Amber's (scaifea's) Thread #5

Hey, everybody!

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 46 going on 12 and live in Ohio with my husband, Tomm; our son, Charlie; Mario, the Golden Retriever; and the newest addition to the family: Agent Fitzsimmons, the Border Collie.

The haircut isn't all that new anymore, but, well, here I am:



Favorite Books from 2021
Spinning Silver
Far Away Across the Sea
The Book Thief
Return of the Thief
Mister Impossible
Something Wicked This Way Comes
The House in the Cerulean Sea
Under the Whispering Door

What I'm Reading Now:
-Les Miserables (books by year - 1862)
-One More Thing (a book from my Read Soon! shelves)
-The Portrait of a Lady (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob)
-Burn (romance list)
-Stradivari's Genius (wishlist book)
-In the Woods (mystery)
-A Court of Thorns and Roses (a Beauty & the Beast retelling)
-Darius the Great Deserves Better (Stonewall Honor Book)
-Brothersong (audiobook)
-Neverwhere (family bedtime read-aloud)

Books on Deck:
-The World of Tibetan Buddhism (Buddhist reading list)
-Hitting the Books (cozy mysteries)
-Richard III (Shakespeare re-read)
-The Land of the Free (100 Banned Books)
-Lest Darkness Fall (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books)
-Titan (Locus SF Award)
-The Thief of Time (Boyne bibliography)
-(an unread book from my shelves)

The five-ish or so books I have going at once and the On Deck books nearly all come from the following categories and lists:

1. A book from the 100 Banned Books book (at least currently. As soon as I finish this list, I'll replace it with another, and oh, I've got tons of lists).

2. 13 years ago I started working my way through a handful of awards lists for children's books. I've finished a fair few of those, but I'm still working through the 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die list, and I try to stay up to date with several of the YALSA awards each year.

3. A book from the Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List, in chronological order.

4. A list I'm working through together with my best friend, Rob: The Hugo/Nebula/WFA/Bram Stoker (and other) lists (combined, in chronological order)

5. For this category, I cycle through 9 different stacks:
a. Agatha Christie's bibliography (in chronological order)
b. Stephen Fry's bibliography (in chronological order)
c. John Boyne bibliography (in chronological order, sort of)
d. Neil Gaiman's bibliography (in some order other than chronological (don't
ask)).
e. Christopher Moore's bibliography (in chronological order)
f. Maggie Stiefvater's bibliography (in chronological order)
g. The NEH Timeless Classics list
h. The National Book Award list (in alpha order by title)
i. The Pulitzer list (in alpha order by author)

6. An unread book from my shelves.

7. A book from my Read Soon! shelves.

8. A book on Buddhism or from the Dalai Lama's bibliography.

9. Book-a-year challenge: A few years ago, along with a few others in this group (*cough* Paul *cough*), I made a year-by-year list to see how far I could go back with consecutive reads. I've since been trying to fill in the gap years.

10. A cozy mystery.

11. A full-on re-read through Shakespeare's stuff.

12. A read-aloud-to-Charlie-at-bedtime book (or two).

13. An audio book, which I listen to as I knit/sew/otherwise craft/drive.

14. A romance novel.

15. A book from my wishlist (it's *so* long).

16. This slot is reserved for books that just grab me and shout that they need to be read Right Now.

Books Read

JANUARY
1. The Cave Children (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10
2. Conan the Barbarian (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books) - 7/10
3. Beauties, Beasts, and Enchantment (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books) - 8/10
4. The Paradise War (audiobook/Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books) - 7/10
5. What Fresh Hell Is This? (impulse read) - 8/10
6. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (I reread this one with Charlie, who's reading it for his ELA class) - 8/10
7. The Hidden Face of Eve (100 Banned Books) - 7/10
8. Guilty Pleasures (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books) - 7/10
9. Cue for Treason (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10
10. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob) - 9/10
11. Metropolis (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10
12. Timescape (Nebula Award) - 6/10
13. A Fatal Grace (mysteries) - 9/10
14. A Loyal Character Dancer (mysteries) - 8/10

