It’s mid-January, and I offer this R-E-P-O-R-T.
At mid-month, I’m . . .
R . . . eading
I’ve got 3 books going at the moment: A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan which is eye-opening, but a bit . . . drawn out (I was already somewhat familiar with the bare bones of this story from my time in grad school at IU, and it’s still eye-opening). Cacophony of Bone by Kerri ní Dochartaigh, which I’m actually having a hard time getting into, but will continue to try for awhile (and I will admit . . . it was the title that drew me in). And an ARC copy of Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange (I’m not far enough along to offer an opinion at this point).
E . . . ating
Bagels. Just grocery store bagels. I’m in the mood, and that’s what I’ve got available. (And I’m from the Midwest, where we don’t get too uppity about bagels.)
P . . . laying
Word Puzzles from the New York Times. Every day. Tom and I team up for the Spelling Bee and Connections (We have a “relay” approach on the Bee, where I get us to “Amazing” and then he brings us home to “Genius;” we have a “team” approach on Connections, where we just think it through together.) Then I do the Wordle and all the Crosswords on my own. It’s a great way to start the day.
O . . . rganizing
Closets. All my closets. I just keep paring down and paring down what’s in them . . . Maybe some year I won’t have anything left to organize! (But I’m not there yet.)
R . . . ecommending
This short, feel-good story from the Washington Post (I’ve “gifted” the article here, so you can click into the link and read it whether you’re a subscriber or not) about the power of kindness and the beauty of fiber arts on an airplane! Give it a read. It’ll make you smile. And I’m thinking we can all use some happy news in our days.
T . . . reating
My birds to an unlimited supply of seed, suet, peanuts, and water . . . every day in the winter, but I’m being especially vigilant during this nasty turn of weather we’re currently in the midst of.
What about you?
How are you holding up here . . . at mid-month?
I’ve been having a steady supply of finches, blue jays and sparrows along with an occasional squirrel at my bird feeders but yesterday got interesting. There were a couple starlings and although I didn’t get much of a look at it, I think there was a hawk or something similar. It was way bigger than the blue jays. Hawks don’t stay the winter here but the unusual fall weather must have confused him. It didn’t eat from the feeder and all the other birds vanished while it was there.
It’s all sourdough bread here and I am LOVING it! LOL Getting Sherman out for a walk this morning was A. Challenge! (and it was a balmy 11 out here… It was colder with the winds over the weekend!) I am trying to settle in with Cacophony as well… it feels a bit disjointed but I am willing to give it a bit more time to settle in. (and as you know, I loved Wandering Stars… so much!)
What a fun approach to doing a current style post! There’s nothing wrong with grocery store bagels! I am also reading Wandering Stars. I started it Friday and I love it. I think you will, too.
I like your approach to “reporting!” I just had half a sesame bagel (grocery store) with jalapeno cream cheese. YUM!!! Yesterday I listened to another 45 minutes or so of Heaven & Earth and I think (hope) I am finally in a rhythm for listening!! I may do The Poisonwood Bible that way (she said surprising herself). We have a peanut feeder, a thistle feeder and a sunflower seed feeder as well as suet hanging from a branch in the apple tree. And we have a steady stream of a good variety of birds. I do love seeing them. Oh and we have a heated saucer (Large) of water for the birds too (and Mabel loves bird scented water!). And now you have reminded me that closets (as well as drawers) really need a DEEP cleaning!
The month is just sort of rolling along. Steve and I are getting out for our rounds of our favorite coffee shops. Yesterday we found a new French bakery. All I will say is . . . it is a good thing it is not closer to where we live.
Tonight we are expected to get a “real” snowfall. We had squalls yesterday, but nothing stuck. Tonight it is supposed to “stick”.
I just went to an “uppity” new bagel place over the weekend and they were not good! I had to get some bagels from Aldi on the way home. While I’m eating Aldi bagels I am staying inside and reading. I don’t think it’s as cold here as you might be experiencing, but it’s plenty cold everywhere. I requested too many NetGalley books over the holidays and now most of those requests have been approved. They’re good so far, but I do need to make sure I read and review them.
Just finished my fun of NYT puzzles today, too. Connections had me flummoxed for awhile but I brought it home (in 6!-whew). Wordle in 3, and I got QBABM (all by myself). I get to Genius everyday, but QB has been illusive lately.
REPORT is a great idea! I’m so looking forward to Tommie Orange’s book. I have it on order at the LBS along with Percival Everett’s James. I’m so sorry you have the extreme cold. We have the opposite. It was nearly 40 a couple of days ago (for a low!). Today it’s full on ice but the sun should melt it quickly. Ugh, winter weather. So fickle.
Thank you for that gift link — my father sent me a link to it the other day, but just a regular link, and as I am not a subscriber, I could not open it. (I later found a Yahoo story about it, which gave me the gist of it, but I still wanted to read the original.)
My family is now all doing Wordle and Connections pretty much every day and seeing if we can outdo each other. It’s a good way to get the neurons firing!
Wordle and Connections are a must for me every morning. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment and wakes up my brain for the day.
This month seems to be lasting forever.
I love this lens for a mid-month share Kym! I just re-read There There last week and loved it even more the second time around. I’m in awe of how he structured the book and am now going back through it again to note how all the characters “fit” and to ponder his shifts in POV (I’m always curious about why some characters get to tell their own story, and some have to be told by the author). Looking forward to your thoughts on Wandering Stars!
What a fun post. It’s dangerously cold and the last two snowfalls aren’t going anywhere at least for a few days. Today’s high was 2 degrees. Our son is here visiting and working remotely. We’ve been hunkered down inside with homemade soup and more soup. Luckily I have plenty of knitting and spinning and reading to keep me occupied. Today I pulled out the yoga mat. A late start on Adriene’s 30 day yoga journey is better than no start at all. I have a sore wrist so I have to take it easy.
Such a delightful post! I love bagels and buy Chompies (local restaurant that sells bagels at the grocery), they are so good. It’s been cold in Phoenix, so I’ve been curled up underneath a throw with my knitting. Stay warm ☺️
Lots of samesies. NYT puzzles each morning but I save Connections for my cocktail. 🙂 The birds are quite happy but Doug is rolling his eyes at the mourning doves who poop in the heated bird bath every day! I’ve been eating oatmeal…a little unusual but provides me what I need to head out the door. And here we are…already 1/16…