Tender Hearts & Curious Hands

Slow days, older ways, and a little bit of whimsy ♡ "Tradition" should be a toolbox, not a cage ♡ Tehillim 63 ✡️ B'tzelem Elohim אני מסרבת למות כאן

[handfulofsunlight]

Anna . 36 ♡ Liberal, Queer, Chronically Ill, Disabled, and Autistic historically inspired Jewish Homemaker (not a "Tradwife"); trying to make myself gentler than I was while re-finding (and refining) who I am.

I reset my blog, so it's currently fairly empty. But eventually you'll find posts about (NonTrad) Homemaking, Cooking / Baking, Home Mead Brewing, Tea, Cross Stitch, Botanical Folk-Art, Garden Photography, Gardening, Herbalism, Birding, Disability & Chronic Illness, Fitness, Judaism, Analog & Digital Gaming, and whatever else suits my fancy; this is a personal journal.

18+ Minors please do not interact 21+ is preferred but not necessary

ʚ♡ɞ I find great beauty in the everyday life of the early 20th century. I do not wish to recreate the past, however, nor worship or romanticize it. The past has given us plenty of good ideas to carry forward- but it has also given us indoor plumbing, refrigerators, vaccines, divorce, and more, for very good reason.

My presence here ebbs and flows, but make yourself at home. And if you have any questions at all, please feel free to ask. You will never be judged for a question unless you’re intentionally being rude.

Please consider supporting one of these charities if you have the finances available:

Sefaria Library

Internet Archive & the Wayback Machine

Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger

One Simple Wish

Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society

Hospice of North-Central Oklahoma

Seeds of Peace

[eymurn]

If you carry around the bricks from the past, you'll end up building the same house.

[handfulofsunlight]

We tried the Tamale Pie from the Good Housekeeping Cookbook (2013 Bridal Edition) tonight, and I genuinely think I've found another quick meal I can make when I have minimal spoons. It really came together very easily.

I was a little worried about the Cornmeal being weird mushy goop. But I cooked it until it pulled away from the walls of the pan, and it wound up setting up in the casserole much better than I anticipated.

I did add 1/2 tbsp Paprika to it, on top of what the recipe already calls for. I also added just a tiny dash of MSG, because I knew the Salsa was going to make it a little sweet (I do not like sweet tomato anything); the Salsa we used was just Great Value 'thick and chunky' (Mild). But I cooked it for the full 45 minutes, and then let it rest for 15 minutes afterwards.

Bonus point: It called for a 2 quart dish. Which meant I finally got to use my 'Country Festival' / 'Friendship' Corningware dishes; my In Laws were collecting pieces for me since that's "my pattern", but I rarely actually get to use them.

[satanfemme]

you've gotta be kind to yourself no matter what

[feralfaelife]

[visorforavisor]

I think disability justice would be easier if abled people understood that being disabled is a mixture of all three of

I can’t do that without negative consequences

I can’t do that unless I have support for it

I can’t do that

and that trying to treat one of these as if it’s another one will get you nowhere.

[indouscurse]

you have to consciously unlearn racism and continue to watch for it because it will come out without realizing. because so much of society is structured around it. shrugging and going "i dont care" or "i dont know how else to say it" means you are okay with being racist and hurting other people with how much you dont give a shit about them.

[handfulofsunlight]

My Husband asked for breakfast this morning but is too sick right now to do much of anything, so I made him his customary breakfast plate that he'd usually make for himself on Sundays.

Because it would take roughly the same amount of time anyways, I opted to make myself the Breakfast Rellenos from the Canyon Ranch 'Nourish: Indulgently Healthy Cuisine' cookbook, instead. And ooh, they are fantastic.

I let my husband try a little bit of it when I was almost done. He didn't enjoy the texture, but he did like the flavor.

[handfulofsunlight]

I cannot wait for the temperature to finally start cooling down again. I desperately need to weed the garden at this point because the Trumpet Vine has taken everything over again while it's been too hot to do anything out there. I also miss having my morning tea in the garden.

