Well, hello Reader,

I am tired of writing.

And I don't want to cook dinner tonight.

I know, I know. For someone who writes about food for a living, that sounds a bit like a plumber admitting they don't want to look at another pipe.

But after my regular weekly newspaper column, four freelance articles, a course revision, countless emails, a class syllabus, and more words written than I care to count, I was ready to hang a "Gone Fishing" sign on the keyboard. Or more accurately, on my brain.

Early this morning, I sat down determined to make the day count. Not just stay busy. Not just check things off a list. I wanted to make real progress on something that mattered.

Of course, the first thing I did was check my email.

Just once. Just for a minute. (You already know how this story ends.)

Before long, I was busy. Very busy. I was reading, replying, sorting, and clicking. Things were happening. But none of those things were moving anything important forward.

That's when it hit me: being busy and making progress are not the same thing.

Busy feels productive because we're in motion. We're answering questions, running errands, folding laundry, organizing files, and crossing items off our lists.

Things I like to call "The Tyranny of the Immediate".

The problem is that we can spend an entire day in motion without getting any closer to the things that matter most.

Progress is different.

Progress is often subtler.

It's writing one more page of the book.

Making one phone call you've been putting off.

Cleaning out one drawer.

Taking one walk.

Saving twenty dollars.

Planting one tomato.

Progress rarely looks dramatic in the moment. In fact, it can feel disappointingly small. But small actions have a way of accumulating into something meaningful.

Today, instead of spinning in circles, or making myself try to finish a large project, "Frozen Assets" (You may remember we're producing an online version of my in-person class) I focused on moving it forward.

One small section at a time. One decision at a time. By the end of the morning, I wasn't finished, but I had made real progress.

And that felt far better than simply being busy.

In other news: Blackberry Vines

In the interest of full disclosure, I have recently discovered a new form of procrastination that I call Combat Horticulture. Whenever I'm avoiding a writing project, I suddenly become very interested in working in the garden, wrestling blackberry vines, pulling weeds, and tackling other outdoor battles. This week was no exception.

If you've ever seen the back side of our fence, you might wonder why we allow the blackberries to grow wild there. The answer is simple: they're serving a purpose.

A few years ago, people were regularly using our driveway and backyard as a shortcut to the alley. Some even helped themselves to a few "souvenirs" while passing through. We tried signs. We locked everything up. Yet people still climbed the fence.

Finally, we decided to let the blackberries have their way along the back fence line. Problem solved.

It may not win any landscaping awards, but a fence topped with thorny blackberry vines makes a much less inviting shortcut. Plus, the bees get loads of blooms to enjoy, and we get loads of blackberries.

Sometimes the best solution isn't prettier. It's simply more effective.

Egg Bites, anyone?

Of course, not all of my busyness was entirely self-inflicted.

Just before I landed the freelance writing project, I scored one of the best grocery deals I've seen recently: 180 large brown eggs for $10 from Rinella Produce. (If you're anywhere near Portland and don't know about Rinella's, consider this your public service announcement.)

My grand plan was to make a mountain of freezer-friendly egg bites for quick breakfasts and snacks. Then life happened. I got a gig, articles needed writing. Deadlines appeared. Meanwhile, 180 eggs sat patiently in every available nook and cranny of the refrigerator.

The problem with eggs is that they have absolutely no respect for a writer's schedule. Rather rude, if you ask me.

Eggs do not care that you're busy writing about decluttering systems or stuffed pork chops. Eggs have their own timeline.

So, in between writing assignments, I found myself conducting what can only be described as an emergency egg operation. I'd write a few paragraphs, fill muffin tins, write some more, bake another batch, return to my desk, answer an email, pull trays from the oven, cool them, refrigerate them, freeze them, vacuum seal them, and return them to the freezer. Rinse and repeat.

By the time the dust settled, I had made more than 100 egg bites, and I still have several dozen eggs.

Future breakfasts are now waiting patiently in the freezer, ready for busy mornings. Future Me will be very pleased.

NEW! on the Website!

FROZEN S’MORES

Don’t you love it when two seasonal treats collide and make the best summer dessert, ever?

No campfire required; this inexpensive frozen s’more recipe is perfect for your Independence Day celebration, but you’ll enjoy making them all summer long.

Frozen S'mores If a s’more, and an ice cream sandwich had a baby, it’d be this! A frozen s’more. And I’d eat it! Ooh! Freezy! Click!

DIY Japanese Curry Roux

DIY Curry Roux You know those "golden" curry bars you find at the store? These are better and so easy to make! Mmmm! Curry!

LET'S ALL CELEBRATE!

So much to celebrate!

This weekend offers plenty of reasons to celebrate. Juneteenth, Father's Day, and the Summer Solstice all arrive within a few days of one another, bringing family gatherings, backyard meals, and long evenings spent outdoors.

Whether you're honoring a tradition, celebrating someone you love, or simply enjoying the longest days of the year, good food has a way of making the occasion feel special.

I've gathered a few recipes from the website that are perfect for sharing around the table this weekend.

Good food may not solve all of life's problems, but it does make conversations longer, celebrations sweeter, and dads considerably easier to shop for.

Chimichurri The best summer condiment. Yeah, I said that. This is how you make it!

Poor Man’s Burnt Ends An Easy, Budget-Friendly Recipe for Summer Barbecues Amazingly good!

Divas Easy BBQ Ribs Smokey, sticky, tender, fall-off-the-bone pork ribs are always a crowd pleaser. See just how easy it is!

Bacon Lollipops So flavorful; sweet, savory, smoky, crunchy and chewy. It’s all the things! Appetizer Bliss!!!

Agua Fresca A universally adored thirst-quencher during the warm days of summer! + recipe variations!

Your Mission This Week:

Find Your One Thing

Most of us have a list that's a mile long and growing by the hour.

Ignore the list.

Instead, choose one thing that would make you feel relieved, accomplished, or proud if it were just a little farther along by the end of the day.

Then give it 20 uninterrupted minutes.

That's it.

No heroic effort required. No productivity Olympics.

Just one thing. Twenty minutes. Forward.

Because sometimes the difference between feeling stuck and feeling successful is surprisingly small.

That’s it and that's all for today.

Until next time, may your coffee be strong, your freezer be full, and your progress be greater than your distractions.

Onward and awkward!
​Diva Patti D.

Grace Notes:

• Put one ready-to-eat meal, snack, or ingredient in your freezer for a future busy day.
• Sit outside for ten minutes and enjoy the longest days of the year. No phone. No agenda. Just notice.
• Water something that's growing. A garden counts. A houseplant counts. A dream counts.
• Throw away, recycle, or donate one thing you've been keeping "just in case."
• Walk through your home and notice one thing that's working well. We spend so much time noticing problems that we forget to appreciate solutions. Do this daily.

See you next week! xx