If We Were Having Coffee On This January Morning…

/ Ally Bean
Screen Shot 2015-12-28 at 1.23.18 PM

{ image via @lawyermom1 }

THE SETTING:  

We’d be sitting at the local Starbucks, enjoying the fact that we were out of the house, doing something together.  

I’d be drinking a vanilla latte with an extra shot and you’d be drinking whatever it is that floats your boat.  My treat, of course.

We’d be listening to the sound of the overworked espresso machines, the indistinct conversations of fellow Starbuckians, and the random genre-less background music that seems to be in every Star$.

THE CONVERSATION:

√  We’d be chatting… about how I read that the colors for spring clothes are rust, mustard and poppy.  I’d assure you that there’s no stinking way you’ll be seeing me in any of those colors.  I’d also mention that I have no plans to go shopping for spring clothes this year.

√  We’d be sharing… our latest podcast obsessions, which in my case is Call Your Girlfriend.  I’d tell you that the podcast’s tone is smart and warm, and that it is lots of fun to listen in while girlfriends talk about a variety of subjects such as feminism, fashion, politics– and whatever else is newsy and relevant this week.

√  We’d be talking… about how after reading this article about raiding your own cookbook collection, I’ve decided to make one recipe per month from a cookbook I already own.  My first recipe, Braised Pork With Sauerkraut, which was delicious, was from Joy of Cooking [75th Anniversary Edition].  Considering I have over 30 cookbooks, this could turn into a fun longterm project.

√  We’d be laughing… about how Zen-Den, the confused, asked me if I’d be “calamari-ing” our house.  Somewhere he’d heard about this new Japanese declutter trend.  While he understood the principles, he’d gotten the name wrong.  My answer, when I finally figured out that he was talking about KonMari, was NO!

THE CONCLUSION:

We’d have to part after about an hour or so because each of us had things to do, things to do.

We’d hug and promise to get together sometime in February, weather permitting, daily life allowing, work schedule be damned.

And we’d count our blessings that we have each other to talk with.  Like friends do everywhere.  Over a fancy coffee in one of the most ubiquitous places on earth.

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Idea for this post came from Diana at Part-Time Monster.

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45 thoughts on “If We Were Having Coffee On This January Morning…”

      • I still would have been scratching my head, I’d never heard of KonMarie, but now that I have (thanks for the link), I will be doing some home calamari-ing. I’d been itching to pare my life spaces down to the essentials and the idea that if it doesn’t bring me joy it shouldn’t be in my life makes perfect sense. I’ve got my LetGo app all set up.

        Liked by 1 person

        • There’s an app for that?! Didn’t know, but will follow your link to learn about it. I agree that the idea of paring down to the essentials is intriguing. Hope you’ll write about your experiences while “calamari-ing” your home.

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  2. Braised pork with sauerkraut… my German stepfather would love it. Mom got a copy of The Joy of Cooking for her first wedding (in 1954) and still had it when she died 46 years later, all falling apart and held together with tape. I think one of my cousins has it now.

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    • John, that is a wonderful testament to the staying power of that cookbook. Once upon a time, I interviewed with Ethan Becker for a job as copy editor for an edition of Joy of Cooking. I didn’t get the position, but I did see the test kitchens and have the opportunity to talk with him about food. One of my more endearing failures, actually.

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        • John, you’re absolutely right. I was young when I went on that interview and at the time I thought I’d really screwed up not getting the job. But in hindsight it was just a step along the way. Thanks for pointing that out.

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  3. Awww…you had me at “my treat!” My girlfriend and I do this once a month over pizza. Just an hour. She lives in the country so we schedule around her Pilates class in town. Works! There are some things that you need to talk to a girlfriend about. A husband, no matter how wonderful, will not do.

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  4. Yeah … those colors are not ones that look good on me. Like you, I’ll say a big “no, thanks” (to the colors, that is, not the coffee!).

    Liked by 1 person

    • Carrie, I’m all for anyone who wants to buy clothes in those colors doing so, but none for me. I really do. not. like. them. I stumbled upon the cookbook idea and decided it’d be fun. I mean, the books are here already, so all I have to do is… do something. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Those sound like fall colors – rust? mustard? Eww. Those are not my colors at all, though I don’t mind the occasional hit of poppy. I like your cookbook idea, too. I’ve been stuck in a rut, making mostly the same things over and over. Perhaps your coffee friends could have a cookbook exchange. I’ve apparently been calamari-ing my life as I decide what to keep in anticipation of moving. Cookbooks are one of the things that I’m paring down.

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    • Zazzy, I agree. Those colors scream fall to me, too. The cookbook idea seems practical and doable– but it didn’t dawn on me until I read the article. Yes, I bet you are in the throes of “calamari-ing.” I need to focus more on that sort of thing around here.

