Wow, this is just lovely Elizabeth. And a splendid book recommendation. I am so impressed you have been writing for five years! A belated happy anniversary. So glad it has brought you joy. And that you are here bringing me joy and hope each week!
Congratulations on your 5-year anniversary! What an accomplishment and a gift to your readers: to show up every week, have something to say and to express it beautifully. Happy New Year, dear Elizabeth! May there be five more years filled with the kind of joy you describe. That salad looks delicious. I have lots of nasturtium leaves at the moment, no flowers, so I add them to salads; they are equally tasty and pretty in their own way. Not as colourful though.
Thank you dear Amela! I have to say, as someone who has bright shiny objects constantly flying through her head, that this feels like a singular accomplishment worth celebrating 😊. I'm looking forward to our future conversations and possible collaborations. May 2026 be filled with blessings for you 💕
Happy 5 year anniversary!!! I relate strongly to your words, "Returning to my interior world week after week, I found not an escape from the weight of the world but a way of moving through it…the choice to find magic and meaning in the everyday wonder of life." You could do this work in private, keeping all your beautiful words and thought provoking questions and insights to yourself. Instead you share them with us here and I am incredibly grateful for that. What a gift. Thank you.
I read my first Joseph Campbell book 20 years ago and it quite literally changed my life. I just added The Book of Alchemy to my kindle library and can't wait to dive in.
Thank you, dear Rebecca, and welcome to 2026! ! I have missed your voice here and truly hope you are refreshed and had a wonderful holiday 💕
Thank you so much for your very kind words! Joseph Campbell was new to me—I came across the quote as I was looking for something to express how I feel about finding joy in the everyday. His books are now on my list. And you will LOVE Suleika Jouad. I am doing her New Year’s Journaling Project here on Substack and it is fantastic. https://theisolationjournals.substack.com/
I'll have to tell you the story of how Joseph Campbell changed my life one of these days. Even with our limited space, I have two of his books on my bedside table. I just read the first chapter of Suleika's book this morning and can tell already that I'm going to love it. Thank you so much for the recommendation!
This is a great thought for the new year: "And in that openness, joy has a habit of blooming, not because everything is neatly resolved, but because I’m paying attention to what lies beneath."
Great write up. Dreamy looking salad. I am adding another book reco here to inspire creative practice, from the world of music: Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being.
Simple approach, pretty Buddhist in its philosophy and very approachable.
Congratulations, and keep writing! Since I discovered your blog and subscribed, your writings have given me great pleasure and much to reflect on. Thank you for your superbly written essays and for the recipes, which have inspired how I cook even when I, cooking mostly for one, have not made the dishes.
Thank you for being here Maryellen, and for your lovely note. I especially love when our past histories have intersected 💕. Wishing you a wonderful 2026!
Congrats on 5 years! A testament to your consistency, vibrancy, and creativity. Thank you for keeping us entertained, inspired and connected through all the ups and downs of this decade (so far). Happy New Year!
David, you’ve been here from the start! Even if we don’t speak nearly as often as I’d like, I love that we are connected here. Thank you for being a constant reader—and a dear friend. Here’s to connecting in 2026 🥰
Yes, that’s been recommended to me as well, Jim. Wishing you and Mary a wonderful 2026, with hopes we’ll see you both soon. Report back on the brisket! 💕
Wow, this is just lovely Elizabeth. And a splendid book recommendation. I am so impressed you have been writing for five years! A belated happy anniversary. So glad it has brought you joy. And that you are here bringing me joy and hope each week!
Thank you dear Shell. Perhaps best of all is the wonderful community here—it really is so very special 💕
Congratulations on your 5-year anniversary! What an accomplishment and a gift to your readers: to show up every week, have something to say and to express it beautifully. Happy New Year, dear Elizabeth! May there be five more years filled with the kind of joy you describe. That salad looks delicious. I have lots of nasturtium leaves at the moment, no flowers, so I add them to salads; they are equally tasty and pretty in their own way. Not as colourful though.
