Where: My friend's gorgeous kitchen
When: November 24
Forty-one down...11 to go...
What: #50 Bake a loaf of homemade bread
Where: My friend's gorgeous kitchen
When: November 24
Why: One of my favorite magnets on my refrigerator states "Domestically Disabled" and that really applies to my kitchen skills. I can boil water. Make toast. And instant oatmeal. Beyond that, I don't have much interest in other cooking skills, which I think stem from my dislike of the grocery store, so there isn't really much to cook with in my cupboards or fridge. So, when soliciting ideas for this list last fall, many suggestions from friends included learning to cook or bake. I do love really good bread, so this seemed like the benefit of the end result would outweigh any misery I'd face in having to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Luckily, my friend knows how much I dislike the grocery store, so she procured all of the necessary ingredients before we started.
The whole process took a lot longer than I realized (another reason I don't enjoy cooking), but it was more like a science experiment with all the yeast magic and rising that went on during the 5 hours that the bread took from dough to loaf. And we got to punch the dough, which was nice for getting out some frustration. Plus, it was really cool to have a finished product I had actually created, and my friend's recipe for bread is delicious, so this was a great item to cross off the list!
Where: My friend's gorgeous kitchen
When: November 24
Forty down...12 to go...
What: #95 Sit through a movie at the theater by myself
When: November 21
Where: Local movie theater
Why: I'm a big movie person, mostly movies that tell stories with happy endings, without much murder or mayhem, usually with a lot of laughter or interesting characters. Typically, my friends have similar tastes in movies, so it makes it easy to have someone to go to the theater with, and it's a nice excuse for a night out with friends. So, it never seemed to make sense to go to a movie alone, but I thought it was something that is often tossed out to see if a person is strong and secure in themselves: "Haven't you ever eaten alone? Gone to a movie alone?" are common questions asked incredulously. I have eaten alone and did not enjoy it, so I figured the movie experience would be similar. It was a bit awkward as the theater was filling up to see that no one else was there on their own, but once the film started, I actually felt like we were all there together reacting, laughing, gasping, and even clapping along to the same thing. So, overall, it wasn't as depressing or lonely as I anticipated. Plus, I really really really liked the movie. A lot. Great characters, great story, great message.
When: November 21
Where: Local movie theater
Thirty-nine down...13 to go...
What: #47 Learn the art of glass blowing
When: November 10th
Where: Baron Glassworks
Why: Growing up, I had the great fortune to frequently visit The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, and there was my first encounter that I can recall with watching artisans blow glass, and it was captivating. Since then, I continue to be drawn to the glass-blowing building even as an adult, and am mesmerized by how it all works. So, when I saw that a class was offered nearby, I had to jump on the chance. My initial class was filled with a ton of terminology and learning which tools to use and how, and learning the movements, which are actually very smooth and flowing, even tho the process moves very quickly once the molten glass is picked up on your pole. To get a sense of how intricate this can be (altho my first attempt at a garden ball is nothing like this), here's a great video!
Update: I also went back to make a drinking glass!
When: November 10th
Where: Baron Glassworks
Why: Growing up, I had the great fortune to frequently visit The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, and there was my first encounter that I can recall with watching artisans blow glass, and it was captivating. Since then, I continue to be drawn to the glass-blowing building even as an adult, and am mesmerized by how it all works. So, when I saw that a class was offered nearby, I had to jump on the chance. My initial class was filled with a ton of terminology and learning which tools to use and how, and learning the movements, which are actually very smooth and flowing, even tho the process moves very quickly once the molten glass is picked up on your pole. To get a sense of how intricate this can be (altho my first attempt at a garden ball is nothing like this), here's a great video!Update: I also went back to make a drinking glass!
Thirty-eight down...14 to go...
