I’ve been mesmerized by the live nest cam of bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow, and their two surviving (thriving!) eaglets (via the Friends of Big Bear Valley, on YouTube); Huge doses of cuteness are medicinal! Jarod K. Anderson’s book Something In The Woods Loves You has been a slow and savory resonant read for me.
oh, i love Something in the Woods Loves You. so tenderly written. i got halfway through before i had to return it to the library. am waiting my turn again. it is popular!
First, miigwech, thank you, for the tip re: The Lost Folk. My mom loves this kind of thing so I sent her the link and have subsequently pre-ordered two copies; one for her and one for me!
Secondly, I've been taking a master naturalist course. I took one during covid and it was all online, so the in person variety this time around has been much more enjoyable. But I also find myself annoyed by all the science-based stuff because it feels like there is little attention to the connections with all of these relative and us *as relatives*. One of the components of the class is "nature journaling" which is a fancy way to describe "drawing beautiful pictures of what you see." Which is valuable, I guess, but there are enough people (to my mind) taking that approach. Plus I suck at it. So in a long way to answer your "general delights" question I would say in response to the journaling requirement, I'm doubling down on finding stories from my Anishinaabe culture related to all the relatives I most encounter. It's been fun.
Ooh I think you'll enjoy The Lost Folk - it's very English-based but there are maybe some parallels in the ways that we're trying to get back to our culture over here, finding the sense of complexity and connection again. Your course sounds great, in a roundabout way :)
Watching plants unfurl and blossom as spring springs, drinking hot strong tea with milk and sugar, reading fiction for wisdom and solace, watching clouds race across the sky. 🥰
I just re-watched a film I saw at the cinema last year - a Canadian indie film called My Old Ass starring Aubrey Plaza (from Parks & Recreation). What would your older self tell you if you summoned / conjured them while on a mushroom trip? So heart warming and life-affirming. I love it.
Working through the Green Knowe books. A Stranger... made me cry and moved me far more than I remember as a child. Now on An Enemy... I shall be safe to finish. Finding magic in my own home in hidden faces in things. Pondering reading the Cazelet novels.
I was digging through a collection of music and came across the song Summer, Highland Falls by Billy Joel. Very random, but I have been obsessed with it. I also re-started my drum lessons so I am trying to learn the drum part (or at least some skills to be able to learn it). Also watching Severance. 😊
Currently reading "Gathering Moss" by Robin Wall Kimmerer and the Collected Poems of Audre Lorde. I was watching "Severance" (finished this week!) and am still watching "The White Lotus," "The Pitt," and "Yellowjackets."
“ I just want to mill around, maybe eating crunchy snacks in quantity. I don’t want the real world to come back.” I feel this in my bones. Milling about is where my energy is right now—want to move around some but not to any particular purpose. Crunchy snacks are a bonus. The real world is Right Out.
Lately I’ve been listening to/watching Anna Lapwood on YouTube. She’s a marvelous organist and delightful person, and feeling that Royal Albert Hall organ rumbling in my body (headphones) is fabulous.
'A suitable boy', TV adaptation, is my binge this week; beautiful sensory experience. I enjoyed reading 'The proof of my innocence' by Jonathan Coe and 'A hundred years of solitude' saw me through a recent respiratory virus! Warm spring sunshine and gardening have been joyful in recent days. Thanks for the heads up for Conclave; it is returning to Lancaster
A week and a half ago, I managed to slip on some ice and break my arm. I've had a bit more reading and watching time since then. I finally got to Four Thousand Weeks- so much to absorb there! And I just finished Sara Sheridan's British Bulldog (a perfect distraction from pain). I'm now reading The Other Side: a story of women in art and the Spirit World; and Our Evenings by Alan Hollingshurst. Watching: Adolescence was a hard but I think realistic story. The White Lotus- soooooo messed up! And Severance is on my list.
