Daily Epiphany: November 19

My family has a great collection of Nativity scenes. My parents have been collecting them since before I was born. I love this tradition, but have realized that I need to create one of my own--or just copy theirs! So, today when I went to go buy some yarn at the fabric store, I brought my first Nativity scene. It's a simple carving of Mary, Joseph, Jesus and an angel. I am super excited to set it up, come November 30th.

Every year on the Sunday after Thanksgiving my familly (I used to join them before heading off to school) would head out to the Christmas Tree farm and chop down a lovely Charlie Brown tree (i.e. scraggly little pine, like in A Charlie Brown Christmas!). Then we'd go home, pull out all the Christmas things and start decorating. For me, this was the official start of a sacred tradition called Advent--the four weeks leading up to the celebration of Christ's birth.

Although we have a tree, my family does not buy presents to put under it, instead, the tree showcases ornaments from our various advent calendars. As the number of holiday advertisements increase, I am more and more saddened by our society's commercialization of Christmas.

It's not even Thanksgiving yet, but may we all look ahead and seek to put Christ back in Christmas. After all, it is His birthday we are celebrating.

I illustrated my first children's book . . .

So, back in May I started working on my own little children's story about a girl that goes to an art museum for a field trip. I'm still working on it, but along the way, a more exciting illustrating "job" popped up. My friend Hannah wrote a little story for her son, and wanted me to illustrate it. Now, being the perfectionist that I am, I devoted myself to making this the best book ever, plus it was my first complete book of illustrations, and I wanted to do a good job.

Watching election coverage a couple weeks ago, I finally finished all the pages! We decided to publish it with Blurb.com, a print-on-demand website I had used for a class project last semester. In the website's bookstore, you can view the first 15 pages. Check it out!

Autumnal Baking

As most of you know, in addition to history, I have other talents and interests. One of these is baking. This fall has been a season of breads. Not normal bread, but yummy desserty and fruit filled breads.

This summer I began with Carrot Cake, but it wasn't fall yet, so it doesn't count.

In October, I helped break the fast on Yom Kippur with Betty Crocker's Harvest Pound Cake--an apple-based bread/cake that showcases a homemade caramel glaze.

Cake base: mix together . . .
2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. oil
2 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs

3 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda

3 medium apples, chopped
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Glaze: heat to boiling, boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp milk

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour

Towards the end of October I bought a little pie-pumpkin. Because I believe pumpkin pie should not be eaten before Thanksgiving, I decided to make Pumpkin Bread--my mom's famous recipe. I cooked up the pumpkin (and roasted the seeds!); it made two loaves. One for a church potluck, and one for me. :-)

2 2/3 c. sugar
2/3 c. oil
4 eggs
16 oz pumpkin (can or real pumpkin cooked)
2/3 c. water
3 1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
2/3 c. pecans (optional)

Bake 325 degrees for 1 hour and 5 minutes


Also in October, I had the opportunity to bake Challah with my friend Leah. I had grown up baking Challah with my mom, but since leaving home, I have not been able to get it right (yeast can be tricky). Leah provided a recipe different from what I was used to, but the bread turned out marvelous, and quite delicious! In addition to eating Challah on Friday night for Shabbat, I also love making it into french toast on Saturday morning. Super good.

[Let me know if you want this recipe, the instructions are fairly lengthy.]

That same night, Leah gave me her Banana Bread recipe. Tonight I tried the recipe, making Banana Bread November's bread. Three bananas made two loaves--one for my church small group, and the other I'm going to put in the freezer for later.

3 bananas
1 c. oil
2 eggs
1/4 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. sugar (this can be half white and half brown, or all of one)
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 c. flour
8 oz. chocolate chips (optional)

Bake at 350 degrees. For bread: 45 minutes-1 hour. Muffins: 20 minutes.

*Note: In all these recipes I used King Arthur white berry whole wheat flour. This light whole wheat flour can be found at Trader Joes.

Next, I'll have to try Chocolate Zucchini Cake, and maybe my cousin's Strawberry Rhubard Coffee Cake, or Blueberry muffins . . . or maybe I'll just move on to pies. :-)

Thoughts on the election . . .

Preface: I do not want anyone to be offended by this. These are just some thoughts that I feel need to be said.

When George Bush was re-elected in 2004, many Christian liberals (Yes, we do exist. I happen to be one) questioned the sway of conservative Christians and their idea of American democracy. All through that election, I followed the discussions of Jim Wallis and others who created the catch-phrase: God is not a Republican, or a Democrat. I truly believe that those of faith do not need to be pinned down by only the "big" issues (i.e. abortion, gay-marriage, etc.). There are other issues that are important to our Heavenly Father. He cares about all of our lives, from conception to dealth. (READ: Psalm 139) God is sovereign. He has the power to righteously control those issues whether a republican is in office, or a democrat.

