Simple Living | Layering On

Embracing what's possible

A packet of squash seeds arrived in the mail. Just a single packet of Autumn Frost. This is layering on in the garden, 2025: Plant winter squash.

Loves, let’s talk more about this layering on. As you know, it’s an idea that peeked around the calendar page at me as the new year turned. It’s not resolutions, lofty change, or big steps. Instead, it’s a single, simple idea: Layer on. To expand like an inhale into what’s calling to me. There’s ambition there, but mostly, there’s a gentle grace. Mostly an open door. Mostly permission to appreciate the foundation of my daily life rhythms that are already there, laid down in and around me, layer by layer, year after year. But then - but now, to see what’s bubbling up, what’s nudging, what’s waiting with anticipation to become part of me, of my life, of our lives.

And these layers? They’re thin. Which is to say, they’re easily applied. With a full year ahead for us, this is key. And, honestly, only a few will make the cut. If a thrum of anticipation comes with an idea, I’ll consider assimilating it, see how and where it could naturally fit. If it’s accompanied by dread or overwhelm, it’s not for right now.

If you’re curious, here are some of the things I’d like to layer on this year:

• Food - I’ve decided to trade making traditional sourdough bread, with all its required stretching and kneading and rising and bench rests (like my sister said, it’s a lot of mental gymnastics), for the relative ease of overnight no-knead bread, from The Cottage Kitchen. It’s a much better fit for the rhythm of my days, and it’s just as pretty (and good!).

• Food preservation - Last year, I canned peaches and homemade strawberry rhubarb jam for the larder. This year, I want to preserve in jars a minimum of one thing more (and perhaps even two or three). As for drying, chives and apples have been added to the list.

• Zero waste/Low waste - I’m inspired to lower food waste. To use the tail of one meal to create the next. To use the whole food. My favorite book about this, as judged by its worn cover and wrinkled pages is An Everlasting Meal.

• Gardening - I’ll plant winter squash. It’s been 10 years since I grew it last, when it took over the garden. After a tour of an inspiring garden last summer, I now have an idea of how to keep it from being so land greedy.

• Fitness - Here, I’ll be layering on consistency. Keep doing what I’m doing (running, strength training, hiking, skiing), but miss fewer days.

• Handwork - I’m layering on socks. That’s right, this is the year I will knit a pair of socks. (Should I write that in caps?) I’m not sure why this has been so intimidating. But, thankfully, I have just the place to go for guaranteed success: the big oak table in the local yarn shop, where experienced knitters gather to work on projects and help those of us who are afraid of socks.

• Reading - If I’m layering on more handwork, I should layer on more reading via audiobooks, no?

• Wardrobe - Prepare a get-away bag. Nothing underscores more strongly the importance of having a packed and ready get-away bag than having a furious wildfire within two short miles of your house (or experiencing a massive flood, or family emergency). When I was preparing to evacuate last fall, the most difficult thing to pack was my overnight bag. My brain was kinked and just couldn’t seem to perform this simple function well, or even partially well. The strangest assemblage of clothing ended up in that bag, and I was short one shoe entirely.

There, now, you have the idea. Layering on is about expanding with life, but also tucking it in here and there, making it fit better, too. Another way of embracing what’s possible in this brand new year.