November 2021
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#83. GET YOUR LIFE BACK: EVERYDAY PRACTICES FOR A WORLD GONE MAD by John Eldredge
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
★★★☆☆
I purchased this book for my husband back in January for Epiphany. We had listened to an interview featuring John Eldredge and he was so understanding about the modern, chaotic lives we lead. This book collected his thoughts on the matter and practices we can start to combat the madness. It started really strong and I was highlighting tons of quotes! Sadly, by the midpoint, it kind-of fizzled out for me.
#84. CAN’T HURT ME: MASTER YOUR MIND AND DEFY THE ODDS by David Goggins
(amazon // bookshop // better world books) ★★★☆☆Oh man, this book! David Goggins had a tough childhood, but through stubbornness and determination, he achieved so much. I loved a lot of his advice (work hard, avoid making excuses, embrace suffering) but the examples from his life seemed a little too extreme. My oldest son has also read it and we’ve had many great discussions.
#85. TALKING ABOUT GOD IS DANGEROUS: THE DIARY OF A RUSSIAN DISSIDENT by Tatiana Goricheva
(amazon // better world books) ★★★☆☆This little book is the “diary” of a Christian convert during Soviet Russia and the hardships she endured for her new faith. Eventually, she was forced to emigrate or risk being imprisoned. My biggest takeaway from this book is that when the stakes are high and it comes at a cost, faith is passionate and strengthened. On the contrary, comfort and prosperity can quickly diminish or squash it.
#86. THE HIDING PLACE by C.J. Tudor
(amazon // bookshop // better world books) ★★☆☆☆I really enjoyed Tudor’s book, The Other People, back in March so I thought I would give another one of hers a try. This one was super creepy – I didn’t realize it was more in the horror genre! It also had a confusing plot and I just wasn’t interested in the characters. A miss for me. (P.S. Apparently, there were a lot of similarities to Stephen King’s book, Pet Cemetery, but I’ve never read that, so I was clueless.)
#87. THE CRICKET IN TIMES SQUARE by George Selden
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
★★★★☆
Our second read aloud for school. We’ve read this one multiple times before and it’s always a crowd favorite – they love that hilarious Tucker Mouse! After we finished, we immediately dove into the sequel, Tucker’s Countryside.
(This was also my 1960 pick for the 20th Century in Books Challenge.)
#88. BENEATH THE TAMARIND TREE: A STORY OF COURAGE, FAMILY, AND THE LOST SCHOOLGIRLS OF BOKO HARAM by Isha Sasay
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
★★☆☆☆
I agree completely with another person’s review of this book – this was “an important story poorly told.” First the good news: this book was not nearly as graphic as I expected. The schoolgirls were neglected, starved and sometimes beaten, but I don’t believe they experienced any sexual abuse, praise God. I found their story of survival powerful. Now the bad news: my biggest issue was the fact that half of the book was about Sesay: her childhood, her work with CNN, her interviews with important politicians, the way she was always trying to find a way in to the building to get close to the girls, etc. I wasn’t interested and it just felt like filler. All in all, I feel the title is misleading and would more accurately be described as Sesay’s memoir of a particular news story that deeply touched her heart. (Still possibly a worthwhile read if you’re looking for that!)
#89. BLANCHE ON THE LAM by Barbara Neely
(amazon // bookshop // better world books) ★★★☆☆From the back: “Blanche White is a plump, feisty, middle-aged African-American housekeeper working for the genteel rich in North Carolina.” While working for a wealthy family at their summer home, Blanche gets caught up in a murder and needs to figure out whodunit before it gets pinned on her! I enjoyed this one – solid three stars.
#90. A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE by Brittany Cavallaro
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
★★★☆☆
I’m not usually a fan of YA, so this is another step outside of my comfort zone! This mystery follows the great-great-great-grandchildren of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson who attend a private school in Connecticut. Someone is trying to frame them for a string of crimes and they have to solve the case to save themselves from imprisonment. This one was fun. Better than I was expecting!
