September 8, 2025
Taking Stock for September
Making: plans to get the word out about and celebrate my new novel, DEFINITELY THRIVING
Getting: cozy in my cardigan. Summer is not hanging around this year!
Cooking: Nothing at the moment, but Smitten Kitchen’s pasta salad with roasted carrots and tops is on the menu for the tonight!
Sipping: Tea sweetened with honey, because there was just the littlest bit left in the jar. I learned this trick from Jen Knoch—pour tea into the jar to get the dregs. Preventing food waste is delicious.
Reading: Ripeness, by Sarah Moss. I just started it this morning so am still just on the opening pages.
Waiting: for tonight, like Jennifer Lopez, but also differently, because I’m going to see Miriam Toews at the Toronto Reference Library.
Looking: At the trees outside my kitchen window which are suddenly turning autumnal (and I don’t hate it).
Listening: The sound of kids on the street outside. And someone operating a power saw. There is a bylaw in my neighbourhood that someone must always be operating a power saw or a leaf blower. If this wasn’t happening, we might all die.
Wishing: That everybody everywhere could find a little bit of peace in their hearts.
Enjoying: That my youngest child now makes her own way to school. I thought it would be hard to lose the framework of school walks, but it’s freed up so much time.
Appreciating: That both my children are happy at school.
Eating: Ripe pears. So good.
Liking: My new jeans, which are the first high waist jeans I’ve ever had? And they’re so comfortable and look great.
Loving: The sunshine on my garden.
Buying: Or ATTEMPTING to buy warm pjs for my kids at the new LL Bean. We’re going camping this weekend and neither of them have suitable sleepwear. Wish me luck.
Managing: the epic task of making sure all the produce gets eaten during the most delicious season in Ontario. This requires washing all the fruit, keeping fruit bowls filled, making sure the basket of grapes does not get lost in the back of the fridge, yelling at everybody to EAT THE STONE FRUIT. It’s a full time job. I’m not sorry.
Watching: I went to the movies on Friday and saw The Roses and loved it so much.
Hoping: that Lake Ontario is not too cold this weekend and I can ENJOY a swim (which is different than having a swim and not enjoying it, but I’ll take that too…)
Wearing: I’ve told you already, but my new jeans and a cardigan (and I do so delight in how the world is so Taylor Swift Folklore now and “August” turns to “Cardigan” as the month ticks over…)
Following: Fix the News! It’s the best. Read about the decline of mother to child HIV transmission in Botswana since 2000. It will blow your mind!
Noticing: That not enough people marvelling at decline of mother to child HIV transmission in Botswana. Guys. Get on it.
Sorting: Oh gosh, not enough. Sock and underwear drawer desperately needs it.
Coveting: New Taylor Swift album! And Olivia Colman’s wardrobe in The Roses
Feeling: Pretty good!
Hearing: Thumps through the wall from the house mine is semi-detached to. None of us are alone in the world.
(Thanks, Pip, for the template!)
