October 29, 2026

Taking Stock

Making: plans to partake in a new knitting project, inspired by Cody Cook-Parrott’s The Practise of Attention.
Getting: closer to finishing my read-through of my shitty first draft, and is actually less shitty than I thought it was.
Cooking: Will shortly be cooking some kind of butternut squash soup for dinner, much to the chagrin of my squash averse daughter. She doesn’t know yet…
Sipping: Water! Fresh from the tap. Albeit not direct from the tap.

Reading: A Glacier’s Guide to Dying, by Michelle Porter
Waiting: For my youngest child to get home from school
Looking: Out the window at my garden done to seed, and marvelling at the abundance of seeds. What a world!
Listening: Not right this second, but my current big listen is my friend Caroline Marie Brooks’ new album Light and Matter
Wishing: For democracy to triumph next Tuesday.
Enjoying: The glow of an election in my city this week that went my way, and will be good for all of us.
Appreciating: October goodness, golden light, and that it was warm enough to ride my bike today.

Eating: Pumpkin seed apricot cookies from the Snacking Bakes book.
Liking: The goodness of apples in apple season. Six months, such fresh produce will seem like a dream.
Loving: Reflecting on Alessandra Naccarato’s essay collection Imminent Domains, which I finished reading last night, and which I can’t stop thinking about.
Buying: Cranberry sourdough loaf at Cobb’s Bread. It is truly the best thing, and even better with turkey soup.
Managing: I mean, just barely? (JK. Actually holding it together pretty well this week! Hooray for good sleeping…)
Watching: Planning on watching Rosemary’s Baby on Halloween. I love that movie, and always have, even back when I was 12, and watched it with my best friend, entirely unaware of how her Baptist parents might not be thrilled with our cinematic fare.
Hoping: For good weather for Trick or Treaters.
Wearing: A cardigan. It was warm today so I turned the heat off. Might be time to turn it back on.
Following: Fashion for weird baggy jeans, even if I’m not sure anyone looks that good in such garments.
Noticing: Jean fashion is always preposterous. (Remember acid washed?)

Coveting: A copy of the new Anita Brookner biography, which costs SIXTY DOLLARS, which is ridiculous, but also I will probably buy it. I am like the people who drive everywhere no matter what gas costs, except with books.
Feeling: GOOD. After an anxious time, I’ve found some space and peace.
Hearing: A car driving by. The whir of the fan.
Anticipating: I don’t know? Kind of living in the moment.

Thank you, Pip, for the template!