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This month, a group of readers participated in Nonfiction November, where the goal is to read…you guessed it…more nonfiction. I have loved seeing everyone’s book stacks. There are just so many interesting books out there and I already know that in 2022, I’d like to prioritize nonfiction in my reading life! Here are nine books I’ve recently heard about and can’t wait to read:
1 // Billion Dollar Loser: The Epic Rise and Spectacular Fall of Adam Neumann and WeWork by Reeves Wiedeman
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
Do you know the company, WeWork? I had never heard of it before, but this business story sounds fascinating. From the description: “In its earliest days, WeWork promised the impossible: to make the American work place cool. Adam Neumann, an immigrant determined to make his fortune in the United States, landed on the idea of repurposing surplus New York office space for the burgeoning freelance class.” This book supposedly focuses in on Neumann’s charismatic personality, the creation of a company that bordered on cultish and the later demise of the company itself.
2 // Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
I have seen this book pop up everywhere lately! From the description: “There is nothing more essential to our health and well-being than breathing: take air in, let it out, repeat twenty-five thousand times a day. Yet, as a species, humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly, with grave consequences. Journalist James Nestor travels the world to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.” I’m curious.
3 // The Human Superorganism: How the Microbiome Is Revolutionizing the Pursuit of a Healthy Life by Rodney Dietert
(amazon // better world books)
I’ll let the description fill you in on this one: “The Human Superorganism makes a sweeping, paradigm-shifting argument. It demolishes two fundamental beliefs that have blinkered all medical thinking until very recently: 1) Humans are better off as pure organisms free of foreign microbes; and 2) the human genome is the key to future medical advances. The microorganisms that we have sought to eliminate have been there for centuries supporting our ancestors. They comprise as much as 90 percent of the cells in and on our bodies–a staggering percentage! More than a thousand species of them live inside us, on our skin, and on our very eyelashes. Yet we have now significantly reduced their power and in doing so have sparked an epidemic of noncommunicable diseases–which now account for 63 percent of all human deaths. Ultimately, this book is not just about microbes; it is about a different way to view humans. The story that Dietert tells of where the new biology comes from, how it works, and the ways in which it affects your life is fascinating, authoritative, and revolutionary. Dietert identifies foods that best serve you, the superorganism; not new fad foods but ancient foods that have made sense for millennia. He explains protective measures against unsafe chemicals and drugs. He offers an empowering self-care guide and the blueprint for a revolution in public health. We are not what we have been taught. Each of us is a superorganism. The best path to a healthy life is through recognizing that profound truth.” Science has never been my strong suit, but I’m intrigued!
4 // Inferno: A Memoir of Motherhood and Madness by Catherine Cho
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
This memoir is about a “young mother who is separated from her newborn son and husband when she’s involuntarily committed to a psychiatric ward in New Jersey after a harrowing bout of postpartum psychosis.” I imagine this will be a heartbreaking, but important read.
5 // A Mind at Peace: Reclaiming an Ordered Soul in the Age of Distraction by Christopher O. Blum and Joshua Hochschild
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
Another book about dealing with the stress of the digital age! From the description: “This book offers a calm, measured, yet forthright and effective approach to regaining interior peace. Here you’ll find no argument for retreat from the modern world; instead these pages provide you with a practical guide to recovering self-mastery and interior peace through wise choices and ordered activity in the midst of the world’s communication chaos.”
6 // The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
I read 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn last year and gave it five BIG stars. This book was shared widely this year due the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and it sounds equally as good. “Garrett Graff tells the story of the day as it was lived—in the words of those who lived it. Drawing on never-before-published transcripts, declassified documents, original interviews, and oral histories from nearly five hundred government officials, first responders, witnesses, survivors, friends, and family members, he paints the most vivid and human portrait of the September 11 attacks yet.” I heard the audiobook is excellent.