Thank you dear Amela! I have to say, as someone who has bright shiny objects constantly flying through her head, that this feels like a singular accomplishment worth celebrating 😊. I'm looking forward to our future conversations and possible collaborations. May 2026 be filled with blessings for you 💕
Yes to conversations & collaborations! 💕
Happy 5 year anniversary!!! I relate strongly to your words, "Returning to my interior world week after week, I found not an escape from the weight of the world but a way of moving through it…the choice to find magic and meaning in the everyday wonder of life." You could do this work in private, keeping all your beautiful words and thought provoking questions and insights to yourself. Instead you share them with us here and I am incredibly grateful for that. What a gift. Thank you.
I read my first Joseph Campbell book 20 years ago and it quite literally changed my life. I just added The Book of Alchemy to my kindle library and can't wait to dive in.
Thank you, dear Rebecca, and welcome to 2026! ! I have missed your voice here and truly hope you are refreshed and had a wonderful holiday 💕
Thank you so much for your very kind words! Joseph Campbell was new to me—I came across the quote as I was looking for something to express how I feel about finding joy in the everyday. His books are now on my list. And you will LOVE Suleika Jouad. I am doing her New Year’s Journaling Project here on Substack and it is fantastic. https://theisolationjournals.substack.com/
I'll have to tell you the story of how Joseph Campbell changed my life one of these days. Even with our limited space, I have two of his books on my bedside table. I just read the first chapter of Suleika's book this morning and can tell already that I'm going to love it. Thank you so much for the recommendation!
I like Ruby.
She is the sweetest ❤️
Tomorrow I’m going to try the recipe! Thank you so much and happy new year
That makes me so happy! Let me know what you think 💕
This is a great thought for the new year: "And in that openness, joy has a habit of blooming, not because everything is neatly resolved, but because I’m paying attention to what lies beneath."
Thank you Kathy--paying more attention is a definitely one of my goals for 2026! Wishing you a wonderful New Year 💕
Elizabeth you are writing from a golden heart here. Thank you for sharing these moments.
Lisa--I always appreciate your generous feedback 🙏
Congrats on being on Substack for 5 years!
Thank you Alex! 💕
This was a brilliant read with a brilliant recipe. Can I say 10/10 and an extra +10 for fabulous?
Thank you dear Sheryl! I hope you’ve had a lovely holiday and wishing you a wonderful 2026 💕
Happy New Year Elizabeth!
Great write up. Dreamy looking salad. I am adding another book reco here to inspire creative practice, from the world of music: Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being.
Simple approach, pretty Buddhist in its philosophy and very approachable.
Thank you friend 💕. Bonne Annee, mon amie!
And thank you for the further book recommendation--lots of great food for thought for the year ahead!
Congratulations, and keep writing! Since I discovered your blog and subscribed, your writings have given me great pleasure and much to reflect on. Thank you for your superbly written essays and for the recipes, which have inspired how I cook even when I, cooking mostly for one, have not made the dishes.
Thank you for being here Maryellen, and for your lovely note. I especially love when our past histories have intersected 💕. Wishing you a wonderful 2026!
Congrats on 5 years! A testament to your consistency, vibrancy, and creativity. Thank you for keeping us entertained, inspired and connected through all the ups and downs of this decade (so far). Happy New Year!
David, you’ve been here from the start! Even if we don’t speak nearly as often as I’d like, I love that we are connected here. Thank you for being a constant reader—and a dear friend. Here’s to connecting in 2026 🥰
Happy Anniversary!! That really is a milestone worth celebrating!
And thank you for the mention. Very kind of you.
You have inspired me to try and create a proper writing practice. Thanks for your great advice and support Barb 💕
Happy 5 years!! So glad that you’re here. ☺️
Thank you Kerry! A happy New Year to you and looking forward to finally meeting in 2026 💕
Yes—same!!
On the subject creativity(or avoidance thereof) and regular practice, I found Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way a revelation.🌸
Yes, that’s been recommended to me as well, Jim. Wishing you and Mary a wonderful 2026, with hopes we’ll see you both soon. Report back on the brisket! 💕
This is a gorgeous salad, Elizabeth! Love the addition of cinnamon. Feel the same abt writing, it’s a place I like to go to be honest & fearless.
It’s really lovely Annada! So fresh and easy.