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I made an apple pie today, just like my grandmother did for every major holiday. She never wrote down the recipe and although I remember helping her make them as a child, I wish I had the exact directions according to her methods. I have vivid sensory memories of eating her apple pie, heated and drenched in milk and whipped cream as is my family's custom in Northeastern Pennsylvania. My dear friend Jason hails from Ohio and makes his grandmother’s recipe, which is pretty close to my own. So today, I called him and he walked me through the proportions of ingredients and steps to get the perfectly cooked apples and yummy brown crust.
Over the years, Jason and I have found that we share many family traditions, including the same treasured Christmas ornaments made by great aunts, favorite holiday foods, and quirky proverbs and sayings. I know from my research that some of the German immigrants who first landed in New York and Pennsylvania later migrated to Ohio, so likely these are remnants of shared traditions from the Old World. I like to think about how these family traditions link us together across geographies and generations: helping to ground us in who we are and where we come from.
While I’ve been quiet with Senses of Place this past year during the pandemic, I’ve taken a deep dive into the folk craft traditions of my own heritage, including daily practice in knitting, spinning, and weaving. As I continue my research and practice in handicrafts and the old ways, I’m conjuring up new ideas for how to share this knowledge in 2021. I’ll announce new projects here first, as you my newsletter subscribers are my most loyal and appreciated audience.
2020 marked the launch and successful run our the first year of the Seasonal Practice community. I created this project with Dawne Schoep and we offer a collection of free and patron-only content via Patreon. We so enjoy creating the self care exercises and seasonal wellness practices for you and are working on new ideas for 2021. Next year, we will be focusing on three major themes per season. The lessons will build throughout the season and help you develop a deeper connection with the cycles of nature and your well being.
Starting in January, we will cover the following winter themes:
- Dreaming and intention setting
- Sleep, rest, and hibernation
- Winter movement, focused building core and joint strength
We’d love for you to check out our free posts and consider joining our Patreon community in 2021. You can view the free content and sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/seasonalpractice/posts
As you reflect on the last year and prepare for the coming year, I wish you and your loved ones joy and good health. Now I need to go write down that apple pie recipe before I forget!
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