7 // Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program that Brought Nazi Scientists to America by Annie Jacobsen
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
From the description: “In the chaos following World War II, the U.S. government faced many difficult decisions, including what to do with the Third Reich’s scientific minds. These were the brains behind the Nazis’ once-indomitable war machine. So began Operation Paperclip, a decades-long, covert project to bring Hitler’s scientists and their families to the United States. Many of these men were accused of war crimes, and others had stood trial at Nuremberg; one was convicted of mass murder and slavery. They were also directly responsible for major advances in rocketry, medical treatments, and the U.S. space program. Was Operation Paperclip a moral outrage, or did it help America win the Cold War?”
8 // The Puzzle Solver: A Scientist’s Desperate Quest to Cure the Illness that Stole His Son by Tracie White and Ronald W. Davis
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
This one is a story of love and determination! “At the age of twenty-seven, Whitney Dafoe was forced to give up his life as a photographer who traveled the world. Bit by bit a mysterious illness stole away the pieces of his life: First, it took the strength of his legs, then his voice, and his ability to eat. Finally, even the sound of a footstep in his room became unbearable. The Puzzle Solver follows several years in which he desperately sought answers from specialist after specialist, where at one point his 6’3″ frame dropped to 115 lbs. For years, he underwent endless medical tests, but doctors told him there was nothing wrong. Then, finally, a diagnosis: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis.” His father happened to be a world-class geneticist and researcher and he dramatically altered his career to search for a cure for his son. Sounds so good!
9 // Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks by Andrea Lankford
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
This last book is about a park ranger’s adventures working in many of America’s national parks. From the description: “In this graphic and yet surprisingly funny account of her and others’ extraordinary careers, Lankford unveils a world in which park rangers struggle to maintain their idealism in the face of death, disillusionment, and the loss of a comrade killed while holding that thin green line between protecting the park from the people, the people from the park, and the people from each other. Ranger Confidential is the story behind the scenery of the nation’s crown jewels—Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Great Smokies, Denali. In these iconic landscapes, where nature and humanity constantly collide, scenery can be as cruel as it is redemptive.”
Have you read any great nonfiction books lately? I’d love to hear!
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The weather outside is //
As I look outside my window // It’s starting to get chilly out there, especially with the wind! We still have a few homestead projects to finish, but it’s getting harder to get excited about them. We’re just going to have to pile on the layers and get ‘er done. I was just telling my husband that once we get to January, I’m going to collapse by the fire and not move for an entire month! I am so proud of all we’ve accomplished in 2021, but whew! It’s hard work.
As I look around the house // My 30 day super mega declutter/reselling challenge is officially over, but I’ve still got my eyes peeled for more things to go.
So excited about // the new 2022 planner I just purchased! I have loved using The Saintmaker the past few months, but I’ve ultimately decided that the daily pages are really unnecessary at this point in my life. I was looking for new options when I found The Home Planner from Passionate Penny Pincher and it is perfect! I love all of the checklists, there’s enough space in the daily boxes and it even has a section for budgeting. I can’t wait to start using it in January! (P.S. I have a referral link so you can get $5 off your purchase if you’re in the market for a planner too!)
On this week’s to-do list //
– order chocolate coins for the Feast of Saint Nicholas – bake a blueberry pie – deep clean the kitchen, top to bottom!
– start reflecting on 2021 and brainstorm new goals for 2022
Currently reading //
On the menu this week //
Monday: enchiladas
Tuesday: shepherd’s pie baked potatoes
Wednesday: breakfast for dinner
Thursday: Thanksgiving!
Friday: Our 16th Anniversary!
A new series about little thoughts and things to share. I hope you’ll share your thoughts and latest finds with me too!
+ We found this beautiful spider web on the garden fence a few weeks ago. More and more, we’re turning into Charlotte’s Web around here!
