I made the sheet pan recipe from Yasmin Fahr after you posted it on Cup of Jo and the whole family loved it! None of us had eaten, or cooked with, halloumi before so now we have a whole new ingredient to brighten up other tray bakes, too. Thanks for posting that particular recipe. I’ll be getting her book.
We’ve lived in our house for 43 years, my husband isn’t well, and we have sooo much stuff. I told him that he’s going to die and leave me with this mess, and our daughter will get stuck eventually with all of it. Oh well.
I’ve actually read it! Our basement is filled with camping gear that we no longer use…that really needs to go! I’ve got a china cabinet filled with things that I care about but my daughter won’t…I often think of getting rid of those things, but I enjoy them. I’m sure my daughter will toss them out. If my husband wasn’t disabled our cellar would be empty. And, we actually did hire someone recently to do some carting away! Thank you, Sarah, and Jenny too.
I'm sorry you are going through that Janet. I second Sarah T's suggestion. Margareta Magnusson's book is not only sensible, it's incredibly soothing. I listened to it on audio.
I did have to laugh a little, Jenny…I have hundreds of cookbooks and keep adding to my collection…including having ordered your new one! I’ve been buying cookbooks since the later 1960s when I was a teenager…starting with the Time Life Foods of the World series. I actually have weeded that collection!
Have you found packing up the home you raised a family in has led to you buying less--or wanting less? Maybe just apartment living would do that?
My sister recently returned the baby outfit my three sons all wore home from the hospital. It was sweet of her, and it has great sentimental value...but I'm also unsure what to do with it. Donate it? She suggested I get a shadow box to frame it with photos of each boy in it, and while I can imagine that, it sounds like more "stuff" during a time when I'm trying to declutter and prepare for downsizing (two years till the youngest graduates high school). But not sure I'd want to photograph the outfit either.
Definitely buying less -- or at least really thinking things through before we bring them into our home now. It's a hard call on the outfit. As I've mentioned before, we had one "treasure chest" for each daughter, and more than one sentimental baby outfits were added to both them. This is just my opinion, but it feels like the kind of item your kids wouldn't feel burdened by inheriting especially since it hardly takes up any space. The only problem is: Which of the three kids inherits it? 😱
We have treasure chests too (we call them "memory boxes" and my youngest recently handed me his Hamilton hoodie that he's outgrown but doesn't want to let go of to put in his. I think I'll hold on to the newborn outfit as a potential gift to the first grandchild (ideally far from now!). ♥
Every time you mention packing and moving from the home you occupied for 20 years while raising your children, I cringe. I am going through the exact same process — we are planning to move in about 8 weeks from a house where we’ve lived for the past 23 years. We moved here pre-kids, and the prospect of clearing out + packing is HARD. However, I simultaneously love reading about how much you’re enjoying your new home and neighborhood!
Oh man, yes. I found it was not easy. But having come out on the other side, I can also tell you that, for me at least, it was so worth it. I feel lighter, more organized, and I'm happy my kids won't have to some day go through decades and decades of my memories and decide whether or not to keep, say, the chipped ceramic bud vase I bought at a tag sale in 2004. Plus: Living somewhere new is SO MUCH FUN. Good luck Margaret!
Thank you Jenny -- and yes! After clearing out my childhood home in late 2022-early 2023, I am acutely conscious of the fact that I don't want to burden my children (or anyone else) with the task of sorting through endless mementos and instruction manuals for appliances we no longer own!! And again yes! Eye on the prize -- we are ridiculously excited about moving to a more urban environment where nearly everything is walking distance from the house.
Oh my goodness, Quilty's! I remember that place. My college friend was (sort of?) dating the owner for a minute (there was a 20 year span in their ages) and as a young twentysomething grad student in American literature that felt just a little too pat, given the name of the joint...
That Heirloomist book looks wonderful. thank you for rec...always always love your book recs.
Jenny! So honored to be included here! Thank you x 10000000
turning sausage meat into round balls is so simple but feels somehow revelatory?
right? I felt the same.
Another lovely post… it made me remember that I ate at Cafe Des Artiste in the 90’s which I had longggg forgotten about. So, thank you!
The Heirloomist sounds wonderful. I wrote a piece today about memories and had to include a shout out to this post and the heirloomist in it.
Among so many things here, btw ❤️
Love the buckwheat!!
The sausage tomato haloumi trick! That's happening tonight!