FEBRUARY
15. Beetle and the Hollowbones (Stonewall Honor Book) - 8/10
16. More Fool Me (Fry bibliography) - 8/10
17. The Ghost Writer (wishlist book) - 9/10
18. Chimera (National Book Award) - 8/10
19. Cat's Cradle (unread book from my shelves) - 9/10
20. Mockingjay (reread with Charlie) - 10/10
21. Solutions and Other Problems (Alex Award) - 10/10
22. Heartsong (audiobook) - 9/10
23. Beat the Reaper (an unread book from my shelves) - 10/10

Simmons & Boo (her very best friend and constant companion - she even falls asleep with it in her mouth):



Mario and two of her good friends, Blue the Bunny and Frencisco, the Duck:



And Charlie on cookie decorating duty:

Next one is yours!

MINE!

Happy new one, Amber.

>6 scaifea: Thanks, Katie!

Morning, Amber! Happy new one! Hoping your headache goes away.

Hi Amber, headaches are such a trial & tribulation. Sending sympathy.
I loved the photos, esp. Charlie and the cookie decorating.

>9 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Thanks - I'm hoping it goes away, too. We'll see. It sort of feels like the kind that hangs around, though.

>10 SandyAMcPherson: Thanks, Sandy. I spend about 80% of my days with some form of mild headache and have since I was a kid, but sometimes the pain level creeps up there and demands to be noticed. Gah.

Happy new one!

Happy new thread, Amber!

Happy new thread. I figured I was so far behind on the last one, I'd better just say hello here.

Happy new thread.

Sorry the headache's lingering, but glad your energy levels are back up.

Happy new one!

This is the magic cure for what ails you. I hope.

Glad you're enjoying the Brosh, Amber. Have you read Hyperbole and a Half? My favourite of her stories are in that one although the newer volume is also excellent.

>13 figsfromthistle: >14 bell7: >15 ffortsa: Thanks, ladies!

>16 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. It's sure fighting to break through this morning. While out on my errands I went through the McDonalds drive-through for a coke and I'm hoping the sugar-caffeine combo helps keep it at bay.

>17 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>18 laytonwoman3rd: Oh, if only. *sigh*

>19 MickyFine: This is my first Brosh but the earlier work has been on my list for ages. I'll get there eventually.

>22 scaifea: I know.... but sugar and caffeine is also a promising remedy, if magic doesn't work.

Happy new thread, Amber!

>3 scaifea: Don't miss the latest banned book in Texas - THE 1619 PROJECT!

>24 laytonwoman3rd: The sugar and caffeine seem to be holding the headache at bay for now. I should probably chase it with a bunch of water...

>25 curioussquared: Thanks, Natalie!

>26 m.belljackson: *grins*

Happy new thread!

By the way, we're up to season 4 of Supernatural - the Universal monsters episode is fantastic!

Happy new thread!

>28 scaifea: YA KISS &TELL by Adib Khorram is likely next.

>29 foggidawn: Thanks!

>30 drneutron: Oh, that's *such* a good episode! So funny, and I love the black and white.

>31 quondame: Thanks!

>32 m.belljackson: Enjoy!

Happy new thread, Amber!

Hi Amber my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend.

>36 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita!

>37 johnsimpson: Hi, John - thanks!

Happy new thread, Amber.

Checking in on the new thread before I get hopelessly behind again, Amber!

>40 EllaTim: >41 alcottacre: Hi folks! Good to see you!

On the agenda for today:
Class prep, teaching, menu planning and writing up my grocery list for tomorrow, and then hopefully some reading time this afternoon.

I actually went down into my sewing room for a bit yesterday for the first time in a long while and worked on the t-shirt quilt for about 30 minutes: I cut the border strips and started sewing them onto the pieced quilt top. Hopefully now that I've got some momentum started up again I'll keep it going. We'll see.

On the reading front:
I started Beat the Reaper yesterday, which is really good so far, and I read a bit more of Darius the Great Deserves Better. Still listening to Heartsong on audio.

What We're Watching:
More My Hero Academia, which is fast becoming one of our favorite shows.

