Lately, I've been...
listening to
-Podcasts....I go in fits and spurts with podcasts. I get really behind, and then I catch up on them all at once when I do things like a painting project.
In my subscription list right now:
- Before Breakfast (Laura Vanderkam)
- How to Money
- Solid Joys
- Do You Even Blog?
-On the music front: The Japanese House, which Lisey thought I might like. And I do. The Japanese House is an English indie pop band (I think it's just one person, though), and I like the relaxing feel of the music.
I am normally a person who is big on the lyrics of songs, but honestly, I have no idea what any of these songs are about lyrically. I just like the sound!
watching
The Crown, of course. Sonia and I finished season four.
A few notes:
- I know The Crown is fiction, but I did some reading and, um, how in the world did I not know that Charles and Diana were troubled from the very beginning? I'd always thought that they were madly in love, at least at first. Which is, I suppose, what we the public were supposed to think.
- Emma Corrin is amazing as Diana!
- Episode 5, the one where the dude breaks into the palace, has a lot of f-bombs (just so you are not surprised.) Usually the language level on The Crown is pretty mild, but this episode was an exception.
- Sonia and I are sad that we have to get used to a whole new set of actors next season. We had just now finally adjusted to this group. Sigh.
reading
In The Crown-related news, we got the brand new HRH royal fashion book from the library and it is super fun to read/look through. I ostensibly put it on hold for Sonia, but I am enjoying it too!
I put Diana: Her True Story on hold at the library because now we are a little bit obsessed with learning more about Diana.
I'm reading The Screwtape Letters, because somehow I never read this C.S. Lewis classic. And I recently finished A Grief Observed.
I finished Glitter and Glue, by Kelly Corrigan. She's such a good writer; very honest, and she manages to be both deep and entertaining. This one is a memoir that is mainly about Kelly and her mom, but is also about motherhood and daughterhood in general.
(I feel like that sentence does a terrible job of explaining what this book is about, but I suppose that is why no one has ever hired me to write book jacket copy. (!!) Books are seriously hard to summarize.)
shopping for:
Last time I did a "lately" post (in October), I was shopping for a bookshelf for Sonia. And since then, I got a free one, which is now painted and installed in Sonia's room.
I really need to take pictures of it so I can show you!
So, what am I shopping for lately, now that I've moved on from bookshelves?
Well, obviously I am doing some Christmas shopping. And part of that involved buying a blue Christmas tree.
I have never, ever bought a fake Christmas tree, much less a blue one. But I'll show you what we're doing with that once we get it all set up.
I will say, this is going to be even more unusual than our Christmas tree from last year:
Also: I shopped for candy eyeballs yesterday because we plan to do our annual Christmas cookie decorating this coming Sunday.
Christmas always seems to involve googly eyes at our house, and I love it. My kids make me laugh!
I love both those C.S. Lewis books. They are some of my favorites.
Lately, I've been...
1. Making sure my kids get their homework done and no one tries to tell me they did their 20 minutes of reading, when they really didn't!! We finally found a book series (DogMan) that my little guy likes, so I'm currently trying to find a good deal on that series. Or maybe someone local who will let us borrow it.
2. Listening to Schitt's Creek while my husband watches it while he is on the treadmill. I take my Ebay pictures while he walks and I listen!
3. Stepping outside my comfort zone of selling clothes on Ebay & learning about selling pots & pans. Very interesting to learn about their selling prices.
4. Designing virtual, yet fun, activities for my Daisy girl scouts. These first graders are full of energy and want to be together as a troop, but we just aren't able to meet right now.
We just watched the Diana documentary on Netflix. It was so fascinating!! I was 6 when she died, so all I remembered about her was the collector Beanie Baby that came out in her honor that I coveted! I am now diving down the rabbit hole of learning more about her as well!
Listening to: Not really ready to go full Christmas music around here (and then I am choosy on what I play) I have been in the classical mood and have at times listened to a lot of Bruckner (I adore his 7th symphony), some Rachmaninoff and the first symphony of Gustav Mahler. I also played Holst's Venus: The Bringer of Peace on a whim the other day.