I made the sheet pan recipe from Yasmin Fahr after you posted it on Cup of Jo and the whole family loved it! None of us had eaten, or cooked with, halloumi before so now we have a whole new ingredient to brighten up other tray bakes, too. Thanks for posting that particular recipe. I’ll be getting her book.
We’ve lived in our house for 43 years, my husband isn’t well, and we have sooo much stuff. I told him that he’s going to die and leave me with this mess, and our daughter will get stuck eventually with all of it. Oh well.
That sounds hard, Janet. It’s possible that you would find value in this book about clearing out unnecessary possessions when in ill health or because of wanting to avoid leaving it to one’s kids to do. It is a practical book, but surprisingly charming as well. Regardless of how you approach it, sending your family all the best! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Gentle-Art-of-Swedish-Death-Cleaning/Margareta-Magnusson/9781501173240
I’ve actually read it! Our basement is filled with camping gear that we no longer use…that really needs to go! I’ve got a china cabinet filled with things that I care about but my daughter won’t…I often think of getting rid of those things, but I enjoy them. I’m sure my daughter will toss them out. If my husband wasn’t disabled our cellar would be empty. And, we actually did hire someone recently to do some carting away! Thank you, Sarah, and Jenny too.
I'm sorry you are going through that Janet. I second Sarah T's suggestion. Margareta Magnusson's book is not only sensible, it's incredibly soothing. I listened to it on audio.
I did have to laugh a little, Jenny…I have hundreds of cookbooks and keep adding to my collection…including having ordered your new one! I’ve been buying cookbooks since the later 1960s when I was a teenager…starting with the Time Life Foods of the World series. I actually have weeded that collection!
Haha. Don't get rid of those cookbooks! :)
Definitely not!
Have you found packing up the home you raised a family in has led to you buying less--or wanting less? Maybe just apartment living would do that?
My sister recently returned the baby outfit my three sons all wore home from the hospital. It was sweet of her, and it has great sentimental value...but I'm also unsure what to do with it. Donate it? She suggested I get a shadow box to frame it with photos of each boy in it, and while I can imagine that, it sounds like more "stuff" during a time when I'm trying to declutter and prepare for downsizing (two years till the youngest graduates high school). But not sure I'd want to photograph the outfit either.
Definitely buying less -- or at least really thinking things through before we bring them into our home now. It's a hard call on the outfit. As I've mentioned before, we had one "treasure chest" for each daughter, and more than one sentimental baby outfits were added to both them. This is just my opinion, but it feels like the kind of item your kids wouldn't feel burdened by inheriting especially since it hardly takes up any space. The only problem is: Which of the three kids inherits it? 😱
We have treasure chests too (we call them "memory boxes" and my youngest recently handed me his Hamilton hoodie that he's outgrown but doesn't want to let go of to put in his. I think I'll hold on to the newborn outfit as a potential gift to the first grandchild (ideally far from now!). ♥
Wow that matchbook photo is such a treasure!
And ditto to others about your book recs. Always great!
I made that sheet pan dinner last week after seeing it on CoJ and it’s delicious!
Every time you mention packing and moving from the home you occupied for 20 years while raising your children, I cringe. I am going through the exact same process — we are planning to move in about 8 weeks from a house where we’ve lived for the past 23 years. We moved here pre-kids, and the prospect of clearing out + packing is HARD. However, I simultaneously love reading about how much you’re enjoying your new home and neighborhood!
Oh man, yes. I found it was not easy. But having come out on the other side, I can also tell you that, for me at least, it was so worth it. I feel lighter, more organized, and I'm happy my kids won't have to some day go through decades and decades of my memories and decide whether or not to keep, say, the chipped ceramic bud vase I bought at a tag sale in 2004. Plus: Living somewhere new is SO MUCH FUN. Good luck Margaret!
Thank you Jenny -- and yes! After clearing out my childhood home in late 2022-early 2023, I am acutely conscious of the fact that I don't want to burden my children (or anyone else) with the task of sorting through endless mementos and instruction manuals for appliances we no longer own!! And again yes! Eye on the prize -- we are ridiculously excited about moving to a more urban environment where nearly everything is walking distance from the house.
would love to be able to see the strawberry beet feta salad recipe. would that be available if i was a paid subscriber?
you could also check the book out of the library in the meantime
Sorry, it's only available in the book as of right now, but maybe that will change soon :)
thanks so much!
Oh my goodness, Quilty's! I remember that place. My college friend was (sort of?) dating the owner for a minute (there was a 20 year span in their ages) and as a young twentysomething grad student in American literature that felt just a little too pat, given the name of the joint...