JANUARY

Hearth as altar, owl visitors, brown plate special

From Monday - Cold. We’ve had the fire going since having coffee. The dogs think they’re in heaven - snuggled up and sleepy and warm. We’ve been living by the fire this winter - eating dinner near it, sharing coffee, reading. A hearth is a lucky thing to have - it draws you in and keeps you there - a participant and agent but also a bystander, beneficiary. T cuts kindling and has been chopping wood for months. I am so lucky.

I love the quiet of January. We still have our Christmas tree, but the hype and build up has subsided. There is a bit more room to breathe. We saw snow drops coming up in the woods yesterday. Spring is long on the horizon.

Trapp’s homemade stocking, my cheeky bar on Christmas, homemade safety-orange poncho, Trudy, duck l’orange on NYE, my family

On two hikes recently, a barred owl has flown across our path. The woods are so quiet right now, he seems alone, hunting with diligence. Owls can mean a lot of different things, symbolizing death, wisdom, magic, transformation and change - new beginnings. Seems fitting for now, and I want to know more. Once when getting ready for work in the dark on a cold winter morning, I looked out our bathroom window and an owl was sitting on our roofline, staring in at me. A visitor, a messenger, friend.

My assignment this year is to refill my cup. Starting anew - here are some intentions, though I don’t feel you need to wait til 1/1 to get going on a new vision! I am always a spur of the moment project-starter, intention setter - a permanent beginner.

For now, I begin here:

• Setting aside “office hours” on my day off to tune out and focus on a creative project, read, rest - anything I need.

• Signing up for horse back riding lessons

• Focusing on mental and financial health

• Broaden and Build (confidence)

• Allow the restaurant to flourish

• Allow art, inspiration and beauty into mundane tasks

• Clearly ask for what I need

BROWN PLATE SPECIAL

Winter is such a sacred time in the kitchen. Options are limited, but cooking doesn’t have to be. Vegetables, herbs are more special now than ever. Brightness balances richness and heft, necessary warmth for cold bones and dark nights. I welcome this time and love the cozy meals that feed the soul - both to make and enjoy. Caramelized, roasted veg and rich meats complement bright sparks of lemon and fresh herbs, something acidic from a pickle jar, saved from summer, and warm hearty grains or bread. I have a few recipes here to make January feel more like a friend.

Buckwheat waffles, potato tart with bacon, grana and rosemary, smoked salmon chowder