I've also been singing the old folk hymn "Barbara Allen" a lot much to the annoyance of my family.
Watching: Umm, some Christmas specials mostly. We've already watched Charlie Brown, Frosty and a few more minor ones (Family Circus etc.) I also watched the Alistair Sim version of A Christmas Carol. I plan on watching some more versions of the story, particularly the Albert Finney version and of course the Muppets, Mickey etc.
Shopping for: This is a tough year for Christmas. The kids in my family are done and I'd like to get something for my siblings but I'm at a bit of a loss at the moment. Oh well. I'll think of something.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't go full-on with Christmas music yet--and I've also been in a classical music mood. Is your Barbara Allen song the one where she and the man who loves her both die and a vine grows on top of their graves? I have an old CD from a Scottish singer with that song on it. Just curious ....
That's the one. It's featured in the Alistair Sim version of A Christmas Carol but it is an old Scottish folk song.
I laughed at Clay too! And that’s what memories are made of!! Haven’t gotten to The Crown’s newest season yet. My daughter watched it her first week of quarantine, but I haven’t. I’ve been working on Christmas gifts and try to sell some crafts on line. Hope so!!
Listening to- really just music in the car when I do get out. otherwise, listen to my DD on zoom for school, did get to hear her play her ukulele this morning in her music class.
Watching- FBI with DH, Swat with DH, baking championship, cookie Championship. Waiting for a few new season of shows that DH and I like to watch together.
Reading- Nothing right now, I am really behind in reading, just haven't been in the mood, my reading devise is way full of things on my list. One day........
Shopping for- Christmas right now. I "think" I am almost done. waiting on items to come in the mail, then its to figure out what else I need to pick up. And then comes the fun time of wrapping. Would love to be looking at a new kitchen table/chairs, maybe soon. Boy have my tastes have changed over the years!
We are listening to Kim, by Rudyard Kipling, read by Sanjeev Bhaskar. It's an abridged version, but the dialogue and language are unchanged, so we have frequent stops to check that my nine year old is keeping up. The story is wonderful. Knowing the story is a requirement for cub scout advancement, but I'm surprised at how much we're enjoying it.
I'm reading the first Maisie Dobbs mystery, by Jacqueline Winspear. How did I not know about these before now?
I'm also hooked on Maisie Dobbs! I discovered the books through my Libby library app.
We’re all about Christmas here!
1. Lots of Christmas music on - enjoying the Christmas Crooners station on Amazon music as well as Michael Buble’s Christmas album
2. Watching The Great British Bake-Off. It’s such a happy show!
3. Just finished reading the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue as well as The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and loved them both. Now reading Skyward and Party of Two.
4. Shopping for nothing I am done with Christmas shopping which is the earliest I can ever remember being done (hooray for online shopping!) as it’s making for a very relaxing lead-up to the holiday.
I just finished reading Molaeki.
Set in the turn of century Hawaiian Islands it is the story of a young girl Rachel who develops Leprosy. At the time there was no treatment only isolation. She is torn from her family and sent to the leper colony on the island of Molokai. Historical fiction at it's best. Heartbreaking yet powerful in understanding this little known disease - Hansen's Disease.
I’ve been listening to NPR (1A is my fave) and the podcasts Crime Junkie and Office Ladies. I’ve been watching Scientology the Aftermath (which is really interesting). I’ve also been watching a lot of homesteading you tubers and dreaming about that. I am done with Christmas shopping thank goodness.
The Screwtape Letters is so good. And a little tidbit about A Grief Observed, which might be the only book of his I haven't read and I don't know why. That book was originally published anonymously, and one of his friends recommended it to him to help him with his grief over the loss of his wife.
Oh, that's so funny! I knew he published it anonymously but I had no idea someone had recommended it to him.