>43 scaifea: Congrats on the trip to the sewing room. I cross-stitched last night, but I probably should not have done so. I had trouble with fibers knotting on me, and a couple of times I noticed a wrong stitch placement a few stitches in. Sometimes the knotted fibers made it where I had to rip out what I'd done because the fibers weakened when I tried to back. I didn't want that "fuzzy" look where the fibers are becoming weak. I finally met my goal for the night, but it took a lot longer than it should have!

Happy New Thread, Amber!

Love the photos of Simmons and Mario with their pals, and the one of Able Baker Charlie.

I finished the Aeneid! Excellent - much better than I expected. Next will be Lombardo’s/Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

Glad to hear your headache has abated, Amber. I'm not familiar with My Hero Academia — is it on a streaming service?

>44 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori. Part of the reason why I haven't ventured into the sewing room in a little while is because I haven't been in the proper mood, and for me that makes a huge difference on how well the sewing actually goes. I'm sorry you had a frustrating time with your cross stitching - I've definitely been there!

>45 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe!

I think you're going to love Ovid. Same meter - very different poem.

>46 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! MHA is on Hulu. It's anime and it's our first real venture into the genre but hoo boy, is it a good one. Weird and hilarious but also surprisingly complex and well-written.

>49 scaifea: Back in the day Becky, Mike, and I got gob smacked by Ranma 1/2 at our local SF con. Lots of VHS tapes and laser discs crowded our family room. Becky's been into anime ever since.

>47 scaifea: Exactly this. I can't stitch to relax, I can only stitch when I am fairly relaxed.

I'm currently listening to Mythos as written & narrated by Stephen Fry. Rather too conversational for my taste. While part of me likes the detail in the "it's form here that we get words like xxx" asides that are going on, part of me likes doing that myself. I've read both The Illiad and The Odyssey, what do I want to try next?

>51 Helenliz: I adore Fry but I'm staying away from his myth books. There's nothing there that I don't already know, I'm fairly certain and probably some some inaccuracies that would drive me bananas.

I would recommend Vergil's Aeneid for your next classical read.

>50 quondame: This definitely won't be our last anime adventure. We love it.

Hi Amber. Hope the ol' headache went somewhere else , like maybe out into a black hole in outer space, never to return.
Meanwhile, ~ Whew! I just finished reading The Ghost Writer today. While you gave it a 9/10, I was not so enthralled with the story. Mind you, I totally went outside my comfort zone in reading a gothic-paranormal romance theme. I did write a review, but thought you might like to see what the BB did to my head, so I've expanded a bit here!

I found the writing was clever and (I think? Not being good at such evaluations), well-crafted. But the interleaving story structure distracted me and these alternate episodes seemed unrelated to the plot, which kept losing my interest. I think I was rather perplexed quite a few times in the weirdly convoluted twists. Not to imply another person wouldn't like the book, but verging on gothic-thriller, it was difficult to recommend.
Tip to the potential audience, do not try reading this late at night if you are in a very receptive-suggestive headspace! My imagination got an unwelcome workout.

>52 scaifea: I can imagine how you'd find it frustrating to read books like Fry's myth-books. I am not as well-versed in the Greek myths, though, so am looking forward to reading the Fry books at some point.

I'd love to get more of "Amber's suggested ancient myth book list"...

>54 SandyAMcPherson: Wow, that was fast, Sandy! My one big criticism of the book was that those interwoven stories weren't woven in tidily enough and I also had trouble figuring out just how they related to the main story. Plus I think they were a little too long maybe? I had trouble adjusting to the movement between them and the main story most of the time. So that and the fact that you're not a big gothic thriller fan makes me not at all surprised that you didn't like it as much as I did. I'm sorry it gave you the spooks!

>55 PawsforThought: I'll try to remember to post my myth course reading list later today...

On the agenda for today:
Grocery shopping this morning then a bit of course prep, and then I'll probably try to do some writing this afternoon. Maybe I'll get into the sewing room for a bit, too? We'll see. Tacos for dinner tonight and I am *so* excited about that!

