Mocha Monday’s

A few weeks ago, Christie the cat was very ill. She was on antibiotics for 10 days, and the medication seemed to help her. Earlier this week, I took Christie to our veterinarian for a follow up appointment. She gained weight, and the vet technician did another blood panel. We got the results back on Thursday. Thankfully, Christie’s white blood cell and liver count is back to normal. Her kidney values have held steady, too. The antibiotics worked! I thought we might lose Christie, but she bounced back (yet again)! Being a cute super senior cat is hard.

With that, here are a few more updates:

Mocha Monday's

For the last month, Logan and I having been going to our favorite coffee shop for mochas and fresh coffee beans. This little adventure has turned into “Mocha Monday’s” — a weekly ritual that we love! It feels good to get out of our apartment, and the ritual has a semblance of normalcy. Plus, it's nice spending time with each other.

I miss writing in coffee shops and meeting friends at cafes. Someday we'll have a vaccine for COVID-19, and I’ll get to do those things again. For now we’re getting takeaway coffees and having coffee with friends from a distance. And last but not least, I'm looking forward to cycling to the coffee shop once the air quality improves!

Postcards—The New Instagram

Over the years, my relationship with social media has been fraught. In 2018, I deleted all my social media accounts (except for Instagram). I stopped using Instagram in 2018, but I started using the app again in late 2019. Since then, I’ve used the app sparingly. As of this writing, I haven’t shared creative work on Instagram since May 2020. I log onto the website occasionally to laugh at funny cat videos, and that’s it.

Postcards are my new Instagram. I love sending short notes to friends and family in the mail. Also, the COVID-19 crisis affirmed how uncertain life is, and I don’t want to spend my free time on social media. Besides, I don’t need an app to keep me occupied. Writing postcards, cooking, working out, and bird watching bring me oodles of gratitude.

Finch Friends

I checked out a bird guidebook from the library, and according to the author, the birds that I spotted a few months ago are Lesser Goldfinches. Logan told me that the males tend to be brightly colored because they are trying to attract the ladies. I love watching these guys! I thought about getting a bird feeder, but I decided not to buy one because I don't want to feed the squirrels. Our finch friends love to land on the water faucet outside our bedroom window, so I put a small bowl of water out for the finches. I hope they like it!

Rock the Vote

This week, the most exciting thing I did was vote! I knew my ballot would arrive soon and I did a happy dance when it arrived in the mail. Fun fact: in California you can sign-up for a ballot tracking system. The state will notify you when your ballot is mailed, and you can log on to make sure it’s counted. We’ve been voting by mail for over a decade. It’s safe, easy, and I’d love to see the U.S. adopt a standardized vote by mail system. Voting by mail is more complex than it should be.

Regarding propositions: I usually follow the California League of Women Voters’ recommendations. I support their mission, and trust the organization.

For readers who have been following me for years, you won't be surprised that I voted for Democrats in this election. Go Biden/Harris!

Regardless of your political affiliation, I hope you vote. And, that you rock your vote early!

With gratitude,

Tammy Strobel

Coffee: A Joyful Toolkit for Hard Times

When life is stressful, I try to savor tiny moments of joy. And something that brings me an incredible amount of joy is making coffee every morning. It’s also a joy that I shared with my step-dad Mahlon. I blame him for getting me hooked on this tasty beverage.

Since coffee brings me joy, and infuses creativity and calm into my life, I thought it would be fun to share the tools I use to make the perfect cup of coffee. Today’s letter is lighthearted, and hopefully a fun read for fellow coffee lovers!

With that, here's a list of what’s in my coffee making toolkit:

Coffee!

Freshly roasted—and fair trade—coffee is a must have in our kitchen. I love Coava Coffee, Northbound Coffee, and Temple Coffee. Light roasts with chocolate and almond flavors are my favorites. I was a big fan of adding cream to my coffee. Now that I know how to make a good cup of coffee, I drink it black.

Zassenhaus Coffee Mill

We’ve had the Zassenhaus Coffee Mill for roughly 8 years, and it’s one of my favorite purchases. It’s sturdy, cute, and we haven’t had any problems with the mill. Hand-grinding freshly roasted coffee beans with this little mill is pure joy!

Brewing Tools: Scale, Filter & CHEMEX®

After the COVID-19 crisis began, we purchased new tools to make coffee at home because our daily brew was either too strong or too weak, and that had to change. We bought a Six Cup Glass Handle CHEMEX® and a Coava Cone Filter. We also purchased a refurbished scale on e-Bay. The scale is a game changer because I'm able to consistently measure our coffee grounds and water accurately. The result is a perfect cup of home brewed coffee. We follow this brew guide for optimal results.

Popular Brew Methods

Brew guides for many popular brewing methods can be found here. I recommend checking them out!

Parting Words

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the magnitude of the COVID-19 crisis. People have lost loved ones, jobs, and are struggling to adjust to our new normal. Life is tough for many folks. Yet, it is possible to create small moments of joy in everyday life. For me, that includes creating the perfect cup of coffee at home.

Important Note

I’m not an affiliate for any of the products or companies I mentioned above. I shared these tools because they are useful in my daily life. If you decide to purchase a coffee making kit, do your research. For example, you can find used and refurbished scales, coffee pots, and more online.

Good Links

+ My love for coffee goes deep; so deep that I spent over 5 years taking coffee themed photos. If you’re a new subscriber, read my post—On Endings & Beginnings. It describes my long running (and now retired) photography project. You can also read my short book—My Morning View: An iPhone Photography Project about Gratitude, Grief & Good Coffee (print or e-book).

+ Beach Read by Emily Henry is a lighthearted novel about two writers. If you're looking for a good love story, I recommend this book. And if you're a writer, you'll find a few helpful writing tips in the novel.

+ A few weeks ago, I read an advance copy of my friend Cait Flanders' new book—Adventures in Opting Out—and I adored it.

+ Looking for more good reads? Check out my Bookshop page.

With gratitude,

Tammy