" online, it's over on Carve's website!

february 14th

february 9th

Currently reading & loving Commonwealth by Ann Patchett.

february 6th

Snow day!

february 2nd

january 28th

A day spent on tiny Guemes Island.

january 25th

"It's only just turned the half hour, Madam," said Norah in a special voice, bright and cheerful like the nurse. I wondered if Maxim's grandmother realized that people spoke to her in this way. I wondered when they had done so for the first time, and if she had noticed then. Perhaps she had said to herself, "They think I'm getting old, how very ridiculous," and then little by little she had become accustomed to it, and now it was as though they had always done so, it was part of her background. But the young woman with the chestnut hair and the narrow waist who gave sugar to the horses, where was she?

Finally reading Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and am thoroughly enjoying it.

january 22nd

a new short story

I have some writing news! My short story, "Bliss," is being published in the Winter 2017 issue of Carve.

I'm thrilled about my story finding a home, especially with a literary magazine I've long admired. If you'd like a copy of the printed issue (which includes, among other things, interviews with the fiction writers) you can preorder a copy here. Be sure to use the discount code "CARVEFRIEND" to receive 10% off!

My short story will also be available to read on Carve's website. I'll share a link when it's live.

january 13th

I just started carrying Winterwoods Tea in the shop! Organic, loose leaf, and made in Spokane, WA.

january 12th

Currently reading Stop-Time by Frank Conroy.

january 11th

january 9th

january 6th

New newsprint wrap in the shop.

january 5th

january 4th

Currently enjoying Girls in the Moon by the lovely Janet McNally.

january 2nd

A new paper pyramid garland in the shop.

january 1st

happy new year!

daily photo, december 31st

Currently reading/loving The Paper House by Anna Spargo-Ryan.

daily photo, december 30th

daily photo, december 29th

daily photo, december 27th

daily photo, december 26th

daily photo, december 25th

Merry Christmas!

daily photo, december 23rd

daily photo, december 22nd

daily photo, december 21st

daily photo, december 20th

Currently reading.

daily photo, december 19th

daily photo, december 17th

daily photo, december 16th

Waterfall Garden Park.

daily photo, november 15th

daily photo, december 14th

daily photo, december 13th

A miniature holiday scene at Swansons.

 

daily photo, december 12th

daily photo, december 11th

Recently enjoyed Night at the Fiestas by Kirstin Valdez Quade.

daily photo, november 10th

Dinner at Vestal.

daily photo, december 9th

daily photo, december 8th