The Book of Good Feelings, tomato tanlines, savory granola, and Wim Wenders

Whenever I’m feeling not my “optimal” self, which admittedly is most days, I like to take a stroll around my very quaint, tree-filled neighborhood. There are birds (including a resident peacock), beautiful old homes, and interesting characters I always pass by on my “quick loops.” Sometimes, there are encounters that make me pause just a bit longer. That was the case a few weeks ago when I walked by the chalk strewn sidewalk belonging to the family of a girl named Scarlett. Presented in a bright pink basket usually reserved for chalk pieces, Scarlett placed her new publication, “The Book of Good Feelings” for the community to peruse at leisure. Picking it up, I was unsure of what I was going to encounter, and was pleasantly surprised that, with each page, Scarlett reminded her reader of the something they should perhaps be reminded of more often, something that seems to be reserved for childhood but can be affirming at all stages of life, “I’m great like me we all are.” Thank you Scarlett!

Joyce and I spent last Friday morning hanging out with the lovely folks leading Work is Play studio, Dinesh and Sofya. They were such gracious hosts and, while we spent much of the morning talking shop, we also got to know them a bit as people too. On the topic of favorite kitchen gadgets, Dinesh lit up as he opened a drawer and showcased a prized possession, a perfectly designed basting spoon that had been gifted to the them by a friend. Complete with a perfect point and a rimmed edge to help pick up whatever sauce is being used for the basting, it was clear that whoever had gifted this spoon had absolutely nailed it. While I unfortunately wasn’t able to snap a pic of said spoon, I left the interaction feeling as enamored by the spoon as they were. In trying to find a similar one to share here, I stumbled upon a Wikipedia list of different types of spoons; I had no idea there were so many. Bonbon spoon anyone?

As I was washing tomatoes in the hum drum way produce is typically washed, these wee tomatoes made me pause and smile. While pulling the vine away, the small imprint of suntanned shape revealed itself at the top of each globe. Perhaps it was the shape itself, a soft-edged star, or the starkness of the color, a bright red against a moodier maroon, that made this feel special. Perhaps all that matters is that it took a moment to notice.

I don’t think this bench is actually called “Breadstick Bench” but that’s exactly what it reminded me of (you know the ones I’m talking about). This bench is Ryan Belli’s piece shown at the LA Design Weekend Garden Party at the Terremoto Garden this past weekend. I didn’t get to sit on it, or taste it for that matter, but the joy I felt when I saw it was immediate.

I’ve had my eye on Inger Grubbe’s jewelry for a little over a year now. The Danish designer creates work that I would succinctly describe as “medieval modern”. I love it all and would wear it all. She also sells spoons hehe.

When it comes to granola, I’d never once considered that the pendulum could swing from sweet to savory but take my dramatic text (above) I sent to my husband as word that savory granola is truly the way. I’ve been sprinkling it on everything–salads, soft boiled eggs, hummus–because I can’t get enough of the salty, satisfying crunch it adds to every meal. I’ve been using the recipe from Olive + Gourmando cookbook as a base but, like most granola, it’s endlessly adaptable to whatever pleases your palate. Including the recipe from the book below, but I highly recommend purchasing your own copy. The cookbook pretty much lays out my ideal diet as it’s filled with plenty of plant-based, whole food recipes and a back half comprised entirely of pastries. I’ve made several recipes from it already and there have been zero misses.

Savory Granola
Ingredients

25g (approx. 1 cup) puffed quinoa
115g (3/4 cup) pumpkin seeds
85g (1/2 cup) toasted buckwheat groats
75g (3/4 cup) walnut pieces
60g (1/2 cup) white sesame seeds
60g (1/2 cup) black sesame seeds
15ml (1 tbsp) fennel seeds
10ml (2 tsp) fleur de sel
10ml (2 tsp) Aleppo pepper *I like subbing this for za’atar
1 egg white
80ml (1/3 cup) garlic oil
45ml (3 tbsp) coconut oil, melted
20ml (4 tsp) maple syrup

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

In a large bowl, combine the puffed quinoa, pumpkin seeds, buckwheat, walnuts, sesame seeds, fennel, fleur de sel and Aleppo pepper.

In a small bowl, lightly whisk the egg white. Add the garlic oil, coconut oil, and maple syrup. Pour this mixture over the granola and mix using your hands. Transfer the granola in an even layer to the baking sheet.

Bake for 18 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet. Transfer to an airtight container.

Van and I recently got back from a trip to Montréal. It was my first time in Canada and it was fun to take note of all the little things that were the “same but different” than things in the states. Squirrels looked similar but had black fur. Every meal out was prefaced with the same “Our menu is meant to be shared” that both server and diner are tired of hearing at this point, but this time spoken in French. The museums were well-curated, but filled with Canadian artists I’d previously not known. All in all, it was the loveliest stay. We ate well during our entire trip, but the unsuspecting dessert that’s seared in my memory is this simple, strawberry swirl soft serve from Les Givrés. As thank you, ok mentions in her latest newsletter, ice cream really is the best summer accessory.

I enjoyed this serendipitous moment as we pulled into our terminal at the Montréal–Trudeau airport. Displayed on our Uber driver’s dashboard was a small reminder of the small doggo we’d soon be returning home to.

I finally got around to watching Perfect Days, and it was, well, perfect. On a recent trip to Vidéothèque, I was pleased to find a copy of Notebook on Cities and Clothes, Wenders’ 1989 documentary about Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto. My eyes lit up when I saw the spine since it’s impossible to find this one on any streaming platforms. Both Notebook on Cities and Clothes and Perfect Days share a similar, contemplative quality–one that encourages moving through the world in a way that’s singular to one’s own self. I especially liked this quote from Notebook:

Style can become a prison. A hall of mirrors in which you can only reflect and imitate yourself. Yohji knew this problem well. Of course, he had fallen into that trap. He had escaped from it, he said, the moment he had learnt to accept his own style. Suddenly, the prison had opened up to great freedom, he said. “That for me is an author. Someone who has something to say in the first place, who then knows how to express himself with his own voice. and who can finally find the strength in himself to become the guardian of his prison, and not to stay its prisoner.”