Week 16 (2021)
respecting the reader & grace in Minari, the Family Security Act, questions & griefs of a mother, keeping death before us
(Open in your browser — emails cut off at the end!)
to read: essays, articles
Hillbilly Grace on a Five-Acre Farm in Lincoln, Arkansas: A Review of Minari — Barbara Castle, Front Porch Republic — “In his acceptance speech, Chung stated the film is about “a family trying to learn how to speak a language of its own. It goes deeper than any American language and any foreign language. It’s a language of the heart, and I’m trying to learn it myself and to pass it on.”
Respect Your Reader — Stephanie Duncan Smith, Slant Letter — “The most beloved children’s authors all have this in common: they invariably write up to their readers. They respect them, which is another way of saying they make space for their characters—and by proxy, their readers—to be who they are, without imposing a manufactured moral of the story.”
My Mother's Questions— Deanna Briody, Current — “We are too easy with leaving, my generation more than previous ones, perhaps. And yet it is an ease we have been taught to prize and to practice. Pursue this degree, take that job, don’t lose out on that opportunity.
At great cost to herself my mother has begun to question such teaching. What of home? What of family? What of the terrible hunger that becomes daily bread when no thread of place, no web of people, tethers you to the earth—and no ordinary moments of belonging exist, therefore, to feed and fill you? Is this what we hope to give our children? Is this what we hope to gain for ourselves?”
China Cabinets— Glory Be, Fathom — “She told me that growing up // Grief was a China Cabinet // And in her neighborhood // Everybody ate off plastic”
What Pastoring Seniors Teaches Me About the Resurrection— Evan Welcher, Christianity Today — “For the church packed with the young, death often seems distant and tragic. By contrast, death and resurrection are not theoretical to those on the latter end of life.'“
The Romney Family Plan Sees the True Value of Parenting — Leah Libresco Sargeant, New York Times — “It’s hard to call this shell game pro-family policy, in which child care has value only if you don’t provide it to your own children.”
(Related — her latest post on Reproductive Asymmetry includes insightful responses from readers. “…A society that looks at children as an obstacle to women's equality isn't going to effectively respond to the dependence of having and raising children.”)
to read: books
Ordinary Grace, William Kent Krueger — audio — After reading his novel, This Tender Land, I was hungry for more of what he’d written. I wasn’t disappointed.
to watch
Xavier Omär: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert — Part-way through, I realized he filmed this at a coffee shop we met at for book club. I miss San Antonio!
to listen: music
CATCH — Peter CottonTale — “Forever Always” was our first dance at the wedding.
On The Rocks — Midland — In this house, we indulge in some catchy country.
to listen: audio
Intentional Living in Times of Chaos — Fountains of Carrots — Loved Tsh’s concept of a “Rule of Life”, inspired by St. Benedict.
Is it Okay to be Rich? & Financial Independence, Retire Early — New Polity — On stewarding resources for the common good, and participating in Edenic work.
(Apparently I like Catholic podcasts.)
to cook
Chicken Tortilla Soup — Also added sautéed sweet mini peppers.
Hamburger Soup — A great way we used up produce like tomatoes, celery, potatoes, onions… in one pot.
Roasted Chicken and Carrots, Onions, Mushrooms — We wanna make whole roasted chickens a regular, but winged it this time. (The garlic/rosemary/thyme/splash of wine flavors were great.) Let me know your favorite recipes for roasting a whole chicken!
Pumpkin Bread — On dessert rotation.
Citrus Cake — Mine turned out more dense and chewy than anticipated, but the flavors were poppin. And it was therapeutic to make.
to remember, reflect
A Year Ago...
Discovering the neighborhood trail, Jakob starting to work from home, and Ezra hardly working.
This Week…
Snail mail to family friends & my grandma. Talking to my uncle in prison, who loves the sound of laughter on the phone. An abundance of produce, thanks to Imperfect Foods. An abundance of treats & goodies for the toddler, thanks to grandparent mail. Wine & Breaking Bad. Friends who watch your kid. Spontaneous evening with friends. A sunny yard, Mexican food, and herding our collective tiny people. Ezra’s first hardcore injury. Lukas’ first real smiles. Playgrounds & new meals. So many milk drips & so many diapers. Sharing weekend dinners & staying too long. Praying about our future & our now. Living in the good old days.
“The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.”
Psalm 146:9-9