mourningdove

Makgeolli

I’ve wanted an onggi since I saw the beautiful jang garden at Baekyangsa Temple (see below). And I wanted one of the traditional ones they still make in Jeolla-do. There’s nothing like an onggi for managing fermentation: it allows carbon dioxide to escape without allowing molds and other pathogens to settle in the ferment. BecauseContinue reading “Makgeolli”

Hagiwara Tea Garden

This is one of my favorite spots in the world. Cradled at the heart of Golden Gate State Park in San Francisco, the garden’s story is as intensely bittersweet as the matcha served in its teahouse, with episodes of triumph, heartbreak, cruelty, and grace; you can read it here. The garden is gorgeous in everyContinue reading “Hagiwara Tea Garden”

The Angel of Resentment

I’ve prayed a lot about forgiveness over the last two years. I’ve thought a lot about it, read a lot. Most of what’s been written on forgiveness in Christian circles assumes the goal is reconciliation in ongoing, otherwise healthy relationships. There’s not as much written and preached on forgiveness in situations of abuse and abandonment.Continue reading “The Angel of Resentment”

Ceramics Saturdays: The Moon Jar

The next couple of entries in Ceramics Saturdays are going to be about Korean ceramics. The moon jar (dalhangari) is one of the most, if not the most, famous of Korean ceramic forms. Thrown all throughout the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the most collectible and prized examples today date from the 18th century, when technique andContinue reading “Ceramics Saturdays: The Moon Jar”

Birthday Festschrift: 20-30

This was probably my most productive decade for creative stuff because it’s the last decade I wasn’t in academia (well, half the decade). It is a sad truth that there is only so much Creativity Juice in any one person, and even though it doesn’t seem like it, teaching freshmen how to write, reading theory,Continue reading “Birthday Festschrift: 20-30”

Unauthorized Uses: Wine Corks

After I hosted 11 people for Thanksgiving, several of them serious wine enthusiasts, I ended up with a lot of corks. I rubbed my hands together in glee. There’s nothing I like better than a wine cork for multi-purpose Rigging of Things. I already mentioned corks in a previous post, but wine corks’ size makesContinue reading “Unauthorized Uses: Wine Corks”

Hoshigaki Update

They’re done! Notice the sugars on the outside, and when you squeeze them, they’re uniformly soft inside (except seeds).

Letter of Recommendation: Christmas Pyramids

I think I’ve already established that I’m pro-Christmas. I have a pretty elaborate decorating scheme this year that I’ll share once it’s all set up, but for now I wanted to put on your holiday radar an old favorite that I’ve recently rediscovered: German Christmas pyramids. They’re called pyramids because the most famous of themContinue reading “Letter of Recommendation: Christmas Pyramids”

Friendship

I took (nearly) a week off blogging because some dear friends from high school came and spent the holiday with me. I just want to say this about it: it’s such a blessing to have people in my life that I don’t have to explain, defend, or prove myself to. We chose and will neverContinue reading “Friendship”

Letter of Recommendation: The Seven Citadels

Since I mentioned in my last festschrift post my favorite fantasy publisher, that reminded me of the series, which is Geraldine Harris’s Seven Citadels. There are 4 books in the series, which is now out of print, so you’ll have to find them on used sites: Prince of the Godborn, Children of the Wind, TheContinue reading “Letter of Recommendation: The Seven Citadels”