Monday, May 17, 2010

Beautiful Days

You know how a day can be so heart-achingly beautiful that eventually you just know it is going to turn to shit? Yeah, that happened to me Saturday. Except, I'm only going to write about the good stuff that happened. Because the bad stuff...pthbbbt...that is me giving the bad stuff a great big raspberry. The bad stuff going on in my life right now can just go straight to hell.

For a long while I have been online stalking the author of the blog Food in Jars. Marisa McClellan is a local food writer who happens to be obsessed with preserving, and who teaches classes that are walking distance from my place of employment. While I missed out on last summer's classes, this year, I vowed I would not make the same mistake. Hence, when she announced her class schedule on her blog earlier this spring, I quickly registered for the Rhubarb Chutney class. Why chutney, you ask? Well, the spouse is completely obsessed with chutney and cheese. Whenever we eat at Farmicia, we order the cheese plate which comes with chutney. We have to get extra chutney for the spouse. He inhales it. Thus, chutney class.

I was initially apprehensive about attending a class full of strangers (it all goes back to being really awkward in school and dreading any new social situations), but I was accompanied by my best bud Jaime, so I felt protected and safe! And my worry was for naught. The class was small and intimate, only 8 people plus Marisa, and we were all there for the same reason. We gathered in an Ikea furnished kitchen in a group work space for an hour and half, and learned to make chutney. I got to chop rhubarb! And an onion! I stirred! I filled a jar! Trust me, this is actually exciting. Marisa has a very engaging teaching style, and manages to provide a lot of helpful general preserving tips throughout the lesson. I now envision myself making pickles and preserves regularly! Woohoo, another hobby!

Jaime lamented her lack of camera, because she saw a great shot, so I used my iPhone to try and capture the moment for her. (For the record, the Shake It Photo app can make any photo look super "arty.")

Chutney class

After class was completed, Jaime and I took our souvenir jars of chutney and proceeded to walk through Old City. Conveniently, there was a "sidewalk sale" event going on. I got a new wallet and a sweet little bottle cap necklace. Then we had a great lunch and went home. Honestly, while walking back to my car, I kept thinking how perfect the day had been up to that point.

It is at this point that the shitty parts of my life start to intrude, thus I will end this here. The shitty things going on will greatly influence much of what occurs in my life for the foreseeable future. My goal is to not let them take over.

1 comment:

  1. I was just talking with a neighbor about the class yesterday.
    I've concluded why it was awesome: People who are interested in learning about the same things usually have the same interests. It's nice to be around people who share your excitement about something.
    PS I like your attitude.

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