Four weeks sounds simultaneously like an eternity away and not near enough time for what needs to happen between now and when I start cooking nine hundred recipes. A lot of my feelings are complicated by the fact that my husband leaves for another trip to Africa this weekend, and it is a long two weeks while he is gone. Then he returns. Then we will have one week. Then we will launch.
Deep breaths.
This week I have executed a few Ina-related tasks, but mostly the past few days have been about getting our kids back in school and our family back in the groove. The adjustment is always exhausting and jarring. It's one thing to think you know how things will look once everyone returns to school, but it is never simple to walk through a "typical" week with four children and their new schedules.
In case you missed it, I recorded an Ina Project Q&A video last week that explains who Ina is and why this project is such a big deal. You can find the video in this blog post.
One important thing you need to know is that next week (NEXT WEEK!) I will be releasing the first round of tickets for the Ina Lunches. These lunch events are going to be epic...eight weekly tickets to a three-course lunch that I will cook and host at Hurley House. You will get to eat amazing food AND get a behind-the-scenes look at the project. Tickets are $30 each, and they will only be released via email. (You do receive The Lovely, right?)
Lastly, below is another prequel video episode, recorded back in July, before the project was a reality. This video is all about how I was feeling as I was contemplating whether or not the Ina project was something I could manage.
I watch this video now and want to tell myself that it's all going to be okay. But that's the thing about struggle. In hindsight, we can clearly see the path. But in the moment, the way can seem lost and the next step uncertain.