Blog as sketchbook

So I think blogging is great, actually. For me it's a way to stay connected to those of you who read this. That's the best part right there. Blogging is also a good warm up for whatever writing I have to do in a given day. AND (as it turns out) my blog has turned into the equivalent of an artist's sketchbook.

When I was a student in London BACK IN THE MIDDLE AGES, our humanities professor made us carry a sketchbook so we could "seize" our visual impressions. Those of us who were artists (not me) could use these images later in a more detailed drawing. Brill idea, no? Anyway. I've decided to use my blog as a writer's sketchbook. To this end you'll note that sometimes brief posts HERE end up as longer columns on Monday in the D-news. Also brill, no?

I mention this because I was fresh out of column ideas last week. So I re-read old blog entries and decided to do something with that moment of recognition that passed between me and that young mother in Rubio's. And voila! I got a column out of it.

See? Blogging is NOT a waste of time.

Meanwhile I have returned to MY DOUGH GIRL. Every. Single. Day. This. Week.

Read, she said!

You've heard this bit of advice before: if you want to write, you have to read. A lot. So that's what I'm doing tonight. I'm reading a lot because yes! I want to write!

Only I'm not sure if reading cooking magazines is what the original advice giver had in mind. Can't help myself though. In particular I'm reading cookie recipes. Just finished one for "Buttery Shortbread Cookies." Next I'll read a recipe for "Clove Snaps," which (among other things) calls for a little black pepper. And then after that I'll tackle the bit about "Ginger Bars."

M-m-m-m-m. Ginger Bars.