Life: It Goes On - October 30

Wow! What a week we've had in my family! Thursday my nephew and his wife had a baby girl, my parents' first great-grandchild. We've toasted her arrival more than once in the past few days. Thursday evening Miss H took The Big Guy and I out to dinner for an early anniversary dinner. Friday was my birthday, which we celebrated with dinner out with friends. Yesterday, another of my nephew's got engaged to a young woman who is perfect for him. Today is our 34th wedding anniversary. Tomorrow is my mom's birthday so we headed to Lincoln to have dinner with my parents and my sister and her husband. It's been a whirlwind of food and champagne! Good thing I got a new pair tennies for my birthday because I really need to get to the gym this week!


This Week I'm:

Listening To: NW by Zadie Smith, which is turning out to be something of a struggle in the car. Also, listening to some "Reading Women," " NPR Books," and "Happier" podcasts while working out.

Watching: The World Series, football and, on PBS, The Durrells In Corfu. Some years ago I added Gerald Durrell's My Family and Other Animals to my TBR list. Seeing the adaptation of the trilogy of his family's life has made me want to get that book back up to the top of my buy list. 

Reading: Sarah Water's Fingersmith. My plan was to have it finished by tomorrow but that's not going to happen. I am really enjoying it and will be through it yet this week. Then it's on to nonfiction reads for Nonfiction November. Not sure what I'll be reading for that yet; something foodie for Fall Feasting and maybe something football related.

Making: Two trips to the apple orchards this week have netted us 15 pounds of apples so you can imagine that we have been eating a lot of apples, including fried apples and apple crisp. I'd wager to say we still have 10 pounds left so I'm contemplating making applesauce this week. I'll also be trying a new recipe for homemade tomato soup.

Planning: A trip to Columbia to take my parents to meet the new little princess. Cannot. Wait!

Thinking About: Christmas. It's time to kick up the crafting and shopping. Miss S and Mini-me will not be able to get time off to come home for the holidays so I've got to get their gifts into the mail in a about 6 weeks - gasp!

Enjoying: A three-day weekend and the fabulous weather we've been having. I know a lot of you are eager for cooler temps but I'm happy to still see temps in the 70's. It's cool in the mornings and evenings, but so warm enough for long walks in crunchy leaves.

Feeling: Happy! See above.

Looking forward to: Getting Miss Evie into my arms!

Question of the week: What's your best advice for the new parents?