2022 Making and Learning
Jan. 10th, 2023 11:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
forestofgloryI always try to spend time making things and learning things, as that makes me happy. So I wanted to reflect on what I made and learned in 2022.
In 2022 I struggled to sew because of my tendonitis. But I did finish several things despite that. I made three shirts, two pairs of shorts and a dress – all for the kid. I also finished a complicated quilt top, and made some drawstring bags to use as reusable gift wrap.
In terms of cooking tendonitis is once again a dominant presence as I’ve been working on finding ways to cook that don’t hurt my wrist. I’ve tried several gadgets ment to help with cooking with hand pain. My favorite is the curved blade which lets me do some chopping with my non-dominant hand. I've also been trying more shortcuts. Pre chopped frozen onions are very handy!
My biggest learning project continues to be teaching myself Classical Chinese, which I enjoy but am very slow at. In 2022 I studied lessons 4-13 in A New Practical Primer of Literary Chinese by Paul Router and Lessons 1-7 in An Introduction to Literary Chinese by Michael A. Fuller. I finished the intro section in Router and didn't feel ready for the next section. So I decided to do the intro section of another book. I got through many fewer lessons than if I was taking a class but hopefully going at my own pace means I'll be able to solidify my knowledge before moving on.
I've also been reading non fiction. I'm still deeply interested in Chinese history with a focus on material culture. I'm also in an urban planning book club, which is very fun.
In 2022 I organized some group reading about Chinese history. Here on DW I hosted a read along for The Social Life of Inkstones. It was fun to read everyone's thoughts on the book.
I have also organized a monthly paper reading club in one of my discord servers. We read a paper once a month and talk about it. We all struggle a little to make time for it, but we've had good conversations. Plus it has helped me read more papers, not just hoard them on my hard drive.
I don't have any specific goals for learning and making this year. Just hoping for more focus and less pain.
In 2022 I struggled to sew because of my tendonitis. But I did finish several things despite that. I made three shirts, two pairs of shorts and a dress – all for the kid. I also finished a complicated quilt top, and made some drawstring bags to use as reusable gift wrap.
In terms of cooking tendonitis is once again a dominant presence as I’ve been working on finding ways to cook that don’t hurt my wrist. I’ve tried several gadgets ment to help with cooking with hand pain. My favorite is the curved blade which lets me do some chopping with my non-dominant hand. I've also been trying more shortcuts. Pre chopped frozen onions are very handy!
My biggest learning project continues to be teaching myself Classical Chinese, which I enjoy but am very slow at. In 2022 I studied lessons 4-13 in A New Practical Primer of Literary Chinese by Paul Router and Lessons 1-7 in An Introduction to Literary Chinese by Michael A. Fuller. I finished the intro section in Router and didn't feel ready for the next section. So I decided to do the intro section of another book. I got through many fewer lessons than if I was taking a class but hopefully going at my own pace means I'll be able to solidify my knowledge before moving on.
I've also been reading non fiction. I'm still deeply interested in Chinese history with a focus on material culture. I'm also in an urban planning book club, which is very fun.
In 2022 I organized some group reading about Chinese history. Here on DW I hosted a read along for The Social Life of Inkstones. It was fun to read everyone's thoughts on the book.
I have also organized a monthly paper reading club in one of my discord servers. We read a paper once a month and talk about it. We all struggle a little to make time for it, but we've had good conversations. Plus it has helped me read more papers, not just hoard them on my hard drive.
I don't have any specific goals for learning and making this year. Just hoping for more focus and less pain.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-10 09:31 pm (UTC)I love that you did so much non-fiction reading last year. I'm planning to read more non fiction in my spare time this year again. Not as a goal since I have health issues as well, but as something that I enjoy and that lets me explore my interests.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-11 04:48 pm (UTC)A friend is running a non-fiction reading challenge with focus on worldbuilding and I'm writing a rec list based on the categories, which I will hopefully post sometime in the next couple of weeks. So you might enjoy that if you are looking to read more non-fiction
no subject
Date: 2023-01-11 02:28 am (UTC)Yes yes to more focus and less pain for you. 🧡
no subject
Date: 2023-01-11 04:48 pm (UTC)Thoughts
Date: 2023-01-11 11:17 am (UTC)If you like onions, then you might like onion pastes, chutneys, masalas, etc. that are designed to be made in batches and then mixed into other things as an ingredient. Some can be made at home and canned or frozen, especially if you have a food processor to dice things for you. Some can be found in jars or tubes at international stores. I know of them through Indian cuisine, but one could easily substitute a different spice palette for a different cuisine. You can also get garlic and ginger pastes.
https://www.greedygourmet.com/recipes-for-diets/vegan/brown-onion-paste/
https://milkandpop.com/easy-caramelized-red-onion-chutney/
https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/onion-chutney-recipe/
https://myheartbeets.com/category/method-cooking-style/onion-masala-recipes/
https://holycowvegan.net/basic-tomato-onion-sauce-for-quick-curries/
Plus of course, they're great condiments if you like onion flavor, and they stay put better than bits of onion.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2023-01-11 04:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-01-11 11:23 am (UTC)I'm sometimes surprised I like nature non-fiction as much as I do. I haven't read much on urban planning but maybe in 2023!
no subject
Date: 2023-01-11 04:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-01-11 10:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-01-14 10:02 pm (UTC)