A Fresh Coat of Paint Recipe
Happy New Year to everyone. Wishing each of you a happy, healthy, and peaceful new year.
I spent the better part of the past ten days carefully placing everything in my kitchen into moving boxes. Every plate. Every mixing bowl. Every single quirky, mismatched baking pan. I know some of you might be sad to see the yellow cupboards go, but I've been ready for a more neutral-toned kitchen for quite some time. And so the painters arrived on a Monday. And by the end of day Wednesday, Christmas Eve, my kitchen was cloud white. And by 3 a.m. Christmas morning I was too sick with the stomach flu to set foot in it. I missed Christmas (and the better part of the following two days) entirely.
It was a rough way to send off 2008, but I'm feeling a lot better now. I suppose the upside of it all is that I had some time to think about the coming year. Time to think about how to make it meaningful and fulfilling. I flipped through a few old journals and notebooks, trying to remember what resolutions I've made in the past. And while it turns out I'm not big on resolutions, I seem to express many of the same sentiments year after year. To make an effort to see more of the world I live in. To make an effort to collaborate on projects with interesting, innovative individuals. And to spend more time with my family. These are the big themes for me.
As far as the minutiae of day to day life? I do my best to walk not drive, eat healthy, shop local, go jogging, try new things, meet new people, be kind, turn off lights, say yes more often than I say no, help others, read, and drink lots of water. I succeed a lot of the time, and I fail a lot of the time too. I do the best I can on any given day, any given moment. Ten years ago I was doing very few of these things, yet somehow, little by little, they have all become part of the fabric of my life.
One of the first things I want to do as we start another year is to thank you. I feel very fortunate to have this site as a creative outlet. It has helped me grow as a cook, a writer, as a photographer, designer, and as someone who has always been curious about the ways technology can intersect and enhance the creative process for individuals. I'm continually surprised and delighted by what you bring to this site - your comments, ideas, suggestions, your emails to me, the photos you post. I hope you continue to come visit in the coming year with your good ideas, good feedback, and (because there are plenty of times we need it ) a bit of good humor.
Wishing each of you a happy, healthy, and peaceful new year, Heidi
I'm curious - what are your resolutions, or what are you focused on as we head into 2009?
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Comments
still looking for that copy of Cook 1.0 :) Glad you are feeling better- kitchen looks good. Me- cook more, healthily, live simply, run a lot.
I love the new look! My goal for the year is to work less, so I can play more with my daughter.
This is my first time posting something to this site, though I've been reading it off and on for about a year or more now. Sorry to hear that you sick over the holiday :( I was snowed in with my two babies and the hubby. Not much of a Christmas for us this time around. I've have a couple of goals that I would like to accomplish this year: 1. keep my kitchen and its floor clean; my oldest likes to empty out my tupperware cuppard. 2. be a little bit more adventureus with my MANY cookbooks that I have. Hope you have a happy new year. Marie
I resolve to be truthful at all times, particularly when it's difficult or may hurt others, and to spend less time reading food blogs and more time actually cooking.
Change is inspiring and refreshing. ie: new paint. Congratulations on your new look in the kitchen! White is fun and clean-looking. You can add many colors to it. I included a link to a website re paint fumes, etc. fyi. http://www.essortment.com/family/paintfumesperm_szsc.htm There are effective air purifiers that make safer homes, also, and lower the toxic load of chemical off-gassing from paint, etc. I appreciate your creative recipes with whole foods, your photos and write-ups. I'm going to make a new or favorite soup up each week this new year to accompany breads and salads. Next soup is a gumbo recipe from my Montana Chef friend, Kenny. I want to walk every day, instead of a few times a week. The ice and snow has made it a bit treacherous for a few weeks, but sticking to a schedule will help me accomplish more this year as a self-employed single gal. I read an inspiring book this year: Ultramarathon Man. What a standard Dean Karnazes has set. I knew he used sports nutrition from my company, but wanted to know what his story was. Youtube was a place I heard the story of Dani Johnson, also. She is an example of what we all can do, despite our wounds and self-doubts. My father passed on Dec. 11th, leaving me with another important book to write regarding the treatment of our elderly. He was my closest friend and best advocate. Another resolution is to create my own website to help more people with healthy decisions in switching to green cleaners, and non-toxic personal care products and natural supplements that work. I also will offer consultation and resources for sexual abuse healing from the social worker side of me. I have taken a hiatus from my practice for personal reasons, but know my expertise is needed. My site will be: Cafe-for-the-Soul.com As usual, I have much to do. Food is the fuel needed to accomplish our dreams. Thanks for making it fun. Pamela [email protected]
In 2009, I want try new recipes. For non-food related things, I want to weight train twice a week and avoid running injuries.
