scaifea's thread #13

Hey, everybody!

From the Introductions Thread:
I'm Amber, a one-time Classics professor, turned stay-at-home parent/lady of leisure, turned part-time library assistant, turned once again Classics professor. I spend my free time sewing, writing, knitting, baking, and, of course, reading.

My reading life is happily governed by lists, which means that I read a healthy variety of things across various genres.

I'm 45 going on 12 and live in Ohio with my husband, Tomm; our son, Charlie, and Mario the Golden Retriever.

For those of you wanting a photo of me on my first day of teaching, well, I forgot, but here's one of me on my second day (you can tell that I'm Professional Amber here because my hair isn't, for once, in a messy bun):



Favorite Books from 2019
Next of Kin
The Book of Boy
Ficciones
Night Watch
The Name of the Wind
A Monster Calls
Check, Please! Book 1
Art Matters
The Heart's Invisible Furies

(I'll come up with something to put here later, maybe)

What I'm Reading Now:
-Peyton Place (Banned Books)
-The King of Attolia (series reread)
-Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush (Newbery Honor Book)
-Indigo (romance list)
-The Mill on the Floss (audiobook)
-The Queen of Attolia (Charlie's bedtime book)
-The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob)
-A Christmas Carol (yearly reread)

Books on Deck:
-The House on the Borderland (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list)
-Lord Foul's Bane (BSF Award)
-The Experience of Insight (Buddhist reading list)
-Uncle Silas (books by year - 1864)
-Guard of Honor (Pulitzer list)
-(an unread book from my shelves)
-(a book from my Read Soon! shelves)
-A Likely Story (cozy mysteries)
-Henry VI Part 1 (Shakespeare re-read)

Books Read
JANUARY
1. Still Life (Read Soon! Shelves) - 9/10 = A
2. Breaking Stalin's Nose (Newbery Honor Book, audiobook) - 8/10 = B-
3. The Golden Name Day (Newbery Honor Book) - 7/10 = C
4. Lumberjanes #2: Friendship to the Max (series read) - 10/10 = A+
5. Lumberjanes #3: A Terrible Plan (series read) - 10/10 = A+
6. Lumberjanes #4: Out of Time (series read) - 10/10 = A+
7. Lumberjanes #5: Band Together (series read) - 10/10 = A+
8. Lumberjanes #6: Sink or Swim (series read) - 10/10 = A+
9. Lumberjanes #7: A Bird's-Eye View (series read) - 10/10 = A+
10. Lumberjanes #8: Stone Cold (series read) - 10/10 = A+
11. Lumberjanes #9: On a Roll (series read) - 10/10 = A+
12. Lumberjanes #10: Parents' Day! (series read) - 10/10 = A+
13. Lumberjanes #11: Time After Crime (series read) - 10/10 = A+
14. The Adventurous Eaters Club (Read Soon! Shelves/Christmas gift from Charlie) - 9/10 = A
15. The Black God's Drums (Alex Award) - 9/10 = A
16. Call Down the Hawk (Read Soon! Shelves) - 10/10 = A+
17. Mr. Justice Holmes (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
18. I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld) - 9/10 = A
19. The White Stone (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B-
20. The Corn Grows Ripe (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-

FEBRUARY
21. The Book of Essie (Alex Awards) - 9/10 = A
22. Lumberjanes 12: Jackalope Springs Eternal (series read) - 10/10 A+
23. Lumberjanes 13: Indoor Recess (series read) - 10/10 = A+
24. Lumberjanes: Bonus Tracks (series read) - 10/10 = A+
25. Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass (series read) - 10/10 = A+
26. Lumberjanes: The Shape of Friendship (series read) - 10/10 = A+
27. Mooncakes (recommended by Laura (lycomayflower)) - 9/10 = A
28. Vanity Fair (audiobook) - 7/10 = C
29. They Called Us Enemy (Read Soon! Shelves) - 9/10 = A
30. The Rattle Bag (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B
31. Queen of the Sea (impulse library checkout) - 8/10 = B-
32. Pumpkinheads (impulse library checkout) - 9/10 = A
33. Snuff (Discworld) - 9/10 = A
34. Agnes Grey (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
35. New Kid (Newbery Medal) - 10/10 = A+
36. Telephone Tales (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
37. Pawn of Prophecy (Charlie's bedtime read) - 10/10 = A+
38. The Girl Who Smiled Beads (Alex Award) - 7/10 = C
39. Cranford (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+

MARCH
40. Best Friends (impulse library checkout) - 9/10 = A
41. Old Ramon (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-
42. Bloodlust & Bonnets (impulse library checkout) - 9/10 = A
43. Raising Steam (Discworld) - 8/10 = B
44. The Terrible Two Go Wild (Charlie's nightly read-aloud) - 8/10 = B
45. If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (Charlie recommendation) - 8/10 = B
46. Me in the Middle (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
47. The King of the Copper Mountains (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B
48. The Specter in the Magician's Museum (Charlie's bedtime read) - 9/10 = A
49. Green (Alex Award) - 9/10 = A
50. Thistle and Thyme (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
51. The Fearsome Inn (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
52. These Old Shades (romance list) - 8/10 = B
53. The Wise Man's Fear (Read Soon! Shelves) - 10/10 = A+

APRIL
54. Mary Barton (audiobook) - 8/10 = B
55. The Slow Regard of Silent Things (Read Soon! Shelves) - 10/10 = A+
56. Pride and Prejudice (Read Soon! Shelves) - 10/10 = A+
57. Read It and Weep (series read with my mom) - 8/10 = B+
58. The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare re-read) - 8/10 = B
59. Secondhand Souls (Moore bibliography) - 9/10 = A
60. Candyfreak (Unread Book from My Shelves) - 8/10 = B-

MAY
61. Yarn Over Murder (series read with my mom) - 7/10 = C
62. Henry VI Part 2 (Shakespeare re-read) - 9/10 = A
63. The Graveyard Book (Charlie's bedtime read) - 10/10 = A+
64. Shiver (Stiefvater bibliography) - 9/10 = A
65. Family Don't End with Blood (a gift from one of my favorite people) - 9/10 = A-
66. The Thief of Always (an unread book from my shelves) - 9/10 = A
67. The Art of the English Murder (a book from my Read Soon! shelves) - 8/10 = B
68. This Book Is Not Good for You (a series Charlie and I are reading together) - 8/10 = B+
69. On Borrowed Time (series read with my Mom) - 8/10 = B+
70. Henry VI Part 3 (Shakespeare re-read) - 9/10 = A
71. The Shepherd's Crown (Discworld series) - 8/10 = B+

JUNE
72. The Beast under the Wizard's Bridge (Charlie's bedtime read-aloud) - 8/10 = B+
73. Winter Wonderland (Romance list) - 8/10 = B+
74. The Silence Between Us (Schneider Award) - 8/10 = B+
75. Of Human Bondage (NEH list) - 9/10 = A
76. The Duke I Tempted (Romance genre list) - 8/10 = B+
77. Genesis Begins Again (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
78. This Isn't What It Looks Like (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+

JULY
79. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (Charlie's bedtime read-aloud) - 9/10 = A
80. Any Duchess Will Do (Romance list) - 9/10 = A-
81. Other Words for Home (Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A
82. Bleak House (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
83. The Folio Society Book of the 100 Greatest Portraits (unread book from my shelves) - 9/10 = A
84. The Tower at the End of the World (Charlie's bedtime book) - 9/10 = A-

AUGUST
85. Coraline (Charlie's bedtime book) - 9/10 = A
86. Frankly in Love (Morris Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
87. Potent Pleasures (romance genre list) - 7/10 = C-
88. I Kill Giants (impulse library checkout) - 8/10 = B+
89. You Have to Stop This (Charlie series recommendation) - 9/10 = A-
90. The Shop on Blossom Street (romance genre list) - 8/10 = B-
91. Tom's Midnight Garden (Charlie's bedtime book) - 10/10 = A+
92. Our Eddie (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+

SEPTEMBER
93. There Will Come a Darkness (Morris Award) - 9/10 = A-
94. The Demon Headmaster (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
95. Holding the Cards (romance genre list) - 8/10 = B+
96. Little House on the Prairie (Charlie's bedtime book) - 9/10 = A-
97. The Field Guide to the North American Teenager (Morris Award) - 9/10 = A
98. Lumberjanes #14: X Marks the Spot (Lumberjanes series) - 9/10 = A
99. So Anyway... (a book from my Read Soon! shelves) - 8/10 = B-

OCTOBER
100. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob) - 8/10 = B+
101. Silver in the Wood (a birthday present from a best friend) - 10/10 = A+
102. Anpao (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
103. Sing Me a Story (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B
104. The Many Ways of Seeing (Newbery Honor Book) - 7/10 = C-
105. Lumberjanes #15: Birthday Smarty (series read) - 10/10 = A+
106. Pet (Stonewall Honor Book) - 9/10 = A
107. The Thief (series reread) - 10/10 = A+
108. Homesick (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
109. Purl Up and Die (cozy mysteries) - 2/10 = F
110. Lawn Boy (Alex Award) - 9/10 = A-
111. Giant Days Vol. 1 (GN rec from...Micky? I think?) - 9/10 = A
112. One Hundred Years of Solitude (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob) - 7/10 = C

NOVEMBER
113. A Thief in the Village (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B-
114. A Tale of Two Cities (audiobook) - 10/10 = A+
115. Lord of Scoundrels (romance) - 9/10 = A
116. Giant Days Volume 2 (comic series read) - 9/10 = A
117. Figgs & Phantoms (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-
118. Pit Pony (1001 Children's Book) - 8/10 = B
119. The Queen of Attolia (series reread) - 10/10 = A+
120. Titus Andronicus (Shakespeare re-read) - 10/10 = A+
121. The Thief (Charlie's bedtime read) - 10/10 = A+

DECEMBER
122. The Best At It (Stonewall Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
123. The Wild Robot (Charlie's read-aloud) - 7/10 = C
124. A Christmas Memory (yearly reread) - 10/10 = A+

Charlie not cooperating while I try to get a (home)school picture for this year:



The Mario:



The first photo I ever uploaded to flickr, in 2007, the ever-serious, always-amazing Tuppence:

Today's Agenda:
I've been puttering around on my computer all morning so far in a lovely Lazy Saturday Morning kind of way, but I really do need to get my butt into the sewing room for the rest of the day. It's the perfect day for it: chilly and rainy.

