You people make fine correspondents!
This is a small newsletter that goes to a small number of people. And after last month's mailing, some of you hit reply and emailed me directly, and we ended up having nice conversations by email.
One of you asked, "How has COVID-19 changed your life?" I sat with the question, and a cup of coffee, for a while. Then it hit me: I feel more connected—like threads in a quilt—to my neighbors and my brothers and sisters around the world.
Thanks for being a part of this quilted family.
Island terrific in the North Pacific
My little town of Kodiak is perched on an island in the North Pacific. Living here requires resilience (think earthquakes, tsunamis, and groceries that arrive by ship twice a week) and being a good neighbor. When a child gets cancer, we get to work: Spaghetti feeds, bake sales, pledges.
How has COVID-19 changed your life, your neighborhood?
Last month, a menagerie of masked gardeners hosted a plant sale to support our local public radio station. In an hour, every plant was sold. Most popular were the blue poppies. Have you seen a blue Himalayan poppy?
During the sale, a friend, who'd just come up for air after a 14-day quarantine, stepped over to chat. "I've dusted the top of fridge three times," she confessed.
I don't know about you, but dusting is right up there with ironing. I am, however, managing to sort through — and get rid of — a lot of stuff. You, too?
How to unload used camera equipment
Technology changes so quickly! Antiques are measured in months, not decades. To re-purpose your camera equipment, you have many options, from Facebook swap groups and eBay, to honest-to-goodness businesses. Here are three of my
favorites:
- Adorama
- B&H Photo
- KEH.com (these guys specialize in buying and selling used equipment)
Why yes, I'd love a cup of chocolate cake. (You can thank me later for this recipe)
Would this recipe make a great gift idea? You know, mix up the powdered ingredients and and put it in mug with the printed recipe... ?
Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake
From "Vegan Made Easy," by Anja Cass
2 TBL Oat flour (put rolled oats in a blender)
2 tsp Unsweetened cacao powder
1/4 tsp Baking soda OR Baking Powder
1 tbsp Maple syrup
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
3 TBL Plant-based milk
1 TBL Peanut butter (or nut butter of choice)
1 tsp Peanut butter to dollop on top (or pumpkin, fruit, whatever)
1/4 tsp Cacao nibs or vegan chocolate chips
Place everything (except extra peanut butter and cacao nibs) into a large mug. Stir until it is mixed well and resembles a batter. Plop the extra peanut butter in the center of the top of the batter and sprinkle some cacao nibs over the top.
Microwave for 1 minute, then check for doneness. If it has risen and the center bounces back when you touch it, you know it is done. Otherwise, microwave it for 10 seconds at a time until done. Enjoy!
What I've been reading lately
I rarely read war stories, but Elephant Company is much more than that. Mitchell Zuckoff, author of Lost in Shangri-La and Frozen in Time, describes the book well:
"Vicki Constantine Croke delivers an exciting tale of this elephant whisperer–cum–war hero, while beautifully reminding us of the enduring bonds between animals and humans.”
After reading Elephant Company, all I wanted to do was visit an elephant preserve to experience these amazing animals. Stay tuned.
Independent bookstores are really hurting right now. Rather than than buy from you-know-who, support independent stores such as Powell's City Books in Portland, Oregon. Check out their blog: Author interviews, Powell's Picks of the Month, and celebration of small publishers
How to apologize and why it matters
I've recently discovered Brene Brown's podcast, Unlocking Us. Oh my goodness. Powerful,
sometimes messy, stuff.
I can't deny my fondness for bumblebees. OK, I love 'em. The other day, I whipped up a batch of sugar water and fed a cold, barely moving, bumblebee.
Ask a question and win a prize
Ask me a question about anything. Photography, composting, Kodiak Island, growing cucumbers in Alaska, what
I had for breakfast... And I'll choose a winner and send a prize. It might be a custom photograph, a packet of purple poppy seeds, or an autographed copy of Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul, the NYT bestseller I co-authored. I'm not teasing here so go ahead and ask. You've got nothing to lose, right?
Please go here to ask me a question and win a prize. I look forward to your questions. Thanks for playing, everybody!
Quick photo tip: Get closer. Really?
Thanks to COVID-19, we're practicing the 6-feet apart rule. This does not apply to taking pictures! Most photographers (smartphone count) tip-toe around the subject and don't get to what matters most. Practice getting closer. Not by zooming in with your camera, but with your feet.
Look at the photos above. The LEFT photo is a wide-angle shot of colorful crab pots. Tons of potential. But someone looking at such a photo might wander around the picture wondering, "What's the point? I don't see what SHE is seeing."
On the RIGHT, I moved in tight, really tight. See how you're drawn in? Your brain says, "Ahh, I can handle this."
Here's your homework: The next time you take your camera or smartphone out for a walk, move closer. Review your work. Simplicity is nice. Especially now.
Let me know how your photo assignment goes.
Cheers and blessings,
Marion
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Marion Owen • 1223 Kouskov W • Kodiak, Alaska, 99615 • 907-539-5009 (mobile) |
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