As Del Marie becomes a reality, it does not always do what I think it should or would, how and when I think it could. In such moments, these words give me peace and anticipation for good, creative things to come.
First, from Rainer Maria Rilke:
You must give birth to your images.
They are the future waiting to be born.
Fear not the strangeness you feel.
The future must enter you
long before it happens.
Just wait for the birth,
for the hour of new clarity.
And then, from Trust the Process by Shaun McNiff:
The creative spirit has a strong feminine aspect, a birthing quality. Things made without this gestation and cooking don’t carry the spirits of wondrous individuation and surprise. They look like ready-mades as contrasted to expressions that go full-term through a person’s psychic apparatus. As with birthing, the practice of creation requires a continuous respect for that which takes place autonomously and in its own time. The creator is a necessary participant, but like childbirth the process is not controlled by the person who serves as the agent of delivery.
… the results of artistic expression may bring relief, joy, and harmony, but the process thrives on tension. Conflict and uncertainty are the forces that carry the artist to new and unfamiliar places (pp. 34-35).
Last night we handed out yogurt samples at Jane’s Health Market in Benson (Omaha) during the Nebraska Food Cooperative pick-up time. This was our first opportunity to introduce Del Marie yogurt to people who don’t already love and support us. Special thanks to Libby Broekemeier from the co-op who made it possible — we really appreciated the opportunity.
Highlights included:
Our first samplers, two kids, coming back for refills three times. “It’s DELICIOUS,” they said.
One man being strongly urged — or forced? — by his wife to try it and then actually liking the yogurt a lot. This gives us hope that Stephen Pedersen will someday learn to love yogurt. We’ll get you yet, Steve!
A little girl finger-scooping then licking out the dregs from her sample cup, oblivious to all else.
Ali, Brooke and Janna showing up to support us.
Meeting a new crew of really amazing people who are committed to buying local food. They were willing, even happy, to listen to us go on (and on and on) about yogurt.
Someone recently said that there is no better feeling than letting someone taste your product and having them absolutely love it. We got to experience that last night and it’s so true! We’re definitely hooked on feeding people good food.
In a rush to get the food on the table for our hungry friends, we forgot to take food photos. So these name cards are the only thing left of the now polished-off Indian dinner we served on Tuesday.
The evening was just a time to hang out, eat some good food and also to introduce folks to Del Marie yogurt within the context of dinner. You know that yogurt isn’t just for breakfast, right?
Who knows when we’ll have the next dinner event … you might be randomly invited! In the meantime, we wanted to share some of the recipes of the dishes that we served – all of which incorporated our yogurt – so that you can recreate a great dinner yourself. Don’t forget to add the love!
