Thank you to all of you have written to me, sharing your books, recipes, ideas and what you’ve tried and liked here. Your notes and encouragement and friendly ‘howdies’ make my Fridays bright. And this week, wow! Couldn’t we all use just a little bit of bright and hope for the future?! I know we can get there if we work together.

I have one thing I really, really, beg you to do, and the other four are just for fun.

(One)

Vote. I don’t care who you vote for, (okay I do, but that isn’t up to me to decide, because, yes, we live in a democracy) but please VOTE in the upcoming elections. If you aren’t registered to vote, it is very easy to find out how at vote.gov. Just click and do it. And if your state allows vote by mail, sign up for that. We’ve had it here in Washington state for several years and it is easy and safe.

Heck, if the government trusts the US Mail to collect my taxes, they can trust the post office to deliver my vote. LOL.

(Two)

Bullet Journaling. We are living through historic times, and as someone who spends a lot of time reading old diaries and letters in archives, do know that your thoughts and comments on today’s events will be treasured by your family or some author digging through the archives decades from now.

I’ve been keeping my bullet journal for the last four years and love tucking in bits from my daily life (movie stubs, clippings from the paper, and pictures) along with the things that make the day memorable — the news, pandemic life, and even the mundane—like how many times I’ve had to replant my zucchinis.

Wretched snails.

If you’ve never tried Bullet Journaling I have a board on Pinterest dedicated to journaling. I am no artist and my book is a mess by most standards, but I adore it. Of course, once you’re hooked, you’ll need a journal and pens . . . and more pens. 😉

(Three)

Little Free Libraries/Pantries. I love my library. Like LOVE my library — it just got voted Library System of the Year. But with KCLS closed, I’ve missed having shelves to go peruse. Thank goodness my neighborhood has a lot of Little Free Libraries — where neighbors can share and exchange books. You can find your nearest registered library here.

Then folks took it one step further, because with all the need for food and household supplies, a number of our local Little Free Libraries have been converted to Pantries. If you need food, help yourself. If you have extra, do you mind sharing. Do you have one? Throw in a few cans of food and see how it goes.

In the meantime, when I take my daily walk, I try to take a book or a can of food with me to share along the way.

(Four)

Speaking of books, Mary H., wrote me about a lovely book she’d read, Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn, and I’m enjoying it as well. Best of all, you Bullet Journal junkies, the heroine is a calligrapher! So there’s lots of lettering love to be had.

What I find fun is the heroine’s joy in finding old lettering on buildings, which is something I’ve always been a big geek about. Here is a wonderful set of old advertisements/lettering from an old building in Evanston, WY.

By the way, one of these days I am going to do a Five Things I LOVE about Wyoming.

You. Are. Warned. Because it will end up being like 20-50.

(Five)

Dinner. Well I haven’t forgotten that! Here is another of the kid’s recipes that we end up devouring — Al’s Salty Chicken. Yum. This recipe is everything you want a roast chicken to be. Flavorful. Moist. And added bonus — roasted onions, which BTW are the best thing ever. And if there is anything left, or if it is only the carcass, throw it all in a pot the next day and you are on  your way to making  soup.

As always, if you have suggestions or ideas, post them or drop me a note! Until next Friday, go forth, wear your mask, find your voice, raise it high and share a good book.