Cookbook Club
I have this vision that plays over and over in my head. It’s the time of year where summer fades into fall, everyone has settled into the back-to-school routine and it’s time to gather together for an outdoor dinner in our sprawling backyard. Chris and I are walking towards an endless farmhouse-style table carrying platters of food where our family and closest friends have already started eating, drinking wine, laughing and genuinely enjoying life. The kids are running around in the grass in the background, with so much room to roam we don’t even notice their playful screams. As day fades into night, the youngest of the children have fallen asleep in a pillow fort and the rest of us still standing are barefoot in the kitchen scrubbing dishes. Parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who feel like family. We do this weekly. Come as you are, bring what you can. This is our village.
My perfect little dream comes to a screeching halt as reality slaps me in the face…Finley has to pee. Quint is barking at the old man in the wheelchair who walks his little dog passed our house every day (even though he knows we have a huge dog who goes nuts every single time they walk by) and Jackson just spit up in my hair that I just washed an hour ago. Chris is at the station for 3 days. I have exactly 2.5 seconds to think to myself “one day that dream will be ours” before having to attend to real life. It’s funny how you can never actually be alone, but still feel lonely at times. I know I’m not the only parent who feels this way. I have talked to many people, mothers especially, who are struggling to find balance in their lives with small children. We are so blessed with so many things in life (cars, clothes, we can literally get anything within hours to our homes with a click of a button), but often times it’s the simple things we crave most in life like face-to-face time with extended family or reliable friends.
I read an article recently that highlighted the aspect of the village and how it really does take one to raise children. The article spoke about how we are more connected to people than ever before because of the access we have to technology, but in reality it is making us feel more lonely, less adequate and more likely to be in competition with others. Instagram can make us feel like we are keeping up with loved ones without ever actually speaking to or seeing them. Chris and I are lucky enough to have amazing family to help us with our kids while we work, but honestly, I want more time with our village! I want slow time with family, not the crazy, here are my kids, keep them alive until I get home kind of life. My mom told me that when she was young, her mother and aunt would switch off helping each other clean the other’s house. I want that! I should specify- I am not going to start to clean my SIL’s house, I’m not even going to start cleaning my own house! HA! What I want is that simple time together, doing everyday things, helping one another when needed and just letting our kids grow up together. It doesn’t have to be planned, things don’t have to be perfect and we don’t have to be done up to be together. We just need to be together.
Chris and I currently do not have the type of backyard in my dream above (we hope to one day) but, that doesn’t stop my deep desire for more time with our village. I’m happiest when I’m with our family, friends who feel like family and our fire family. I’m also happiest when I’m cooking. I want to bring these things together so bad! I’m sure there are other people out there who feel the same about all of this and I would love for all us of to get together, feel supported by one another and indulge in fabulous food and wine- or whatever you’re into. So until we get that huge yard I’ve been dreaming about, I thought it would be fun to start a little cookbook club! A time to slow down, gather around the table and enjoy cooking recipes out of a book as a group. Here’s a quick run-down of what I’m thinking:
one cookbook, once a quarter
everyone bring one recipe from the book
bring your own serving dish for your recipe
come as you are and when you can
rookie and veteran cooks welcome!
If you are interested in joining in please submit your name and email below and I’ll make a list to send out an email invitation.
I’m so excited to set aside time in our busy lives to do something I love with people I care about! I hope you feel the same way and I look forward to seeing where this cookbook club takes us!
xo,
Ashley