This heat is so ridiculous.

[handfulofsunlight]

Daily Routine

Remember: Each list exists only to remember things that need to be done- not to command all actions.

Morning

Netilat Yadayim

Dress for the day

Open windows (weather permitting)

Prepare breakfast

Reset kitchen after eating

Pray Shacharit

Spend at least 20 minutes reading (preferably a Jewish text)

Midday

Light exercise (energy permitting)

Prepare lunch

Reset kitchen after eating

Pray Mincha

Water the garden

Tidy the house and complete the day's assigned tasks

Evening

Prepare dinner

Reset kitchen after eating

Load dishwasher and turn it on

Pray Maariv

[handfulofsunlight]

Weekly Housekeeping Rhythm

Remember: Each day's list exists only to remember things that need to be done- not to command all actions.

Monday: Bedroom & Laundry

Gather all dirty clothing into hamper and sort as needed

Start a load of laundry (weather permitting)

Fold clothes as they come out of dryer

Reset the bed

Clean and dust bedside tables

Clean and dust dresser tops

Straighten personal belongings

Put jewelry back into Jewelry Box

Vacuum

Tuesday: Kitchen & Meals

Wipe down all kitchen counters

Wipe down Cabinet fronts

Wipe down stair walls

Clean the stove (as needed)

Clean stove hood (as needed)

Clean the sink

Empty dish rack and dishwasher

Sweep and mop the floor

Plan meals for the coming week (including Shabbat dinner)

Inventory pantry

Inventory non-food essentials

Create grocery list

Wednesday: Rest Day

Grocery Pickup & put away

Thursday: Living Room

Wash the couch cover (weather permitting)

Start another load of laundry (weather permitting)

Fold clothes as they come out of dryer

Straighten cushions and blankets

Fold and put away blankets

Clean and dust all living room surfaces

Gather dishes and return to kitchen

Return books to proper places

Gather household trash and prepare it to be taken out

Vacuum

Friday: Bathroom & Shabbat Prep

Clean the bathroom mirror

Clean the sink

Clean the bathtub

Clean the toilet

Restock toilet paper

Empty trash

Replace towels

Wipe down tables

Straighten / organize table items

Shake out bathroom mats

Sweep and mop

Complete Shabbat preparations

Saturday: Shabbat

Sunday: Rest Day OR Assisted Reset

Light tidying

Bake a simple item

Any mending that needs to be done

Catch up on unfinished chores if necessary

Any household errands

Must: Food, sanitation, laundry, trash.

[lazer-exe]

I'm gonna say it, I do think that even the laziest person imaginable should have a roof over their head, food in their stomach, and access to healthcare

[handfulofsunlight]

I've spent so much time just sleeping today. I needed it; Shabbat feels a lot different when you're actually doing work and things throughout the week, finally.

[serendistudy]

some days you will go to bed knowing you probably didn't do your best, and that's okay. you still made it through the day. you are allowed to get some rest and try again tomorrow.

[sunsetbywater]

my goal for my life is to be brave and true

[creekfiend]

the thing is that I think lots of the time we talk about childhood trauma cycles wrong, because people will frame it as like, "this happened to this person, which is why they act like this" and really it's like, "all children learn social behavior via what is modeled for them by the adults around them and their peers; if what the adults in your life model for you repeatedly, over a long period of time, is that they get their needs met by dehumanizing others, then you will learn that the way needs get met is via dehumanization"

it isn't about how certain things being done to you somehow write Abuse Into Your Psyche, it's about learned behavior. it's about not being shown alternative models. (INTO MY LOUDSPEAKER) IT'S ALL ABOUT NOT BEING SHOWN ALTERNATIVE MODELS

[badtundra]

maturing is realizing none of us are easy to be with. it's about who's willing to stay committed to understanding you and actually wants to grow with you