On the reading front:
Again, not much to report. Blerg.

What We're Watching:
Last night we indulged in a couple of Graham Norton Shows and a QI.

Here I am!! Got any cookies?

Happy new one Amber!

Happy new thread, Amber! Enjoy your sewing room time today.

Happy new thread, Amber!

>7 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda! I made sugar cookies yesterday, but I'm making some cupcakes today, so you can have your choice!

>8 RebaRelishesReading: >9 MickyFine: >10 katiekrug: Thanks, ladies!

Happy Saturday, Amber! Happy New Thread!

Happy new one, Amber, after that mammoth last thread. xx

>12 msf59: >13 PaulCranswick: Thanks!

Happy new thread, Amber!

>1 scaifea: >2 scaifea: Double posts, they pop up sometimes lately. I don't mind reading your intro twice ;-)

>15 FAMeulstee: Anita: Blerg. I've been having trouble with LT lagging lately. Thanks for letting me know.

Hi Amber! Happy new thread!

Happy new thread! For some reason - probably because I’m on cell phone internet right now - I can’t get into the Threadbook to add this one. If I forget, please remind me!

Happy new one!

Happy new thread, Amber!

Hi Amber. Good to see the new thread up and running.

I made several attempts over the whole day, trying to log back on to this website. I rebooted the computer for a security update and all my usual bookmarks opened fine except LT.

I see at post 16 and 18, I might not be alone in vain attempts at getting back into the Talk threads. Did anyone else have this problem today?

PS. I love that photo of Charlie.

Happy new thread!

>17 quondame: >19 figsfromthistle: >20 kidzdoc: >22 foggidawn: Thanks, all!

>18 drneutron: Hi, Jim! I didn't know you added each individual thread, even continuations? Wow, that's a lot of work. Thanks for putting all that effort into our upkeep, friend!

>21 SandyAMcPherson: LT was pretty slow yesterday; hopefully it's back up to speed today.
And thanks for the photo love - I'm partial to that one, too.

What's for breakfast at Scaife Manor? We skipped dinner last night after a late lunch, and I've woken up starving!

Hope you have a lovely Sunday, Amber.

Today's agenda: a bit of laundry, dinner prep (we're having a Zoom Dinner Party with Tomm's family tonight in place of Thanksgiving, so I should probably make some sort of effort to feed the Scaife Men?), and pretty much the rest of my time today will be spent sewing. I'm starting to ease out of Panic Mode a little bit, because the quilt for my parents is coming along faster than I thought it would. So, *sigh of relief.*

On the reading front: I...don't want to talk about it. Still no progress. Gah. I miss reading. Will get back to it, hopefully, in some capacity, this coming week?

What We're Watching:
We watched the season 6 finale of Agents of Shield last night (OOOF) and then watched National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation. Charlie had never seen it and I've not heard him giggle that much in a long time, especially at all the dam tour jokes!

>24 katiekrug: Katie: I made pancakes for Charlie, Tomm had gluten-free waffles, and I...(had a cupcake). What are you having?

>26 scaifea: - I don't know - was looking for inspiration. No cupcakes here, unfortunately. Maybe scrambled eggs and toast, because I am old and boring? Or maybe I can finagle TW into going to get me a bagel sandwich.....

>27 katiekrug: I do love a good scrambled eggs and toast meal, although we usually do that as a dinner. I like to slather my toast (sourdough, preferably) with lots of butter, then pile the scrambled eggs right on top. *sigh* I may need to make that at some point this week now.

Happy new thread, Amber. Looks like it will be a delightful day to read in the Buckeye State. Hope the rain will help you get back into a reading state of mind.

>25 scaifea: On the reading front: I...don't want to talk about it. Still no progress. Gah. I miss reading. Will get back to it, hopefully, in some capacity, this coming week?

Yes. That's been the story of 2020 for me. I cut back my work hours, and, thanks to the pandemic and my parents' health crises, didn't take any vacations this year, which left me far more free time to read than in any year in my adult life. However, I may read the fewest books I've read since 2001, the first full year that I worked as an attending physician, pediatric hospitalist, and medical school lecturer, and was busy studying for my initial pediatric board certification exam. I've been distracted by my parents' declining health and increasing needs, the pandemic (including many hours spent reading journal articles on its presentation, diagnosis and treatment in children and adults), the presidential and local elections, and worrying about everything after the election. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to focus fully on reading for pleasure on or immediately after January 20th.

Okay, so here's the quilt I've been working on, just the top, which I finished piecing yesterday (I made the actual quilt sandwich and started quilting yesterday, too):



The photo isn't great - it's not nearly as much of a hot mess as it looks here - but also just don't look too closely if you're a quilter because it *is* a little wonky in places. Some of the squares I made way back when I was just starting to learn how to quilt, and I didn't want to throw them out and redo them because I kind of like the idea that it's a record of my learning progression? And I also kind of love that it's a hodgepodge. It's made wholly out of repurposed flannel shirts.

>29 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda! Yes, rainy days are perfect for sewing! And I'm in a readings state of mind already, I just can't seem to find the time for it right now. *sigh* But thanks for the good reading wishes!

>30 kidzdoc: Darryl: Yep, I think a lot of us have had poor reading years and for similar reasons. When we had that early lockdown, I thought, "YES! I'll get SO MUCH READING DONE!" And...I didn't. And now I feel more back in the reading spirit, but don't have time because I'm hustling to get my Christmas craft projects finished and working on course prep for next semester. So, yeah. But I agree, too, that post 1/20 will mean happier mental states for many of us and so hopefully better reading!

Putting the eggs on the buttered toast is the ONLY way to eat them!

>33 katiekrug: Katie:

>31 scaifea: it *is* a little wonky → → Ignore the Rules!

What I learned a long time ago ~ "Wonky" is often charming. "Wonky" means you didn't stress about 'perfect', you had fun. Remember the Three F's (fun-fast-finished)!
Here's my first deliberate 'wonky houses' theme ~



I never did get around to making enough blocks to actually sew together and quilt.
It was supposed to be a stash-buster project. When I belonged to a sewing group, there were project tutorials from the members and this was the one I made that evening. Sadly, we lost our reasonable-rent space and disbanded not long afterwards.

>35 SandyAMcPherson: Aw, cute house! But that's wonky on purpose. I mean wonky in that some of the points don't meet as they should and as I wanted them to. *shrug*

>36 scaifea: And your point is? (mostly mine don't either, points meet, that is).
OTOH, I love that you repurposed the good parts of the flannel shirts. Totally cosy.

>37 SandyAMcPherson: My point is that it's not intentional wonkiness; although I'm okay with it in this case in the end because the repurposed flannel makes it homey and cozy and fitting for not-quite-perfection, I still set out intending the points to meet and they don't all.

>31 scaifea: That is amazing! I'm sure it will be quite comfortable to sleep under, but it's a mite dizzying to the gaze.

>39 quondame: Thanks! It's lap-quilt size, so napping may happen under it, I suppose. The photo is deceiving; it's not so hard to look at as all that.

>23 scaifea: It’s actually not that much work except right at the beginning of the year.😀

Got this one in the Threadbook.

>41 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

Ooof. Having trouble crawling up out of the grogginess this morning. Two days of school this week for Charlie and class today for me, but I'll likely spend a good chunk of the week working on course prep anyway. We'll see. Definitely today, at least.

I'm happy with the sewing progress I made this weekend: I'm nearly finished quilting and will hopefully finish that part of it up today, which will leave just the binding. Woot.

On the reading front:
Hey, I finished a book (Pit Pony)! I'll try to get round to a mini-review at some point today.

What We're Watching:
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Strangers Tides last night, which we'd never seen before. Fun, but not as good as the first and third, I think.

118. Pit Pony by Joyce Barkhouse (1001 Children's Book, 135 pages) - 8/10 = B
A simple, sweet, and safely sad story about a boy who loves horses but, because of his family's extreme poverty, must leave school and his trips to the horse paddocks to work in the mines. Nothing earth-shattering here, but nothing too sappy or poorly-written, either.

>43 scaifea: I hear you on the morning groggy. Mr. Fine is on early shift this week so we're up at 5 a.m., which didn't feel awesome this morning since I had issues getting to sleep last night. At least after I drop him off at the bus station I have time for a workout, shower, and some cross-stitch before I start my work from home day at 8.

I'm not huge on PotC 4 and 5 (the teenage girl part of me who had a massive crush on Orlando Bloom is always disappointed by his absence) but they're enjoyable.

Wishing you a lovely and productive Monday.

>45 MickyFine: Micky: Aw dang, Boyfriend Bloom isn't in #5, either? WTHH?!

>46 scaifea: Ok, IMDb says he is but I have NO memory of it. So maybe...?

>47 MickyFine: *grumble* And we likely won't get to it until after the holidays (our month-long Christmas Movie Marathon kicks in soon)...

>48 scaifea: I hear you. My holiday marathon kicks in at the beginning of December too. Mr. Fine's TV nights are still his to do what he will (it may be a Star Wars movie marathon for him) but there's about to be a lot of fluffy Christmas romance movies hitting my eyeballs plus annual staples like Muppet Christmas Carol.

>49 MickyFine: Ha! YES! We love our Christmas movies here at Scaife Manor (although Charlie grumbles a bit about my "old-timey" black and white ones)!

Hi Amber my dear, happy new thread.

>50 scaifea: Which black and white ones are on your list? It's a Wonderful Life, I assume?

I made The Wayne watch an old-timey black and white movie last night (Roman Holiday). He usually only tolerates it for old war movies...

The best Christmas film is, of course, The Ref. But probably not suitable for Young Charlie.

>51 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

>52 MickyFine: Micky: Well, of course. And also The Shop Around the Corner. I think that's the only two, though.

>53 katiekrug: Katie: I *love* The Ref! Actually, I was thinking of adding it back into the rotation this year. He's old enough, as far as I'm concerned, for whatever language is in it. He's such a rule-follower that the mere thought of *using* 'bad' words will result in a gasp, but he's used to hearing it in movies and such (and occasionally from certain parental figures when something goes wrong in the kitchen or the sewing room) and it's no big deal. I'm not sure he'd actually like The Ref, though. He'd probably be bored. And I can't remember (it's been a few years) what else there is in it.