I am so glad you liked Glitter and Glue, as I just bought a used one the other day. I am in the middle of Still Life by Louise Penny, a murder mystery set in Canada. It comes highly recommended and I like it so far. It is a first book by this author and she has written many more in this series.
I love the blue tree idea, a friend had a purple one with all of her Elvis, mardi gras, and peacocks on it. Sparkles to end all sparkles It was gorgeous!!!
I am shopping for stocking stuffers for the husband.
I am watching Upstairs Downstairs, which is very good! It is also a continuation of the original done in the 70's, with some of the same characters and actors!
Oh, the Screwtape Letters! I love that one, as well as The Great Divorce, Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain... okay, basically all of them that I've read so far.
Lately I've been...
Listening to a radio station that plays only Christmas music, while making my daily hour-long-each-way commute. I sing along, too.
I'm on reading #92 in my commitment to read the book of James 100 times in 2020.
Trying to get my act together and start decorating the house.
Gathering up ingredients for a Christmas meal. It would help if I already had the meal planned.
Mailing out cards to clients and decorating at work, mumbling to myself that I really should be doing this at home.
Getting my bills paid and last of the year donations made, so I don't forget once the holidays get here.
Looking forward to making divinity and Lane Cake, two must-haves at Christmas in our family. I have all I need to make both except the bourbon for the cake's filling, and eggs and butter, which I still don't find at good prices! I hope that changes this week.
I just finished watching the newest season of the Great British Baking Show and the holiday ones on Netflix. I binge watched all of the older ones in the spring at the beginning of the lockdown. All the different ingredients and baked goods are fascinating to me, and the talent and artistry of the bakers is amazing. I’m listening to Christmas music—Michael Buble, the Nutcracker, and especially Pentatonix when I want to sing. My favorite though is a tape I discovered many years ago called the Gift. It has beautiful instrumentals of classic carols. I look forward to hearing it every year.
I have also just watched The Crown. Having been an obsessive Diana fan from pretty much day one, I was interested to see their portrayal of her and of the marriage. At first I thought it was spot on, but as time passed they got more and more one-faceted. While Corrin was good with certain aspects of Diana, she missed out on things like her deep, deep compassion, her humour - Diana was funny! - the many, many good times, and her absolute class and grace. Charles was also crueler than in life, I believe. Yes, he was stiff and cold, but not all the time. There was a natural physicality between them that was missed in the show, much more of a shared commitment to their kids, and again, more humour and more of a sense of duty shared. He also didn’t reactivate his relationship with Camilla until after Harry was born, about when Diana began seeing James Hewitt. I agree there were problems from the start, but mixed into lots of good times too. I also wish the show had gone into Diana’s relationship with Fergie. Those two were devilish together! Fergie was a huge ally in the palace life, and the two of them shared much together, including having their children and eventual divorces.
Otherwise, I’ve been reading my stats slides, listening to my prof’s stats recordings and my final exam is this morning, so I need to stop hunting and pecking on my phone and get at it! I can’t wait to hear about your blue tree.
If you liked Screwtape then you really might enjoy Lord Foulgrin's Letters by Randy Alcorn.
Reading: The Great Gatsby (book on tape). I honestly can't remember if I read it when I was a kid or not. I recently finished The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, and after I finish Gatsby I'm planning to read Etched in Sand. I'm a little hesitant about that one because I'm told that parts of it are troubling, but I decided to give it a try.
Watching: The Resident. So good! My teenage daughter and I watch an episode any evening that she's caught up on her homework and I'm not completely wiped out and ready for bed at 8:00. That show makes me want to be in the medical field.
Listening to: R.E.M., The Smiths - any of that good 80s music!
Shopping for: as little as possible. 🙂
Another good medical one is Transplant, set in Canada. The lead is a Syrian doc and while there is some time on personal lives, most of it is on the actual cases. I hate when medical or legal shows suddenly start focusing almost entirely on private struggle...I am here to see the medical or trial stuff, not the romance or soap opera stuff. Anyway, if you enjoy medical, you might like Transplant.
