Picking up the dry cleaning, reading emails, wandering the aisles at Costco, mailing a package at the Post Office … sounds like a litany of boring tasks? Maybe. But it seems not a day goes by where we don’t hear news that saddens or horrifies us. World crises, divisive politics, yes, but also more personally, we encounter health issues, losses, injuries, and all manner of dramatic events. Sometimes it’s just too much.
That’s why when we have a day where nothing much happens, it’s often a welcome relief! I have a dear friend who sometimes texts me when she’s sitting by her fireplace with a cup of tea, reading Frank Bruni’s column in the Times, and reveling in the serenity of the moment tucked into her otherwise busy life, enjoying the bliss of an “ordinary” day.
Recently I saw a documentary called “Who Will Write Our History?” about a small group of Warsaw ghetto residents who passionately collected little bits of paper and photographs that documented everyday life in their rapidly crumbling world, then buried it all underground to preserve the memories for future generations. Their lives were in such peril, their days filled with terror. They would have given anything for a day filled with mundane tasks.
One of our regular readers, someone I met casually at a B&B in South Carolina but who has become a faraway friend, once mentioned this phrase to me and it always resonates: “How fortunate we are to have the blessings of ordinary days.”
Praise be!
Since our first post way back in January 2012, you’ve all responded with enthusiasm and love, letting us know we had touched on a vital connection we women cherish and nurture. Your support inspired us to keep doing what we were doing. But all things come to a natural end and as we wind down our blog, we end as we began, with friendship and comfort food. We ask that you email us (foodandfriendshipsantabarbara@gmail.com) your most comforting recipe, perhaps with a picture of you and it! Is it soup? Pasta? Pie? Chocolate? We will feature as many as we can in the coming months before saying goodbye at the end of the year and we’ll leave you with the most basic of comfort food suggestions today. May you have the blessings of ordinary days whenever you need them.
❤️I love reading your blog and your kale chips have become “the food most often requested” by our grandsons. Thank you for all your thoughtful, wonderful, comforting posts over the years. My inbox will be emptier when you quit writing! You made me want to be a better cook — and a better friend — and I am grateful for your impact upon my life.
Chris, you touch our hearts. Thank you for your kind words…and for giving us the title of this post! We hope to stay in touch and continue to share the precious moments in our lives as well as our recipes!
Come see us in Santa Barbara!!
After over 60 years of cooking, I finally bought an ice cream maker. My first effort was blueberry ice cream. It was awesome, organic, delicious and horribly fattening. We loved it, our friends loved it and I’m eagerly plotting new flavor attempts.
Sounds delicious, Meryl! And with summer fruits now in the markets (and on the trees) there are limitless possibilities!
Do you have any food gatherings/bookclubs in montecito?
We’re sure they exist but we are not aware of them. Sorry!
Amen! Ordinary days are certainly a blessing! May we each have many as we continue on our journeys! Looking forward to seeing everyone’s favorites in your final blog year posts.
Margie, what’s your favorite comfort food? Will you share your recipe and story with us?
Joan, I met you and your husband about 6 or 7 years ago on a Harlem Jazz Tour and have been following your blog ever since. You and your partner are talented cooks and writers and I will miss reading your newsletter. I wish you the best in the future!