Today's agenda: This is Charlie's last day of school for the week, and although I only had class yesterday and am already done, I'll work at my desk on course prep stuff today to keep him company. I got some good work done yesterday and managed to get some sewing time, too, so I'm pretty happy at the moment, at least, with where I'm at in all my various To Do lists. I need to make a quick trip to the library today, too, to pick up some holds. Dinner will be a favorite here at Scaife Manor: Four Cheese Grilled Cheese with, I think, cooked carrots.

On the reading front: Still not talking about it. But I have high hopes that I'll be able to convince myself to take a break from course prep for the rest of this week starting tomorrow, and maybe get back into reading? We'll see.

Enquiring minds want to know - what four cheeses do you use for your grilled cheese? We had grilled cheese the other night, with cheddar, and it was fine, but I like more cheese flavor in mine... Of course, it would have helped if TW hadn't skimped on the cheese!

>54 scaifea: - I think it's only the language in The Ref that might be objectionable, and if it's not, then all the better! I love that sort of dark comedy.

>56 katiekrug: Katie: Okay, the key to a great grilled cheese, for me, involves two things: 1) You *must* grill *both* sides of the bread, and 2) You must have a *least* 2 different kinds of cheese. I use sliced sharp cheddar, sliced white cheddar, shredded parmesan, and shredded asiago. Comes out gorgeous.

>57 katiekrug: I have loved Denis Leary for years and years. So, so funny.

>58 scaifea: - Thanks for the grilled cheese advice! He does an excellent job on the bread (both sides!), and usually they are pretty tasty, but this one left me wanting. We have parmesan, cheddar, and asiago in the fridge, so maybe I will demand a do-over :D

Agree about Denis Leary!

>59 katiekrug: I mean, I'll eat pretty much any grilled cheese you put in front of me, but this is my favorite way to make it.

I am a weirdo who likes only open-faced grilled cheese - all this fried in a pan nonsense does nothing for me. And what is with restaurants who put cheese on the outside of the bread? I have a hard enough time keeping my hands clean when eating fancy big sandwiches.

>54 scaifea: I have to admit that *whispers* I don't really like It's a Wonderful Life. I get why people do but the strident child sets my teeth on edge. My classic old Hollywood Christmas movie is White Christmas. Absolute must-watch every year even though large chunks of it aren't Christmas-y at all.

>61 MickyFine: Ooof, yeah, you *are* a weirdo. (*snork!!* KIDDING.)

You can keep your White Christmas, which is one that I don't particularly love. Holiday Inn, too, (I mean, WOW, that one has not aged well.)

>62 scaifea: You have Jimmy Stewart and I'll keep Bing Crosby (which now has my brain on a The Philadelphia Story vs. High Society tangent).

Oh yeah, the blackface section of Holiday Inn is BAD and the reason I don't have it in my rotation. I do love Fred Astaire's solo dance with firecrackers for July 4 though. May have to YouTube that bit.

>63 MickyFine: I love Bing's voice, but I'll take Jimmy's acting over it any day. I can always just listen to Bing's music. And yeah, the blackface. Yoicks.

Hi Amber, I had to go back several threads to catch up on the "classics professor again" news - congratulations! How's online school going for Charlie? Our teachers - me included - are teaching both remote and in-person learners which is exhausting. Until recently there has been some change: remote learners coming back to in-person, but the past few weeks we have seen movement the other way. I was quarantined for two weeks and taught from my bedroom and the entire district will be remote after Thanksgiving break. What a year. Definitely the most difficult teaching year any of us has ever had.

>65 AMQS: Thanks, Anne!! I'm enjoying teaching again, definitely, even though the zoom thing is a bit of a learning curve.

Charlie's doing great with the online learning, although he admits that he wishes this were over so he could be back in a school building with his friends. Virtual school is made for his kind, though: he's self-motivated and makes his own schedule and does his work on time without much need for me to help.

I feel for you and your fellow teachers. Such a rough year. Teaching college courses virtually seems less of a challenge, I think? The students still have issues with it, of course, but there's less to worry about in some ways. Anyway, I'm rambling, but what I mean to say is that I'm so impressed with how school teachers are facing the challenges and stepping up to help the students they love. It's just...rough.

Vacation time! I've convinced myself that I'm in a good enough place with my course prep to take the rest of this week off, so I'll be spending today sewing and reading. Woot!

On the reading front:
I actually have reading to report!! I spent a bit of time yesterday afternoon with The Queen of Attolia and I'll likely finish it today. *happiness*

What We're Watching:
Because Thursday we'll be watching Charlie Brown, plus our favorite Thanksgiving episodes of Buffy and The West Wing, we watched GBBS last night. I already knew who left because I saw the shitstorm on twitter this week. Poor Laura getting yelled at and it wasn't her doing! I was sad to see Hermine go, but I also don't think it was the wrong call. And my sweet little walnut, Peter, did so well! I suspect he'll win the whole thing. Also? If DAVE wins, I will be flipping tables.

A belated Happy New Thread, Amber.

>31 scaifea: I love quilts, and that hodgepodge one you finished looks like it'd be great on a rainy day with a good book. Thanks to a sister and a SIL, our house is filled with handmade quilts. I love the wonky house piece, too.

GBBS: I agree right down the line. Poor Laura - she's gotten trolled in the UK for it apparently, and Paul, and maybe Pru, too, asked viewers to lay off. We hated to see Hermine go, but like Lottie's debacle cake, it seemed the right decision. I'm betting on Peter winning, too. How amazing he is at his young age. I've been having fun watching with your BFF and Madame MBH.

>68 jnwelch: Thanks for the quilt love, Joe! I've just finished with the actual quilting and now need to make my binding. I'm really please with how it's turning out and I think my parents will love it. (I hope so, at least!)

GBBS is so fun to watch, isn't it? So much nicer than our own reality shows, but I am disappointed in the meanness of some of the fans.

ETA: I mean, I joke about not liking DAVE, but I don't really mean it, of course.

GBBS(O) - What did I miss? People were yelling at Laura because they thought she should have gone home?!?! Craziness.

>70 katiekrug: Katie: Yeah, apparently some Hermine fans were taking out their disappointment on Laura by bullying her about how she should have been the one to go home. Classy.

>70 katiekrug: I wondered what I missed, too,. and went off to investigate before reading the rest of this thread. I found this Vulture article, which describes in more detail what Amber said in >71 scaifea:. Sheesh. People suck.

I learned something from the article that I may have/should have known, but didn't fully understand until now: that each week stands on its own, and whether a contestant advances or not depends on what they do that week. I was mildly unhappy with last week's outcome but that was primarily because I was evaluating it based on performance over all of the episodes, not just this one.

And now I'm fully TEAM PETER. I can't wait for Friday!

>72 lauralkeet: Laura: Yes to the decisions being made solely on each week. I think I like it that way? I think it would get overly complicated for the judges to make it cumulative. And YES to your team pick! (Although I do adore Laura, too.)

119. The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (series reread, 362 pages) - 10/10 = A+
A reread, leading up to the new and final book in the series. This is, I think, my favorite series of all time. I love them so much. *happy sigh*

>74 scaifea: - What a nice way to get your reading mojo back!

>75 katiekrug: Katie: Right?!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Morning, Amber! I am very late to your newest thread, but I am wishing you happy anyway. And Happy Thanksgiving to you. I know that you and Charlie usually spend today in Indiana with your folks, and I am so very sorry that this year is different. I am SO ready for 2021.

>31 scaifea: I LOVE this! It's gorgeous, and the wonky just adds charm, IMO.

>77 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda!

>78 Crazymamie: Thanks so much, Mamie. Yeah, Charlie and I are missing my parents tons right now; this is Charlie's favorite holiday because of our visits to them. But he's zooming with a few friends this afternoon to play D&D and he's looking forward to that, so it's not all bad.

And thanks for the quilt love! I've finished the actual quilting and just need to put the binding on, and I'm really happy with how the quilting came out. I looks *so* cozy. I'll share more photos once it's completely finished.

Well, pumpkin pie is in the oven and we're not going anywhere, of course, so I've got the rest of the day until dinner prep time (Tomm's in charge of the turkey, so all I need to do are the potatoes, stuffing, and corn) to sew and read and relax.

On the reading front:
I listened to a nice chunk of The Mill on the Floss while sewing yesterday, and I read a bit more of The Best At It, which is pretty good so far, too. More listening while sewing today, I think, but I haven't decided which book in progress will keep me company during my reading time today.

What We're Watching:
We introduced Charlie to Tombstone last night. He was resistant at first because he's convinced that he doesn't like westerns, but he warmed to it in the end. So many great lines. I *love* that movie.

Amber, who is the narrator for Mill on the Floss?

We also love Tombstone. Abby baked our pies yesterday because we needed the oven space and the prep space for today. Her recipe makes two pies, so we dove into one for breakfast this morning with our coffee. Pie for breakfast is one of my very favorite things.

>82 Crazymamie: Mamie: Pie for breakfast is one of the best things about being alive.

The narrator is Eileen Atkins and she's wonderful, of course.

Agreed. And thanks for the info.

>82 Crazymamie:, >83 scaifea: My PEOPLE! Pie for breakfast is absolutely the best. Baked mine this morning. I have a way to go before I'd put it up against one of my Mom's, let alone my Grandma's. But I don't feel totally inadequate.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Amber. Sounds like you've got a lovely and relaxed holiday planned. *hugs*

>84 Crazymamie: Mamie: You're welcome!

>85 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Woot! Pumpkin Pie isn't my favorite breakfast pie, but it'll do in a pinch. Apple, of course, is the best. Any fruit pie, really. I'm very much looking forward to Mince Pie breakfasts later on in December.

>86 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! *hugs* right back!

Happy Thanksgiving, Amber!

Debbi inadvertently found out who won GBBS from a headline under the Google search engine on her phone (I guess we need to be careful!) She's not telling your BFF and me, though. Go Peter!

>88 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, too!

I found out, too, accidentally. But I'm okay with it - it's not as bad as getting a good novel spoiled, for me at least. And I'll keep my silence.

Happy Thanksgiving, Amber. I hope you and Tomm and Charlie enjoy a restful holiday.

>90 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! You, too!

>87 scaifea: Did I ever tell you the official family version of WHY I love pie for breakfast? (I hate to repeat myself.)

>92 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: You have not and I'd love to know!

Hi Amber my dear, Happy Thanksgiving Day, i hope that you, Tomm, Charlie and the dogs are having a good day dear friend.

