“We are needy creatures, and our greatest need is for home—the place where we are, where we find protection and love. We achieve this home through representations of our own belonging, not alone but in conjunction with others. All our attempts to make our surroundings look right—through decorating, arranging, creating—are attempts to extend a welcome to ourselves and to those whom we love.”
― Roger Scruton
In the last couple of weeks I’ve felt a certain comfort and rest deep in my bones. Maybe it has something to do with having made time for my Hospitality Work. I forced myself to stay home from a couple of events just to recover my peace, which had been disturbed by events hard to explain. Once I was able to focus on my home-work, I also could do it in an honorable way, that is, without hurrying. Instead of “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get,” it’s “Take more time, you’ll get there faster.”
I love to do the dishes calmly, but even when I do, I tend to leave the task before I’m completely done, because I get distracted by a thought, some idea that makes me drop my dishtowel on the counter as I head to the bookcase or the garden and don’t remember to come back until it’s bedtime, and a little late for dishes. Lately, when that happens, I’ve finished up, calmly, self-hospitably, in the morning. So all is good.
I’ve been cooking zucchini (from my three plants) for myself, and serving myself the first Green Doctors cherry tomatoes right off the vine. In this season when I don’t have anyone upstairs to see my bedroom, I make my bed for my own pleasure and so that the rumpled blankets don’t spread their mood to my easily agitated mind.
If I slow down enough, I can look ahead and plan for full days at home, and occasionally plan the night before to make bread the next day. I have done that three times now, with increasing success. It’s not realistic to think that I will make bread more than once every week or two, and my goals must be adjusted from four years ago when I’d first resumed bread baking again, because as with so many things in life, I realize that I can’t have everything I want, even when I am myself the only (human) guest in my home.
This is the last loaf I made, and I’m pretty pleased with it. If I had started the dough the night before it would have been a little more sour; I’m still experimenting. It has what I would consider a good “regular bread” crumb, not custardy, but not doughy or dry, either. I like artisan breads with that custardy and open crumb, but I also don’t like the holes very big, because whatever I put on my slice of toast will melt through them all over my hand and shirt.
The sides did not crack on this one — I recently remembered that 40 years ago when I’d make four or five sourdough loaves at a time, I had to slash them with a straight gash down the middle, not diagonal cuts as I think looks nicer. Otherwise pieces of the top would break off. Maybe that helped take the strain off the sides as well, to keep them from cracking. This loaf has a little whole spelt flour in it, plus sesame, poppy, caraway and fennel seeds.
I got lots of new plants in the ground this month, the latest being portulaca, which I love, but haven’t always had good luck with. Maybe August is the best month to put that in, when the sun is burning down the way those flowers like it.
Once again, I planted nasturtium seeds in various places, early and later, and this year I got one plant to grow. Its first bloom just opened this weekend. Welcome, little flower friend!
Gladsome Lights 
Your post reminds me of that wonderful speech by Admiral McKraven, “Make Your Own Bed.” Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBAqF00gBGk
Also, your nasturtium comments remind me of a time in my childhood when my Uncle Will, who knew much about this sort of thing, informed me and my sister that we could eat them; there were many in window boxes along the outsides of the windows at our home. I did, and I think I really overdid it because I became very nauseous and could never look at them again without feeling a bit ill! I have since then read that indeed, it is a practice to eat them.
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Nasturtium petals are especially nice in tossed green salads. In the days when they would grow out of cracks in the concrete by the old pool pump, I would sometimes remember to go out and pick a few to add. But they are spicy, so I can see why eating a lot of them would not please!
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That’s a great video. Thank you for the link! I think the first of Jordan Peterson’s 10 Rules for Life is also “Make Your Bed.”
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Our little boys have lately been enjoying sourdough discard pancakes more often than their mom had originally planned! What’s the main flour you used for your beautiful loaf? Portulaca is such a strong yet zesty flower. I hope you keep finding ways to move through your home and your days self-hospitably. You are surely a wonderful guest!
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The main flour is just unbleached white.
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This is a delightfully uplifting post. Having slowly recovered from six weeks of travelling, I am slowly getting back into a workable routine. It is difficult, knowing that my children are all so far away. Still, I am grateful for what each day brings and have decided to take one step at a time.
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You’ve been living an “altered existence” from your usual for a long time on your vacation, even though it was family-rich, and I imagine it will take some TLC to help you settle in again at home.
You reminded me that “one step at a time” also provides for paying attention in a way that generates thankfulness ❤️
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Oh gosh, I was going to make bread today, and forgot – gotta go! (be back later)
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🤣
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This is wonderful, Gretchen! I think it’s so healthy to embrace simplicity and partake as much as we can in our sustenance and soul health in our homes. We’ve enjoyed similar things as you this summer and have found the days warm, beautifully nourishing, and good. Even with children who are quickly growing with an increased need to venture from home and explore, they can develop balance in activity and find the goodness in resting and being in our home.
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we are having “mirror” experiences! The years ago I had to be Outside all the time. Going quietly, doing things as they come.. not necessarily pre prepping each night.. making the need because I love the prettiness of it… God is Enough
Leslie
Sent from my iPhone
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I particularly like the first quote. It’s so true that we do what we do (in the way of arranging & decorating) to welcome ourselves first of all, then others. I’ve been thinking about this as we move toward Thanksgiving and Christmas. What I do has to be what I really want to do…and what is that I ask myself. No answer yet.
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It sounds like you are living with more intention and isn’t that wonderful? I smiled about the bed — I start making mine before I’m barely out of it — I hate walking into the room with an unmade bed! Love the Carl Larsson you shared for this post.
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Haha! I think I always have lots of intentionS, so I am having to narrow them down to focus on one at a time!
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Gretchen, I thank you for the reminder – I made some flatbread today! The first time! It seems good. I’m glad you stayed home a couple of times – I mean, I’m glad you knew what you needed, and did it! The truth makes us free.
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My daughter gave me a book of recipes, Flatbreads of India, years ago, and I recently put it on the kitchen counter, in hopes of making some. So we are thinking alike.
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Isn’t that funny.
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I too am comforted with home-work and I am inspired with you extending the definition to what it truly does include, hospitality work. I have a daily prayer, and one of the things I pray for in this particular prayer is that my home will be filled with hospitality. I have seen the LORD provide this extensively by using my home and my humble, willing and loving efforts to serve and bless others. I could go on…but I will stop here since it is only to be a comment.😊
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