I’m a bit late with my monthly “what I’m into” post because of vacation but here we are, in the midst of September already! I’m so ready for cooler weather, apples picking, cozy sweaters, and pumpkin baked goods of all sorts!
Watching:
While on vacation we watched Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which was quite fun! Otherwise, we’ve just been watching Parks and Recreation on Netflix because it’s short and funny (and we love Ron Swanson).
Listening:
I just finished my latest Flavia de Luce novel on audio and the kids and I are listening to The Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings together for our homeschool bookclub. I remember absolutely loving that book when I was younger.
Reading:
I just finished Sarah Clarkson’s delightful and inspiring Book Girl and added some good books on my to-read list for fall. Most of them are older books, as opposed to newer, and I can’t wait to dive into some Elizabeth Goudge and Rumer Godden. Over vacation I was looking for a fast-paced thriller and really loved The Likeness by Tana French. The premise was on the unbelievable side, but I could suspend belief because the story was so intriguing.
I’m also reading Not By Sight by Jon Bloom. I’m reading it as a devotional—reading the scripture he notes at the beginning, then reading the short chapter that corresponds each morning. The writing is fresh and vivid, breathing life into familiar stories.
Eating:
These Smashed Sweet Potatoes were so delicious as were a batch of Pumpkin Spice Granola. I also made a batch of our favorite Quinoa Muffins (I use cranberries) for breakfast/snacks this week. They are tasty with a hint of sweetness and so filling!
Love Jon Bloom! And would you believe I’ve never read The Yearling?
I’m obsessed with Poldark right now as you know 😉 Thanks for the recommendation! Been reading some old fiction favorites from Francine Rivers, and familiarizing myself with Nancy Guthrie’s backlist (Holding on to Hope, What Grieving People Wish You Knew, and Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Sorrow). I’m trying to get into The Brothers Karamazov. It started out much more accessible and promising than the other Russian lit I’ve read, but it’s so very long and it’s slow going.
Haven’t been doing much cooking/baking lately. Last week we had Smitten Kitchen’s scalloped tomatoes, always a summer favorite (it’s so rich, we eat it with grilled chicken, not as a main dish). Printed off a bunch of "powerbowl" recipes from Balance365 that I’m hoping to try soon.
I’m really enjoying Jon Bloom’s book. I love Holding onto Hope! I read The Brothers Karamazov back in college. Super challenging. Also, you need to know a lot about the Orthodox church I think to understand it, if I’m remembering correctly?