Sunday 10 January 2016

Mel's Sunday bookmark challenge

So, over at Stirrup Queens Mel has an interesting post about going through her old bookmarks and considering their significance. Bookmarks, you say?

Source

Actually, it refers to websites saved for later. I was under the impression I cleaned my bookmarks out regularly so I was rather surprised how many I had collected and the deja vu that I got from looking at them.

Here's how my bookmarks break down:

Parenting (including breastfeeding, baby products, health, general parenting stuff)  - 26
Politics and current events: 17
Cooking and recipes: 13
teaching related stuff: 6
Music: 2
Government service stuff: 3
And a few other really random sites.

Mel suggested writing about one old bookmark every Sunday. I have no idea if I'll be able to keep it up weekly, but I will give it a try this Sunday.

My bookmark for today is:

Fantastic Orange Loaf Recipe



I bookmarked (and cooked) this recipe in December 2014. It was our first Christmas as a family of 3 and we felt plenty of excitement, at least in so far as we had the energy, being the parents of a newborn. We had a theme for Christmas presents that year: We bought family members small backpacks that we found at a discounted price, and then we filled them with comfort items. I made mini loaves of banana bread and the orange loaf recipe above as part of the comfort items. And they turned out very delicious so I recommend the recipe!

We didn't know it at the time, but 2014 was the last Christmas we would spend with my dad in good health (He was very ill in December and passed away last week.).  My parents were thrilled about their first Christmas as grandparents and invited all the Calgary family and in-laws over for a big dinner. They were not usually keen to throw parties so that gives you an idea how important that Christmas was to them. It makes me very sad to reflect on how different Christmas of 2014 was from 2015. But I am also glad for the time we had and the memories. I'm also glad we can't see the future, at least if there's no hope of changing it.

12 comments:

  1. Sometimes it's nice to have a tangible (and edible) reminder of a time. Do you think you'll make the recipe again and return to the moment?

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    1. Yes, I think I would like to make it again.

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  2. Wow...I have never really thought about bookmarks like that before. You have such an amazing memory attached to one. I just had a quick look through my bookmarks, and most of them are work related (boo), with recipes and DIY projects that I haven't gotten around to trying coming a distant second and third!! Might be time to make some memories and do some baking and/or hammering things together! Or at the very least clean up my bookmarks!

    And I might have to make this orange loaf...and...bookmarked it!!

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    1. I have quite a few in the "would be nice to read make/read that" category lol. Yes, it's nice to actually do things, not just plan! The orange loaf is tasty, enjoy!

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  3. I totally thought it was the analog type bookmark you pictured above, and I got all excited, you know...working in a middle school where we have fun, kitschy, free bookmarks all the time. But then I realized it was internet bookmarks, and I don't have any of those! I am terrible with keeping track of my internet things! I pretty much use Pinterest for that. Or lists. That orange loaf looks delicious, I feel like I remember a post about it. This one was so bittersweet, because it brought up memories of holidays past with your dad and the reminder that every holiday moving forward will be different. Amazing how these things can capture a moment in time, a memory, and make you think about how life has changed since.

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    1. I thought analog bookmark too lol. I used to buy the fancy ones and give as gifts to friends, and I received quite a few too. Do people still do that? Although I never can find find my bookmarks when I'm reading so I end up using a receipt or something. The other thing that works really well are old concert tickets; I like to use those.

      I'm a sucker for nostalgia. Since the counsellor I went to recommended a mindfulness approach, I may have to try to reign it in a little so I live in the present.

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  4. I was so sorry to read about your dad's passing, but glad that you have this memory; some of the most powerful memories I have are ones that I re-create in food. I hope that this orange loaf is something you bake again, and that it always gives you comfort. (Also love the idea of revisiting old bookmarks. I tend not to bookmark any more, just Pin ... which is strange, itself.)

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    1. I use Pinterest for school sometimes but haven't totally figured it out. I think you could do the same sort of exercise with Pinterest though. I like your idea of recreating memories with food!

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  5. Oof, bookmarks. I have far too many untested recipes on there. This looks like a keeper! My husband's favorite cookies are cranberry orange oatmeal, so I may have to add this to the ranks. It sounds delicious! As for the future, I think you're right. I try to be grateful for the present and I'm not sure knowing would make me happier, just more anxious.

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    1. Yes, living in the present and being grateful for it is something I've learned the past few years (and am still learning).

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  6. Food is so emotional and amazing how closely smell and taste are linked to memories. I shudder to think of what kind of mess my bookmarks are in.

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    1. Yes, after reading the comments I've realized that it is very cool to have memories attached to this recipe. Why not write about your mess of bookmarks!

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