Shalom!
This season has been a full one, and I wanted to sit down and tell you about it. Life has been moving fast, and I'm learning again that God tucks small gifts into the busiest days if I slow down enough to notice them.
The last worship, and the long drive south
Before we left, Mark and I helped lead worship one more time: Mark on hand drums, and me on flute and background vocals. Then came hugs goodbye and a long afternoon and evening on the road through Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland before we finally crossed into Virginia. We pulled in around midnight, and I was exhausted.
I'll admit the ride was tedious. But I got some work done using my phone as a hotspot, and I'm grateful. Technology really can be a blessing when it's used well.
The small joys
- A lunch by the creek. Before all the travel, I had lunch with a friend on a patio beside a creek and a little waterfall, surrounded by brilliant fall colors. I can still picture it.
- Barefoot in the sun. I stretched out on the back lawn with the sun on my feet. Ordinary, quiet, and exactly what my heart needed.
- Dinner on two burners. I don't have my usual pots and pans here, and I only have two burners, so I've had to get creative. One night I simmered chicken thighs in a big frying pan with butter, a little water, and some herbs, boiled tiny potatoes on the other burner, and steamed green beans right on top of them. It was a resounding success.
- Chocolate ice cream. Yes, I made it just to free up space in the fridge. It's the kind of problem I'm happy to solve!
From my kitchen
Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream
- 4 egg yolks, separated
- Beat in 1/4 cup honey, 2 tsp vanilla extract, and 3 tablespoons collagen powder
- Mix in 3 cups half-and-half (I use A2 because it's easier to digest)
- Beat in 1/2 cup cocoa powder
Pour into an ice cream maker, or use two stainless steel bowls: fill a large one halfway with crushed ice and salt, nest a smaller stainless steel bowl inside it, and use a mixer and rubber spatula to mix, then scrape the sides until the ice cream is soft-frozen. Scoop it into another container with a lid and put it in the freezer for an hour. Take it out and stir once more, then freeze completely.
A movie that lived up to the book
Our family finished watching Project Hail Mary this week. We all loved it, and it's rare for a favorite book to come through so well on screen. Have you seen it, or read the book? I'd love to hear what you thought.
Where Terra Shalom stands
I'm so close! This week I went back through earlier chapters to refine them, and I spent time getting some of the science right in one chapter, because I want it to ring true. I finished that last chapter and now it's time for editing. I'm trying for a release at the end of November, ahead of the winter holidays.
If you'd like to catch up before Book 3, start with Terra Colony Dreamers and Training Ground.
Your turn
What small joy has made your week? Have you read Project Hail Mary, or seen the movie? Leave a comment and tell me, or join my newsletter at shimrithanes.com for updates as Terra Shalom gets closer.
Blessings,
Shimrit Hanes