You know when you have a million tabs open on your computer related to a million different things? That’s how my mind feels today. So this weekend, when thunderstorms are meant to rattle through our area, I’m going on an organizational tear. I’ll read articles I have long had bookmarked and haven’t gotten around to reading. Maybe try that recipe I’d been missing one key ingredient for. Make an online order or two. It’ll be a mix of digital and real life get it togetherness on the agenda.
That being said, I wanted to share a few things, people, places, missions from my open tab list that I plan to dig into more over the weekend.
Moses Hamborg. My favorite literary genre is the memoir, so I suppose it’s unsurprising that my favorite types of paintings are generally portraits. I can’t remember how I discovered Moses Hamborg, a London-based fine artist’s work, but man, am I glad I did. I love looking through his collection of portraits and coming up with “memoirs” for the people depicted. They have this ethereal look of yesteryear, but I can fully see myself sitting next to one of subjects on the subway or on a park bench. Absolutely beautiful. Imagine having one in your home? Oh, to dream.
Ebony Horsewomen. I just read about this incredible Black-owned organization in Hartford, CT that provides equine therapy to inner-city youth. My sister and I benefited from taking horseback riding lessons as kids, and my sister still rides. It was tremendously therapeutic and enjoyable, but we were definitely always the only Black kids. I love that this organization is bringing the benefits of equestrianship to children of color who might not otherwise have access to it.
Compton Cowboys. Speaking of horses and Black people…hello, Compton Cowboys. I grew up with a Black uncle who ran a horse farm and trail rides for tourists, so the concept of Black people riding horses was not a foreign one to me. When I saw a photo of the Compton Cowboys at a BLM protest in Los Angeles, my heart soared. Not only is their mission to uplift their community through horseback riding and farming, but the Compton Cowboys also aim to uphold the African-American role in equine and western heritage. Giddy on up!
Bolga Baskets. Just like I need to organize the open tabs in my life, I need to organize some of the odds and ends in my life. Enter baskets. I don’t like a lot of stuff; I live by the idea that everything in your home should either be beautiful or useful, preferably both. That being said, there are throw that need homes, remotes that need a clubhouse. My mum is the queen of baskets and has always had a beautiful collection. Growing up, she’d use them for shopping, laundry, toys, and more. She is particularly fond of bolga baskets and her fondness has rubbed off on me. You’ve likely seen a bolga basket, which originate from the Bolgatanga region of Ghana. I’m on the hunt for some; my criteria? They must be beautiful and durable, but most importantly, they must be Fair Trade and if I can’t buy them directly from the maker, I will purchase them from a seller who works fairly and directly with the seller.
Irish Colcannon. I have an amazing cookbook called Victuals which highlights the Appalachian foodways of the Mountain South region of the USA. Really, really great cookbook if you like social history, storytelling and traditions and an emphasis on local food systems. I recently came across this recipe in the New York Times for colcannon and I remembered having read about it in the cookbook and being curious about it, having never heard of it. We are part of a vegetable CSA and our haul yesterday included white sweet potatoes, so I’m taking it as a sign to try my hand at it…with a white sweet potato twist.
7 New Yorkers Remember the Early Days of the AIDS Epidemic. In the midst of this global pandemic we’re in, I’ve been thinking a lot about past pandemics and epidemics, looking for stories from those who lived through them. When the prolific activist Larry Kramer passed away recently, I got to thinking about the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and his role in it. While reading more about it, I came across this article. The heartbreak is profound and the government’s reaction to the epidemic is infuriating. We can learn a lot from this chapter in history. Also, if you’ve never seen The Normal Heart, I fully recommend it.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
-Michaela
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