Monday Musings

Raindrops on our plumeria tree last Tuesday.

My week: It was a pretty quiet week here. I think the most interesting thing I did was go to Bath and Body Works and pick out some fall-scented hand soaps! Also, after using the same shampoo and conditioner for over 10 years, I bought something new this week, Coconut Curls by OGX. I haven't been so excited to wash my hair in a long time!

Reading: I thoroughly enjoyed Emily Giffin's latest, "First Comes Love" (review), and then breezed through "All the Light We Cannot See," Anthony Doerr's beautiful WWII story. I'd been meaning to read it since it first came out two years ago, and I'm so glad I finally did. (Yay for crossing another book off my rather long must-read-in-2016 list!) Though completely different, both books were impossible to put down!

Last night I read the first few pages of an advance copy of "The Other Einstein" by Marie Benedict, a novel about Albert Einstein's first wife, also a physicist, that comes out next month. (Isn't that cover eye-catching? Also... what a crazy coincidence that "All the Light" has the same cover font!) I'm hoping it's a quick read because I have seven (seven!) books ready to pick up at the library.

Knitting: I'm chugging along on my Earnest Cardigan! I had a rather humongous disaster with some mis-crossed cables, but I'm back on track now. You can see a progress picture from last week here.

Watching: I've been watching a delightful BBC period drama, "Lark Rise to Candleford," while working on my sweater. It's set in 1880s England, in the hamlet of Lark Rise and the market town of Candleford, separated by about 8 miles. Our charming main character, Laura, grew up in Lark Rise and then headed to Candleford to work at the post office. It's a pretty idyllic show, almost a little twee, but it's grown on me quickly! I love the characters, and the show does cover interesting themes at times, like strife between economic classes, politics and forbidden love. It's easy and enjoyable, and it's been absolutely perfect to watch while knitting. (Also, it's based on a semi-autobiographical book series by Flora Thompson.)

Listening to: "Kids" by OneRepublic.

Eating: We tried a new recipe this week that I'd say is a keeper, chili mac from Damn Delicious. If you haven't checked out this awesome food blog, you should! I think we've liked every recipe we've tried so far. (Her Swedish meatballs are a favorite and I make her ranch baby carrots as a side dish all the time.)

Looking forward to: Jarrod has been working some insane hours and I feel like I've hardly seen him at all in the last week. I'm so ready for his schedule to get back to some semblance of normalcy! Ah, the joys of being a military spouse... I'm also looking forward to putting out some fall decorations. I'm excited to unpack the pumpkins I made out of old books last year!

I'm linking up with Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?