>94 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

This Brit wishes to express his thanks for the warmth and friendship that has helped sustain him in this group, Amber, Tomm and Charlie.

>96 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Even though Charlie and I spent the day missing my parents tons, we had a lovely, cozy dinner here at home with Tomm.

Today's agenda:
Grocery pick-up (I'll be curious just how much of what I requested I'll actually get today, the Day After, but Friday is my grocery day and dang it, I will not waver), weekly bill sorting, sewing (I'm nearly finished sewing the binding on the quilt, which I do by hand and in the evening while watching TV, so today I'm going to start on a few more masks to put in my parents' Christmas box), baking (Gingerbread Squares), and hopefully some reading.

On the reading front:
I managed a bit of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle yesterday and some more of The Mill on the Floss. More of the same today, likely.

What We're Watching:
Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, of course.

>92 laytonwoman3rd:, >93 scaifea: WELL....

The night before I was born, my Mom had packed my Dad's lunch box, as usual, and included a piece of apple pie. Some time during the night, they decided it was time to go to the hospital. It had snowed quite a lot, and they had to plow through uncleared roads. They had a big ol' Buick at the time, and it was equal to the task, so they got there ok and in plenty of time. But it was long past Dad's breakfast time before I appeared, and our little cottage hospital didn't run to a cafeteria, so he raided his lunch box and was eating that pie about the time I came into the world. So I'm imprinted with an inclination to eat pie for breakfast. Just one of my Dad's many many gifts to me.

>98 scaifea: Fingers crossed you get all your groceries, Amber! Enjoy your Friday off and think of us poor Canucks hunched over our desks. ;)

>99 laytonwoman3rd: What a great story. Perfect that your dad thought to bring his lunch box. You clearly come from a family with the right priorities!

>101 quondame: I do love thinking of my incredibly young and handsome father being calm enough to wolf down some food while waiting for his first child to be born after driving 15 miles through drifting snow. When he told the story, the whole thing was just a marvelous adventure, but I have to think there was some drama involved!

>99 laytonwoman3rd: >102 laytonwoman3rd: Oh, Linda, I LOVE it. Such a fantastic story! You should lead with that when you write your memoirs. I mean, what a great opening paragraph!

>100 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! I did, in fact, get pretty much everything, with only a couple of substitutions. Surprising, really.

>99 laytonwoman3rd: that's a GREAT story Linda!

Glad your grocery shopping was a success, Amber! I'm putting my weekly list together right now, hoping for similar good luck.

>104 lauralkeet: Laura: Fingers crossed that you get all your groceries, too!

Today's agenda: It's Decorating Day here at Scaife Manor, so all the Thanksgiving stuff comes down and all the Christmas stuff goes up. We'll have a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving lunch and take-out for dinner. I'm hoping that I get some sewing and reading time in there, too, but we'll see.

On the reading front:
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is coming along. It's strange, but not too strange. I do wish the tempo were a bit faster, though. The Best At It is pretty good so far. And The Mill on the Floss is chugging along, too.

What We're Watching:
Family Game Night last night, so after a few rounds of Jenga, we settled down with a couple of Graham Nortons and then watched the first episode of Staged, which is hilarious!

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle was one of my early Murakami favorites. One I will have to do a reread of. I hope you stick with it.

>107 msf59: Morning, Mark! Oh, I'll see it through. The writing is lovely and that's enough, really.

>74 scaifea: I forgot the last book was out!?! I will have to grab that very soon!

Hope you and your men enjoy your holiday weekend!

>105 scaifea: thanks for crossing your fingers for me, Amber! I normally shop on Fridays but wasn't quite ready yesterday, and I was able to submit my order this morning for delivery before noon. And they had most of what I needed, so I call it a win.

ALSO: GBBO. I know you haven't watched the final yet, but we watched it last night and I'm already feeling withdrawal symptoms. Perhaps you know this, but a holiday episode will be available next Friday. Yay! Also, I'm now following all three finalists on Instagram because I'm just not ready to let go ...

>110 lauralkeet: - And the holiday special features the acst of 'Derry Girls'!

>109 ChelleBearss: Chelle: YES! I'm so excited to get to the new one and, as always, I'm loving the rereads as I go along.

>110 lauralkeet: Laura: Woot for getting most of what you wanted! I know that sometimes (at least with my grocery store) that can feel like a real win.

GBBO: We've watched the first bake of the last episode (and I know who wins because I stupidly stumbled onto it on SM somewhere, but I don't actually mind knowing and I'm not telling Tomm that I even know). I will definitely be following some of the contestants but want to wait until it's all over first (I already follow some of my favorites from past seasons).

>111 katiekrug:: Katie: I need to get to that show at some point.

Today's agenda: Laundry, sewing, reading. I finished the quilt yesterday! So today I'll start on Charlie's Christmas gift: I'm going to try to recreate one of his favorite character's bookbag (Callum's from The Dragon Prince):





We'll see how that goes.

On the reading front:
I finished my Titus Andronicus reread yesterday, one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. Mini-review to come.

What We're Watching:
The Annual Scaife Family Christmas Movie Marathon has begun, as it always does, with Elf! We watched it twice (sort of) yesterday - it plays in the background while we decorate the house and then we watch it again in the evening - and we'll watch it one more time on Christmas eve.

Inspired by the Scaife Family, The Wayne and I drew up a list of holiday movies to watch. I doubt we'll get through them all, but it was fun to do, and I learned about several I'd never heard of...

The finished quilt for my parents:

>114 katiekrug: Katie: Cool! I saw that you watched Harold and Kumar last night. I love them!

120. Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare re-read) - 10/10 = A+
One of my favorite Shakespeare plays for its surprisingly savage quality, its Roman setting (of course), and its homage to one of my favorite myths (Procne and Philomela). Odd to think of this bleak and brutal work as a comfort read, but for me, it hits the spot.

Morning, Amber! I really love that quilt you made - so beautiful and every square is a feast for the eyes. I also love your idea for Charlie's Christmas present - can't wait to see your version of it.

Titus Andronicus is one that I haven't read - adding it to The List.

Hoping your Sunday is full of lazy.

>118 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! I hope my parents love it, too.

Titus Andronicus can be rough going - it's *really* brutal - but I love it all the same. I hope you do, too, if you get to it.

Such a lovely gift for your parents! I'm sure it will keep them snug and warm in several ways.

>120 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! I hope so.

Wow great looking quilt!!

Love the quilt!

>122 ChelleBearss: >123 thornton37814: Thanks!!

Nice looking quilt!

>125 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>113 scaifea: What a great project. I'd guess no pictures until after Christmas.

>115 scaifea: The quilt has such a cozy, comforting look.

Hi Amber my dear, love the quilt that you have made, i will say it again, you are a very talented lady my dear friend.

>127 quondame: Thanks! Well, since I've shared the project idea already, sharing a photo of the finished project won't actually be a spoiler, yeah? Charlie doesn't see this thread.

>128 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

Ooof. Monday after a...5-day weekend. YOICKS. But it's not all awful - it's snowing!! And the best kind of snow - big fluffy flakes! So I'm starting the day sitting at my desk, watching the snow, drinking my coffee with hocho mix stirred in (the only way to drink coffee when it's snowing). *happy sigh*

I've got quizzes to grade today, Charlie school stuff to keep an eye on, course website sorting for next semester, office hours, and teaching. I'm hoping to do a bit of sewing in there somewhere, too. And maybe some reading?

I have all the bits cut out for Charlie's messenger bag, so I'm hoping to get sewing on it today. I'm pretty optimistic and excited about it, honestly. We'll see.

On the reading front:
I started my re-read of The King of Attolia yesterday, which is currently my favorite of the series, so I'm excited about that. I also listened to more of The Mill on the Floss and made some progress with The Best At It, too.

What We're Watching:
Scaife Family Christmas Movie Marathon entry last night = Opus and Bill: A Wish for Wings That Work.

I feel you about the Monday after a long break. Ugh. And it's not snowing here to make up for it. Just a cold rain. Double ugh.

>131 katiekrug: Katie: oh, gross to the cold rain. Blech.

Enjoy your fluffy snow! It’s supposed to start raining here after lunch. Would actually prefer snow at this point as I’m tired of cleaning mud off snowpants!

>133 ChelleBearss: Chelle: Oh, the mud. Well, even though we have snow, I've just finished cleaning mud off Mario's paws. So, yeah.

We start our Christmas viewing on December 1 with Solo: A Star Wars Story (Mr. Fine likes to watch Star Wars every year in December but is sparing me the prequels this year). I made a calendar in Excel to keep track of our schedule for the month. :)

The quilt for your parents is gorgeous and I look forward to seeing Charlie's gift. Enjoy your snow!

Oh, the mud! I had to bathe Lottie this morning, at least her sides, tummy, and legs, as she had a fun time playing in the mud. It's going to be a boring day for her today, not as much outside play as usual. We've had the big flakes of snow here, but mixed with rain, and nothing is sticking yet. It's nice to look at through my window as I try to work, but I took the whole week off, and have yet to locate my motivation. I know it was around here someplace...

I did get the lights on the outside of the house, and got the Christmas tree in its stand, with lights, though I'll want to adjust them now that the tree has had a chance to relax a bit. Looking forward to the fun parts of Christmas decorating tonight!

I'm grateful for your input on Terry Pratchett, Amber. The link to the Pratchett website was especially helpful. I have to say that I'm not at all surprised that you've read the entire Pratchett oeuvre, but I'm nevertheless impressed. I don't want to duplicate that endeavor, but I am open to reading several of his books. My interest was sparked by a suggestion that Hogfather is a stellar Christmas-time read, coupled with an assurance that one need not read previous novels in the series to appreciate Hogfather by itself.

Anyway, I value your opinions on subsets to avoid and which ones you liked. So thanks again.

By the bye, my granddaughter Claire, having completed three semesters, has officially declared her major to be Greek, Latin, and Classical Studies.

>135 MickyFine: Star Wars, eh? Cool. I haven't seen Solo, but I think that's the only one I haven't. (*whispers* My favorite are the last three, which I think is an unpopular opinion).

And thanks!

>136 foggidawn: At least Mario doesn't like to linger outside at all and doesn't get anything but her paws muddy (she is the laziest dog I've ever known and a kindred spirit). Good luck finding that motivation.

