The biggest thing about this year for me has been the process of continuing to put my writing front and center in my life. I started my MFA at the Rainier Writing Workshop at PLU. I met some wonderful people there with whom I hope to be friends for life, and am working with a great mentor. I went to the Writers' Conference here in town again and met Rita Dove, Nickole Brown and other wonderful poets.
That link also tells the story of my participating in a poetry reading, starting out with the inadvertent slapstick of falling down the stairs!
Five of us here in town formed a poetry group. We meet twice a month, once to critique one another's poems, once to discuss a book we've read. It's an absolute lifeline.
I've written poems and cut them up into strips and put them back together in funky orders.
I acquired a tiny netbook on which to write and work wherever I go, and covered a notebook with inspirational quotations from teabag tags (that notebook is now long filled up).
I remind myself to ask the important questions...
...and I use my writing to make my gifts seem more familiar.
I've also repeatedly used my blog as a sounding board and a refuge to help me be a better version of myself. It provides accountability, feedback and visibility, as well as an impressive sweep of freedom.
Two very recent writerly things: I'm starting to submit my work! Which means I can start the process of receiving slews of rejections that will finally lead to acceptances!
And second, I mentioned yesterday this idea for a book that I've been obsessed with recently but too busy to implement, and I received more negative, skeptical or concerned comments than I ever have before for a creative endeavor. My sincerest thanks to you all for your care and consideration: I hear you. I don't quite know what to do with it yet, since I have so much energy behind the idea and have practically half written it already in my head, but the unanimity of the response makes me sit up and take notice.
A year ago, Phil had his eye surgery and we drove up to Anchorage every week for a month or two. We're not sorry to be skipping that this year, but we sure enjoyed the beauty of the drives.
We continue to hike in all weathers, and to appreciate the beauty both on the beach nearby...
...and right outside our cabin.
We disturbed wildlife in remote places not far from where we live. The sea otters seemed like they were 'in church' when we showed up.
And whereas last year, a gray whale washed up on our beach, this year we found a salmon shark.
We grew a big garden again. More than my weight in potatoes...
Some other beautiful roots...
And I added a dehydrator to my toolset and made lots of homegrown kale chips, although we agreed eventually that chard and beet green chips are much more delicious!
Our horseradish came back gigantic from last year, and I made some amazing condiments with it.
The dandelion wine I made two years ago matured to be smooth enough for prime time. Oh, and I had my first ever night as a blonde!
I continued my "witchly" ways, making tinctures and syrups...
...putting nettles in my smoothies...
Another thing I made during this gifting season was hops pillows. Hand-sewn (I don't even know how to use a sewing machine) and filled with hops blossoms and buckwheat groats.
I made eight of them for eight lovely ladies. I was surprised by how many of these recipients immediately reacted that it was a 'microwavable neck pillow,' when I thought of it as an eye pillow and think microwaves are the devil's work! I think that microwaving would volatilize the hops and take away their goodness, but people should enjoy their gifts however they would like.
We went to Arizona and helped David and Heather paint their ceilings, and enjoyed some gorgeous cactus hikes.
We went to Oregon for Phil's niece's wedding...
...hosted Phil's son and grandkids up here...
...and saw Phil's daughter Amy get married!
We got a decent-sized refrigerator...
...which precipitated our transformation of our little side room into a kitchen.
This was also the miraculous year that saw running--or at least walking--water come out of a faucet in our cabin! The pipe's only frozen twice so far, and we're impressed with how well our thousand-gallon tank is lasting us.
I'm so happy that I traveled all the way to Israel, renewed connections with all my lovely relatives, played in the kitchen with my grandmother...
...and hung out with my sweet mum!
...the coconut-lime (commissioned twice)...
...although my reduced-fat crustless version replacing cashews with cooked parsnip might have seemed strange to some!
My carrot-cardamom cookies are probably my personal favorite from this year.
And the holidays were a great opportunity to make some delightful experiments.
Healthwise, this has been an interesting year.
After a lifetime of shying away from any kind of medical oversight, I've continued to work with a Naturopath and a Therapist, working on supporting my deranged endocrine system and other things using mostly bioidentical hormones and herbs.
Although there have been definite improvements, several dosages have had to be increased this year. I don't know how much of that is just fluctuation and how much is a result of my continuing fluctuations in diet and stress levels.
