A Week In The Life, Vol 22.
[Artwork by Danielle Coke]
This week has been absolutely heartbreaking, to say the least. It’s hard to believe that so many (including me) thought that “2020 would be such a great year!” and it seems like every day, we are hearing something more terrible than the day before.
I am sick and heartbroken and outraged at the death of George Floyd and the many racial injustices that have gone on, frankly, the entire time I’ve been on this earth.
My instagram has become a rather robotic space of food and recipes and it’s been years since I’ve shared much of anything nonfood related there. If you’ve read my blog for all the years I’ve been writing, I hope you know my heart. I haven’t been staying silent on social media out of complicity, but rather because I didn’t want to come off as performative or seem as if I was virtue signaling, simply reposting something about these issues now when I haven’t publicly done so in the past. I don’t feel that only posting or reposting something on social media is doing enough, and I want to be sure that I’m taking action in my personal life.
Out of everything shared this week I have found this anti-racism resource list to be the most comprehensive. This video on systemic racism is incredible and if you have struggled to understand, watch it. If you have kids, I encourage you to follow theconsciouskid instagram for tons of resources that have been extremely helpful to me right now – seriously, each post is more informative than the last. Here is a list of ways to help. If you are a lover of fiction like I am, here is a great list of anti-racist fiction to start with. I’ve read a few of those but added most to my list now and am going to actively search out more going forward.
I want you to know that I teach (and will continue to teach!) our children about the injustice in our world, that black lives matter –Â and that I speak openly about these issues in our home, where I know my influence is the most important.
I’m glad I have started these weekly posts this year, as they feel like my most authentic space. I write this here as my blog is my largest platform, and I have a space to write something personal, where it won’t get lost in a recipe. For nearly a decade I’ve also strived to share the diverse community of food bloggers in my crushing on posts each weekend, which I will continue to make a huge priority each Saturday.
Lacy brought my these peonies this week. She is back to work with me after our stay at home orders were loosened.
Max’s chalk art. I LOVE IT. This boy loves color like I do.
Emilia and her bubbly volcano.
My mom’s window box is one of my favorite things she plants.
This week we went to a local farm to see a few animals. The kids loved it, but it started to pour while we were there.
I this it was misting and drizzling here. Ha. We got soaked which the kids thought was hilarious.
We had some killer sunsets this week, before and after storms.
Every time Max sees a sunset, he screams WE HAVE TO GO TAKE A PICTURE MAMA!! I love how the puddles are pink from the sky here.
Another reason I wasn’t on social much this week – working on my first round of book copy edits that a due tomorrow! 300+ pages to go through, OMG.
Switched it up from my house salad to the TJ’s mediterranean salad kit.
And Lola’s donuts. WOW these are good.
I went to our local farm this morning for produce and almost grabbed rhubarb. But it just reminds me too much of celery.
One of their favorite things – how high can we stack!
Can’t believe how much I’m loving grilled chicken now.
Next book on the list! The mornings have been chilly outside but beautiful.
Another sunset – last night Max grabbed my phone and took this pic himself.
On our family walk.
So pretty.
We saw a video on instagram where you draw rainbows with chalk, then pour water on them to watch the rainbow flow. We loved it!
xoxoxo
14 Comments on “A Week In The Life, Vol 22.”
Honestly, thank you for this. In the past, I’ve thought like “huh, she has such a huge platform, surely she can say something about this” but never commented directly because after all, this is a food blog. Also, sometimes that escapism is great. Seeing delicious food on my timeline does brighten my mood.
BUT it really makes the rest of us feel less alone in the world when others speak out on these issues.
loving sunset here too. the girls take pic of it almost every day
your daughter is soooo adorable
Good for you for sharing your voice at this time!
I was disappointed when I didn’t see you acknowledge the unjust and unrest state of our nation. Thank you for breaking your silence here, but I would hope you could use your powerful influence among all of your platforms to spread the message that we all need to be doing more.
hi jenni – i did so on social media!
thank you for sharing. I’m sure navigating how to use this type of platform can be tricky. and these are unprecedented times. promoting these positive, anti-racist resources and sharing your own thoughts about it can definitely help people feel united and work together positively for change <3
Max and Emilia are quite the brother and sister act – you hit the kid jackpot! As they get older, I hope they remain as close and continue to be there for each other. We all need some of this when the times seem to be facing such a major crumble in the form of recent violence, etc.
Which chicken recipe is that on the grill?
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and feelings about a HUGE problem we are facing. The really sad part of this is that it is so many were unaware there is a problem and there has always been. Too many of us think if we’re not talking about an issue, it’s not an issue……like watching or knowing someone is being bullied but because we didn’t take part, we aren’t part of the problem.
For far too long silence has been taken as acceptance and this has too end……..race and inequality and all the issues that it carries need addressing and acknowledgment and rectifying. We are better when we are all unified, not divided. And to be clear, this isn’t just in the US, it is everywhere.
I can’t thank you enough for addressing the race issues facing us today. It is heart breaking, we can’t let our action stop at heart breaking. I wish every blog I subscribe to was using their platform(s) to address this social climate.
I am so thankful you are taking a public stand, totally inspiring.
Best,
Nancy
I just really want you to know that I appreciate you in every way, Jessica. I have been following you for a very, very long time now because I love food and you are the best blogger anywhere. I have made many of your recipes and read all your books. Thank you for your words today. They mirror exactly how I feel right now. It’s hard to know what to say and more importantly, how to say it. You did good.
Well, I’m a regular lurker coming out of hiding to say, thank you. I very much appreciate you addressing the injustices going on in our world. Honestly, I’m quite emotional now and want you to know that I see you and appreciate you. There are a great number of people who are not addressing it at all which is very disappointing to me. Knowing that you are/have, is reassuring.
Stay safe and well.
thank you for the resources. i will be taking a look at those. you should use your voice in whatever way you are most comfortable. i am a long time follower and i think its wonderful that you posted here on this topic but never thought because you didn’t, that you didn’t necessarily feel this way. I do think that if anyone has a problem with an anti racist post and you sharing your feelings they should not be following you and likely you would prefer they just moved on as well. i’m sure its hard to navigate when and how to speak up about certain things. im happy you did. i join your sentiment of sadness and wanting to do more.
Thanks so much for being so transparent. I know it’s tricky, like Caitlin mentioned above but then again, like Nancy said, we’re at point culturally where silence isn’t an option anymore. Its absurd to think that it ever was somehow. Anyway, you’re really one of my favorite bloggers, though don’t read as many as I used to anymore, and I’m so glad that you took a clear stance on this. I hope it inspires other food bloggers to do the same.
I read you every day. I grew up with the protests, the burning buildings, all kinds of racial happenings in
The 1960s-70s in Boston. Funny thing I never realized that had happened and why, until I was in my 20’s.
I grew up 1/2 Spanish 1/2 English, my friends were a mix of 1/2 black 1/2 white , all our moms were divorced.
That was my normal.
As far as I was concerned everyone was purple. We were all the same inside and out.
I try to live that way now and always, we are human beings and people.