+ I read The Gift of Fear (affiliate link) a few months ago and I still think about it often. One of the biggest takeaways from that book is the idea that fear is the indicator that something is potentially wrong. After acknowledging that fear, it’s my choice to how I’ll proceed: will I allow these feelings to progress to terror/anxiety/despair or will I act? I have found this to be really empowering! This way of thinking has helped me through a handful of recent stressors with things like health or financial worries. Instead of wallowing on the what ifs, I acknowledge the fear and then ask myself, “What can you do about it?” And then I move forward: I take care of myself and eat better. I stock up on supplements. I intentionally buy a few extra things each week to stock our pantry. I actively look for ways to reduce our spending and live more frugally. I earn a few extra dollars by selling our unneeded items. Each little action reduces the fear and then I can leave the rest to God.
+ I recently purchased a handful of new-to-me secondhand dresses and am looking so put together, ha! I had started a blog post all about it, but it felt silly with all of the hard things going on right now, so I shelved it. Needless to say, this tomboy has made big strides in the feminine department this year! If you ever stop by the Big White Farmhouse, I’ll probably be in a dress or working outside in my Carhartt overalls.
+ I just learned that crystallized ginger is great for upset stomachs and nausea and I’m now a fan. Way better than chomping on chalky Tums! You just need the smallest bite, so the bag should last me a long time.
+ I loved this heartwarming story from WWII entitled “The Home Front Saves a Life.”
This was my last decluttering hurrah for 2021 and I was ruthless! I started this month-long challenge on a whim on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 with two goals: 1. I would find four items each day to give away or sell.
2. I would list at least three items a day on sites like Poshmark, ebay and Facebook Marketplace.
I think I mentioned earlier that this round of decluttering was a bit of a “rage purge.” Our life has been feeling really heavy and I needed a distraction that I could control. Am I the only one who does this? When life is stressful and spiraling, I become laser focused on something and this time it was my stuff. Just like I mentioned back in January with this post, it’s funny how decluttering is such an ongoing process. I feel like we haven’t brought a lot into our home this year, but there still seemed to be significant amounts of things that could go out.
So the challenge: I stayed true to my goals and found/listed things Monday to Saturday. (I took Sundays off.) I liked this thirty day window because it was intense but not too long. I can do anything for 30 days! In the end, I listed 107 items and sold 41, which comes out to about 38% on the sales to listings ratio. Not too shabby! Here’s the breakdown:
+ a pair of boy’s sandals (in late October! crazy) + two pairs of boy’s shoes + 3 shirts + 2 winter coats and a puffer vest + a pair of children’s mittens + a pair of P’s outgrown thermal underwear + 3 pairs of P’s outgrown shorts (another surprise for late October) + a pair of snow boots + a pair of shoes I never wear + two sweaters and a dress that are now too big for me + a wrap/shawl + a vintage brass penguin + 11 books + a pair of educational flash cards + some math manipulatives + a Thomas the Train bag/playmat + a door knob set (the old set from when I replaced my bedroom knobs) + a pillow + an envelope punch board + two Christmas-y garlands (that haven’t been taken out of the box in years) + a pair of Christmas-y pajama pants + a magazine holder + charcoal filters (from a compost bin we no longer own)
+ 2 vintage dresses (I had saved them for BWF back in the day and never listed them)
APPROXIMATE TOTAL AMOUNT EARNED (AFTER FEES) IN 30 DAYS: $350.58
Highly recommend going through your winter gear and Christmas decorations for anything you don’t use or need. I think with rising inflation, there is a greater need for affordable secondhand goods and you gotta love a few extra dollars in your pocket!
In the past few years, intermittent fasting seems to have become a health fad, but I really think it reflects more of our great-grandparents’ eating patterns. I’ve affectionately started calling it “The Farmer’s Way of Eating” because it really compliments the lifestyle. Imagine your great-great-grandfather: He wakes up at dawn, enjoys a cup of black coffee, then heads out for morning chores. He breaks his fast around 10am with a hearty brunch and then gets back to work. Maybe he eats a sandwich for lunch (if he’s hungry) and will later sit down to a good dinner with the family. And then he’s done eating for the day! No midnight snacks needed because he’s in bed early to get a jump start on tomorrow. When I thought of my ancestors, intermittent fasting didn’t seem much of a “fad” to me anymore.