>137 weird_O: You're very welcome, Bill! I would say that, although not one of my top favorites, Hogfather does have its hilarious moments and it's perfect for this time of the year. And yay for future classicists!! Where does she go to school, if you don't mind me asking? I may know some of the professors.

>138 scaifea: Solo is... ok. Daniel Glover as young Lando is the highlight for me. :) And I say, like what you like when it comes to Star Wars. Has the Scaife clan watched The Mandalorian yet?

Claire is at Bryn Mawr. Her major advisor is Radcliffe Edmonds III. I was given a copy of his book Drawing Down the Moon: Magic in the Ancient Greco-Roman World for my birthday. So far, I've looked at the pictures. Surprised by voodoo-like figurines:



This figure is in the Louvre. Image is from WikiMedia Commons

Happy newish thread, Amber (I'm afraid we've reached the point in the year where I'm hopelessly behind and never catching up). Hope your Monday after the long holiday weekend went as well as could be. And your quilt for your parents looks amazing!

>134 scaifea: Wet, muddy dog is not pleasant! Our rain is due to turn to snow overnight and it's predicted to be upwards of 20cm for some areas. Crossing my fingers that we get much less than that!

>139 MickyFine: Micky: Oh, we *love* The Mandalorian, although we haven't watched any of the new season yet. I'm a sucker for a man in a helmet, to be honest.

>140 weird_O: Bill: Oh, Bryn Mawr is excellent! I've never met Edmonds, but I'd bet money I don't have that his book references my former professors at OSU, Fritz Graf and Sarah Iles Johnston, the two foremost ancient Greek & Roman magic scholars in the world, essentially. Very cool subject.

>141 bell7: Thanks for the quilt love, Mary! For a Monday after a break, it's went okayish, although I hit a bit of a snag in the sewing department (I think I've fixed the problem now, but boy, I was irritated earlier today).

>142 ChelleBearss: Chelle: Our snow had slowed down for now, but I think we're supposed to get more over the next day or so. I sure hope so.

You're reading The Wind-up Bird Chronicle - exciting! I hope it keeps growing on you. Like Mark, I want to re-read it at some point.

You've got me taking a fresh look at Titus Andronicus. I always thought of it as one of his lesser plays, and I didn't like much the production of it we saw. But maybe I need to open my mind more.

To me his worst is Pericles. We saw a truly horrible production of it directed by the highly respected Mary Zimmerman. What do you think of Pericles?

>117 scaifea: A Shakespeare play that I haven't seen or read, Amber, but looks like I should.

I won't do worst Shakespeare plays because as a Brit we are supposed to venerate all of 'em but I will do ten favourites:

1) Hamlet
2) King Lear
3) Richard III
4) Richard II
5) MacBeth
6) Othello
7) Julius Caesar
8) Merchant of Venice
9) Romeo & Juliet
10) The Tempest

>144 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! I may try to get back to the Murakami today. We'll see if I get any time to read today...

Pericles is on the of few that I haven't yet read, so I'll let you know when I get there. As far as Titus Andronicus goes, I'd suggest reading the Procne and Philomela story in Ovid first (it's in Book 6 of his Metamorphoses and there's an excellent translation by our buddy, Lombardo), and I bet you'll get more out of the play, then.

>145 PaulCranswick: That's a lovely list there, Paul, although I would venture to say that there's not nearly enough Prince Hal in it. He's my very favorite. But yes! to Hamlet at the top! But no Much Ado? Huh.

We've got snow on the ground! A significant snow! Makes me all kinds of happy, and makes up for the fact that I can NOT seem to wake up this morning. Not just grogginess, but full-on, can't keep my eyes open. Weird, because I slept okay, I think.

I need to do my stocking stuffer shopping today, and it's difficult this year because I usually pick out different kinds of unusual chocolates and such, but I can't seem to figure out how to order that kind of thing online. Ugh. So there's that, and then a bit of course prep and some sewing, maybe.

On the reading front:
I'm getting close to finishing The Best At It, and it's good, but not fabulous? Maybe it'll turn around in the last quarter.

>147 scaifea: - I usually hate shopping but do enjoy it in the Christmas run-up, so I'm sad I can't go browse shops for gifts and stocking stuffers. Some of the places here will take phone orders and do curb-side pick-up, but it's not the same thing. I am trying to support them and appreciate the ones who have set-up or improved their websites so it's easier to see what's on offer, but still...

>148 katiekrug: Katie: I agree. I love shopping for stocking stuffers and such. But not this year. It's just all stress this time around. Woot.

>147 scaifea: Are your stores mostly closed or do you still have the option of popping into a store to get stocking stuffers?
I've been buying most of our Christmas stuff online, but I did hit the mall one day in November for a few things I couldn't get online. Thankfully the mall was mostly empty that day!

>147 scaifea: The Vermont Country Store has lots of different sorts of candy, chocolate and otherwise, on their website. And I think you can order from Gertrude Hawk Chocolates on-line as well.

>147 scaifea: Let me just drop this link here: https://www.recchiuti.com. Unfortunately, it looks as though their CyberMonday 25% off sale is over.

Morning, Amber! Hooray for significant snowfall!

>146 scaifea: I have made a note of this, Amber, and will follow your advice to Paul.

Yes to the stocking stuffer shopping - usually it's a favorite of mine, but this year is a bit of a downer in that area. And I have a lot of stockings to do. *sigh*

>150 ChelleBearss: Chelle: Yeah, I'm not going *anywhere* these days, except a quick pop into the library to pick up holds once a week. I even do curbside for all my groceries. So no in-person shopping for me.

>151 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Thanks for the reminder about that shop. I may have to take a look.

>152 rosalita: Julia: Ooooh, excellent! Thanks for the link!

>153 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Oh, do track down Procne and Philomela. It's one of my favorite myths, although fair warning: it is DARK.

Good luck with your own stocking stuffing. I essentially fill all three of ours, or at least I buy some things to stick in my own sock, since once a few years ago, Tomm FORGOT. Yoicks.

The kids do the stockings for Craig and me. I do them for everyone else because Craig sucks at stockings. This year I am also doing one for Kaitlyn - they got married late in the year, so we decided this is a transitional year, and we will do Christmas jammies and stockings for both of them as well as presents. Next year they are on their own with the stockings and jammies, and we will just do presents for them.

I'll admit I'm a bit jealous about all of this stocking stuffer talk. My Hubby was raised partly in Japan and partly in the U.S. by German parents and he just never did "get" stockings. To me it's little useful things, one "joke" thing and fruit and nuts in the foot. He would put my main present (often lovely jewelry...not complaints about that!!) in my stocking and had a hard time coming up with anything else that seemed "present worthy" to him. My son never was big on his stocking either so I finally just gave up and we don't do them anymore. (Step) daughter #2, however, was talking to me with enthusiasm about spending Christmas with us from now on and about stockings (she "gets" it). so maybe we'll start again next year :) I do think they're a lot of fun when done "correctly" ;>

>155 Crazymamie: I like the idea of easing them out of the Christmas nest, Mamie. We still do stockings because Charlie, as far as I can tell, still believes? I'm on the fence about this, honestly. He knows that I'm the tooth fairy, but I just couldn't bring myself to drawn the connection for him back then (last...February, I think?). On the one hand, he's a smart kiddo and I'd be sort of surprised if he didn't make the connection, but on the other, he's super stubborn in his beliefs and a complete romantic in this sense. He LOVES believing and his imagination loves it, too, and for several years now he has angrily told me about how some classmates insist there's no Santa and how sad that is for them. On a third hand, he must see how much I love the Santa stuff, and I suspect he may be not telling me that he knows because he doesn't want to make me sad? Gah.

>156 RebaRelishesReading: Reba: Yeah, well, at least he hasn't forgotten you completely yet, right? Yeesh. But yay to maybe rekindling the tradition!

Can I just say that I love Charlie?! And I also love that you have three hands! To me the stockings have nothing to do with Santa. They are my very favorite thing about Christmas, and so I would choose them over presents every time. Growing up the stockings were the thing that we could dig into as soon as we were up - no need to wait for anyone else, and it was a kind of magic moment to me. Craig's family, OTOH, opened stockings all together. When we first had children this was one of those things that we could not agree upon - we did it Craig's way when the children were little, and now we switch off every other year.

Chiming in to add that stockings are some of my favorite traditions as well! Both my kids love stocking stuffers just as much as the presents under the tree.
>156 RebaRelishesReading: Stockings are similar to Reba - useful items, fun/joke items, chocolates, treats, etc.

Here is another chocolate link: We had their butter crunch chocolates at the Big E fair a few years ago and have since ordered from them yearly.

https://www.mothermyricks.com/category/chocolates-and-sweets

>158 Crazymamie: Mamie: Aw, yeah, the kid's alright, I suppose.

We always had to wait for everything, stockings included, when I was a kid, but I kind of loved that. But I also love the idea of just digging in first thing!

>159 jayde1599: Thanks for the link!
When I was a kid, our stockings were full of all sorts of trinkets, and I mean *stuffed* full. Tomm is very uncomfortable with lots of gifts, so I try to compromise and stuff Charlie's stocking with more perishables (chocolates and candies) than trinkets. Plus, I love getting chocolates in my stocking now (I just ordered some of my favorites today - a benefit of self-stocking stuffing!).

Stockings are also my favorite part of Christmas. I pride myself on the stockings I put together - as others have said, a mix of practical items, tasty treats, and random trinkets/little gifts. We spend Christmas (usually - probably not this year) with The Wayne's family, and their tradition is to have everyone dig through their stockings together. At first, I was afraid that meant going one at a time, but thank goodness it's not!

I have slowly been training TW, mostly by example, of how to do a really good stocking and he knocked it out of the park last year with mine. Every single thing I pulled out was awesome. I think it was our 2nd Christmas together when my stocking held two large (like almost Costco sized) bottles - shampoo and conditioner. He's come a long way, baby! ;-)

I'm trying stockings for the first time this year. The house we bought this year has a (gas) fireplace so it seemed like the perfect excuse. It didn't hurt that I was looking for craft project during the pandemic so making cross-stitched stockings was perfect. My step-daughter's is completely finished and my husband's is with my mom for final assembly (I'm rubbish at sewing and since COVID means I can't get together with my mom to teach me hands on, she's taken on that task). My stocking will likely not be finished by Christmas so I've told my husband we will use clothespins to attach what I've completed to a bag to use as a stocking substitute. It's been a little tricky to decide what to put in them as we have a tradition on my side of doing Christmas plates (basically a variation on the German tradition of filling your boot with chocolate and treats) so I don't want to stuff them with yet more food treats. So we'll see how it goes. They may just end up being festive decorations we don't fill in years ahead and that's ok too.

