Our unseasonably warm fall has become seasonable. I’m scouring the forecast for more snow, turning on the outdoor Christmas lights, and day dreaming about what holiday celebrations will look like this year. I’m a little under-slept and more than a little over-caffeinated. Last week, Abram had three basketball games. This week, he has four. I love every single minute I get to sit on the bleachers watching these kids play. It’s a great group and I’m grateful.
Mornings are both peaceful and hectic and I’m often dropping one kid or the other off while wearing my pajamas. I love the first few hours after everyone is out of the house. I putter. Put away dishes, laundry, return misplaced things to their homes. Sometimes I turn on music. Sometimes I enjoy the quiet. Occasionally, I call a friend and chat while I finish the last of my coffee. I’m happy in a way that I haven’t been in a really long time. Not because everything is going smoothly (it isn’t), or because there aren’t mistakes to be rectified (there are), or even because I know everything will work out okay (I don’t). I just am and am grateful for it.
Let’s talk things.
Knitting: Finished the vespa socks, started and finished another sockhead hat, and am on the first sock in another pair. My fingers have been sore so I’m going to take a knit break and instead work on some embroidery.
Reading: I finished Bright Side by Kim Holden. I cried, but I do that all the time now. I didn’t rate it because I don’t know how I feel about it. I loved the story, didn’t love the writing. It’d make a cute Netflix movie series. I’m a few chapters into The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth. I really enjoyed The Mother-In-Law by her, so I’m looking forward to this one. Based on a recommendation, I’ve been listening to Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen by Michelle Icard on Audible and liking it. I’m a little late to the game as V is 14, and the chapters I’ve listened to so far are more about HOW to have the conversations that the WHAT of the conversations, but I’ve incorporated some hints already this week and I like it.
Watching: Seinfeld (Netflix). I didn’t really watch it when it was popular. I just didn’t like it. But I’ve been watching this last week and don’t hate it. Still am not sure why it was so popular, but it’s good background TV. I also rewatched Dash and Lily (Netflix) because it’s a cute Christmas series and I like cute. And Maid (Netflix). I have a lot of feels about that show. It was not crafting television, and I recommend it.
Listening: I sent out a request for podcast recommendations to keep me company both on IG and Facebook and I got lots of true crime pod recommendations. I have to be in the right kind of mood to listen, but I’ll be sure to share them if I love them. Spotify created a way to blend your music with a friend’s and I made one with my niece and it always makes me laugh. She listens to current rap/hip-hop almost exclusively and I’m very into new/old folk with a little bit of 80’s/90’s nostalgia mixed in. Parcels released a new album that I love. This is my puttering in the kitchen playlist lately.
Making: Chili. Tea. Pots of coffee. Christmas lists.
So that’s me!! How are you and what are you -ing? Looking forward to catching up!!
Hi Kate,
I am so glad that you’ve been feeling happy. I am most of the time, too. Especially on the days that I don’t work and my mornings are much like yours. (I’m not sure how I feel about that, given…everything. I’m still working a lot of that out.) You look pretty fabulous in that photo above, and I love it. (That color is great on you.)
As for -ings, I’ve had time for a few more since you last posted. Organizing cupboards has been particularly satisfying. (yeah, I’m tons of fun.) I’ve been watching Ted Lasso and The Morning Show. I liked the latter much more than I thought I would. We broke down and bought Apple TV because I really wanted to see what the Lasso fuss was all about, and I’m glad we did. (Going to cancel Hulu, which has gotten ridiculously expensive.) I haven’t been reading much, but just started something I found at the library called Body of Stars. So far, so good. (I’m only 20 pages in.) Just listened to The Missing Hours by Julia Dahl because it was recommended somewhere, but I was underwhelmed. I also listened to Fly Away by Kristin Hannah (source for Netflix’s Firefly Lane), and I found the main characters so annoying I almost quit several times, but I didn’t have another one to listen to. My relationship with fiction is a little rocky these days.
Love seeing these glimpses of your world. It’s turned to winter here, too, though we don’t have snow. I envy you that!
I’m so jealous of you getting to watch Ted Lasso for the first time. As for the snow, we’re in the phase where it comes and goes and now it’s gone, I’m hoping to have more and am REALLY hoping the almanac is wrong when it says we’re going to be bitter cold and dry. I don’t mind winter if I have snow to play in.
I love organizing cupboards!! (We’re the same kind of tons of fun!) I actually have a bathroom closet on my list to organize/clean today.
I read the Firefly Lane book before it was a show and it turned me off from Kristin Hannah for almost 5 years. I agree – I didn’t like either of them!!
Lastly, thank you for the kind words about my sweater selfie. I live in both that sweater and the car these days so it’s an adequate reflection of who I am!!
xo
I really like your yellow boots.
I love the word puttering.
I like the idea of being able to merge playlists on Spotify.
I recently discovered Hoopla through my library. It’s an e-reading app that send books to me immediately. I know I’m years late, but this little discovery feels like a birthday gift.
You’re earlier than I am in terms of Hoopla. That sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing!
I love the putter too. Both the WORD and the doing. I spent about two hours doing that this morning and it’s pretty glorious!
I love your dog’s nose. Or more accurately your photo of said nose. Oh my goodness, I did giggle when I saw it.
I’ve heard that Maid is good and have it on my list. We’re having a few *issues* with our streaming abilities right now and I prefer to watch TV on a TV rather than my phone, so eventually I’ll get to it.
I never cared for Seinfeld either. I like Jerry as a comedian, but the show never called to me.
She’s become SUCH a snuggle bug this fall/winter. I LOVE it. We were talking about getting another puppy so she could help train it, but I don’t think I can. She just loves being by me too much!
Maid is good, but I don’t blame you for not wanting to watch it on a phone. I don’t think I would enjoy that either!! I think it’s worth waiting until you can stream on a television.