Popcorn Projects

It's been a quiet week on the Hayley blog.

I'm blaming my absence not on a lack of inspiration (you should see my post idea notebook), but on popcorn projects.

I first popped popcorn "from scratch" when I lived in Kenya. No microwave popcorn, no sir. I learned to make it from scratch! Maybe you've never done anything other than pressing the "popcorn" button on the microwave. Trust me - it's not difficult to do it the old-fashioned way.

First, put oil in a heavy 2-qt saucepan (make sure it has a lid!). You'll want just enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan in a very thin layer. Heat over medium-high heat. Add 1 or 2 kernels of unpopped popcorn while the oil is heating. When a kernel pops, the oil is hot enough. Add 1/4 c. kernels, cover pan. Shake the pan consistently while the corn pops to ensure that as many kernels pop as possible.

The most important thing I learned in this process was that you never know when the first kernel will pop nor can you anticipate what it will do when it pops. Sometimes it stays in the pan, sometimes it hits you on the head, sometimes it lands on the floor. It's totally unpredictable.

That's what I mean about popcorn projects. This week has been full of issues popping up, unanticipated deadlines and delays, computer crashes, software purchases, meetings scheduled and cancelled and scheduled again....on and on it went.

Total popcorn.

I went home every day exhausted, but also feeling that I had accomplished meaningful things. Even better, I woke up each morning refreshed and ready to go. That, in itself, was more than a little blessing!