There is something about the word foraging so evocative and deeply satisfying - delighted I have mustered it in to my forthcoming song. I spent a good ten minutes talking to Probiotic Man in the English Market about the joys of foraging, as although I love the word I can't honestly say I've ever been foraging for more than blackberries (and house keys) so it has bumped its way up to the top of my bucket list, even though it might have to be mushrooms and nettles between now and Spring unless any foragers want to tell me otherwise and will take me out to the hills one day in pursuit of rare winter botanicals…
Later that day I ended up talking again about foraging with the lovely cocktail lady in Cask on foraging for marigolds and all the other delectable floral finds that found their way into my delicious drink. On that particular evening I was waiting to go and see Vittorio Angelone at the Everyman (highly recommend!) and I ordered myself a “Gourd Vibes Only” exclusively for the name of the thing because I don't like vodka…but turns out I do love carrot dust. It's a thing, and it's tasty AF. So tasty I'm going to share how you make it below!
For the Carrot Powder:
Heat a dehydrator to 130°F. In a small mixing bowl, combine 1 cup reserved carrot pulp and bitters. Mix to combine. Thinly spread mixture onto a parchment-lined sheet tray. Dehydrate 12 hours, checking periodically to ensure bright color remains. Once dried, pulverize mixture in a spice grinder. Weigh mixture. Add equal weight of white sugar. Mix to combine. Transfer mixture to an airtight container and reserve.
I was intending to release 'Wildflower' in August on my father's birthday, but life happened and so here we are - instead I have decided to release it in December to remember my father on his death day. He passed away three years ago and all is altered ever since. I haven't managed to carve out time for writing at the moment but I did end up singing an impromptu song about my father last night when I stumbled upon an Olafur Arnald's piano performance about saudade - the feeling nostalgia and longing - on his Instagram. I might eventually revisit that.
This seems to be how I write - in short bursts of creativity and activity - requiring much longer periods of rest and solitude that I never seem to get enough of. Introvert? 40? I like the way Julia Cameron describes it in The Artist's Way. Creative impulse is more like a spirit that visits and will only stay so long - if you don't welcome him/her/they/it, then they may try and try again before leaving to give the idea or gift to someone else who will honour it. Speaking of spirits - check out Ghost Story by Wondery. This podcast will have you sitting on the edge of your bed.
Time has a completely different quality for me since the pandemic. I feel I am existing slightly outside of time; as if I took a step to the left, off the main timeline - the one that everyone else seems to be on. Anyone else feeling like this?
Wildflower will be out in December.