Listening:
I’ve got a new audio book on tap. It’s a completely fascinating look at the making of the Oxford English Dictionary, affectionately known by English majors everywhere as the OED. Who knew there was insanity and murder in the mix? I’m completely loving The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary. And, apparently Hollywood found it compelling enough to be filming a movie based on the book!
Musically I’ve been enjoying the album If You Leave by Daughter. It’s not particularly new, but I love their melancholy, moody sound, such as in the tune, Winter.
Watching:
We finished season 2 of Hinterland. Wow, I don’t know what it is about the U.K. but they certainly know how to produce a good crime series! British-produced shows come across as so much more rugged and real-to-life than the more glossy American-made series filled with super-model type actors. Although there is action, there is also time spent on creating a great character. Can’t wait for season 3, whenever I can get my hands on it!
We’ve also enjoyed a few documentaries. The award-winning The White Helmets was exceptional and Minimalism was thought-provoking.
Reading:
I’m almost done How the Light Gets In (isn’t that a great title?) and last week as a family we finished, Where the Red Fern Grows. That certainly was a powerful book, and one I missed as a kid but am glad to have read now! We’ve started listening to Gone-Away Lake at lunch and The Secret Garden for our next homeschool bookclub title. I’m reading from my tattered old hardback beautifully illustrated by Graham Rust.
Eating:
The Vanilla Bean Baking Book has sent me into a baking frenzy. Goodness, I’ve made Chocolate Meringue Pie (pictured above), Coffee Blondies, and Mint Chocolate Bars. I’m eyeing Orange Pie, Amaretto Tartlets, Lime-Mint Bars, and Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes with Basil Buttercream. And I’ve added this book to my Amazon wishlist. The library does not allow me all the time I need to bake such lucious-sounding baked goods!
What have you been loving?
I am loving the book, Choosing Gratitude by Nancy DeMoss and I just finished the Cryptide series by Roland Smith. It was written for a young audience but possesses a very creative story line with a huge surprise at the end.
In the kitchen I am enjoying making my own Iced Chi Lattes. Its just Tazo Chi and milk mixed, but I can make about six for the price of one.
I LOVE Chai tea lattes!
I’ve had The Professor and the Madman on my TBR shelf forever–will have to bump it up! Waitlisted at the library unfortunately! And I will be in need of a new read-aloud for the boys before too long so we may have to pick up Where the Red Fern Grows. I missed that one as a kid too.
I’m still catching up on This is Us–I love it but Steve bailed on me. We needed a new show to watch together–started The Crown last week. I’m enjoying it, but he hasn’t said what he thinks. The material is really familiar to me, though, having listened to the massive biography of QE2 a few years ago.
I think you will really like The Professor and the Madman, Amy. My kids also did surprisingly well with Where the Red Fern Grows. There were tears but they didn’t need therapy. LOL. 😉
I had no clue about QE2’s early reign or all the family/political drama that went along with it. Very fascinating. Made me appreciate separation of church and state all the more, too! If you want suggestions for shows on Netflix, let me know. I’d need to find out what you and Steve typically enjoy though, as everyone has such different tastes!
I think you guys appreciate food, so The Chef’s Table might be a documentary series you both may enjoy. I typically stick with period dramas and British crime, otherwise. With an occasional fantasy/science fiction thrown in the mix every once in a while.
Have you listened to the soundtrack from the musical version of "The Secret Garden"? One of my all-time favorites!
Oh no, I’ll have to check it out!