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  8. Aw, haha, calamari-ing! I love that Marie Kondo book. Love it!
    I can wear rust, mustard, and poppy quite well, but I won’t, because they’re all too warm and (now) trendy. I prefer neutrals and pastels. I think I’m due for some new jeans this year.
    I cook all the time, but I don’t own a single cookbook.
    If we were having coffee I’d tell you that I really appreciate you taking me out for coffee 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • joey, I like the KoniMari idea in theory, but I don’t see me folding my socks into thirds! I’m much to lazy for that.

      I’m sure that those three colors look good on some women, but they don’t seem spring-y to me. Of course, I’m not a fashionista, so what do I know?

      And you’re welcome for the coffee. What are friends for if not buy each other a drink once in a while! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Those are very odd colors for Spring, with the exception of poppy. I have an olive undertone to my skin, so I have to be careful with some “muddy” shades, but I don’t see myself feeling too springy in those three colors anyway. How very, very strange.

    I keep wondering about even keeping my few cookbooks, now with the vast resources of the Internet, which I consult far more often. I feel bad about getting rid of them, even to give away to someone who wants them. I just don’t know what to do.

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    • nance, I’m not on board with those three colors for Spring either. Maybe for some people in the fall, they’d look good. But unless they’re the leaves on a tree or a pot of mums, I’m not crazy about them.

      I inherited my mother’s cookbook collection and I’ve accumulated lots of them over the years. I enjoy having them around– sometimes for sentimental reasons, other times because I’m feeling creative. But I’ve given away lots of cookbooks to Goodwill, because enough is enough + I figure someone out there might want them.

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  10. Cooking new things is always fun. I only have four cookbooks, 2 by David Venable at QVC (really tasty stuff in there!). You can get a table for us at your Starbucks? The one near me is always standing room only. Sweet! Rust – I get. Mustard – I get. What the hell color is poppy?

    Thanks for the drink. 🙂

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    • Daisy Smiley Face, I’ve got lots of cookbooks, many of which I inherited from my mother so there’s a sentimental aspect to them. Our Star$ has long lines, but tables are easy to come by. I’m like you in that I understand rust & mustard, but am not clear on poppy. I really don’t like any of those three colors, but I imagine that poppy is an orangish red that coordinates [?] with the first two. Guess we’ll find out once Spring gets here.

      And, you’re welcome.

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  11. Thanks for tea, it great. I like the color background and consider this theme for my blog. I want 2 columns so I look for another one. I used to enjoy cooking but it tires me out so I no longer cook much. I did fixed a complete eggs and potatoes for today.

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    • bettylouise31, thanks. I like this blog theme and color combo, which I’ve had for over a year now. Cooking is tiring, but I enjoy it… some days. Am looking forward to doing one new recipe per month. That’s sound manageable to em.

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  12. 1. Love the quote!
    2. Not a fan of those trendy colors.
    3. Have fun raiding your cookbooks. The fact that you focused first on The JOY of Cooking would make Ms. Calamari proud!

    I had a tough time weeding out cookbooks. Now I’m down to 5 keepers:

    Moosewood
    Moosewood Cooks At Home
    Three Bowl Cookbook
    1000 Vegetarian Recipes
    High Flavor, Low Fat Vegetarian Recipes

    Plus Fanny Farmer for generic background and ideas.

    Less is More!!!

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    • nrhatch, I liked that quote, too. Seems like how I should go about living my life. Yes, those spring colors aren’t my cup of tea; from the response here I don’t know who is going to be wearing them. I like your 5 “keeper” cookbooks. I trust that they bring you the requisite amount of KonMari JOY. 😉

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      • Of course!

        I’m not yet at the point where I own only what love . . . but I do use that as a touchstone when I want to shed something that has sentimental appeal and little else going for it.

        It makes me feel better about encouraging it to march out the door.

        Liked by 1 person

  13. That was a fun coffee chat. I love the idea of you calamari-ing your house. I think I’ll pass on those spring colors and yup no shopping this spring for me either. 😉

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    • Kourtney, when I figured out what Z-D was talking about I giggled. So close with the words. Those spring colors are baffling, but if nothing else I’ll be saving money this spring! Thanks for stopping by for a chat.

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  14. Thanks for the invite to coffee (I had caramel flavored). Starbucks is nice and strong, just like I prefer. Your cookbook idea sounds yummy, as does your first recipe. I actually have an original copy of “The Joy of Cooking” that was my mother’s. I love the wholesome, simple, feel-good recipes that it has.

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    • Nancy, I like caramel-flavored coffee almost as much as vanilla. Good choice! My mother had lots of cookbooks, but not any copies of Joy of Cooking. How wonderful that you have an original copy. I agree, the recipes in JoC are all basic + tasty. Thanks for stopping by to chat over coffee.