I'm also watching Transplant, and I love it.
I just read a children's book to my kids where the main character said that googly eyes make anything less boring. It made me think of you.
I'll check out the Before Breakfast podcast... they look short and doable. I've been:
Reading: Just finished "The Princess" by Lori Wick for the third or fourth time. My library did a podcast about which books give your heart a hug and that was the book that came to my mind. I really enjoyed reading it again.
Watching: I purchased Dustin Nickerson's "Overwhelmed" comedy special that just came out on Amazon Prime and Gumroad. It was $9.99 to own ($4.99 to rent) and made for a fun and frugal date night! Also, SEAL Team is finally back on-air and is the only TV show my husband and I still watch. We stayed up late to watch the 2-hour premiere.
Listening to: My Bible-in-One-Year app (hoping to finish it all before the year ends), Francesca Battistelli's Christmas CD, and Dustin Nickerson's Podcast "Don't Make Me Come Back There"
Shopping for: Curtains for my dining room. It feels like kind of a weird thing to spend my Christmas money on and I'm terrible at home decorating, but I'm looking forward to the finished product.
Reading lots of spreadsheets, emails and the like. Working in Finance makes the end of the year bring Christmas joy and a heavy workload. I have a stack of books on my nightstand that I want to read but goodness by the time 8 PM rolls around my eyes are just done.
Listening to ALL the Christmas music. All the old crooners, all the Vince Guaraldi, Michael Buble, and anything and everything in between. I don't move with tradition here I admit and Christmas music has been playing in my home for a month now. We just need it this year.
Watching Christmas movies & specials on repeat. I love the Gathering with Ed Asner, White Christmas, the Family Stone, Charlie Brown, the Grinch and so many others. In a normal year I always look forward to these but this year they are more important than ever.
Shopping for Christmas gifts...yes. We are almost done with my son but still have family gifts to purchase and a COVid surge to complicate things even more. I hate giving gift cards but this year may force me into them. Perhaps online shopping will help out some - we shall see.
There is a Hallmark Christmas movie called Journey Back to Christmas where a WWII nurse lands in the present day. I know that sounds like a groaner but we watch it every year (made in 2016) because it is not one of those "hates him but ends up loving him when they decorate a tree together" movies. Also, the time travel element is not as hokey as it sounds either. Sweet, throw back sort of movie.
C.S. Lewis is wonderful. If you haven't seen Shadowlands, I highly recommend! Also, if you're on a Diana/royal family kick: "Diana In Her Own Words" documentary, and The Windsors. Both on Netflix, I believe.
Happy Advent!
The royal wedding was on the morning of my 13th birthday, so I remember having a sleepover and waking up very early to watch it. We thought she had the world in her hands, but as a woman who just celebrated 28 years of marriage, I can't help but still feel sorry for her. She had no idea what she was getting into and it seems no one was there to guide her.
1) the Blacklist podcast, which is about al Qa'ida before and leading up to 9/11. The US missed numerous opportunities to head off both World Trade Center attacks. Not stopping the first is a more obvious and less subtle mistake than not stopping the big one.
2) Other podcasts, as long as they're not related to the pandemic or our current president. Thankfully that leaves quite a few.
3) Trying to get healthy while simultaneously trying to work full days and Get Stuff Done. You may notice a tiny problem with this plan.
4) Looking for tree netting to protect my young tree from next year's cicada swarm. Mature trees will survive fine but cicadas can kill young ones.
5) Watching people decorate cookies in TV baking competitions.
6) Finished catching up on The Blacklist (a TV show) and watching one of the main characters jump the shark. She just switched allegiances for no justifiable reason. I expect that even the pleasure of watching James Spader's acting can't overcome this development.
Somewhat off topic — Jon Bokenkamp is from the town where I used to live and work and now go for my library and bigger shopping, and he's the real deal. Neat guy — very community- and arts-minded. And I'm not even a Blacklist fan, ha.