I have resolved not to make any resolutions or feel the need to change anything about myself. Let's hear it for self-acceptance! Yeah! (and of course growth and eating good things and all that stuff we're supposed to do anyway).
The cupboards look great!! Sorry to hear that you were sick with the stomach flu!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Your site is great - thank you for sharing your ideas with us. Happy new year, lady.
Heidi- I am glad you are feeling better! The kitchen looks great. My resolutions, etc. are here: www.sparklegarden.wordpress.com happy new year! mavis
2007 was year of improving knife skills 2008 was year of getting over my fear of working with phyllo dough 2009 is Year of the Legume!
Happy New Year Day One! The buzzer has rung and the race is on for December 31st, hold on to your hats kids! Make it a joyful & tasty journey! Heidi, Maybe you haven't wondered about my blog ID, but here's the big reveal; Professional Color Consultant, here in Portland, OR. So as a pro may I say "Gorgeous Kitchen!" I must admit when I read "Cloud White" I cringed! but the juxtepostion of the clean lines, soft (great choice) white with the worn edges of your well loved plates collection just slayed me!! Like many others tell everyone about your site and forward recipes/links to many friends regularly. Thank you so much for this resource! I bought my sea veggies and I am planning to cook up a nice Seaweed Salad for my first meal of 2009...then my only resolution is to include Organic Blue Green Algae in my diet, for vegs its a fantastic source of pristine protene! Great energy source too! God bless you every one in 2009!
Heidi, my daughter who is a foodie, turned me on to your site, I have made several of your recipes and absolutely love your attitude and ingredients with food, Keep up the great work....I am an artist who lives in Granite Bay, CA and do workshops on the property where I live, maybe you would be interested in doing a workshop here sometime. If you are, let me know.... best to you in 2009, Susan
I am excited to begin the new year exactly as I left the old one: drinking lots of water, sleeping, stretching, blending kefir smoothies, and making friends as often as possible.
Heidi, the neutral kitchen is so fresh, so clean - I imagine stepping into it is like clearing your lungs and taking a breath of fresh air. Thank you very much for your cooking/healthy living inspiration! I have a 7 month old so my resolution is to treasure my time, fill him full of healthy food (along with my husband and myself) and truly try to appreciate and enjoy life.
Truly lovely kitchen and cupboards.. glad to hear you're feeling much better. Thank you for your blog -- I'm excited each time you have an update! Your photos, recipes and stories are wonderful!! Happy 2009!
I'm new to your news letters, and I enjoy them! I Love the white Kitchen, a clean slate for a new year. I have had my white piant for my brown kitchen ready for a while..you have inspired me to get going with it...I hope to create a brighter Kitchen to cook in. My children all cook but my 11 year old is a master in the kitchen baking breads, cookies, cakes and so much more from scratch!! The only thing she doesn't like to do is knead the dough..but we have plenty of helpers to do that..our beginner chefs have to start some where! And its fun! We keep a healthy whole foods diet, but I need to try harder to stick to it better even when we are not home. I want to be a better example to my children and their ever watchful eyes..its easy to say, "I'm an adult, if I want to drink a soda (even if they are not allowed) then I should be able to...but the truth is I'm an adult and have the responsability to set the example! I guess that would be my resolution, even though I don't usually set one... Happy New year
YOU are such an inspiration!!! Thank you so much for continuing on. Every recipe, with it's notes and details, seems so personal. And, yes, I have tried some of them, and they have turned out well. Hope 2009 is your best year ever! P S Your cabinets look great..........
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The kitchen looks beautiful. As for my resolution? I try to do something kind for someone else everyday. Even if it's just getting someone a drink when they don't feel like moving. Wishing you all the best, and continued success in 2009!
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