I love stockings! Our tradition when I was growing up was that we kids could get into our stockings without having to wait -- it won my parents a couple more minutes of sleep, I suppose. :-) We usually get chocolates and such, and little gadgets or trinkets. Now that we are grown up, I do Mom's, and she does everyone else's, but we contribute to each other's stockings as well.

I am *loving* the stocking stories, folks! Thanks so much for sharing them!

>162 katiekrug: Katie: Shampoo and conditioner?! Yoicks. Still, at least he didn't FORGET. (Can you tell that I just can't quite let that go?)

>163 MickyFine: Micky: Aw, I love that you've made your own stockings! And it will be fun and interesting to see how your own tradition evolves. We have a gas fireplace, too and I love the way our stockings look hanging there.

>164 foggidawn: Very cool that you put your mom's stocking together! I love it. And I love that you all contribute to each other's, too.

I bow to your stocking prowess, Amber. I am guilty of making stockings an afterthought but this discussion has inspired me!

>165 scaifea: - I don't blame you a bit for not letting go of The Forgotten Stocking *grin*

These stocking stories are great! Santa always left ours at the end of our beds and we could dig in when we woke. I think it gave my parents and extra 15 mins of sleep
Nate does not like that idea so our stocking are in the living room and we open them together. This may change as the kids get older.

I love that Charlie either still believes or wants you to think he still believes! He is the bomb.

>166 lauralkeet: Laura: Oh, making sure that I don't forget to get stocking stuffers is one of the key elements in my Holiday Anxiety Kit. So I try to take care of it fairly early.

>167 katiekrug: Katie: I appreciate the solidarity, sister!

>168 ChelleBearss: Chelle: I kind of love the idea of the stocking at the end of the bed, but I'd be so worried about waking the person in the bed while delivering it. (I wouldn't really have to worry about Charlie - I've never seen someone who sleeps so soundly. It's a rough time waking him when you need to!)

>99 laytonwoman3rd: What a great family story! Love it. Such a positive thought to carry forward in your life.

Groggy this morning, but not as bad as yesterday at least, so yay? I had two separate caught-in-a-crowd-with-no-masks-anywhere-in-sight-and-also-no-mask-myself panic nightmares, which is awesome. *eye roll* Anyone else having these kinds of dreams?

Today's agenda:
The yooshz (Charlie school stuff, course prep, office hours, teaching). I'll probably sneak an hour of sewing time in during office hours, since I don't expect to have any takers. The messenger bag is coming along. I'm teetering between excitement that it'll be great and anxiety that there are still plenty of chances to screw it up. So. We'll see.

I also need to figure out how to conduct my usual anonymous student evaluations now that I can't just pass them out and leave the room. Google Forms I think it will be, so I need to set that up today, plus work more on my course websites for next semester.

Leftovers for dinner tonight, I think: I made Japanese Meat and Potatoes last night, but there's not *quite* enough left for all three of us, so I think I may cook a pot of rice to make it stretch.

On the reading front:
Still plugging along with The Best At It and The Mill on the Floss, the latter of which I'm really enjoying now that I'm about halfway through. I managed a couple of pages in The Wind Up Bird Chronicle yesterday, too.

What We're Watching:
Scaife Family Christmas Movie Marathon entry last night: Emmet Otter's Christmas Jug Band. I'm the only one in the house who likes it, but TOO BAD. We watch it every year and I have no regrets.

>171 scaifea: How does one do virtual office hours?

Survey Monkey is what my work uses for evaluations after our training sessions.

>172 ChelleBearss: Chelle: For virtual office hours, you just set up a zoom meeting, post it on the course website, and if they want to see me, they just enter to zoom. They automatically get put in the waiting room, so that I can meet with just one at a time.

Thanks for the Survey Monkey tip! I did think about it, but U of Dayton IT people suggested using Google Forms, since all students and faculty have official Google accounts. I suspect they pretty much work the same.

107. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (Charlie's bedtime read, 280 pages) - 10/10 = A+
I am pleased to report that Charlie liked it! He's chosen the next book in the series for our next read-aloud - woot!!

I love your comment about last night's movie. Good for you!

>175 katiekrug: Me, too!

Morning, Amber! Hooray for Charlie wanting to continue in a favorite series of yours. I need to get back to that one - I have only read the first book.

Yes! Another Megan Whalen Turner fan!

>175 katiekrug: Katie: *snork!* Sometimes you just have to put your foot down. There's no accounting for taste around here sometimes.

>176 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Yes, I'm really excited that he liked the first book, since it's probably my very favorite series ever. So satisfying. *gently nudges Mamie to get back to it*

>177 foggidawn: YES! WOOT!!

I did keep our stockings so if the move means we'll be bringing back th stocking idea I'll only have to make a couple for new family members and we'll be all set :) (next year though, definitely not this year)

>179 RebaRelishesReading: Good thinking, Reba!

>171 scaifea: Yep, yep, yep....I have those dreams.

>170 SandyAMcPherson: Thanks, Sandy. We have a lot of pretty swell stories in my family. I'm afraid a couple of them may be ---umm....embellished?...from time to time, especially when my brother tells 'em. He seems to remember stuff that happened before he was born, too.

>181 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: I kind of want to say that it's nice to know I'm the only one, but also I don't really wish them on other people. *sigh*

It feels like it's going to be one of those days when I can't get warm all day. I already have my space heater directed toward my feet but it doesn't seem to be making a dent. So. Cold.

Today's agenda:
Polish off the Myth class website and work on the Latin one a bit more. Maybe do some sewing (I spent my sewing time yesterday making lines on fabric to mimic book pages). Hopefully some reading?

On the reading front:
Another day of not much reading to report, although I did manage a few pages in The Best At It. Maybe I'll finished that one today?

What We're Watching:
Christmas Movie Marathon entry from last night = Elmo Saves Christmas, one of Charlie's old favorites.

>183 scaifea: Oh I know those can't get warm days, Amber. For me it means a hot shower or bath is in order. Sending virtual cozy blankets to curl up in.

Good luck with the work and sewing today and hoping reading fairies drop plenty of time in your lap. ;)

Oooo. Emmett Otter. Did you ever see the outtakes reel on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GduZhqftUn8

>184 MickyFine: Micky: These can't-shake-the-cold days are rough, aren't they? I had some soup for lunch and I'm still cozying up to my space heater, so that's helping. A long bath sounds pretty amazing, though.

>185 weird_O: Bill: No, I haven't - thanks for the link!!

I want to chime in on stockings. When I was growing up, stockings mostly contained fruit, nuts, and maybe a piece of jewelry or other small trinket.

My brother's family, thanks to his wife's traditions, has taken stockings to a whole new level. Everyone who will be at their home during Christmas has a stocking. It is filled with all sorts of things--fuzzy socks to wear around the house, bath soap gel, a loofah, a bag of the person's favorite candy (usually a variety of Dove Dark Chocolate or Ghiridelli Dark Chocolate for me), etc. The stockings are big, and they are full. I probably enjoy seeing what is in the depths of my stocking when I spend Christmas there more than opening the other gifts.

>187 thornton37814: Thanks for sharing, Lori! I really am enjoying learning about everyone's stocking traditions.

Fridays are always busy here at Scaife Manor, with grocery pickup and Friday After-School Snack baking and bill sorting and just everything. Plus, I'm looking through Charlie's upcoming math test (next week) to try to create a practice test for him, since his math teacher is just this side of useless. Honestly, I don't criticize teachers lightly because I know how hard that job is, but this one has given us little to no evidence of competency and it's beyond annoying. So it falls to Tomm and me to help Charlie prepare for the exam.

Anyway. I may also try to squeeze some sewing time in today, but I don't have high hopes for that happening.

On the reading front:
Not much to report here from yesterday, beyond a few pages in The Best At It, which I didn't finish as planned. Maybe today?

What We're Watching:
We finally finished up the GBBS finale last night. I cried. I always do. Then we found the "Beginnings" collection on Netflix and started watching that. I think they're season 1 is maybe the original season 3? So confusing.

GBBO "Beginnings" collection? Now that my husband has been "converted," my daughter has been telling us we need to watch some of the earlier seasons. Okay then. But first: the holiday episode which IIRC drops today!

>190 lauralkeet: Laura: I'm not sure why we didn't choose the holiday series last night (it was posted as a suggestion), but I definitely do want to watch it/them soon!

Yes the numbering of seasons here vs the UK is super confusing. I periodically go back through to make sure they haven't added something that I've missed...

>192 katiekrug: So annoying that they don't just keep the numbering the same, although I'm sure there's a reason for it that I just don't know.

I believe it's about not wanting to confuse US viewers (because we are so dumb?), so the first season to show here, is Season 1, except it's like #4 or something in the UK. There are still original seasons that haven't been shown here. Netflix needs to pony up, dammit.

>194 katiekrug: Katie: Well, to be fair, as a nation we do seem pretty stupid sometimes. But yeah, hurry up, Netflix - I need All. The. Things.

>195 scaifea: - True, but I like to think anyone interested in a gentle British competition show about baking is not among The Dumb :D

>196 katiekrug: Katie: Truth! We are a classy and sophisticated group, of course.

Obvs.

>198 katiekrug:

Bwahahahahahaha!

SparkNotes' Instagram account did this post on Greek mythology and I laughed then thought of you. Happy Friday!

>201 MickyFine: Ha! Funny!

Enjoying all the talk about stockings, and getting some good ideas...this will be the first year my oldest can really understand anything about Christmas, so it’s time to start making some traditions! Will talk to my husband about it tonight as I don’t know that he has ever told me how his family did them when he was young. Also, thanks for that peanut butter Nutella swirl cookie recipe. I have made them twice now and my entire family loves them!

>203 aktakukac: Hi, Rachel! Oh, how exciting that you have a little one who's having his first exciting holiday! *happy sigh* And you're welcome for the recipe - I'm glad you like them!

Just stopping in to report that thanks to you, Amber, I have totally upped my stocking game. This week I found a combination of small gifts for each person, both useful and whimsical, and ordered Sees candy in stocking-sized quantities. It was fun and it's very satisfying to know the stockings are pretty much done instead of being left to the last minute. Woot!