The eyes have it! Ever since I started to read your blog, I have been positively fascinated and enthralled with your family's Christmas cookies. I admit I thought it was weird at first, but something about putting eyes on Christmas cookies just tickles me. I've thought about doing it myself but really have no desire to emulate but I totally enjoy looking at your yearly efforts.
I really enjoy the soundtrack ff rom The Preachers Wife. Put a nice bounce in my morning walk
The "You're Wrong About" Podcast did a great six-part series on Diana, that I totally recommend! They looked at several biographies, as well as the Diana in Her Own Words book. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youre-wrong-about/id1380008439
I have several chores to do with the paperwork for my father's estate, and have saved some rewards for when I am done.
One is to open the box and "plant" a Full Price Amaryllis from the Garden Center, (rather than the ones from WalMart that I have occasionally got on clearance). They are amazingly hearty plants, as long as I make sure to stake them if they get top-heavy.
The other is to read the latest The Darling Dahlias book, the Voodoo Lily, by Susan Wittig Albert, which came out in October.
Even if I get no other decorating done for holidays throughout the year, I always change the napkins in the beverage-size woven napkin holder my aunt sent me for a wedding shower gift some many years ago. She said I needed some pretty things for my new home. Paper napkins often show up at yard sales or thrift stores, so I don't pay full price. It is time to switch out the harvest giving thanks for some Snoopy Christmas, and think of family celebrations.
Lately I have been:
Listening to the Old Fashioned on Purpose and The Way I Heard It podcasts while washing dishes.
I am listening to Christmas music while showering.
I have been watching Madam Secretary while cooking dinner and cleaning up the kitchen and Christmas movies with my 6yo a couple of times a week. He is now a big fan of Home Alone.
I read a book by Nicole Trope this week. I just returned it an hour ago, and already can't remember the title, but it was a good read.
I've been cooking based on what we have in the house. We have a good selection to choose from. We are out of store bought bread, and while my has learned to make delicious yeast bread, he is very busy so it is a special treat.
We put together a Mario theme gingerbread house on Saturday, and we drove around looking at the houses that are competing in a Christmas light contest. It has been a wonderful event in out town!
LOVE THE CROWN. I have issues. STILL missing CLAIRE FOY. Love all things DIANA. always have.
Looooooove. Straight No Chaser Xmas album SOCIAL CHRISTMASING
Podcast: I also am warm again cold again. Right now I haven’t had time.
Me too ! I miss the actors from the 1st two seasons. I didn't enjoy season 3 as much, but season 4 is getting off to a good start so I'm hopeful.
Haven't started watching The Crown yet. We just finished The Queen's Gambit and now onto Season 4 of The British Bake Off. Being at home due to the pandemic has certainly provided a lot of opportunities to catch up on shows. 🙂
So I read your blog on my phone, and it's kinda old, so it shows a preview of the post, but removes all the formatting. Therefore, it looked like you listen to a podcast called "How to money solid joys do you even blog?" and I was like "huh...I guess that's like a jokey title about writing or something..." Haha!
Haha, that would definitely be a very confusing podcast title!
Watched a movie called First Cow, set in the 1820s in the Pacific Northwest. These two people, one of whom is Chinese (which is relevant to the times) set up a business selling food made from stolen milk. Surprised that I liked it as much as I did.
Podcasts I like include Code Switch, which discusses race in interesting ways, like why Kamala Harris' Indian background is less emphasized than her Black heritage. Makes me think a lot. Also, The Daily through the NY Times, and Home Cooking which, if you liked the series Salt Fat Acid het on Netflix, might be of interest.
I have listed this URL before but I listen to it with some frequency during the holidays so I am mentioning it here again. It is a video of mostly kids but some adults doing the Hallelujah chorus as they move through the village. It never fails to make me smile. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyviyF-N23A
Rewatching the old All Creatures Great and Small, in preparation for the newly made version about to show up on PBS in January. I loved it then and it has stood the test of time. Also, all the episodes of the WWII mystery series Foyle's War.
