Intermezzo: Timeout from the American Coup by Elon Musk

I turn to the Primitive Seamstress, focaccia and other creative pursuits

Feb 03, 2025

While Elon Musk, in his non-governmental position at DOGE, spent the weekend taking over the Treasury Payment System —which gives him access to private information of citizens all around the country, including Social Security and Medicare, I took a timeout. Sometimes it’s just too much ruminating. Not that it isn’t important. It is. Vitally so. Call it what it is —a cyberattack. A coup. I highly recommend Letters from an American to tell the tale.

The DOGE goes rogue.

I learned my client Heather, whom I’ve been a caregiver to over the past three months, died unexpectedly. She broke her femur a few weeks ago and was at a local residence care center for PT when I saw her last week. I was looking forward to my shift when I received the news. That, and my older sister is heading to surgery for a torn Achilles on Tuesday. She lives 1500 miles away. Will be on a knee scooter for two weeks and in a boot for several months after. It’s winter in Northern Michigan. I vacillate to go or not to go? I want to be of service. I love my sister. I want to be here. I want to be there. I wish we were neighbors.

Note: Champagne flight in celebration of Heather’s daughter visiting at Christmas.

Instead of travel plans I make focaccia. It’s fabulously easy, equally delicious and after three consecutive successes I think it might be failproof. I gladly share the recipe:

Things you’ll need for 4 large squares (2 - 4 servings) —see above image.

2 Cups Flour
1 Package Yeast
1 Tsp Garlic Powder
1 Tsp Sugar
Olive oil
Salt/Pepper
Fresh Rosemary & Olives (optional)

In a large bowl mix together (I use a wooden spoon) 1 package yeast, garlic powder, 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 TBSP salt (or just guess) and a pinch of pepper until evenly combined.

Add 1 Cup warm water —I recommend bringing water to a boil either by kettle or microwave. Use 1/2 cup boiling water + 1/2 cup cold water from the tap. Add to flour mixture and stir until dough is sticky, about 30 seconds. To PROOF DOUGH drizzle 2 teaspoons of olive oil over top of dough and gently fold until evenly coated in oil. Then cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and set aside until dough is almost doubled in size —about 1 hour. TIP: Dough will proof best in a warm location. I set mine at the edge of my gas heater but anywhere away from drafts is best.

Once dough has doubled in size drizzle 1 TBSP olive oil in an 8x8 inch baking dish. Transfer dough to the prepared baking dish and press and stretch to fit. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rest for 30 minutes.

After the nap drizzle more olive oil over the top and gently press your fingertips into dough to create divots. Go ahead it’s fun. I put whole or 1/2 olives here (optional) but be creative. Season with salt & pepper. Add fresh rosemary if you like.

Now it’s time to BAKE. 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Enjoy.

This weekend I sliced the focaccia squares into strips and served it with an Anchovy Spiked Egg Salad from Coconut & Lime for an afternoon nosh with a friend over tea. I know, the price of eggs, but at Trader Joe’s recently they were still under $4/dozen.

I have a great affection for doilies. Old-fashioned handkerchiefs with minute details of rosebuds and lace. Cotton tablecloths. Linen. Part of my time with Heather was spent helping organize and downsize her many bins of fabrics and threads and amongst these treasures were doilies of varying size. She was a seamstress. A retired art professor. And a woman losing capacity.

She was also diagnosed with dementia. She forgot how to answer the phone and needed assistance for the weekly FaceTime with her daughter and sister. While she enjoyed reading a novel or magazine she admitted it was hard to follow the story and she lost interest in the adult coloring books she was gifted. She often asked me what a word meant — P S Y C H O P A T H —she spelled out the letters. This in reference to an article on Trump. I shared the definition and she agreed it fitting.

But that aside, with each piece of fabric I lifted from the bin she said “donate” —are you sure? I asked. “Donate”. I saved a bolt of denim for a friend that loves to sew but mostly it went away. To Goodwill. To other caregivers. To the activities department at her Assisted Living but I happily took the doilies. Thank you Heather.

The night before I learned of her death I laid them out on the bed— each piece separately, honoring the pattern. Their beauty. The potential. Plotting a plan for Valentine cards or up cycling my clothes. She had samples of lace. A few crocheted collars. I felt connected to her in that moment. Perhaps she had already passed. Maybe she came to say good-bye.

This is a time of death. Of starting over. Of saying good-bye. Or hello. Of resistance. And surrender. What to leave in. What to let go. The fabric of friendship is changing as well. Relationships of all kinds are under scrutiny. What to reboot --? Is it possible to communicate our way to or through love or will it only drive us deeper into divide --? 
I’m of the opinion it could go either way.

I’m beginning to ruminate again. Time to pull out a glue stick or the sewing machine, that dress awaiting makeover by doily. Maybe by hand. The cardboard Valentine already in progress. Did I mention I’m a Primitive Seamstress? I never learned to sew but I do it anyway. Self-taught. Curious. Imperfect. Oops! Driven by a desire to create.

Let’s remember to appreciate beauty in the ordinary. In the timeouts and walkabouts. Everyday is a gift. Use it wisely (as a reminder to self). xo/B