ONE // Puzzle
It has been a few months since my last puzzle... Having not gotten around to taking one out over my Christmas break, I've been itching to puzzle. I decided to start one on Family Day. While I usually get all-consumed and power through doing a 1000-piece puzzle in a day, that did not happen this time around. I forced myself to get other things done during the day and had barely gotten ahead on the first day. I'll admit it's a rather difficult puzzle as there is a lot of black in it and the contrast is low. I worked on it for the better part of a week before I finally completed it! This puzzle was given to me a while back and I was hanging onto it to do it during the winter. I like working on seasonal puzzles and matching them up with the correct seasons. This one was a very peaceful scene that was relaxing to work on.
TWO // Panchi-Kun
Last weekend, I spent a good part of it feeling sad for Panchi-Kun, the orphaned baby macaque who lives in a zoo in Japan. I kept seeing video after video of this adorable little monkey having to figure out how to adapt and integrate the troop all on his lonesome. He was abandoned at birth so was cared for by the zookeepers who gave him a stuffed orangutan for comfort. Panchi is clearly very attached to this stuffed animal and carries it with him everywhere. He eats with it, sleeps with it and runs to it for comfort when the other macaques correct him. It's heart-wrenching! This little monkey is being very brave in a clearly stressful and challenging situation. It's easy to draw parallels with his struggles and project our own human emotions on the situation. His acceptance progress is not linear and some days are better than others. I think I'm so invested in this little monkey's journey because there is so much heaviness in the world at the moment and seeing this tiny creature struggle is hard to watch. I encourage you to read this post for more context on Panchi-Kun. I feel slightly better now that I have a better understanding, but I'm still going to keep following his journey and hope for full integration soon. I also struggle with the concept of zoos in general, so that's another added layer of concern I have for all macaques in this enclosure. This whole story is bringing me back to the days I discovered Jane Goodall and her work with chimpanzees. I was fully absorbed in the topic! I wonder what wisdom she could have contributed to understanding Panchi's situation...
THREE // Polar Fleece
I have not worn a polar fleece sweater in years, yet it was an item of clothing worn throughout my childhood. I don't know why I stopped wearing them, but they somehow left my closet. A few weeks ago, I spotted this polar fleece and it stopped me in my tracks. The print and colours spoke to me and I decided it was time to reintroduce this article of clothing into my cozy winter wear rotation! The sweater is striking in person and so very comfortable. I've styled it with jeans for dinner the other day, but I think I'll be pairing it with leggings more often than not. It's going to jazz up my weekend comfies and that in and of itself is worth the purchase! I'm so happy I pulled the trigger and got a polar fleece. Might there be more in the future? Time will tell.
FOUR // The Middle
I started a rewatch of The Middle the other day when I saw it was on Netflix. This is a sitcom that both my husband and I loved watching. I have fond memories of watching the weekly episode and it was part of our show rotation for years. As much as I love a binge-watch, there is something nostalgic about old-school sitcoms that played a weekly episode. The seasons were longer and it was a predictable part of the routine. I love back-to-school season and it used to be that that was also the time of year when new seasons of shows started up after a summer hiatus. It was the best feeling! I think what I love most about The Middle is that it's about an average family and they address the real everyday struggles of a typical working-class family. The interactions between the siblings remind me so much of my own sibling interactions growing up. The show is just so relatable! I started rewatching from the first episode while puzzling last weekend and it just felt like a warm hug. I could escape the real world for a bit and it was healing. This is your sign to turn off your phone, put on your comfort show and take out a puzzle.
FIVE // Sourdough Muffins
I tried a new recipe last weekend. I didn't want to make a sourdough because I'd already made a bread but my starter was active and I wanted to use it. Seeing as both my husband and I had busy weeks ahead of us, I thought having muffins on hand would be practical. I simply looked up sourdough muffin recipes and landed on this blueberry lemon version. They were straightforward to make and we already had both blueberries and lemons on hand. I decided on putting the zest of two lemons for that extra zingy flavour but didn't change anything else. Oh wait, I did also add a dollop of homemade blueberry jam in the centre of each muffin. They turned out beautifully and absolutely delicious! I'm thinking this base recipe can be used time and again while swapping out the blueberries and lemon zest for other flavours and ingredients. I'm thinking cinnamon with cubes apple pieces and a bit of brown sugar would be a great fall muffin. Or even walnuts, raisins and carrots for Easter. I bet even swapping out some of the flower for whole wheat-flour or bran would work too. I'm sure this muffin recipe will come in handy!
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