I've just been engaged with Suze Rotolo's memoir of her romantic days with Bob Dylan and the Greenwich Village folk music scene in the early 60s. She is far more fascinating and smart than she is portrayed in the film if you saw it. A red diaper baby and a feminist before there was a movement. Suze sadly died in 2011. I reccommend her beautifully written book if you are interested in any of the above.
thank you for all the recommendations! you rarely steer me in a direction i don't want to follow (except Severance...just couldn't watch it). i finally got my copy of "A Woman in the Polar Night" from the library and was fully absorbed from first to last page. it reminded me of Nan Shephard's "The Living Mountain" which also drew me in that same way. i may end up buying my own copies so i can refer back to all the wisdom. currently reading "Bluets"by Maggie Nelson which sends tiny vignettes of grief into my heart when i least expect it.
i recently watch the movie Flow (academy award for best animated feature.) stunning, thoughtful, and immersive. highly recommend.
will be in the UK late april-early may and plan on filling a tote with books not yet available in the states! also look forward to pre-ordering your next book as soon as it is ready. :)
Conclave knocked my socks off too. First time I’d been to the cinema in years and that movie more than made up for it.
I’ve just finished Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood, can’t recommend this enough - it has received a lot of attention - truly deserved. Loved it & I think it’d land with many readers here too.
I have been slowed way down to absorb the sunny blue skies in Charelston, walks with our dog on the beach, heart to heart conversations with our children about love and loss, as well as lots of reflecting.
I cannot put down my book, Wild Dark Shore, by Charlotte McConaghy. I absolutely loved Migrations and Once There Were Wolves but I am loving this one even more!
We recently watched the series Adolescence which was extremely disturbing, but very well done and important.
Wintering and Enchantment have a special spot on the stool by my tub...two of my favorites I return to often for inspiration. Can't wait for your next one!
I’ve been mesmerized by the live nest cam of bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow, and their two surviving (thriving!) eaglets (via the Friends of Big Bear Valley, on YouTube); Huge doses of cuteness are medicinal! Jarod K. Anderson’s book Something In The Woods Loves You has been a slow and savory resonant read for me.
This sounds like the content I need!
Google Knepp Stork Cam - 24/7 youtube of two storks at the home of rewilding - 4 eggs! Well worth popping in on
oh, i love Something in the Woods Loves You. so tenderly written. i got halfway through before i had to return it to the library. am waiting my turn again. it is popular!
First, miigwech, thank you, for the tip re: The Lost Folk. My mom loves this kind of thing so I sent her the link and have subsequently pre-ordered two copies; one for her and one for me!
Secondly, I've been taking a master naturalist course. I took one during covid and it was all online, so the in person variety this time around has been much more enjoyable. But I also find myself annoyed by all the science-based stuff because it feels like there is little attention to the connections with all of these relative and us *as relatives*. One of the components of the class is "nature journaling" which is a fancy way to describe "drawing beautiful pictures of what you see." Which is valuable, I guess, but there are enough people (to my mind) taking that approach. Plus I suck at it. So in a long way to answer your "general delights" question I would say in response to the journaling requirement, I'm doubling down on finding stories from my Anishinaabe culture related to all the relatives I most encounter. It's been fun.
Ooh I think you'll enjoy The Lost Folk - it's very English-based but there are maybe some parallels in the ways that we're trying to get back to our culture over here, finding the sense of complexity and connection again. Your course sounds great, in a roundabout way :)
Watching plants unfurl and blossom as spring springs, drinking hot strong tea with milk and sugar, reading fiction for wisdom and solace, watching clouds race across the sky. 🥰
I’ve been enjoying A History of Women in 101 Objects audiobook. Each object is read by a different woman.
that sounds very interesting. thank you!
I just re-watched a film I saw at the cinema last year - a Canadian indie film called My Old Ass starring Aubrey Plaza (from Parks & Recreation). What would your older self tell you if you summoned / conjured them while on a mushroom trip? So heart warming and life-affirming. I love it.
Working through the Green Knowe books. A Stranger... made me cry and moved me far more than I remember as a child. Now on An Enemy... I shall be safe to finish. Finding magic in my own home in hidden faces in things. Pondering reading the Cazelet novels.