Another thing that came to light this year was a diagnosis, or a label, for the rollercoaster experience of which I've so often described my life as consisting, and the challenge of accepting/rejecting/coming to terms with the label and the lifestyle behaviors and medications recommended to control it. It might even explain why I had an eating disorder for so long and why full recovery continues to be elusive.
Overall, these must all be good things: opportunities for growth, certainly.
I'm so grateful to this guy for being my anchor on the wild ride!
Happy New Year to everyone! I'll be back either tomorrow or the next day with some thoughts and intentions for 2012.
I'm so glad you came to RWW. I love reading your blog - the food, the Alaskan adventures, the writing, all of it. It's a good world with you in it, Ela.
ReplyDeleteMay 2012 be full of more goodness for you.
We're reading Ela. Here's to a new year filled with poetry and big breaths of fresh air, good food, friends and beauty all around us!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Ela! Yes, I read all the way to the end. I'm so glad to have met you here in this space this year...And, for the record, I was concerned about your last post too. I, too, wondered how someone with your history could safely experiment with "seeing how little food I actually need." I actually cringed a bit on reading that. It seems like your experiment with eating treats would be more appropriate. Did that one go by the wayside? Much love to you... Mindy
ReplyDeleteI read all the way to the end! What a great retrospective. Thanks for your devotion to writing and for your willingness to share your experience through your blog. Happy New Year Ela!
ReplyDeleteWhat a year! I've so enjoying sharing in it with you through your blog. I appreciate your sharing of both personal and creative experiences. Lovely recap.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at the microwave comment because I've received so many of those microwave bags but we have no microwave! I only hand sew too, it takes awhile but no clunky machine around. :-)
Was the book idea for "eating lightly"? If it would help you to write it, then do it! Perhaps you will gain some insights about it. People do get worried about restricting calories, but I know some raw foodists are getting into it. It's a fine line there if you've had a restrictive past. I struggled with even going raw again because it felt too restrictive and even at times disordered for me in the past but I am trying to be mindful about that. And you've mentioned your ND is a sounding board and voice of reason so keeping him in the loop would help. I hope nothing I said was offensive, perhaps I misinterpreted something.
Carrie, thank you so much. I'm so happy I came to RWW too, and got to connect with you among many others.
ReplyDeleteI wish you all good things for 2012.
love
Ela
Thanks, Erin--and those are wonderful wishes. Even on a below-zero day like today, this is a pretty good place on the planet for taking deep breaths. And the best thing about yesterday (when I wrote the retrospective) was that there was some time in there to sit and write poetry! (At the expense of class preparation, but a good expense.)
ReplyDeletelove
Ela
Happy New Year to you too, Mindy!
ReplyDeleteI have been so happy to 'get to know you' through this space over this past year, and consistently appreciate your wisdom and kindness. I value your thoughts on the restriction thing too, and it's definitely the case that my ND and therapist think that any kind of restricting is 'playing with fire.' I haven't talked to them about writing a book about it, but maybe I should do that.
I hope that 2012 brings you much joy and fulfillment.
love
Ela
Thanks so much, bitt, my fellow-microwave antagonist! We actually do have one in here (although it was buried in the crawlspace for a long time, I banished it) because Phil doesn't think there's anything wrong with them and likes the convenience for reheating food. I think reheating on the stove is quicker and better, but then there's the pan to wash too. So especially for when I'm not around, it's there for him.
ReplyDeleteNothing you said in the comment about the eating lightly idea gave any offense in the least. In fact, you were definitely most open to it of anyone that commented. And I wasn't offended by those who questioned the idea either: I know that my therapist and my ND think I'm "playing with fire" right now, and they probably wouldn't be huge fans of the idea of my writing such a book either.
I love how we all look out for each other, and appreciate that we're able to give each other feedback.
Sending you lots of love and good wishes for health and happiness in 2012.
love
Ela
Happy New Year to you too, Teresa, and thank you so much for reading!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that there are quite a few of us here in town that are committed to writing and willing to share experiences. I'm especially enjoying getting to read your blog and those of a few other writerly folks: when you know someone in real life, it gives some fascinating overlaps.
love
Ela
beautiful food! and happy new year to you Ela! wishing you all the best this new year
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ladies! I know 2012 is going to be a huge one for you.
ReplyDeleteSending you love
Ela