What: #19 Witness the real Punkin’ Chunkin’
When: November 3rd
Where: Wheatley Farm in Bridgeville, Delaware
Why: For many years, my Grandpa and I spent Thanksgiving together just the two of us, and one of our traditions was watching the Discovery Channel special about Punkin Chunkin.
After he passed away, I really wanted to go experience this event that had been a special part of my memories of this time of year with him. I started looking into it and found out that altho the segment airs on Thanksgiving, the event actually takes place weeks prior to it, and in a most unexpected locale: southern Delaware! Over the years, it has grown to be quite the spectacle, and so I met up with a friend in Philadelphia to drive down to partake in a day of the festivities. It was a very cold and windy fall day in a muddied corn field, and the scene wasn't quite what I expected. The contraptions (catapults, trebuchets, air cannons, giant hamster wheels?) are all stationary around the perimeter of a massive area, and the crowds are kept at quite a distance from the teams.
The spectators were really varied...older couples from the Carolinas, families from New Hampshire, a ton of college kids from some nearby university, and then the more stereotypical "chunkateers" in their Carhartt onesies (which I wish I had been wearing for warmth!) and hundreds of ATVs. The whole event is less formal than you'd think, and truthfully, the show that airs is more informative, but the aspect you miss out on when watching from the couch is the sheer power behind these gourd-hurling machines. The impressive ingenuity, the sound when the machine launches the pumpkin, the gasps and cheers from the crowd...that really makes it a thrilling place to be!
When: November 3rd
Where: Wheatley Farm in Bridgeville, Delaware
Why: For many years, my Grandpa and I spent Thanksgiving together just the two of us, and one of our traditions was watching the Discovery Channel special about Punkin Chunkin.
After he passed away, I really wanted to go experience this event that had been a special part of my memories of this time of year with him. I started looking into it and found out that altho the segment airs on Thanksgiving, the event actually takes place weeks prior to it, and in a most unexpected locale: southern Delaware! Over the years, it has grown to be quite the spectacle, and so I met up with a friend in Philadelphia to drive down to partake in a day of the festivities. It was a very cold and windy fall day in a muddied corn field, and the scene wasn't quite what I expected. The contraptions (catapults, trebuchets, air cannons, giant hamster wheels?) are all stationary around the perimeter of a massive area, and the crowds are kept at quite a distance from the teams.
Thirty-seven down...15 to go...
What: #68 Host a party at my house
When: Oct 27th
Where: My place
Why: Other than a catered housewarming party when I moved in years ago, I have not been the hostess of any other gathering. I'm just not the hostess type. My skills are not those of a domestic individual. I keep a nice home, I feed myself, I decorate in my own way, but party planning does not appeal to me. Lately, however, I've felt that I wanted a chance to get some of my friends from different circles together to mingle and used the idea I found in a magazine to construct a party idea to do it. It was a clothes swap, something some of my friends and I do very informally on lots of occasions, but nothing ever formal. Today changed that! Everyone was encouraged to bring up to 10 items they were tired of wearing, but that were still perfectly good pieces and would be a fresh addition to our closets.
So, we shared some good stories, watched some big sports games (not very girlie, but important during football/world series season), and I think everyone left with something new they are excited to wear!
When: Oct 27th
Where: My place
Why: Other than a catered housewarming party when I moved in years ago, I have not been the hostess of any other gathering. I'm just not the hostess type. My skills are not those of a domestic individual. I keep a nice home, I feed myself, I decorate in my own way, but party planning does not appeal to me. Lately, however, I've felt that I wanted a chance to get some of my friends from different circles together to mingle and used the idea I found in a magazine to construct a party idea to do it. It was a clothes swap, something some of my friends and I do very informally on lots of occasions, but nothing ever formal. Today changed that! Everyone was encouraged to bring up to 10 items they were tired of wearing, but that were still perfectly good pieces and would be a fresh addition to our closets.So, we shared some good stories, watched some big sports games (not very girlie, but important during football/world series season), and I think everyone left with something new they are excited to wear!