I was digging through a collection of music and came across the song Summer, Highland Falls by Billy Joel. Very random, but I have been obsessed with it. I also re-started my drum lessons so I am trying to learn the drum part (or at least some skills to be able to learn it). Also watching Severance. 😊
Currently reading "Gathering Moss" by Robin Wall Kimmerer and the Collected Poems of Audre Lorde. I was watching "Severance" (finished this week!) and am still watching "The White Lotus," "The Pitt," and "Yellowjackets."
“ I just want to mill around, maybe eating crunchy snacks in quantity. I don’t want the real world to come back.” I feel this in my bones. Milling about is where my energy is right now—want to move around some but not to any particular purpose. Crunchy snacks are a bonus. The real world is Right Out.
Lately I’ve been listening to/watching Anna Lapwood on YouTube. She’s a marvelous organist and delightful person, and feeling that Royal Albert Hall organ rumbling in my body (headphones) is fabulous.
'A suitable boy', TV adaptation, is my binge this week; beautiful sensory experience. I enjoyed reading 'The proof of my innocence' by Jonathan Coe and 'A hundred years of solitude' saw me through a recent respiratory virus! Warm spring sunshine and gardening have been joyful in recent days. Thanks for the heads up for Conclave; it is returning to Lancaster
I am really enjoying Elissa Altman’s book!
But of course! She’s a genius :)
Agree!!
A week and a half ago, I managed to slip on some ice and break my arm. I've had a bit more reading and watching time since then. I finally got to Four Thousand Weeks- so much to absorb there! And I just finished Sara Sheridan's British Bulldog (a perfect distraction from pain). I'm now reading The Other Side: a story of women in art and the Spirit World; and Our Evenings by Alan Hollingshurst. Watching: Adolescence was a hard but I think realistic story. The White Lotus- soooooo messed up! And Severance is on my list.
Oh nooo! Bet!! So sorry to hear about your arm! Your reading list sounds ace though.
The White Lotus! Yes!
I've just been engaged with Suze Rotolo's memoir of her romantic days with Bob Dylan and the Greenwich Village folk music scene in the early 60s. She is far more fascinating and smart than she is portrayed in the film if you saw it. A red diaper baby and a feminist before there was a movement. Suze sadly died in 2011. I reccommend her beautifully written book if you are interested in any of the above.
thank you for all the recommendations! you rarely steer me in a direction i don't want to follow (except Severance...just couldn't watch it). i finally got my copy of "A Woman in the Polar Night" from the library and was fully absorbed from first to last page. it reminded me of Nan Shephard's "The Living Mountain" which also drew me in that same way. i may end up buying my own copies so i can refer back to all the wisdom. currently reading "Bluets"by Maggie Nelson which sends tiny vignettes of grief into my heart when i least expect it.
i recently watch the movie Flow (academy award for best animated feature.) stunning, thoughtful, and immersive. highly recommend.
will be in the UK late april-early may and plan on filling a tote with books not yet available in the states! also look forward to pre-ordering your next book as soon as it is ready. :)
Oh is Flow the animation with the black cat? I’m looking forward to seeing it!
Conclave knocked my socks off too. First time I’d been to the cinema in years and that movie more than made up for it.
I’ve just finished Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood, can’t recommend this enough - it has received a lot of attention - truly deserved. Loved it & I think it’d land with many readers here too.
Thank-you Katherine!
I have been slowed way down to absorb the sunny blue skies in Charelston, walks with our dog on the beach, heart to heart conversations with our children about love and loss, as well as lots of reflecting.
I cannot put down my book, Wild Dark Shore, by Charlotte McConaghy. I absolutely loved Migrations and Once There Were Wolves but I am loving this one even more!
We recently watched the series Adolescence which was extremely disturbing, but very well done and important.
Wintering and Enchantment have a special spot on the stool by my tub...two of my favorites I return to often for inspiration. Can't wait for your next one!
best, Barb