Started early at the stores gathering supplies for the Meals on Heels event at Oasis tomorrow. By noon I was back home and started in. Willi was already steaming away making soup for our regular menu as well as prepping for the Oasis menu.
We made gnocchi and then I cut up about 25 pounds of peaches, plums, apricots and pluots for the Stone Fruit Cobbler. It's pretty convivial to work together in the kitchen. Today we listened to bluegrass covers of 90's rock songs all day. I think I like them better than the originals most of the time.
Got to play Rebecca Nurse in a friendly reading of The Crucible with a virtual who's who of Bay Area theatre tonight. It's feeding my soul to have these weekly get togethers with 'my people'. The Crucible is one of my all time favorite shows. When I was about 19, I was in a production in my home town, directed by Gene Ptak. I remember that I was desperate to play Abigail, because, duh, she's the pretty one. Of course, I was not cast as Abby... and instead was given Elizabeth. I remember Gene pulling me aside after auditions and telling me that he needed me in that role, although he knew I had been really wishing for Abby. Luckily, I figured out pretty quick that Elizabeth is, quiet simply, a fascinating, complicated, meaty af part. Tonight, I got to watch/listen to the always lovely Juliabeautifully take on that part, and Ash absolutely tear it up as Abby. And Jomar broke my heart as Proctor. Made me itchy to get in a room with a show that I really believe in, and a bunch of intelligent actors, and get to direct them. Ah, well. For now, it was a very satisfying reading and everyone was fantastic.
Of course, the reading meant that I am still up baking for tomorrow... but it was worth it. 5 batches of Salted Rye Brownies (Claire's recipe), a huge Stone Fruit Cobbler done, and I'm just waiting for a cake to be done and then I'll head to bed. Looking forward to getting the Meals on Heels orders and our regular customers sorted out in the morning.
Our menu below is good for Monday (SF and North Bay delivery). Orders should be placed by Saturday night/Sunday morning.
I hope you all found moments this week to connect with the things that make you feel alive. Even as we work towards tearing down old, unhealthy paradigms and cultural biases, it's important that we include the things that make us who we are. To find ways to incorporate our new revelations and discoveries into our creative impulses and see what good we can put out into the world. To rethink, re-hear things that we may take for granted, to listen with newly aware ears and notice the things that we have accepted as the norm, and now maybe have a better awareness of how they might be hurtful.
For myself, I cherished the few moments of discussion after we read the play. Intelligent women chiming in with some brief comments...made me want those first rehearsal days of table work. That's what we need... table work for society. To understand, deconstruct, rebuild and create something new and better and more equitable and good for everyone.
And now, the cake timer is going off, so I can head off to bed. Sleep well, everyone. Know your worth. Know that you are worth of love and kindness and understanding and care. And that even now, in this quarantine time, you can give those things to yourself. Be kind to yourself. And extend that kindness to whoever you come in contact with, as best as you can. Sending you all a fierce virtual hug. xoxo