2.11.2026

finished reading

This is an unusual book; it doesn't follow a traditional narrative thread.  There are no sweeping characters to relate to or despise.  It's a story about a place and the many people who inhabit it over generations.  It's quite dense and literary.  I did enjoy figuring out the historical context clues so I had a general timeline.  This would lend itself to quite a rousing book discussion of those who love it and those who loathe it.

The audio is wonderfully narrated.  

From the publisher:
A sweeping novel about a single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabit it across the centuries—a daring, moving tale of memory and fate from the Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Piano Tuner and The Winter Soldier.

When a pair of young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become home to an extraordinary succession of inhabitants . An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields of the New World to devote himself to apples. A pair of spinster twins survive war and famine, only to succumb to envy and desire. A crime reporter unearths a mass grave, but finds the ancient trees refuse to give up their secrets. A lovelorn painter, a conman, a stalking panther, a lusty beetle; as each one confronts the mysteries of the north woods, they come to realize that the dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive.

Traversing cycles of history, nature, and even literature, North Woods shows the myriad, magical ways in which we’re connected to our environment and to one another, across time, language and space. Written along with the seasons and divided into the twelve months of the year, it is an unforgettable novel about secrets and fates that asks the timeless how do we live on, even after we’re gone?

2.09.2026

currently

I am...

Reading: North Woods by Daniel Mason--and I can't decide if I like it.

Listening toThe Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose is the audio I'm starting tonight.

Thinking:  I'm not thinking.  I thought enough for the day.

Feeling:  kinda tired

Celebrating: today, I started teaching a Civics class; I have never taught a Civics class, although I have taught all of the concepts embedded in my American history classes.  I put the students at ease and gave them a voice in how we'll begin together because they had a week of class with a different teacher and some of them were very nervous about the switch.

Grateful for: years of experience.

Enjoying: a creative challenge.

Weather:  14° and partly sunny

A quote I want to share

2.08.2026

sunday stealing

Click the icon to play along


Sunday Stealing Gets Strict Meme


One Word Answers ONLY
1. Where is your cell phone? left
2. Tell us about your hair. curly
3. What's your favorite thing? hugs
4. What room are you in? living
5. Where did you grow up? nearby
6. What aren't you good at? finances
7.  Your favorite drink? Dunkin'
8. Where do you want to be in 10 years? traveling
9. Your mood. creative
10. Last time you cried. Thursday

finished reading

In Volume 2, more about Emma's neighbors in St. Crispian's,  is revealed. Emma's interactions with both Roland and the Duke of Islington are flirty banter at its best.  And the Tenant, as a mysterious figure, makes me wonder if romance is in the air.  I was greatly amused by the Jane Eyre gathering and the meeting, and the hijinks that ensued.

From the publisher:
“I was sitting at my desk reading, with a cup of tea, my windows flung open, when I heard The Tenant enter his garret, just on the other side of the wall from myself.”

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighbourhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House. In Volume 2, more about Emma's neighbors in St. Crispian's,  is revealed. Emma's interactions with both Roland and the Duke of Islington are flirty banter at its best.  And the Tenant, as a mysterious figure, makes me wonder if romance is in the air.


postsecret

 


PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

2.07.2026

saturday 9

You Make Me Feel So Young

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This morning, do you feel younger or older than your years? younger
 
2) In this song, Frank Sinatra tells us that every time he sees his lover's grin, he's happy. What's something you can reliably count on to lift your spirits? hanging out with my Breakfast Club friends, as I did this morning 😊
 
3) The lyrics mention hide-and-seek. What games did you play when you were young? we played neighborhood games like hide-and-seek, deer (which was night hide-and-seek with flashlights), and elaborate recreations of TV shows

4) Frank Sinatra was a fan of Campbell's chicken and rice soup, believing it helped his throat feel better after an evening of performing. Is Campbell's soup in your kitchen right now?
there might be a can or two of "cooking soups" aka the cream of something or other soup
 
5) Frank's favorite dessert was a slice of lemon ricotta torte. He believed every meal should include "a final flourish." Do you more often indulge in or skip dessert? skip
 
6) At Sinatra's home in Palm Springs, CA, you'd find a less sophisticated dessert. He always kept Entenmann's Crumb Cake on hand for his young granddaughters. Share a memory of your grandparents.  my grandparents were avid readers--my grandfather was always reading the newspaper and I think they fostered my own love of reading
 
7) In 1956, when this song was popular, Frank was tooling around Southern California in a blue Continental Mark II. That model was known for its interior of hand-stitched imported Scottish leather. 70 years later, Scottish leather is still used in luxury cars because it's both soft and durable and the production methods minimize environmental impact. If you could splurge on something right now, what would it be? A luxury car, jewelry, travel, clothes, something else? (No responsible answers allowed!) lately, I've been making a retirement travel bucket list: domestic and international
 
8) Also in 1956, The Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Forbidden Planet were popular at the box office. Do you have a favorite sci-fi movie?
the original Star Wars movies
 
9) Random question: What were you doing three hours ago? cleaning the bathroom

finished reading

It's been a while since I've read YA lit.  This was a story about books and grief.  It got a little repetitive and melodramatic for me, but it was poignant.  And it did make me wonder why no one gets grief counseling.  What I most enjoyed were the sections about books.  The fictional world the author creates within the real world made me want to read the Orman Chronicles.

From the publisher:
Sparks fly between two teens as they grapple with grief, love, and the future.

Eighteen-year-old Amelia Griffin is obsessed with the famous Orman Chronicles, written by the young and reclusive prodigy N. E. Endsley. They’re the books that brought her and her best friend Jenna together after Amelia’s father left and her family imploded. So when Amelia and Jenna get the opportunity to attend a book festival with Endsley in attendance, Amelia is ecstatic. It’s the perfect way to start off their last summer before college.