With the election of Barack Obama, many conservative Christians are now thinking, "What is this world coming to?" I believe it is now time for the tables to turn, and for conservative and liberal Christians alike to trust that God knows what He is doing, and PRAY. Change is not bad, in fact, political change can help this country recover from these economic woes. Unfortunately, politics tend to run rampent in this country. But there is hope! Christ gave the Church a huge responsibility, and if we really want to see change, the Church must take up the burden of the cross and work to God's glory.

May we not be bogged down by feelings of personal calamity or self-rightousness. Let us lift up our new president to God, placing him in HIS sovereign hands.

Daily Epiphany: October 26

This is going to be a long post, I just know it. That's what happens when I finally do something relevant . . . at least in my field, anyways.

Yesterday I decided to take a trip down to the Chicago History Museum. I am writing this paper for my Urban American class, and wanted to use CHM's archives. I had never been there, so it was about time . . .

I also had this coupon for Cosi and wanted to use it for lunch, so i Google-mapped "Cosi, Chicago, IL" to see where the closest one would be. There was one right near the Belmont station where I was going to transfer! Unfortunately I couldn't find it. Weird. But that was alright, I knew where there was another one on the way. I would just hop on the 22 Clark bus like planned and get off at the next Cosi.

The bus never came. Sooo, I decided to walk. In all I think I walked 2.5 miles (Belmont to North Ave. along Clark). I was a nice walk--I got to look in all the shops, and see the little kids having their pre-Halloween celebrations in Lincoln Park. I even encountered a Farmers Market. I almost bought a pumpkin, but then I thought it would be kind of weird to coat-check a pumpkin at the museum.

I arrived at my Cosi, all in one piece, but very wind-blown and rosy-cheeked. The coupon I had was for $2 off any purchase. Even with the discount, Cosi is kind of expensive, so I went for the cheapest sandwich. Lucky for me, it's my favorite, the TBM(Tomato, Basil and Motzerella)! It is soo good.

From there I walked a few more blocks down Clark and made it to the Museum. I paid for a year-membership so I could come back again, and proceeded to the sacred third floor. Research was good. I found some good sources, and tightened my thesis a bit, so I was pleased with the experience. I felt very historian-esque.

For the journey home I decided to take the 22 clark bus. Now this is usually the kiss of death, but I was tired and didn't want to deal with transfering. On the way I listened to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack on my new ipod. It seemed very applicable as the bus swerved and braked in Clark Street traffic. Oddly enough, I made it home in like 1/2 hour! I'm sure that's a world record.

I love fall / what have I been up to?

Wow, it's been a long time. Sorry folks. I guess that's what happens when a new semester starts.

To fill in, here's some things I've been up to:

• First, here are some pictures from my summer rompings through Millennium Park:

• I'm taking two classes this semester: Oral History and Urban America, and my internship credit.
• Still working at the university bookstore. . . thought is was only temporary, but I guess not. It's a good place to work, but I'm still always on the look-out for something to do with public history.-
• Been spending lots of time with friends and their kids. Super fun, and a great distraction from school work.
• This summer I painted a three canvases for the Kids Club at church. Here are two of them:
  

• I'm illustrating a children's book for my little friend Asher. The drawings are all done and I've started watercoloring them in. I'm excited to see how it turns out. The little book I started this summer has been put on hold. I promise it'll re-surface when I have more time.
• This last month I helped Heather as she set up a coffee house in the Jews for Jesus store front. It's a beautiful space. You should go check it out. (4118 Oakton St. Skokie, IL 60076)

(photos courtesy of Heather Blecher, 2008)

• My cousin Shannon slept over the night of Rosh Hashanah so I attempted to make a challah . . . it didn't turn out so well. I don't know what my problem is! Since leaving home, I have not been able to make a bonafide, fluffy challah.
• This is my fall break, so I'm spenidng this time updating my blog, instead of reading . . . yippee!

Fall is my favorite season by far . . . so enjoy the autumn bliss!

Going to sleep at 1:00 am and waking up at 9 o'clock this morning found me more rested than the same amount of sleep at a different interval (i.e. 12pm-8am or 11pm-7pm). Hmm.

In the morning I often listen to WMFT, Chicago's classical music station. This morning, in honor of Labor Day they are playing pieces about great occupations. Most exciting: Meredith Wilson's "Marian the Librarian." :-)