I know. It’s been a bit. It’s also been a lot. The remodel continues at a snail’s pace. Abram finished cross country and headed straight into basketball. V dislocated their knee and brought an abrupt end to their swim season. Jesse and I planted garlic and then something dug through the beds so I don’t know how much (if any) we will actually get next summer. Violet and I went with my sister and niece to Lizzo (it was amazing). Abram and I joined my niece, nephew, parents, and sister for a Minnesota Gophers game (also fun). There was homecoming and football games and 8th grade boy nerf battles. Jesse and I both had COVID (zero stars – do not recommend). Violet needed knee surgery. Abe treated a few different neighborhoods with some friends. V handed out candy. October was gorgeous, and then snowy and gray, and gorgeous again and now we are in November.

Knitting: Finished a pair of socks for my brother-in-law, started and finished a pair from Abram (because when he outgrows them, they will fit me), and am working on this scarf in the Oyster Gray and Meadow color way. The repeat took me a little bit to get right but it’s starting to go fast now that I’ve got it down.

Watching: All the things. Finished the RHOBH season with all kinds of feelings (Garcelle is my favorite. Rinna is not.) Other than that I was mainly on Netflix – Somebody Feed Phil, which I dole out one sweet episode at a time. I love it so much. Do Revenge I enjoyed with Violet. Partner Track was fun and soapy, and finally, The Watcher which was kind of eh. I’ve been watching Tell Me Lies on Hulu and I don’t like it but I also keep watching whatever that means. I’m looking forward to the HBO Max Lizzo documentary.

Listening: Lizzo (it’s a theme and I’m about it), this is a whole mood for a blustery rainy October day (my sister gets credit for introducing it to me), and this for puttering around the house (aka millennial elevator music)

(ETA because I forgot) Reading: Maybe in Another Life (★★☆☆☆) and After I Do (★★★★☆) by Taylor Jenkins Reid – she’s a bit hit or miss for me. After I Do was a hit, Maybe in Another Life was a miss. When I Ran Away by Ilona Bannister (★★★★★), On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass (3.5 stars), Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson (★★★★★). Currently reading: This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

Making: We recently went dairy free. I never thought of us as big dairy people, but actually eliminating it has made me realize how much we actually we were using. This pumpkin bread or these pumpkin oat muffins (maybe even both?) are in the plan for this week. October brought about chili season and we’ve made three batches already. My favorite go to dinner lately is an olive oil baked sweet potato with shredded roasted chicken breast – sometimes I add green beans that I put up from this summer or a big spinach salad.

So that’s me. Hope you are all doing well! Would love to hear what you’re up to in your corner of the world.

1. Point and counterpoint on sex separation in athletics.
2. Things to watch on Prime in October. (anyone else thinking of cancelling/already have cancelled their prime membership?)
3. Some other spooky season viewing suggestions.
4. For Abram.
5. A case can be made for physical media.
6. Which lends itself to this. (I’m actually kind of tempted.)
7. These and these are on my Christmas knitting list.
8. And I want to learn this for socks.
9. I have a strong “no” gut reaction to this.
10. Yup. That exists.
11. It’s just a phase.
12. I’ve been doing the mini and tried a few archived Mondays.
13. I need to make a date with my sketchbook.
14. Wow.

Happy weekend!

A few months back, when Peloton announced they were restarting studio rides, one of my friends and I decided a trip to New York was in order to take one. Sadly, we didn’t manage to get ourselves into a ride, but we had a fun long weekend anyway. One day we walked the breadth of the park, another we walked the length. I started to feel competent at navigating via subway only to have our main line rerouted two days into the trip (and then really comfortable when we figured out that reroute). I just wanted to jot down a few favorites (and recommend that if you ever get a chance to see Come From Away, that you take it.)

Memorable Eats: Gallaghers (the mac and cheese was tops from the trip), Il Mulino, Sadelles, The Central Park Boathouse
Shows: The Music Man, Come From Away (definitely in my top 3 shows of all time, very likely number one).
Sights: Jesse and I came across the Flat Iron Building, the New York Public Library, the Central Park Zoo, and the Empire State Building while wandering the city. We also spent a good amount of time wandering the park. I spent a couple hours wandering the Met (I definitely want to go and spend a longer period of time). I loved the Bernd & Hilla Becher exhibit, stumbling upon a Renoir and knowing it without knowing how I knew, and some metal work on display in the Egyptian art collection.