Writing and creativity
I liked Michael Nielsen’s essay “Developing creative identity” so much, I read it twice. The section titled “What feeds the writing?” felt like the clear articulation of something I only vaguely understood before. Two quotes I want to remember:
I feel foolish for not forcefully articulating this to myself much earlier. But it takes time to become legible to oneself when outside well-defined communities.
And:
And while I say "drill down on fundamental questions" often there is no well-formed starting question, merely a hunch there is something worth exploring. So you must endure creative fog and confusion and ignorance, to find questions worth drilling down on, all without knowing whether you will eventually find insights worth the effort!
(Via)
Enjoying
Another interview with an enthusiastic writer, this time on Conversations with Tyler, who hosted Bob Spitz.
I liked this little tour of a datacenter by Dwarkesh Patel. It goes well with Search Engine’s episode “The many lives of Taiwan” and Interesting Times episode “The U.S. and China Are Not In An A.I. Race”.
Greenhouses + flowers
I like visiting all the greenhouses along what used to be a single strip of road on St. Mary’s south of the Perimeter. It has been bisected with the construction of the new overpass, and what time you are saving by not having to wait at a light to cross the Perimeter, you should use to visit all of them. Ron Paul has a rustic charm I like, and their petunias seem to perform ultra-well in my flower bed.
Lacoste was the busiest greenhouse when I went this week, but the slow spring has really staggered the customers’ arrival. There were no lineups to have to queue in. There is St. Mary’s Nursery, and then, getting back on St. Mary’s, there is Red River Valley Garden Centre. I’m always impressed with the colour of their flowers… though they are a smaller greenhouse, everything is so neatly laid out. I spied a bee taking a nap.
Sage Gardens at the southern-most end offers a hundred varieties of tomato!
A selection of flowers always looks pretty all together…
In the kitchen
I feel a little uninspired this time of year when the weather warms, and kitchen habits demand a shift… Nonetheless, I planned to try this recipe - Kismet’s Springtime Chicken Skewers - baking the chicken rather than barbecuing it, and I’m glad I made it. It was a real treat for the tastebuds! I served it alongside plain buttered shell pasta and we had Sarah Fennel’s Salted Caramel Pots de Crème for dessert. Both were a real hit!
Walking the dog
The leaves are only timidly coming through on the trees…
On our way back home, Enzo noticed a cat on the neighbour’s fence and was completely incensed.
Happy Sunday!