it’s September
It’s my favorite time of the year. My favorite month too. My birthday is days away. School is in full swing and I’m back in the studio for more regular work hours. I’m so behind on blogging, it makes my head ache wondering what to do. But no one really cares except me, so I show up and write as I can. And here I am. What have I collected for this week:
FRIDAY LINKS
I spent my first Saturday back at The Green Bean Cafe. Reading, drinking coffee, eating my slice of Lady Dundee cake. All is right in the world for autumn to come in.
THINGS I BOOKMARKED
A Garden of Imagination: Why Adults Should Read Children’s Literature by Audrey Fields – A lovely article about how children’s novels engage imagination; reminding us of character, virtue, play, and so much more. “We are reminded that our lives are also a story with trials and blessings that may be inviting us into growth in character and virtue, exposing needed change in us.”
I’m a High Schooler. AI is Demolishing My Education - A sobering and super important read in the conversations surrounding AI.
The Clue to Unlocking Parkinsons May Be All Around Us – Good article about pesticides and questions of what they are causing in our health. I always appreciate Nicholas Kristof’s opinion pieces.
If Someone Thinks Ill of You, They’re Right – I’ve been thinking about this quote from Spurgeon a lot. Loved this little note from S.D. Smith about it too.
THINGS I LISTENED TO
Fielder – The full album is finally out from Skye Peterson & Addison Agen! I’m still taking it all in, but I continue to love their style, harmonies, layers, and songwriting.
Our Divine Mischief audiobook – I read this book when it first debuted a handful of years ago. Loved it then, and was thinking about it again recently so I decided to listen to the audiobook version this time while I worked in my studio. Fantastic decision. The audiobook adds so much depth to Hanna’s incredible storytelling. I devoured this audiobook, told with three narrators as fits the book. Highly, highly recommend the book, and the audiobook too.
September Song with Ella Fitzgerald (of course) – I have a September playlist that I return to every year. This one is always a favorite on the list.
September Song by Agnes Obel – But if you want to get really autumnally moody, this is the song to listen to. I adore it. It takes me into depths of thought and mood and is best listened to under a cozy blanket, watching the weather drip and be gray, and drinking something warm.
September by Earth, Wind & Fire – And don’t forget to listen to this on Sunday. And dance. In honor of my birthday, of course.
THINGS I MADE
These gorgeous paint colors. I am wrapping up work on my Welsh linocut alphabet and I mixed two of these colors for the cover. Love it all. Cannot wait to see this book come together and be able to share it with you!
a Sunday evening food board. I have mostly made food over the summer. With the girls, and just for fun. It has been delightful and I’m hoping my newfound schedule for meals will stick through the school year too.
Pumpkin Ravioli with brown butter sauce. Remember when everyone was taking pictures of their food on Instagram in the early days? I loved that. There’s something about documenting food that helps you savor it in a different way. This was totally worth eating and documenting.
Upside Down Plum Blueberry Cake. I think this was my first time making an upside down cake. A friend gave me a whole bunch of plums from her garden and I put them all in this. It was excellent. Made an absolute mess of my oven, but worth it (I think).
Apple Tart with Marzipan Frangipane. I don’t fully understand what that title means or how to pronounce it, but it was easy to make and absolutely delightful to eat. Will be making, and eating, again.
Pumpkin and Roasted Apple Soup with praline topping and parsnip chips. I told you I made a lot of food this summer. Well, really it wasn’t more food than I usually make. It just felt a little more special and a little more noteworthy as I focused on things seasonally that I wanted to make. This is a new favorite soup.
THINGS I FOUND
I shouldn’t need to explain these. Not if you know me.
Picked up this ceramic paint palette on a little trip over the summer break and I love using it. Can’t show what I’m working on yet, but the colors were very autumnal.
Mark found this guy buried in our back garden. Poor fella has been through it. Not sure what will become of him, but for now, he sits and rests in a buried plant pot.
This Welsh summer was dry. The hills have been so incredibly brown, it was depressing. But the rainy season has made up for it quickly. I spotted this foliage in great abundance on the walk from the Co-op. Isn’t it grand?
Well, there it is. A quick recap of links. I little hello. Hopefully I’ll be back again soon with more adventures documented. And books. We have so many books to talk about. Thanks for reading along.