I've been feeling a deep craving these days for as many creative outlets as I can find. I want to make beautiful things to eat, to wear, to gaze at lovingly. I want to do!
But I maaaay also be someone who likes lists. A lot. I have a list of the books I want to read. Movies. Weekend projects. My work to-do list, everyone agrees, is epic in its organization. To say I like planning would be like saying I merely like chocolate. The truth is I can't do without.
And so, I am deeply excited about making a monthly list of things I want to do each month. Just in the areas that make my heart leap and get the creative juices flowing.
Without further ado, here is the January List:
Cook - Find a way to cook the deer meat from the Landsdowne Market. Make Heidi's New Year Noodle Soup. Put the sourdough starter to use. Make my own crème fraîche*. Cook one of the many squash taking up precious counter space with this recipe.
Read - Amartya Sen's Development as Freedom. Michael Ondaatje's Anil's Ghost for book club.
Knit - Fingerless gloves. A cowl. Socks. A baby gift for a dear friend.
Decorate - Sew a bath curtain. Try my hand at word art. Choose family photos to hang up. Organize (my) shoes so they don't take up our entire hallway. Start looking for a dining room table. Put up art in the bedroom.
And the January adventure - Here we come, Arizona!
Disclaimer: I am aware this list is long. I am prone to grand statements and proclamations.
* I, um, have already done this. I like putting items on lists that are already done and then crossing them off. Also, I can't believe how easy it was to make, and almost lapped the whole thing up with breakfast until I remembered that it was 75% whipping cream.
When you live in tiny apartments your whole adult life (and you spend most of the holidays in Toronto, and you don't tend to think about these things until mid-December), getting a tree seems a bit unnecessary.
But now firmly ensconced in our first house, we both really wanted to have one. I wanted that fresh smell of pine, the twinkling lights, the evenings of just gazing lovingly at our tree.
It's weird I know. But I really do it.
We decided on a small tree, as we didn't really have enough ornaments to make a big tree look festive. But as soon as we got it home, it felt wrong to have a tree smaller than me. I don't know why, but don't question it. Up on a table it went, with a mental note to make some ornaments and get a taller tree next year.
We actually really love the few ornaments we have. We have started buying ornaments on our travels when we remember, so we have great ones like this guy:
This is Askasleiker, one of the Icelandic Christmas lads. It means bowl licker. There are 13 of them, and in the days leading up to Christmas, they leave small gifts for children every night. We also bought Skyrgamur, who eats yogurt. Every time I pass the tree, I am fondly reminded of our time in Iceland, and the country's quirkiness. I wish I had grown up wanting a guy named Bowl Licker to leave me a present.
Our tree, when you get close enough, has a fun southwestern vibe to it. I think this is because my mother-in-law picks up ornaments in Arizona every year when she visits Andrew's sister. I think they're awesome.
I love Christmas!
Lately, I have been thinking about the simple things that bring me pleasure. Most of these things have to do with the art and practice of creativity, but they are also things that make me feel alive. Feelings I can savour and enjoy. The sharp cold air on a morning walk. The smell of my soap. Uncovering a beautiful story in a book. The (long) process of making our house into our home. Making a meal, like tonight's 'sushi salad'. Taking a trip, and anticipating it. Taking photos. Writing.
I want to spend more time doing all of these things, and taking the time to properly savour and enjoy these things I love. So here we go.