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  15. What a fun post, Ally! Overdid it just a tad too much at a work party last night, so a mug of strong hot tea is VERY appreciated this morning haha. (Oh wait, it’s afternoon already.) KonMari has some very useful ideas, if you pick & choose. Super fast read – highly skimmable. Some funny things in it too. To determine if you want to keep a book or treasured item, hold it and if you feel something, then it’s a keeper (maybe something to try as you go thru your cookbook collection). After reading this aloud to the family, my hubs immediately put his hands on one of the kids’ shoulders, looked thoughtful for a moment, and pronounced that this one was a keeper. Thanks again for the tea & the chat…my treat next time! 🙂

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    • Nancy, tea is always a good choice. Very soothing. I’ll look for a copy of the KonMari book. Everyone is talking about it and I’m beginning to feel left out. Sounds like the principles could be useful and fun. Love your husband’s sense of humor, btw. 😉

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  16. Not having read it, but just based on what I’ve picked up through osmosis, I take KonMari to be ‘spring cleaning’, where you go through everything and figure out what you can get rid of. Whenever I go through this, I wish I could go back to me when I bought whatever the item is. If I’m getting rid of it, I’d like to think it gave me good use, but so often that’s not the case.

    As for podcasts, I’m enjoying ‘Dear Sugar Radio’. It’s Cheryl Strayed (from ‘Wild’) and Steve Almond (I don’t know him from anywhere else, except he wrote a book recently about head injuries in football players.) It’s an advice column, and the issues that come up are never anything that I’m going through, but the way they discuss and answer the questions are always so thoughtful and kind, I’m hooked.

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    • J, I like your explanation of KonMari. Like you I hear about, read of it– but have never even seen a copy of the book. I know what you mean about looking at some item in the house & then wishing it’d been a good purchase. Of course, if we didn’t try new and different ways of living, then we’d be very dull indeed.

      Thanks for the podcast recommendation. I’ll look for it. I’m always up for learning about how people do things, so an advice column sounds intriguing. Nothing better than listening to intelligent people discuss topics.

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  17. Thanks for the coffee. I think I need another one. Actually, if you make it straong enough, perhaps it’ll be like rocket fuel and shoot me all the way from Australia to Starbucks. We do have some Starbucks here but they didn’t do very well here. I went to a cafe today on my own today because my daughter has just started school in a new town where I don’t know anyone and I’ve been staying up there during the day and finally printing off my photos while she’s at school. Anyway, the napkin had a great phrase on it and of course I thought I brought it home but can’t find it now. Something to the effect of laughing in person with a friend beats laughing out loud. I’ll have to get myself another one before the next coffee share xx Rowena

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    • roweeee, I didn’t know that Australia had the good sense to not get hooked on Star$. Here in the USA they are everywhere as stand alone shops, and within other larger stores. I tire of their presence, but everyone else seems to adore them, so what do I know? I like the idea of laughing with a friend in person. Nothing like mirth to keep me going when the caffeine fades. Thanks for stopping by. Always good chatting with you.

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  18. “Rust, mustard, and poppy.” AKA orange/brown, poopy yellow, and red. Make me think of this scene in “Mr. Blanding Builds His Dream House” (1948).

    “Muriel Blandings: I want it to be a soft green, not as blue-green as a robin’s egg, but not as yellow-green as daffodil buds. Now, the only sample I could get is a little too yellow, but don’t let whoever does it go to the other extreme and get it too blue. It should just be a sort of grayish-yellow-green.

    Now, the dining room. I’d like yellow. Not just yellow; a very gay yellow. Something bright and sunshine-y. I tell you, Mr. PeDelford, if you’ll send one of your men to the grocer for a pound of their best butter, and match that exactly, you can’t go wrong!

    Now, this is the paper we’re going to use in the hall. It’s flowered, but I don’t want the ceiling to match any of the colors of the flowers. There’s some little dots in the background, and it’s these dots I want you to match. Not the little greenish dot near the hollyhock leaf, but the little bluish dot between the rosebud and the delphinium blossom. Is that clear?

    Now the kitchen is to be white. Not a cold, antiseptic hospital white. A little warmer, but still, not to suggest any other color but white.

    Now for the powder room – in here – I want you to match this thread, and don’t lose it. It’s the only spool I have and I had an awful time finding it! As you can see, it’s practically an apple red. Somewhere between a healthy winesap and an unripened Jonathan. Oh, excuse me…

    Mr. PeDelford: You got that Charlie?

    Charlie, Painter: Red, green, blue, yellow, white.

    Mr. PeDelford: Check. ”
    -IMDB quotes for Mr Blanding Builds His Dream House.

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    • la p, perfect! That’s exactly the gist of the names of these Spring colors that I don’t see in my life, regardless of what the fashion industry insists on calling them.

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