Isn't autumn a glorious time for a new beginning?
A new step forward for The Flora.
The Nest
Hello, dear readers! I have returned but with changes afoot.
My nook of the northwest is well into fall. The first flush of oranges and reds have dropped from the trees, gliding gracefully to the ground where they paint the gray pavement in splashes of color. Harvest is upon us, as seen in the various festivals and markets I have been attending, as well as in the abundance I have been bringing home and processing from my own garden.
Over the last few weeks I have thought long and hard on what I want the Flora to be. I have decided that I will not be charging for subscriptions. Instead, I will keep the bulk of my essays on Medium, a platform where I do get remuneration for my efforts. I will include at least one “friend’s link” in each Flora, so that you may read over on Medium without being a subscriber. Of course, if you are subscribed, then I appreciate your reads as they do profit me. I also appreciate any paid subscriptions I receive here via the Flora, in the event my writing or goals moves you to contribute. Tips are never expected, but always accepted with deep gratitude.
The Flora is evolving into a glimpse of my daily world, from what I call my apartment cottage. I am a proponent of living the life you love where you are now, and since I cannot have the cottage I crave right now I have spent years turning this small rented space into a cozy facsimile. Hopefully we will evolve further in the future to an actual cottage in the woods somewhere!
The new sections of the Flora include:
The Nest - of which this is the inaugural edition
A Wren Reads – a list, with links, to books, essays, and other recent reading of note.
Written Words – Links to my newly published works and notes on upcoming projects.
The Lovely Larder – Food, gardening, and recipe notes.
Errata – Any bits and bobs I feel drawn to share that don’t fit into the above sections.
Changes in my life, including the addition of a new fledgling to the nest and an expansion in my career responsibilities, means that The Flora of Jenny Wren will also be changing publishing frequencies. It will now be delivered to your inbox on the 2nd and 3rd Monday of every month.
I am excited for this next incarnation of the Flora, and I am delighted to have you joining me on this journey!
A Wren Reads:
The Borrower’s by Mary Norton
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Spiderwick Chronicles (ALL of them) by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
I’ve been feeling the urge for the safety of children’s novels, both those from my own childhood and those new to me. Of course I recommend these, for they are lovely works and children’s fiction is meant for all ages.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
This book was a sensation upon its release, but at the time I was unable to read it due to my own issues dealing with grief. I am finally ready now to face my own grief, and reading this is like having a dear friend who has been there before holding your hand.
Wintering by Katherine May
What an absolutely lovely book. May takes us through her own period of wintering – a phrase that refers to both the season and to various periods in our life. I learned a few things, but most importantly I discovered that it is possible to find comfort even in the hard times.
The Cottage Fairy Companion by Paola Merrill
I am a fan of Merrill’s YouTube channel, and watch it most mornings as I enjoy my breakfast. Merrill is an artist and writer that doesn’t live too far from me, so I can recognize bits of my own life in hers, which is a comfort. This book is part self help, part poetry, and part crafting guide. I enjoyed it immensely, as it caught part of the spirit of her art and videos.
The Tale of Holly How by Susan Wittig Albert
I just discovered the world of “cozy mysteries.” Although I read broadly, my genre of choice tends to be fantasy, either high fantasy with elves and such or animal fantasy with talking fauna. Well, this series of books hits the fantasy notes with a low stress mystery mixed in. Beatrix Potter (yes, that Miss Potter) is the protagonist, along with her animal friends. What’s not to love?
Written Words:
I’ve been quite busy over on Medium, and have been humbled by the reaction of my readers there! A year ago I thought I had lost my writer’s voice to decades of corporate writing. When I began to tentatively stretch my typing fingers and mind again, I never imagined the supportive and kind reception I would find. Thank you from the depth of my being and from the bottom of my heart!
The Legacy of My Father’s Knives
The sharpest edge can share the greatest love. medium.com
The perfect dog often has an imperfect past. medium.com
I Was the Witch of My Own Haunted Wood
Sometimes you have to believe in magic before it’s possible to heal medium.com
We Don’t Have to Be the Main Character of This Tale
I am learning to take joy in an ordinary life medium.com
The Lovely Larder:
Autumn and I have a love-hate relationship. I adore the crisp air, the colors, the scents, the sounds, and, oh, the flavors! Yet, autumn means the end of my beloved summer, and it is the only thing standing between me and my nemesis, winter (another season I am trying to learn to love).
In my quest to fully embrace the seasons of our year as well as the seasons of our lives, I have been cozying up to autumn quite a bit more than usual this year. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the kitchen. Some of our recipes have been old favorites, but others are completely new to me. Most have been winners, although a few won’t be made again – at least not without heavy adjusting!
Some of our winners:
Chicken and pumpkin dumplings (recipe here)
I followed this recipe as written, except for the addition of a turnip from our garden. This was so delicious that I have made it twice now this month, and I’m not sure if I will ever make chicken and dumplings any other way!
Hungarian Mushroom Soup and Rosemary Fougasse (recipe here)
The soup was delicious, although I doubled the paprika as we do enjoy a bit of spice. I may even add red pepper flakes to it next time! The fougasse was picked up from a bakery, as I didn’t have the energy to bake myself today. Sometimes we must cheat a bit!
Stuffed Boxty (recipe here)
We have been missing the food from Ireland, so I’ve been on a mission to find copycats of some of our favorites. I did make a few changes – I added some shredded chicken to the filling and I subbed half-and-half with a spoonful of cornstarch for the heavy cream I didn’t have on hand. I also mixed some chopped fresh parsley in with potato batter just because I have a glut of it in the garden right now.
Errata:
The garden is going to rest this week. I shall be spending the afternoon harvesting the last of the tomatoes, peppers, beans, and zucchini before putting the plants on the compost pile. Not everything rests, though, as the parsnips and kale will continue to provide for some time, and in two weeks the garlic goes in.
Wish me luck in the coming weeks, as I am going to attempt to reinforce my garden bed corners with brackets I have fashioned from aluminum beer cans! I think the pretty colors of the cans will add a bit of whimsy to the old cedar beds.
A mortar and pestle has long been on my wish list, since the old marble one was shattered in a move some years ago. I picked up this lovely blue ceramic one at a thrift store for a pittance. I am in love!
I’m also in love with my new bunting. I made it from scraps to soften the harsh lines of apartment mini-blinds. It’s the small things that make us smile.
Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower. -Albert Camus
Fondly yours in love, peace, and gratitude,
Jenny Wren