The course prep stuff is because I've decided to change up my exams, again. I think the one-on-one oral exams work really well, but this year I have a lot more students than last year plus a second course this semester, which means that I just can't manage 20 individual exams in a week two times in a semester in addition to teaching two classes. Also, this group of Latin students seems particularly susceptible to stress, and a handful of them are having a hard time now that we've shifted from the simpler learning of forms to applying those forms to grammatical constructions. So I've decided to shift from a full-on exam to more of a 'take-home' homework/test, which should significantly lower the stress of the thing while still keeping at least a bit of the assessment-as-conversation element (I'm encouraging them to ask me questions as they work through it). We'll see how it goes, but I think this will be better for them and for me.

On the reading front:
I started The Portrait of a Lady yesterday and I admit that I'm surprised how much I'm enjoying it already (I was expecting to be in for a bit of a slog). I also read a bit of Darius the Great Deserves Better and of course I'm still listening to Heartsong although I think I'm nearing the end.

What We're Watching:
A couple of 30 Rocks and a My Hero Academia last night.

>58 scaifea: Speaking as a former student who has endured quite a few different forms of examinations, the one I felt worked best both in terms of allowing me to really express my knowledge and also making sure that I remembered what I'd learnt long-term is take-home exams.

>59 PawsforThought: Let's hope my Latin students feel the same!

I was also surprised by how much I enjoyed Portrait of a Lady when I read it several years ago, Amber. And it only gets better as it goes on.

Tacos sound good. We did taco salads the other night, and they never fail to hit the spot, but I miss my crunchy shells :)

>61 katiekrug: Crunchy shells are the BEST. I'm so excited.

It sounds silly to actually make this statement, but I love it when I end up loving a classic that I assume will be a drag, because usually when I do like them I really, REALLY love 'em.

Happy Thursday, Amber!

Okay, here's the reading list for my classical mythology course, for those interested:

Metamorphoses
Works & Days and Theogony
The Homeric Hymns
The Bacchants
The Electra
The Medea
Oedipus Rex
Iliad
Odyssey
The Oresteia
The Frogs
Aeneid
The Histories (Book 1)
The Early History of Rome: Books 1-5 (Book 1)
Heroides
The Apocolocyntosis of the Divine Claudius
XO Orpheus: Fifty New Myths

>63 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia!

>64 scaifea: Oh, that's great! Thank you, Amber. I have copy-pasted the list to my library-books-list. :)

>66 PawsforThought: You're welcome!

>66 PawsforThought: me too. I've read about half of the titles, but the others will be on my list.

>68 ffortsa: You're welcome, Judy.

On the agenda for today:
Class prep and teaching, then a trip to the library to use their scanner. I have the myth students read the entries for the major heroes (Heracles, Jason, Perseus, Theseus) in the The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology, which isn't easy to find and isn't worth them getting just for a few entries, so I need to scan the proper pages and I can post them. I'll make heart-shaped sugar cookies this afternoon for this week's Friday After-School Snack, and then hopefully there will be reading time left over before Frozen Friday dinner.

On the reading front:
I started Les Miserables yesterday. This one will take me a good long while, but I'm loving it already. Still working on Darius the Great Deserves Better, slowly, and still listening to Heartsong.

What We're Watching:
A West Wing and a My Hero Academia last night.

Happy Friday, Amber. Happy new thread too.
I love Mario and Simmons sharing their friends with us.
Haha, Lev & Lia's best friend are colored springs that I hear during the night skittering across the floor. Lev, and this is no lie, Lev will come to me when he loses a spring and takes me to the door it went under.
Ah, Les Miserables! I love that novel! Enjoy

Morning, Amber!

>62 scaifea: - I don't think that sounds silly at all. I often feel the same.

Morning, Amber! Happy Friday! I am back. I have still not read Les Miserables. Maybe you will inspire me. I do remember enjoying Beat the Reaper but it doesn't feel like your typical fare. I could be wrong.

>71 Carmenere: Happy Friday, Lynda! I love that Lev shows you that he's lost the spring! That's so smart and adorable.

I've been looking forward to reading Les Mis for a long time! I'm glad you like that one, too.

>72 katiekrug: Morning, Katie! Whew. I'm glad I'm not silly...

