An Update

Hello, friends. I said it on my Pepper Lynn Facebook page last week, and I’ll say it again here. I’ve missed you all. I’ve missed this space, the creativity, the community. Recipe ideas are flowing through me in a way that hasn’t happened in months, and I’m eager to get back in the saddle. The time hasn’t yet come for me to resume my regular posting schedule, but I wanted to take this opportunity to check in, touch base, and let you know about some neat things that are happening in my world.

Thank you to those who offered encouragement in response to my post explaining why I needed a blogging break. Your words mean a lot to me, and I am grateful to report that I am doing much better. The joint pain that was previously debilitating is almost completely gone thanks to God’s grace and a regimen of chiropractic adjustments that were taking place nearly every other day. I’m now going to the chiropractor just once a week, and the doctor is hopeful that I’ll be able to transition to a once a month “maintenance” schedule by mid-October. Blood tests earlier this month revealed that my Vitamin D levels were crazy low, so I’m also taking supplements and am noticing marked improvements in my energy and mood. Dark days still make an appearance, but slowly, they are becoming more of an exception rather than the general rule.

In addition to addressing the medical concerns in my life, I’ve also been working to develop healthier habits in general. Sleeping and exercising more, eating better, stressing less…these changes don’t happen overnight, but I’m heading in the right direction. Part of reducing my stress has been developing a solid plan for feeding my family. Having a second child was a huge game changer in terms of my ability of whip out a tasty and nutritious meal every night, but I’ve been experimenting with a new way of cooking that has made things much easier. I’m still cooking and prepping food each day, though I’ve started doing some of the work in advance by bulk cooking one day a week. If you are interested in the details of my method, check out my guest post on the subject over on Modern Alternative Kitchen. This blog is run by a friend of mine, Jill, and I’ve found it to be a helpful source of information on real food eating. Check it out!

Next up is some exciting news for the blog! Pepper Lynn is currently in the running for the KING5 Best of Western Washington “Best Food Blog” contest. For those that don’t live in the region, KING5 is one of the local news stations, and my blog is currently in 9th place! I announced this on my Facebook page already, so thank you to those who have already voted. The contest runs through October 12 and votes can be placed by local residents as well as those outside of the area. If you have a minute or two, I’d greatly appreciate your vote!

Before I sign off, I’d like to let you know what my plans are over the next few weeks. I have an amazing opportunity this coming weekend to travel to eastern Washington to learn more about local apple production on behalf of a major food media outlet. I’ll be writing a few stories for them, and I’ll share all the details with you once they are published. After I return from the trip, I’ll have just a few days of respite before our family heads east to Ohio to spend some extended time with Dan’s parents. We are looking to forward to experiencing the Midwest in autumn, and once we are settled in there, I’ll be back to blogging regularly. It’ll be different and maybe a bit crazy since I’ll be cooking and shooting in a kitchen that’s not my own and without my usual props and gear, but I’m looking forward to the challenge!