>205 lauralkeet: Laura: Yay!! I'm pretty excited about what I found for Charlie's stocking this year: in addition to some various chocolates, I ordered a neat-looking set of pens and a set of mini journals/notebooks, and he will *love* it, I just know it.

Today's agenda:
We've already had Saturday Morning French Toast (yum), which means Karen (my name for Tomm's Nest smoke detector system or whatever it is) has already snarked at my cooking skills - every dang time I use my griddle, she starts yelling, "HEADS UP, THERE'S SMOKE IN THE KITCHEN," and then I yell back, "DAMMIT KAREN, SHUT IT!" and then Charlie giggles and Tomm rolls his eyes and it's a whole thing.

Anyway.

I'm going to try a new recipe today: Virginia Peanut Pie. We'll see how that goes (I'm looking at you, Karen), and then I plan on splitting most of the rest of my day between sewing and reading. I'd love to get the messenger bag done this weekend and move on to other holiday sewing plans.

On the reading front:
I finished The Best At It last night - mini-review to come. And I'm still making slow but steady progress on The Mill on the Floss, which I'm liking more and more as it goes. And I managed a couple more pages of The Windup Bird Chronicle yesterday, too.

What We're Watching:
Last night's Christmas Movie Marathon entry was A Child's Christmas in Wales, which is one of my very favorites, thanks ever so much to Linda & Laura for bringing it into my life a few years ago. *happy sigh*

Your smoke alarm sounds hilarious! Mine just screams at me when I cook

Enjoy your weekend! We are trying to jam a ton of Christmas movies in today. Starting the morning with the 2018 Grinch that just arrived on Netflix this morning.

>208 ChelleBearss: Chelle: I would almost rather have one that just screams at me. Karen is so salty about it.
Enjoy your movies today! We haven't seen the newer Grinch one because Charlie is *not* a fan.

122. The Best At It by Maulik Pancholy (Stonewall Honor Book, 320 pages) - 8/10 = B+
Rahul is a middle school kiddo with a ton of stress and a handful of secrets. This is the story of how he tries to navigate friendships, low-grade racism, bullies, and the dangers of dating when no one but you (and maybe not even you) know what and who you want.
There's a lot going on in here, and although at times I thought the author was maybe trying to pack in a few too many Important Issues (racism, mental illness, sexual orientation, bullying,...), in general this middle grade novel does a good job of representation, and describing both what it looks like to come out in a safe family space and the potential repercussions of not having that safe space. Overall, happily recommended.

123. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (Charlie's read-aloud, 271 pages) - 7/10 = C
A robot accidentally gets plane-wrecked on an island and makes friends with the animal inhabitants. But then other robots come looking for it and trouble brews.
Hm. This one missed the mark for me. It may have been partly because I was worried from the beginning that it would be sad at the end so I didn't pay as much attention as I should have? So either I did a great job of distancing myself from the story and the characters or the book itself just wasn't that gripping. *shrug*

Besides sewing these days, I'm still knitting as well, and I made this little thing:



It's a Soap Sweater Pebble. It's knitted with wool yarn and acts as a loofah with the bar of soap inside. As you continue to use it, it will felt itself, and by the time the soap is used up, you'll have a little stone made of felted yarn. This one is going into the Christmas package for my parents - my mom is one of the only people I know who uses bar soap. I love the idea and hope it actually works!

Morning, Amber! I am laughing about Karen and her antics. We have one of those upstairs that goes every year when we turn the heat on for the first time. But not constant - more salty like your Karen. Perhaps it is a sister of hers?

If that newest Grinch movie you are talking about is the one with Benedict Cumberbatch lending his voice, Charlie might like it. Cumberbatch plays a softer Grinch, and his Grinch is not mean to the little dog. Abby does not like the original Grinch at all but loved the Cumberbatch version. It's really charming.

The discussion of Christmas stockings here has also affected me. I plan to unearth them in a couple of weeks, make ones for the new family members and actually reinstitute the practice next Christmas. I love some of the ideas of what to put in them I've heard too :)

Smoke alarms. We live in a 6-story condominium building which has wood-frame construction and so has a sensitive fire alarm system (I've even set it off with steam). Every time my cooking makes smoke I turn the vent fan onto high and then run around like crazy opening every door or window. If you aren't quick enough everyone in the building ends up making small-talk on the sidewalk (while you try to act like it all has nothing to do with you). We were away one time and my son and grandkids were staying here when it went off at 2 a.m. one time. I bet that wasn't a very happy group out there waiting for the fire department to come and turn the alarm off so they could go back to bed.

>212 scaifea: That's a neat idea! I like Yardley's oatmeal soap, which is kind of soap with a loofah built in.

>209 scaifea: My two dislike the Jim Carey grinch and won’t watch it with me. Chloe calls it scary.
This version is the first movie that my girls ever saw in theatre. It’s very sweet and much less scary.

>213 Crazymamie: Mamie: Oh, they definitely sound like sisters. Yoicks.

I may suggest again to Charlie that we try the new one, but he's pretty stubborn once he sets his mind to not liking something.

>214 RebaRelishesReading: Reba: Yay for stocking inspiration!! But ooof, that alarm system sounds pretty awful.

>215 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Well, I'm very happy that you like the idea of the sweater pebble for, um, reasons, although I have it on what I thought was excellent authority that you like cucumber melon soap...

>216 ChelleBearss: Chelle: Honestly, I don't have any desire to see the Carrey one, either, even though I generally love him. His Grinch does seem a little too crazy.

The Virginia Peanut Pie seems to have turned out pretty okay (we haven't tasted it yet, though):

Wow! I could use a slice o' that peanut pie for my breakfast...ah...brunch. Whatever.

>215 laytonwoman3rd: Oh, yes....cucumber melon is soooo refreshing! I am a girl of many soapy facets.

I am not familiar with peanut pie....is the surrounding goo similar to pecan pie?

>219 weird_O: You're welcome any time, Bill!

>220 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Yep, it should be similar to pecan pie except...peanuts. We'll see how it turned out at dinner.

Okay, Charlie's Christmas present is finished! Here's what it is supposed to look like (Callum's book bag thing from The Dragon Prince):





And here's the finished product:

Well, that is totally full of fabulous! Way to go, you!!

>223 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie!! I am *so* excited that I didn't screw it up! And I think Charlie is going to LOVE it!

For sure he will love it! I wish you could have heard the girls exclaiming as they looked over my shoulder - wicked cool, they say.

>225 Crazymamie: Mamie: Aw, yay! That makes me happy.

>222 scaifea: How unbelievably cool is that! Too bad he can't flaunt it in public.

>227 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda! He's not much of a one to flaunt at any time, but yeah, a public outing with it will have to wait. I suspect it will mostly get used in his room as he pretends to *be* Callum (he does a lot of imaginative playing like that).

>222 scaifea: What a treasure! I love your fabric choices and implementation of design elements!

You are going to fill it with books for Charlie, right?

Wow great job!!!

>229 quondame: Aw, thanks!

>230 weird_O: Bill: Ha! I'll let him pick out his own, I think.

>231 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle!

>222 scaifea: you are amazing, Amber. That looks fantastic!

>233 lauralkeet: Aw, thank you, Laura! I was so nervous drawing the design on there, because the bag was all finished and one mistake would mean the entire thing would be ruined. It's a huge relief that I didn't mess up!

>222 scaifea: You are simply amazing, Amber!! That's fantastic!!

>222 scaifea: What an amazing bag! Congrats!

Our family has started watching the GBBS to deal with pandemic and election stress. It is so relaxing, but bad for my cholesterol.

Bag is so gorgeous, Amber! You are a sewing grand mistress!

>235 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks so much, Reba!

>236 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda!
I'm with you on GBBS being good for stress and bad for eating habits. I can NOT watch an episode without wandering off at some point to search for something sweet to eat.

>237 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky!

It's a Pie for Breakfast kind of day because, well, there's pie in the house. It turned out amazing, by the way, and I think it may replace Pecan Pie here at Scaife Manor.

Today we're going to take our annual family pictures, which is always stressful for me in the lead-up, but then turns out to be hilarious and fun once we get started. Then I need to order a few last odds and ends for Christmas and bake a Chocolate Chunk Cinnamon Coffee Cake for breakfasts this week, and then I may head into the sewing room for a bit.

On the reading front:
I read a bit of The Windup Bird Chronicle yesterday, which is still strange but still good, and I started Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush last night.

What We're Watching:
Christmas Movie Marathon entry last night = The Shop Around the Corner. Gosh, I love that movie. So lovely and witty and sweet and Jimmy-Stewart-y. *happy sigh*

Enjoy your family pictures! We have yet to do that this year. I may just force the family to do a picture on our couch with my timer.
Our area is about to go into lockdown so no pictures with a real photographer will be able to happen

>240 ChelleBearss: Chelle: We only did a 'real' photographer once - for Charlie's first Christmas - and were so unimpressed with the results for the price that we invested in our own camera and started doing our own. That camera pooped out on us and for the last two years we've just used my iphone, but I still think the results are just fine. We're not looking for fancy photoshoots. Plus, right now we wouldn't venture out anyway. Good luck with your own photos!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

>242 scaifea: Sweeet!

>242 scaifea: very nice!

>242 scaifea: :)

124. A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote (yearly reread, 40 pages) - 10/10 = A+
Gosh, but I love this one. It makes me alternately sad and near-deliriously happy, and it's so, so beautifully written. Such a treat.

ETA: I reread this one every year and it's always just as wonderful as ever.

>246 scaifea: alternately sad and near-deliriously happy That, exactly.

>247 lycomayflower: Right? Also, this is another thing for which I have you and your mom to thank.

>246 scaifea: I haven't read it even the once.

Must go and find it.

>249 PaulCranswick: Paul: Oh, goodness, are you in for a treat! You'll love it.

Today's agenda:
Last week of classes for me, followed by a week of giving individual final exam meetings (Charlie has two more weeks). So, class prep, office hours, actual class, a department meeting, and more work on my course websites for next semester. Charlie's starting to wrap up the semester, so he has a handful of exams and projects coming due in the next couple of week. Fingers crossed that that all goes well and there are no big frustrations.

On the reading front:
I started my annual reread of A Christmas Carol yesterday, and I made some progress with Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush, too. A Mill on the Floss is still chugging along happily.

