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If you’re looking for rest from the barrage of shoulds and oughts, and are longing for a healthy dose of reality, then you’ve come to the right place. Join me on This Real Journey.

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About Me

Greetings. I’m Jessica.

Whether sipping away at a cup of loose-leaf tea, plunging my nose into a glass of cabernet franc, or fiddling with new uses for my rye sourdough starter, I am game for an adventure when it comes to food. Eating and drinking don’t merely sustain us; they are meant for our joy. I am a firm believer in the good reality of this journey called life, and invite you to join me in discovering myriad ways to get lost in wonder. Read more

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One of my favorite things I made and have eaten lately: a blueberry frangipane tart. Perfect for teatime, as you can see. I lessened the sugar in both the pastry and the frangipane; I just find typical recipes to be too sweet. It was delightful. #blueberries #frangipane #teatime #almond Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, which begins the Lenten season. My church family is focusing on a twofold fast: fasting from a distraction, and fasting from a comfort. I will spend the next 40 days off of Instagram as a result. I encourage you, too, to consider what distractions and comforts might be keeping you from intimacy with God. What blocks out the still small voice? What do you turn to for numbing? Even good things can get in the way. Stories are powerful; we know this deep in our bones. The stories we read and watch shape us, give us a picture of what’s possible. Although I rarely splurge on buying myself flowers, here and there a bundle catches my eye and brings such delight, it reminds me that my soul needs to be nourished by beauty just as my body needs food. After scurrying through the falling snow to the mailbox, I was delighted to find this book awaiting me! I’m thrilled to finally have @joynessthebrave ‘s new book, Aggressively Happy. As a realist, and someone who struggles against the tides of cynicism, I so look forward to having Joy as a companion along my journey toward more readily and steadily—and vigorously!—believing in the goodness of life. Saturday afternoon the (Colorado-)German way? Reading long books with pretzels, mustard, and kombucha. 🍻 Sourdough English muffins are here! I've been working to get this recipe right for quite a while. I'm pleased to finally be ready to share it. Hop on over to This Real Journey for the recipe. Olive oil truffles for two—a simple recipe for a decadent treat to share with your special one. Whether for a special occasion, such as a day that many celebrate next week, or to make an ordinary day feel just a bit extraordinary ❤️ Hop over to my blog for the recipe—link in my bio. Has the beauty of nature ever left breathless? Time stops. Mesmerized, overtaken – wishing with all your might you could bottle it up. To hold onto it. To share the wonder with others.