I’m excited to share what I’ve been loving lately. I really have two months of goodness to share, since we skipped September. Hard to believe it was peach season when I last posted what was making me happy. Since then we’ve picked apples and made sauce, crisps, and cakes. Now that season too, is almost past and I’m celebrating pumpkins!
Listening:
I’ve been working my way through last year’s conference sessions from Allume. I had wanted to attend a writer’s conference this year but it did not work out, so I purchased the audio and have been gaining a lot of insight. So far I’ve enjoyed Brian Dixon’s practical session about email list building, Jamie Ivey‘s podcast session, Kristin Kill‘s discussion of brand relationships, and Amber Haine‘s talk on Writing the Invisible.
Along with the rest of the world–or at least the U.S.–I’ve been swept away by the musical Hamilton. Just wow! It’s awesome. I don’t think a musical has moved me this much since Les Miserables. It takes a bit to get into the music, at least for me. I’m not hip hop listener in general so it took me a minute to find my bearings, so to speak. It was so unexpected. But I just love that Hamilton makes the Founding Fathers come to life! It so easy to forget how they fought and argued and even hated each other at times. When you read the history books and just get the highlight version of their life of just the positive side it’s easy to forget the conflict of personalities and politics that went on. And even more amazing our country has survived when so many fledgling nations don’t.
Watching:
To continue the Hamilton theme Hamilton’s America was fabulous! You can stream it live on your mobile devices or cast it onto your TV. Just watch it.
Reading:
I just finished reading Jane of Lantern Hill. I read it when I was a preteen and didn’t really remember it at all so I bought it to add to my L. M. Montgomery collection. I literally had been craving Montgomery’s writing. I needed some cozy comfort reading as we headed into autumn, and to me, Montgomery, although wonderful anytime, is particularly delightful in autumn. Anyone else feel that way?
We’re reading North! Or Be Eaten together as a family and have also just started From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
I’ve also started a unique “devotional” book of sorts called At the Still Point: A Literary Guide to Prayer in Ordinary Time. I am really liking it. It is unlike anything I’ve read before and it suits my personality perfectly. Besides scripture readings, each week there is an opening and closing prayer and then literary readings from poetry and prose. I adored the introduction alone and highlighted it up. Like this quote: “God is at work, not only in overtly spiritual things–devotionals and memoirs, liturgies and hymns–but also in the imaginative lives of God’s people, in their subcreative worlds (as J. R. R. Tolkien put it), in their carefully crafted turns of phrase.”
Eating:
I made these when we went camping last month. So tasty! And you could grill them or do them over a fire. This One Skillet Sausage and White Bean Gnoochi was a perfect fall meal and I made this Pumpkin Delight to take to a recent large gathering.
Now your turn. What are you into right now? What do you consider “comfort reading”?
Haven’t gotten into all things "Hamilton" yet, so you weren’t the last on board.
Currently, I am loving two newer podcasts: "Upside Down Podcast, honest conversations on life and faith. Join five women as they gather around the table to discuss the upside down life in the kingdom of God." The 2nd one is called, "Facing Ourselves, a podcast for white people about racial justice, anti-racism, and racial reconciliation."
They are both relatively new, so it would be easy to catch up quickly. Some of the best conversations happening on both of those podcasts.
Also, I’m loving my American Home Apple Cinnamon Cider candle I picked up on sale and with a coupon at BJ’s this week. I’ve been lighting every day, and it’s been a pleasing aroma to carry me through my less than pleasing moments with my kids at times in the homeschool life.
My hubby and I just started "Madame Secretary" on Netflix. We only watched the pilot but can tell it’s going to be one we love.
Lastly, I discovered a new KCup flavored coffee at a friend’s house recently, and I’ve been loving it every morning. Donut Shop’s Nutty Caramel.
Hamilton! yes! I’m totally obsessed. Loved that documentary. And am reading the biography. It’s got maybe the largest vocabulary of any book I’ve read in a long, long while. And some of the economics stuff goes way over my head. Fascinating though.
I’m also addicted to this bagged salad kit by Dole–Chipotle Cheddar. Aldi has been selling it and I’ve been eating it almost daily. Which is a great thing to be addicted to compared to my normal food cravings…I’m super hungry for pumpkin scones too. Planning to make some this weekend. And super excited to be picking up a bushel of my favorite (Cameo) apples tomorrow!
I love that you’ve moved into book 2 of the Wingfeather Saga. I also have warm fuzzies about Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler 🙂 That was one of many memorable books I read and loved in my 5th grade Language Arts class, with one of my favorite teachers who abandoned traditional textbook teaching and instead used great novels for class.
Comfort reading…hmm. The Anne of Green Gables books are that for me. Otherwise I really don’t do much rereading. I haven’t read much other Montgomery besides Emily of New Moon. I’ve been meaning to read The Blue Castle for ages but haven’t gotten around to it. Generally I don’t think I associate books with seasons much. I do hope to start the Louise Penny mysteries this winter though. Have heard so many great things and it seems appropriate to read something categorized as a "cozy mystery" in the wintertime!
That bagged salad sounds good. I will have to look for it! I like Dole’s Endless Summer kit myself.
We’re doing Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler for our monthly homeschool book club and I’m teaching language arts to my kids by using the book along with Brave Writers language arts guides. So excited you loved it! I hope my kids will too.
I mainly reread Montgomery and Austen. I think of them as comfort reading and I feel differently about the books at different ages and seasons of my life. For instance, I really love Anne as a mother now that I’m a mother. I hope you like Louise Penny. I just love her. They are so not your typical crime novel. But like HP give it several books, don’t judge the whole series on book 1. It’s good, but they get so much better!
My Autumn reading usually consists of rereading all of Jane Austen’s novels and Jan Karon’s Mitford series. This Autumn it’s been Austen and Tolkein and a lot of Rowling for the first time.
I’m also busy doing research reading and just completed a wonderful online course on Permaculture Design.
But what I didn’t realize I was missing until I read this post and MUST add in for Winter is Montgomery. Yes.
Welcome Kimberly! I’m due to reread an Austen too. I’m thinking Sense and Sensibility. Oh I do love Harry Potter. I’ve not read any other Rowling yet–her adult books. What about you?