My husband and I are listening to Obama's new book. We always have one book we listen to together while doing chores like mending (him usually) and knitting (me). I don't like audio books: as a kid I never enjoyed anyone reading to me and I still hate it. My husband, on the other hand, is severely dyslexic, so once he finished grad school he never read again until Books on Tape came out (we are that old). I decided that I would listen to one book he was reading so that we could talk about it. I often buy or get the same book out of the library that he has listened to, but sometimes months later so the discussions are not as rich.
Lindsay - I just watched that hallelujah video & I laughed so much & cried - He really is coming back and He will reign forever and ever - Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!
I love that you listen even though you don't like the mode so you can share with your husband that is so beautiful.
Hugs.
I listened to-and loved-Glitter and Glue on audio, narrated by the author.
Given the subject matter, hearing Kelly read it aloud made it even better.
Recommend “Becoming Mrs Lewis” by Patti Callahan. It is the story of Joy Davidman who married C.S. Lewis.
Reading "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" and "Cheaper by the Dozen," neither of which I have read in years.
Listening to Chris Stapleton. I love his music, but I really fail to see why he was classified as "country." He sounds straight blues to me. But I guess that genre doesn't sell as well.
Watching (last week, anyway, which was the last time I watched anything) a BBC documentary my husband found on YouTube of an English lady following the ancient frankincense trail, which I did not even know was a thing.
Shopping for the class gift exchange gifts for my three children and shoes for me to replace my running shoes that I've been wearing with very noticeable holes in them for, uh, three months.
In that era of reading, check out "The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew", "Girl of the Limberlost" (or "Freckles.")
Maybe even "The Hoosier Schoolmaster" or "The Hoosier Schoolboy." Those two are on project Gutenberg.
And of course, "Heidi."
For a more amusing and interacting with the world story, "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay" by Cornelia Otis Skinner, when "gay" didn't mean what it means now.
Or "Daddylonglegs" and "Dear Enemy."
I read all of those years ago, except the Hoosier ones. I still have my own copy of "Dear Enemy." I love that book.
I re-read a lot of the ones I read as a kid because the only library I have access to is the one at the elementary school. Kind of a limited selection.
Yes! Those are great!
I’ve finally become a book club member, where it seems like the newer, the better. I’m trying to find the balance, the right fit, with being progressive, while appreciating that not very many things are actually “new”.
In regards to The Crown, I was surprised to learn of their age difference. I had no idea he was that much older than her. I also didn’t know that he dated her older sister first. I too love Emma Corrin as Diana!
I am reading 'the sacred diary of adrian plass aged 37 3/4' for the nth time; it always makes me laugh so much
I am watching utube vids on people hearing songs for the first time
I am winning with paper organization (finally-its only taken 30 odd years ahem) my strategy is to put it in specific topic folders without sorting or tidying; I have nearly finished & then I will tackle it one folder at a time to whittle, recycle, shred, or arrange in order if I still keep it.
I just finished Becoming by Michelle Obama. I was particularly interested in knowing what it is like to be in politics, in the White House, and to live that life. I found it a good read. Call the Midwife Christmas shows are available on PBS right now and just love that show.
My 92 year old Mom broke her hip and is convalescing at my house. We have been watching Virgin River on Netflix and my mom loves it! My daughters got me a subscription to Acorn TV last Christmas - it's British, Australian and New Zealand based shows - and I love just about everything on it. In books, I'm rereading Agatha Christie and some Jane Austen. My daughters like to tease me that I'm really just an old English woman 🙂
So will the new tree have eyes and like cookies? Had to ask! Have a great holiday.
Can't wait to see the Blue Tree.
Reading : no joy just the news
Watching:
The Crown Season 3 I loved all the stories about Winston Churchill too.
Star Trek Enterprise the series from the early 2000's on Netflix
Star Trek Discovery
The Mandalorian... mostly for baby yoda
Youtube: The Clutter Fairy - She makes so much sense and is quite witty and funny. She has changed my life and the condition of my home.