I used to do weekend recaps on IG for the past 4 years. They allowed me to be fully present during my weekend away from social media. They also allowed me to share highlights and lowlights through mixed media. I’ve seen on Substack weekly roundups but I’m too busy with my super cute silly goofy toddler to do that. So I want to try at least a monthly recap!
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Wisteria Thumbprint Cookies & Tea
Wisteria is just so gorgeous to see cascading down trees they’ve taken over during spring. The smell is heavenly too! I decided to make both a syrup and jelly from it. The syrup was great in a cup of earl grey tea and mylk. Not as overpowering as lavender can be at times. With the jelly, it was the perfect light, floral flavor in my signature almond thumbprint cookies. We are now planning on growing wisteria around our property too!
Double Chocolate Cake
I’ve been perfecting my own cake recipes for almost a year now. You really can’t get good vegan cakes in Charlottesville. We got our wedding cake from WPA Bakery in Richmond, VA. We ordered a small cake through Whole Foods for our baby shower. But see I want cake anytime I think about it. Now I have a go to cake and buttercream frosting recipe. I recently saw this YouTube video on chocolate cake. I love watching food videos to learn techniques and reasons for doing things a certain way. I applied the tips from Clare to my own recipe and truly made the best double chocolate cake. My family and neighbors loved it! I’ll make this a go to.
Baby goats
We went with friends to Snuggle Butts Farm to see the baby goats and ugh so little and cute. Emery was jealous at first but then he started to really like them! They also have cows, chickens, rabbits & pigs.
Lemon Pepper Pasta
Through Roxane Gay’s Substack The Audacity, I saw this video from Alison Roman on a lemon pepper pasta dish. Again, I learned so many great techniques. I swapped the ingredients with vegan ones (Country Crock Plant Based Olive Oil Butter and Violife Parmesan Block) and blanched asparagus instead since it’s in season. 10/10!!!
Gardening
Big perk of owning land is being able to plant what you want. We were super excited to finally plant some fruit bushes and trees. One day we hope to have a bounty of mulberries, blueberries and figs. It’s very special for me to see my husband and son watering the plants together with such joy. This was all worth the wait.
Honorable mentions:
Perfect hiking days live in my mind rent free. Catching a glimpse of the solar eclipse while Emery napped. I was on a thrifting rollllll; I found cottagecore dishware, a musk strawberry painting and secured a new jogging stroller for only 1$! Lots of play dates spent at playgrounds, the discovery museum and libraries. Served on a panel to discuss my experiences as a Black woman at a PWI. Date night at the Alamo Drafthouse but no movie, just delicious buffalo cauliflower and the best French fries. Favorite book this month, Dinosaur Dance by Sandra Boydton. Rainbows. We are bonding with our neighbors more which is exciting. The joy I feel when anyone reads my writing let alone anyone who subscribes or even pays a subscription!!! Thank you to all almost 300 of you. I appreciate you dearly.
That’s all folks! I’ll leave you with a selfie that shows off my perfectly waxed brows. Ugh, what would I do without Sarah from The Brow House!!!! And yes I have a satin cover over my headrest to protect my hair. Toodles!
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Q&As
What were your favorite moments this month?
Have you done any of the things I shared?
Are you interested in this being a regular share?
Anything you want me to talk more about?
Email me your answers to withcarrington@gmail.com or comment on substack :)
In case you missed this months letters:
1. The brows are awesome. 2. The satin cover is brilliant.
Ok love all this but THE CAR HEADREST COVER?! Need !!!