I’ve mentioned a few of my lingering health issues off and on here on the blog: blood pressure stuff, my inability to curb my sugar impulses for long periods of time, sleeping issues, bloating, stress, some weight gain, etc. My overarching goal in trying this lifestyle was to see if I could reverse some of those issues. Weight gain was last on the list – if I lost weight, I’d be thrilled (obviously), but I’d be equally happy if I could get good sleep and have my blood pressure back in a healthy range.
I officially started on August 9, 2021 and just hit the three month mark last week. A few things I’ve learned so far:
DELAYED GRATIFICATION IS AN IMPORTANT LIFE SKILL.
There are different versions of IF, but I chose the 16:8 method because it seemed the most logical. (I begin eating at 10am and end at 6pm.) The first few days took some effort as I adjusted to this new routine. Like most people, if I was feeling a little hungry, whatever the time of day, I’d help myself to a little something. Even at night, I had gotten into the habit of cozying up in bed with a book and a “midnight” snack.
Those first few days, I had to give myself some tough self-talk as my head whined about being “hungry”: You have never truly been hungry a day in your life. You trained for and ran a half marathon. You birthed six children, one naturally! You can do hard things. Certainly, you can hold out just a little bit longer before breaking your fast. And surprise, surprise: I lived to tell the tale!
That delayed gratification lesson is so important for physical, mental and spiritual reasons.
MY RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD IS CHANGING FOR THE BETTER.
During the past 18+ months, I had adopted really bad eating habits. IF helped me focus on eating nutrient dense, full meals vs. grazing on whatever is easy all day. I actually sit down to eat now! Get ready for my duh moment: when you eat nutrient dense meals, you feel full longer and don’t feel the need to snack.
I’m eating well and nothing is off limits except the things I have sensitivities with, like dairy products. I’ve dramatically changed my sugar cravings and while I still have homemade cookies and treats here and there, I don’t feel like an addict anymore. I’m more in tune with my body and I’m learning the difference between real hunger and when I’m just bored/stressed/emotional. All steps in the right direction!
MY SLEEP HAS GREATLY IMPROVED.
Before IF, I would lay in bed forever with to-do lists and what-ifs and all the things running through my head. At one point, it was so bad that I remember pleading to God to please just turn off my brain for a little while so I could get some sleep. Post IF, I’ve done a complete 180. When my head hits that pillow, I am OUT. I am finally getting deep, restorative sleep – maybe for the first time in my adult life?! – and it’s lifechanging.
MY HEALTH ISSUES ARE IMPROVING.
My blood pressure is decreasing in the right direction, my bloating is reducing and surprise of all surprises, I’ve lost almost 15 pounds!
The best part of IF is that it’s not really a diet at all. It’s a lifestyle and one that I can maintain indefinitely without feeling like I’m missing out or restricting myself unnecessarily. I’m so grateful to have found something that works!
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1 // AN IMMUNITY BOOST FOR FALL & WINTER
I’ve been on a big immune system research kick the past few months. We already use and love Nuun electrolyte tablets, so I was excited to try their Immunity line. The blend includes vitamin C, elderberry extract, ginger powder, turmeric and echinacea – all good stuff! I really like it when I’m feeling stressed or starting to get a tickle in my throat. You can find these on their website, but they’re also available on Amazon.
2 // ANOTHER WAY TO TRACK WHAT I’M READING
A few months ago, I stumbled on a Youtube video called How I Organize My Reading! In that video, she mentioned Notion and even offered a free template to make a reading tracker like hers. I was intrigued and decided to give it a try. Fast forward to today and I LOVE it. Perfect for a numbers/statistics nerd like me.
3 // A QUICK AND EASY CHILI RECIPE
I have accumulated many different chili recipes over the years, some super simple and some more involved. This recipe is one of my easiest and has been our go-to lately. We use it for everything from chili dogs, poured over baked potatoes or eaten as is with big pans of cornbread.