What We're Watching:
Last night's entries in the Annual Christmas Movie Marathon: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and Frosty the Snowman. And we squeezed in an episode of Gilmore Girls, too (the one in which Logan makes his debut, and I still just can't make up my mind about that guy. I both love and loathe him.)

With the holiday reading and our movie marathon and getting some presents wrapped and under the tree this weekend, it's started to feel lovely and Christmas-y here at Scaife Manor. *happy sigh*

>222 scaifea: Wow! Well done, Amber. Lucky Charlie!

>242 scaifea: Nice!

I finally read A Christmas Memory last year, and got to see why it's such a favorite. Beautifully written.

>252 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! I'm really excited for him to open that one.
And thanks for the photo love - a dog and her hooman always makes for a pretty good shot.

And yes! So beautifully written. Every year when I finish it, I just sit and cry for a bit. Just, lovely.

>251 scaifea: Enjoy your final week of classes! Hope the cherubs all pass with flying colours.

I usually come down on the side of liking Logan but he's got some massive flaws that make me sigh in exasperation with every re-watch.

>254 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! I have a couple of students who are struggling a bit, but that's always the case with beginning languages - there are some folks for whom learning a different language is a hard-won skill. But they'll all pass just fine because they're all making good efforts and that counts for tons with me.

Yeah, Logan. And Jess. And Dean. And LUKE. That show is pretty great at giving the Gilmore girls complicatedly flawed love interests.

>255 scaifea: Ah yes. I spent grades 3-12 and a single term of university taking French as a second language and while I wasn't bad, my reading and comprehension will forever be better than speaking. I still remember from my final oral exam in uni that the instructor noted that I was good at talking around words I didn't know to describe them if I hadn't retained all the vocabulary. Not so great in the class but it'll probably hold me in good stead if I ever make it back to France.

>256 MickyFine: Sounds like you should have taken Latin instead - there's no oral component to a dead language!

>257 scaifea: But all those declensions sound so intimidating...

I took a full year course in Old English during undergrad and enjoyed it but have retained literally none of it.

>258 MickyFine: Bah! Latin is just different, not more difficult. Declensions and conjugations, once you know how they work and what they do, are easy-peasy. And of course you haven't retained any Old English - I suspect you've had no practice with it since, yeah?

>259 scaifea: I think attempting to read Living with a Dead Language (a book I abandoned) left me baffled by its attempts to explain the technicalities of Latin and I've remained intimidated ever since.

And no, not much call for using my Old English since I finished that course. I like Beowulf fine but I'm perfectly happy reading a translation. ;)

>260 MickyFine: Ha! Interesting. I think I'll stay away from that book, then. (And I'm convinced that I could get you to understand *and* like Latin). And I do love a good Beowulf translation (I haven't read Old English since college either).

>261 scaifea: Well you're a superb prof so I have no doubts you could teach Latin like no other. *places apple on desk*

>262 MickyFine: *snork!* Flattery will get you everywhere.

>242 scaifea: Hopelessly behind, but love the holiday photo. Glad classes are going so well and that you two will both be done soon. I am much better at reading and writing French than speaking it, and I only remember some of Chaucer in Middle/old English. Couldn't possibly write it, only recite it. LOL. Love the holiday movies and glad it is starting to feel festive at your house. : )

>264 Berly: Hi, Kim! Good to see you!
I'm better at reading and writing *every* language than I am at speaking them, English included. I'm awkward in person no matter what language I'm trying to speak.

I can't see or hear the phrase "middle English" without "Sumer is icumen in" popping into my head. Every dang time.

I think both I and my students are all a bit loopy here at the end of the semester: we spent a (maybe not so) shocking amount of class time yesterday discussing how a stag is not a fish. There *was* a connection to Latin, honest. I do love my little Beginning Latin Cherubs, as I always do. The kids are alright, really, as they generally are. Such a hoot.

More of the same for me today: mostly next semester course prep stuff and some other odds and ends. I may pop into the library quickly to pick up a hold. We'll see. And I'll make up a batch of Thai Coconut Soup for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front:
Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush is coming along nicely. It's an interesting story and nicely told so far. And I listened to more of The Mill on the Floss yesterday, too.

Morning, Amber!

>242 scaifea: I love how that photo feels more candid than posed and how the light is coming in at the edge of it.

>246 scaifea: This is one of my all time favorite reads. Just not one word out of place, and it always makes me both happy and sad. And always makes me cry.

>265 scaifea: "I'm awkward in person no matter what language I'm trying to speak." Me, too.

>266 scaifea: "I think both I and my students are all a bit loopy here at the end of the semester..." The end of any semester demands loopy.

Your soup sounds delicious - we are having potato soup tonight. *happy sigh* I love soup.

Hoping today is kind to you.

>268 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Isn't A Christmas Memory just textbook wonderful? Gives me some kind of feelings every time.

I'd love to be able to say that my classes don't often derail into ridiculous conversations, but, well. That's just my jam, I guess. It helps the students bond more, I think, and that's especially important in a virtual classroom, for certain.

We love soup here at Scaife Manor, too! Potato soup is one of my favorites, but I don't make it because if it doesn't have onions in it, it's not worth eating and I can't use onions in my cooking. So, I just wait until I visit my mom have have hers, which is the absolute best.

Hiya Amber. I just spent a fun hour or so scrolling through your 8th thread of 2020. So much I missed in the moment. I wanted to find out what and where you are teaching...without simply asking you. That would be too...well...simple. In addition to getting the answers to my questions about your teaching, I observed Charlie's cooking and his on-line schooling. Oh, and the portraits.

I looked at Radcliffe Edmunds' book the other day to look for the scholars you mentioned, and by golly, Edmunds included quite a few papers and books by each of them in the bibliography.

Sarah Iles Johnston contributed an encomium for the back of the jacket.

Keep on chooglin'.

>270 weird_O: Oh, well, I'm good friends with Not Doing Things the Easy Way, so welcome to the club!

And aHA! I knew Fritz and Sarah would be in there! (Possibly not at all) Interesting story: When I was in grad school, I house sat for them one summer for a couple of weeks, during which time there was a nasty storm that took out the power, which then screwed up the security system, which triggered a visit from the security company, which...oh, it was a Benny Hill-level mess. Hilarious to think about now, but very much not so much then. Gorgeous home, though. I still think fondly of the heated tiles in the bathroom, which, at the time, felt *so* luxurious to poor-grad-student me.

>222 scaifea: You captured the right look so well, Amber. Charlie should love it!

>272 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg!!

>269 scaifea: Does no onions mean no leeks? I grew up with vichyssoise with chives sprinkled on top and miss it rather a lot.

>274 quondame: Yeah, no leeks, either. I'm sorry you're missing a favorite childhood treat.

>246 scaifea: Have you tried to read it out loud? Can you? I choke. every. time.

Hi there, Amber. That pie looks amazing! I've searched (ctrl f and everything) for the nutella cookie recipe so I think I have to go back a thread and look. And the peanut pie recipe... wow!

We are a stockings family for the kids. They are hung by the chimney and Santa fills them and places them just inside bedroom doors. My mom started that - to give us something to occupy ourselves early in the morning on Christmas morning.

I love A Christmas Memory and reread it frequently. The audiobook by Sissy Spacek is lovely too.

>276 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Every year I think, "Maybe we should read this aloud..." And then I realize that NOPE I could never.

>277 AMQS: Hi, Anne! You may have to go back a couple of threads for the nutella recipe at this point. Let me know if you can't find it and I'll try to remember to repost it. I haven't posted the peanut pie recipe, but I'll try to remember to do that soon, too. Honestly, it's pretty much just a pecan pie recipe, but, um, with peanuts.

I bet Spacek would be great at narrating books, but I can never understand the choice to have a female reader when the book's narrator is male or male when the narrator is female. That distracts me no end.

I think I should be able to wrap up my pre-semester course prep stuff today - woot! - and today is my last class for *this* semester (although I'll be meeting with students individually for their exams through next Thursday). I'm looking forward to celebrating with pizza tonight, although it's not officially an end-of-classes-for-me pizza party: We're watching If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie tonight, and Charlie remembers that the first ever time we watched it, we had pizza, so now, apparently, that's a tradition. I have no inclination towards arguing with that at all.

Our walks are definitely getting colder, but they're so worth the effort to get bundled up. I love our mid-morning walks, which get Charlie and me away from our desks and give us a nice brain break, plus we have wonderful and fun conversations. Our evening walks are great, too, because so many of our neighbors have Christmas lights up, so it's really a beautiful, peaceful way to wind down from the day.

On the reading front:
I spent time with Indigo yesterday, which involves a strong and handsome and brooding dude who's been laid low with injuries and is being nursed back to health by a sassy and strong young woman who will *not* stand for any nonsense, so of course it's excellent so far. I mean, we all know how this ends, but I'm happy to go along for the ride. I also made more progress on Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush and A Mill on the Floss and am still enjoying them both just fine.

What We're Watching:
Last night's Christmas Movie Marathon entry: It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie. A favorite. And it includes my very favorite Muppet movie line ever: "I like my women like I like my coffee, okay: a latte." Oh, Pepe.

I haven't read Indigo but Jenkins is a legend. And fun on Twitter. She also does not stand for any nonsense :)

Pizza sounds great right now. Guess I know what I'll be ordering tomorrow night for virtual happy hour/takeout night!

>280 katiekrug: Katie: Ooooh, I may have to go follow her over on Twitter, then...

And YES to pizza! I admit that I'm spending a ridiculous amount of my time so far today daydreaming about it.

I spend a ridiculous amount of time every day thinking about food. It's worse on the days I know we are ordering out. Then I agonize over where to order from, what to get, etc. as if it's my last meal ever. *smh*

>282 katiekrug: Katie: Ha! Well, I'm not stressing over this one small piece of my life, at least (as opposed to every other piece) - I'm just excited!

I have issues.

>284 katiekrug: Katie: *snork!* Welcome, friend, to the Issues Club.

Oh, good! There's a club. Will there be beverages?

>278 scaifea: found it and pinned it:)

>286 Crazymamie: - There'd better be, or I'm withholding my membership dues...

New thread is up:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/327091

>286 Crazymamie: >288 katiekrug: Beverages of all kinds, plus cookies!

>287 AMQS: Anne: Yay!!

>288 katiekrug: Good thinking.

>290 scaifea: Cookies! Most excellent.