>73 msf59: Hi, Mark! Welcome back!

You're very right that Beat the Reaper isn't my usual jam, but a friend has been insisting I read it for a long time and I'm honestly surprised at how much I'm enjoying it.

The Friday After-School Snack:

>77 scaifea: Yummy!

Have a great weekend.

>77 scaifea: Yum! Is there a significance to the colors, or just what you had on hand, sprinkles-wise? I like that they are not all red or pink, which always seems to be the default for heart-shaped bakery cookies.

Have a wonderful weekend, Amber!

>78 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita! This is my favorite sugar cookie recipe and we use it for most holidays. It makes crispy/chewy cookies, which we like better than the more cakey sugar cookies.

>79 rosalita: No real significance other than, as you say, they're what was in the cupboard. We also have green sprinkles, but I'll save those for next month's shamrock cookies.

>80 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia!

On the agenda for today:
Weekend baking today will be a heart-shaped chocolate cake, and then I may spend some time in the sewing room. Otherwise I'm hoping for a lot of reading time today. Philly Cheesesteaks for dinner tonight.

On the reading front:
I spent my reading time yesterday with Solutions and Other Problems and I am *loving* this book. So, so good. I think I may be able to finish up Heartsong this weekend, too. We'll see.

What We're Watching:
An episode of Loki and a couple of My Hero Academia.

Mmmm ... cheesesteaks. I know you well enough to know you make them "witout" (Philly-speak for no onions). There are many opinions on the correct type of cheese to use. I'm a provolone gal myself. How do the inhabitants of Scaife Manor like their cheesesteaks?

The cookies look great. I like crispy-chewy ones, too. And more heart-shaped baking today! Love is in the air... I bought The Wayne a card and some Reese's peanut butter hearts, and we are going out to dinner on Monday. I'd try my hand at cookies or a cake but he's asked me (very nicely) to stop baking things for a bit, because it's too tempting. So my last effort was a banana bread - something he won't eat - and now I'm stuck eating it by myself. *sigh*

>85 lauralkeet: You're right, Laura - no onions in this house, but plenty of red and green bell peppers. And yes to provolone! That's what I use, too! I'm getting hungry already...

>86 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! I started doing all the holiday themed baking when Charlie was little. I was thinking about not doing the cake this year because I thought maybe he might be getting to the age where it's more annoying than fun, but he asked me the other day, "Are you gonna make the heart cake this year?" in what sounded like a hopeful tone, so here we are. Made me happy.

I'm thinking about making banana bread tomorrow, too!

Happy weekend, Amber! The cookies look great, and I'm sure the heart cake will be excellent as well :)

>89 bell7: Thanks, Mary! The biggest challenge with the heart cake is that I don't have a platter big enough for it (you make the cake in one square pan and one round one, then cut the round one in half and stick those halves onto the square to make the heart) so I have to try to remember each year how I did it the previous year. I think it involves a cookie sheet and foil... I mean, I've only been doing this for 13 years now, you'd think I'd remember. *sigh*

>90 scaifea: You need Tomm to cut you a piece of plywood the correct size, and then cover it with aluminum foil.

>91 laytonwoman3rd: Ah yes see but then I'd stick it somewhere so that I'd never forget where I put it and then the next year I'd never be able to remember where that unforgettable place was...

>92 scaifea: Yes...I thought of editing my comment to say "And then you'd have to remember where you stashed it"!

21. Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh (Alex Award) - 10/10
I don't know why I waited so long to give Brosh a try but I'm so glad I finally have. Her weird is exactly my favorite kind, and this volume is equal parts weirdo hilarity and emotional punches to the gut. I *adored* it.

>93 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! I *could* write a note on my recipe, I suppose... ("Hey dummy, you put the plywood platter in the basement storage room under the whoozit.")

>94 scaifea: Yay!

Glad you're enjoying Les Mis so far. I mostly enjoyed it although I still haven't forgiven Victor Hugo for the Waterloo section and the history of the Paris sewers section.

>96 MickyFine: Well if you go into a Hugo book not ready for long excursions into the minutiae of sewers, that's on you, to be honest...

