Five Things: Issue 245
A little this, and more native plants talk
This Week On Thinking about Native Plants
I’m still on that Barbara Kingsolver grind, and have picked up The Poisonwood Bible. And I’m like one fifth of the way in. Enjoying, more on that below. I just read the chapter about the dad starting a garden, and the man is not using native plants. Alarm bells are ringing.
I’ve read enough books to be able to pick up that this is going to be a problem for ole Father later in the book. Chekov’s garden if you will.
And now I am wading into theological territory that I have no business being. But I am thinking about native plants, and the call to mankind in Genesis to subdue creation, but also in Ecclesiastes, a season for everything. So what is a 21st century to think about gardening? Do we subdue at all costs? It seems like the wise thing is to plant everything in its season.
So anyway, we’ll see.
Good week so far. Today is the anniversary of Chris proposing, so that’s tender and fun. I love Chris and I love my engagement ring, and I’m happy to be here. I also love a dance floor, thank you to Paige and Bryce for getting married and having light up things available.
Number One: Clean the outside of your windows
For whatever reason I have like a lot of Windex. Years of roommate cleaning supplies have built up to an unreasonable number (four) of bottles. A few weeks ago I decided I was going to try to finish one off, and I recently learned it’s actually quite easy to clean the outside of your windows if you have windows like this guy.
Number Two: Needlepoint
I kept getting served videos by Penny Linn Designs, so I gave in and purchased a Needle Point Starter Kit. Truly such a fun, mindful activity. Also expensive? I’m interested in trying another project and then becoming someone who needle points Christmas Stockings. But I also want to retire one day. And go on vacation occasionally. So we’ll see if this is a flash in the pan. But if you are looking to buy a starter kit, I really did love PLD.
Number Three: A little piece of writing that I love
Just doing my morning perusal of the New York Times app, and opened an article on 8th Avenue. I love this introduction.
At the best of times, it is the Champs-Élysées of hot dog carts: a grand thoroughfare of vendors, tourists and commuters whose bustle brings the city to life.
Motorists share it with bicycles, pedicabs and the occasional horse-drawn carriage. Pedestrians crowd the sidewalk and overflow into an ad hoc expansion of it, created in 2016 when the city began to cordon off a lane of traffic and paint it gray.
But at the worst of times, Eighth Avenue is a Dickensian parade of humanity.
It is strewn with garbage and pockmarked by potholes and pools of unidentifiable fluid. People suffering from addiction and mental illness roam the street. Bicyclists race down the expanded sidewalks, endangering pedestrians. Tourists plod slowly through the sea of walkers, sometimes abruptly dropping anchor in the middle of the sidewalk.
“Champs-Elysees of hot dog carts;” the visualization of tourists dropping anchor. I can see this street without any pictures. Wonderful.
Number Four: Submitting all receipts
Something that I’m learning about myself, but has probably always been true is that I’m not good at completing tasks. I like to get 98% done with something, and then just leave the last little bit hanging. A dish in the sink. A drawer still open.
Can’t explain it. But I am trying to harness the bliss that comes with having all my receipts turned in for work. That sense of complete, of done. It’s a nice feeling.
Number Five: Currently Reading Round Up
Walkable City : I am on the walkable cities side of Twitter. And it has got me thinking a lot of about how I live a very car-centered life that can have a low view of humanity. Anyway, this book is interesting, but I’m not riding my bike to work, yet. One applicable takeaway, there’s a line in the introduction about how communities can’t thrive without all generations present. This is also true of the Church, and worth pursuing as I assign people to Life Groups, etc.
Anxious Generation : sometimes it’s worth it to read the pop psychology book of the moment. This book really did want to make me put my phone down. The statistics are staggering, our phones are deeply affecting our mental health. I am grateful to have had a dumb phone in high school. I think anyone could benefit from reading this book, but you can also read any article about Haidt’s main takeaways.
Lessons in Chemistry : For book club, haven’t started, plan to soon.
Poisonwood Bible : my friend Bethany lent me her copy from High School. I am genuinely appreciating her notes in the margins. Remember having to highlight similes? A tender time.