INGREDIENTS 1 lb. browned ground beef 15oz can kidney beans (drained and rinsed) 15oz can black beans (drained and rinsed) 14.5oz tomato sauce 14.5oz crushed tomatoes 2 cups chicken broth
homemade chili seasoning (recipe below)
CHILI SEASONING 2 tsp chili powder 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp cumin 1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp onion powder
Combine all of the ingredients in a large pot. Heat on medium-high until the chili starts to simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or longer.
4 // A NON-UNDERWIRE BRA THAT WORKS
Not to be too TMI, but I have a really hard time finding a great fitting brassiere. I purchased two of these after reading the glowing recommendation of another blogger and wow, I’m a huge fan. The fabric is so soft and comfortable! This is their website, but you can also order on Amazon. (P.S. Make sure the seller is actually Floatley – bad Chinese knockoffs are being sold under the same listing.)
5 // A NEW-TO-ME FRUGAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL
I recently found a new Youtube channel called Frugal Jo. From her description: “My videos are based on making a great life without spending a lot, making do with what you have, frugal living hints and tips, with a bit of cast iron cooking and vintage kitchenalia thrown in.” Right up my alley! I’m anxious to catch up on her past videos and learn some new tricks.
November’s Frugal Accomplishments
Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without
+ We had a bag of potatoes that were just about to go bad, so I decided to practice a new skill and dehydrate them. The process was a little tedious, but my little kids helped peel and slice and spread on the trays. It was a family event! I ordered an attachment (affiliate link) for my Food Saver that seals mason jars so I can keep them in the pantry for a rainy day. (I found a recipe for scalloped potatoes that I printed to use them up later on.)
+ When we process our chickens, we keep the backs of the ones we cut up into breasts/thighs/wings. (We try to use everything!) I thawed one of the bags of backs and made a big batch of chicken broth. I kept some in the fridge and froze the rest for future soups and stews.
+ At the grocery store, I stocked up on vinegar and baking soda to make homemade cleaners.
+ I made puree from little pie pumpkins I bought at the store. I also roasted the seeds using this delicious tutorial. It’s so awesome to use every part of a vegetable.
+ I saved the seeds from one of the last peppers grown so I can grow them again next spring.
+ When we moved to the farmhouse four years ago, our cell phone reception was very spotty and unreliable so we got a land line. Thankfully, in the years since, the reception has greatly improved (not great, but waaay better than before) so we felt comfortable letting the land line go. That saves us $35 a month and bonus! We just received our final bill and it was actually a $13 credit. I’ll take it!
+ I amended our garden soil with ash from the fireplace, last year’s compost pile and leaves from around the property.
+ The biggest win of the month goes to my pigs. Those little guys eat all of our scraps. Between the pigs, the chickens and our compost pile, we have almost no food waste at this point. Huge!
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The weather outside is //
As I look outside my window // I see fallen leaves everywhere! I’m thankful that this week looks to be mild because I’m hoping to work on my garden soil and I’m going to need those leaves for mulch. Further off on the property, my pigs are cozied up in their little house. My chickens will be out braving the chilly morning soon.
As I look around the house // I’m in the middle of a decluttering mission (again) and nothing is safe, ha! I recently heard the phrase “rage purge” and I had to laugh because it’s so true for me right now. Life has been really heavy and stressful lately and I’m taking all of those feelings out on my stuff.
On this week’s to-do list //
– research how to grow fodder – buy more tree wraps – start the book for book club – celebrate the USMC birthday
– order Advent candles
Currently reading //
On the menu this week //
Monday: chili
Tuesday: creamy beef and shells, salad
Wednesday: Refrigerator Cleanout Night
Thursday: biscuit chicken pot pie
Friday: pinto beans and cornbread
I can’t believe we are entering November already. Our property has exploded in color (which my photos just cannot accurately convey…) and it’s so gorgeous. This is definitely one of my favorite times of the year! On the docket for this beautiful month:
Eating Seasonally
- apples
- pumpkins
- sweet potatoes
- squash
- cranberries
Celebrating the Liturgical Year
The month of November is dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory. “The Church commemorates her faithful who have departed from this life, but have not yet attained the joys of heaven.” (from The Saintmaker)
- Solemnity of All Saints (1)
- Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (2)
- Leo the Great (10)
- Martin (11)
- Frances Xavier Cabrini (13)
- Gertrude (16)
- Solemnity of Christ the King (21)
- Cecilia (22)
- First Sunday of Advent (28)
- Andrew (30)
Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency
- Pull out any remaining plants and prep the garden beds for winter.