In a heartbeat, everything goes horribly wrong. When Jenna gets a chance to meet the author and Amelia doesn’t, the two have a blowout fight like they’ve never experienced. And before Amelia has a chance to mend things, Jenna is killed in a freak car accident. Grief-stricken, and without her best friend to guide her, Amelia questions everything she had planned for the future.

When a mysterious, rare edition of the Orman Chronicles arrives, Amelia is convinced that it somehow came from Jenna. Tracking the book to an obscure but enchanting bookstore in Michigan, Amelia is shocked to find herself face-to-face with the enigmatic and handsome N. E. Endsley himself, the reason for Amelia’s and Jenna’s fight and perhaps the clue to what Jenna wanted to tell her all along.

2.05.2026

three on thursday

 
Thing one: today was my annual physical / wellness checkup.  I am well.  My blood pressure is perfect, my weight is down, and I have no pain or complaints.

Thing two:  next week, I start teaching a Civics class.  This is new to me; I've never taught a semester-long course dedicated to Civics, although I have taught all the content at one point or another in my illustrious career.  This is probably the only time I will ever teach the class.  A scheduling blip.  I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Thing three: in this week's groceries, there is a new-to-me discovery of BetterGoods brand sparkling blackberry water.  I wanted something for a treat.

2.03.2026

ten things tuesday

❤️ Valentine’s Day: The "Ten Things" Survey ❤️

  1. Sweet or Savory: Are you hoping for a box of chocolates or a fancy charcuterie board? hmmm...that is a tough choice!  I think I'll go for a charcuterie board

  2. The Classic Debate: Do you think red roses are a timeless romantic gesture or a bit cliché? timeless romantic gesture

  3. Movie Night: What is your ultimate "comfort" romantic comedy to watch? When Harry Met Sally or You've Got Mail

  4. Galentine’s vs. Valentine’s: Do you prefer a night out with your best friends or a quiet evening with a partner? my besties

  5. The Soundtrack: What is one song that always makes you think of "love"? the Beatles' Something

  6. Handmade or Store-Bought: Does a handwritten card mean more to you than a tangible gift? I am thrilled with either

  7. The Menu: If you’re staying in, what is your go-to "special occasion" meal to cook? pizza

  8. Childhood Memories: Do you remember the specific style of Valentines you used to hand out in elementary school? I think, if I remember correctly, they were always Peanuts-themed

  9. Flower Power: Besides roses, what is your favorite flower to receive (or buy for yourself)? I often buy myself Gerbera daisies

  10. The Vibe: Describe your ideal Valentine’s Day in just three words. hugs and laughter

2.02.2026

finished reading

Losing myself in Victorian English journals is just the quirky read I needed.  Our heroine, Emma M. Lion is recently returning to London only to find that her impending inheritance has been squandered by an ill-intentioned Cousin Archibald.  Emma's travails as she settles back into city life.  There are other eccentric relatives, flustered house staff, and odd neighbors making appearances in the journals.  And I'm excited to get my hands on more!

From the publisher:
“I’ve arrived in London without incident. There are few triumphs in my recent life, but I count this as one. My existence of the last three years has been nothing but incident.”

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighbourhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s. Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

currently

I am...

Reading: I just finished a book and have yet to select my next read

Listening to:  a voice memo I made of psychology notes for my students

Thinking:  I kinda like creating voice notes for my students, it's a different format and easy

Feeling:  tired--the full moon wreaks havoc on my sleep schedule

Celebrating: little victories

Grateful for: my health care team--I have several routine appointments in the next weeks, and I'm so thankful that my team communicates well

Enjoying: being creative

Weather:  10° and clear

A quote I want to share:


finished reading

I fell in love with this book as I binge-listened to it.  The surety of the trio of characters in their collegiate intellectual promise as they quoted obscure passages to each other drew me in.  The love story between Jordan and Yash was full of yearning and tenderness, until it wasn't.  As the characters emerge into adulthood, they have taken different paths.  It's difficult to describe the story without spoiling it, so I'll say there's a poignant reconnection and unsatisfying resolution to the relationships.  I want to learn to play Sir Hincomb Funnibuster.

I didn't realize it's a companion book to Writers & Lovers.  I haven't read that, although I picked it up and it wasn't the right book at the right time for me.  Maybe I'll try it again.

From the publisher:
You knew I’d write a book about you someday.

Our narrator understands good love stories—their secrets and subtext, their highs and their free falls. But her greatest love story, the one she lived, never followed the simple rules.

In the fall of her senior year of college, she meets two star students from her 17th-Century Lit class: Sam and Yash. Best friends living off-campus in the elegant house of a professor on sabbatical, the boys invite her into their intoxicating world of academic fervor, rapid-fire banter and raucous card games. They nickname her Jordan, and she quickly discovers the pleasures of friendship, love and her own intellectual ambition. Youthful passion is unpredictable though, and she soon finds herself at the center of a charged and intricate triangle. As graduation comes and goes, choices made will alter these three lives forever.

Decades later, Jordan is living the life she dreamed of, and the vulnerable days of her youth seem comfortably behind her. But when a surprise visit and unexpected news brings the past crashing into the present, Jordan returns to a world she left behind and is forced to confront the decisions and deceptions of her younger self.

Written with the superb wit and emotional sensitivity fans and critics of Lily King have come to adore, Heart the Lover is a deeply moving story that celebrates love, friendship, and the transformative nature of forgiveness. Wise, unforgettable, and with a delightful connective thread to Writers & Lovers, this is King at her very best, affirming her as a masterful chronicler of the human experience and one of the finest novelists at work today.