The Heystack, vol. V
The Heystack, vol. V
"grace—not always domesticated or in 'proper proportions'—but always, always good."
Here are a few things that have occupied brain space this week that you might enjoy.
A guy from my church is a violinist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and I recently discovered this video of him playing his own arrangement of “Amazing Grace.”
I really love what he wrote about why/how he arranged this classic hymn the way he did.
As someone for whom the words of this hymn mean something, I was struck by the variety of ways divine grace comes throughout the course of one’s life. The various sections of my arrangement seek to depict grace in its refusal to be controlled/defined - grace not always domesticated, not always safe, not always in "proper proportions," certainly not always wanted, but always, always good.
I finished The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell and really enjoyed it. It was darker than I anticipated and gave me some Kate Morton vibes. Also, made this stollen (yes, including homemade candied cirtus peel… who am I?) as a result.
This week, I’ve often returned to this Plough article by Leah Libresco Sargent about the gift of palliative care offered by a religious order of sisters. (HT to Haley Baumeister for highlighting it… I also have this article on kitchens that she shared on my TBR).
I learned about Caroline Chambers’ Substack, What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking, in 2021 and wasn’t in a place to add something like “new recipes” to my life. Lately, I’ve had more capacity to cook but have suffered the meal-planning blues so I decided to subscribe and see if I liked her recipes. Friends, Caro’s recipes and my taste/style are a match made in heaven… I may have cried while cooking her food this week because it really restored some of my former joy in cooking. My brain thinks about cooking similar to hers, and I love how she writes recipes. I’ve made four recipes in the past week, and each recipe I’ve made is a complete meal, meaning it contains protein, starch and veggie. Count me a fan. Def the best $5 I’ve spent this month.
On a more serious note, I was talking with my husband last night about Karen Swallow Prior’s departure from SEBTS. He asked if I was angry that she felt she couldn’t continue there. I said “yeah, but mostly just really sad.” Anyway, I woke up to this post from John Inazu and it gave me good food for thought and I hope he writes more on this topic.
Peace to you on this Friday 🕊
on cooking: I've been listening to the book An Everlasting Meal on audio - it's like The Supper Of The Lamb meets Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat (some of the very few books on cooking I've read). Quite enjoyable, and helpful for fanning the flame of one's inner cook.
Thanks for directing me to What to Cook! I’m working on a piece about cooking right now--experience, frustrations, etc. I’m always looking for inspiration!