- Get the chickens squared away for cold weather.
- Keep working on the property fence.
- Keep cutting firewood from felled trees.
- Wrap apple trees to prevent sunscald.
Homemaking
- Put flannel sheets on the beds.
- Finish switching over the kids’ wardrobes and pack away for next year.
- Tidy up the mudroom.
- Clean the coffeemaker.
Christmas Preparation
- Brainstorm stocking stuffers.
- Start wrapping the presents I’ve already purchased.
- Order Advent candles.
- Pick a devotional to read for Advent.
- Decide what to do about Christmas cards.
Family Fun
- Celebrate two birthdays!
- Celebrate some silly holidays:
- Book Lover’s Day (6)
- National Nacho Day (6)
- World Origami Day (11)
- Clean Your Refrigerator Day (15)
- Go For a Ride Day (22)
- French Toast Day (28)
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#77. CHARLOTTE’S WEB by E.B. White
★★★★★
“Why did you do all this for me?” he asked. “I don’t deserve it. I’ve never done anything for you.”
“You have been my friend,” replied Charlotte. ‘That in itself is a tremendous thing.” (p.164)
Our first read aloud of the school year! The kids and I were trying to remember how many times we’ve read this classic over the years – this may be the third or fourth time now? This sweet book was extra special for us as we prepared for our own little piggies here at the homestead.
#78. THE MEMORY POLICE by Yoko Ogawa
★★★☆☆
From the back of the book: “On an unnamed island off an unnamed coast, objects are disappearing: first hats, then ribbons, birds, roses—until things become much more serious. Most of the island’s inhabitants are oblivious to these changes, while those few imbued with the power to recall the lost objects live in fear of the draconian Memory Police, who are committed to ensuring that what has disappeared remains forgotten.”
My feelings on this dystopian novel are hard to explain. This was an allegory for a country’s fall into totalitarianism and it was so somber and so sad.
#79. ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN: THE GREATEST REPORTING STORY OF ALL TIME by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
★★★☆☆
I’ve been working on this one since early April. It was crazy to hear about the lengths that reporters had to go to get information back then. Journalism was hard work! An interesting story, but there were a TON of names and it was sometimes difficult to keep them all straight. (This was also my 1974 pick for the 20th Century in Books Challenge.)
#80. JAYBER CROW by Wendell Berry
★★★★☆
I was invited to join my local Well Read Mom group and this was the first book on the schedule. Wendell Berry is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, so I was excited! This was another slow going, character driven novel and barring a few quibbles, I enjoyed it. (Hannah Coulter is still my favorite so far.) I love the way Berry makes Port William such a vivid place. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make the book club meeting (we had the last minute opportunity to attend a Solemn Pontifical Mass!) so I don’t know the final consensus with the other ladies.
#81. JAPANTOWN by Barry Lancet
★★★☆☆
This thriller was a bit outside of my comfort zone! From the description: this is about “an American antiques-dealer-turned-reluctant-private-eye [who] must use his knowledge of Japanese culture to unravel a major murder in San Francisco—before he and his daughter become targets themselves.” Interesting premise and fast paced, although some parts seemed a little over the top and/or unbelievable. A little too James Bond/superhero for my taste, but entertaining.
#82. THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ by Heather Morris
★★★☆☆
I flew through this historical fiction novel in just a few days. Apparently, it was based on a true story. I thought it was good, but not great.