Take no thought
for tomorrow, with its shrieking gales and skirling snows,
nor for its cold that racks the bones—
today, it is spring.
Today, you hardly need a coat—
the sun is hot and high; the sky
is blue and blank as a brand-new page.
How good, how good it is
to see bare grass and trust it will be green
again, and soon,
though sooner,
it will shiver
underneath
more snow.
The cold will come again
and freeze this memory over like a shallow pond.
What will it matter,
that it thawed in February for a day,
and you imagined spring had come?
The sun you kiss today
will spit tomorrow in your face—
why love what cannot last?
Take heart, this blue sky sighs to you.
Take heart, this breeze breathes in your ear.
Take heart, this warmth is whispering.
Take heart, for frosts shall burn away,
the darkness shine like noonday, and we
shall have spring again,
its glories forecast on this February day.
Here's what I read, cooked, and created in the month of February.
What I Read
Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler (★★★★)
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth (★★★★)––reread
The Lazarus Project, Aleksandar Hemon (★★)
If you want to hear the rationale behind my rating, head to my Goodreads for full reviews.
What I Cooked
Difficulty: ★★
Flavor: ★★
Keeper: No
Comments: This was one where I really dreaded having to finish the leftovers. The broccoli was added as directed, and it ended up being mushy with that much cooking time, and the buffalo flavor was a little aggressive (and I'm a big buffalo gal). Not a winner.
Difficulty: ★
Flavor: ★★★★★
Keeper: Yes
Comments: Chip dip is one of those foods that you kind of want to taste store-bought. My husband and brothers, who are very snobby when it comes to chip dip, gave this their enthusiastic endorsement. For sure a keeper.
Difficulty: ★★
Flavor: ★★★★
Keeper: Yes
Comments: The grease from the melty cheese set off my fire alarm, so these were not quite as romantic for Valentine's Day as hoped. But they were nice, and they did look cute. I went with the crescent roll option.
Difficulty: ★
Flavor: ★★★★★
Keeper: Yes
Comments: Sally is just so good at what she does. I did half a recipe of this on a pan of my favorite brownies to satisfy my peanut butter and chocolate craving, and it was just perfection.
What I Created
Finally resumed work on my project
Original blackout poem "Grow in Hope"
May your days be filled with beauty, and may your heart be filled with the willingness to see and give thanks for it.