22. Heartsong by TJ Klune (audiobook) - 9/10
The third book in the Green Creek series, this one focuses on the relationship between Robbie and Kelly. I can't say much more without spoilers for the first two books, so I'll just leave it at that. I will say, though, that by this third book Klune seems to have economized his writing style so most of the repetitive language is gone. The characters and their relationships are so well done in this series and the story is great, too. I'm so glad I stuck with it through the first two books, and I'm eager to get to the fourth one.

>94 scaifea: Added to my tbr, and I’m going to go check my libraries right away! Thanks!

Karen O

>99 klobrien2: Woot! I hope you love it!

Today's Agenda:
For the heart cake yesterday I used King Arthur Flour cake and frosting mixes for the first time and I am here to tell you that they are *amazing*! So, so good. So yeah, I'm having cake for breakfast this morning. Once I'm finished with my cake and coffee I'll do some house cleaning (dusting and wiping down surfaces while Tomm does the vacuuming), then I'll bake some banana bread and maybe spend some time in the sewing room. I sewed the border onto the t-shirt quilt yesterday so the next step is to put the quilt sandwich together to prep it for the actual quilting part.

The philly cheesesteaks last night really hit the spot; I bought bakery rolls for them instead of hoagy buns because the hoagy buns just didn't look appealing, and I'm so glad I went with the rolls - they were so good! Parmesan Lemon Chicken Bake for dinner tonight.

On the reading front:
I think I'll finish up Beat the Reaper today, and I started listening to Brothersong this morning.

What We're Watching:
We finished Mockingjay Part 1 and then watched an episode of My Hero Academia.

Good to know about the cake mixes, Amber. We've enjoyed KA's scone mixes, but I felt like their dog biscuit mix was more complicated than necessary (it included letting the dough rest ... for dog biscuits??!!).

I'm glad the cheesesteaks hit the spot, and even happier you chose provolone. There's a certain faction in the City of Brotherly Love who swear by Cheez Whiz. Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up.

And on that note, have a great day!

>102 lauralkeet: - When I was a kid, there was a chain restaurant called The Ground Round that my aunt and uncle would take me to when I stayed with them, and the "cheese" on their cheesburger was Cheez Whiz and ohmigod, I *loved* it. Now? The thought makes me smile with nostalgia while my stomach turns with nausea. Heh.

Morning, Amber! I ate the last of my banana bread for breakfast this morning. *sad face*

>102 lauralkeet: Oh, I agree about the dog biscuit mix - way too complicated, although I admit that I didn't try them myself to see if they're worth it. Mario and Simmons seemed to like them just fine, but they also eat rabbit turds with gusto, so...

Cheez Whiz! Ha! Interesting...

>103 katiekrug: OMG THE GROUND ROUND!! I'd forgotten all about that place! I loved it as a kid, too, but I don't remember the burgers.

>105 scaifea: - You may be the first person I've encountered as an adult who knows what The Ground Round was!

>106 katiekrug: Minnesota had quite a few Ground Round restaurants. My family went there often, but I don’t recall the food. Cheese Whiz does not sound appetizing, though.

Karen O

>106 katiekrug: *raises hand* I also remember Ground Round — it was a favorite lunch spot for my newsroom colleagues and me back in the 1990s. But then I'm older than all of you! :-)

>107 klobrien2: - Huh, I had no idea, Karen! I assumed it was a Northeast thing. And I can't speak for cheese whiz, but Cheez Whiz was delicious to a 10 year old - it was basically like the "cheese" you get with nachos at a sports stadium, if that helps...

>108 rosalita: - ANOTHER Ground Round-er. Noice.

>106 katiekrug: Ha! *fist bump* Even more evidence that we're clearly the right partners for a New Jersey food road trip.

>107 klobrien2: They were in MN, too - interesting!

>108 rosalita: Did they have a buffet element? I feel like I remember that they did, but I could be thinking of Ponderosa...

>109 katiekrug: Iiiii think I would still like fake cheese on my cheeseburger...

>112 scaifea: - I'm not Julia but I'll butt in. I don't think they had a buffet. But oh - Ponderosa! We had one of those not too far away and it was a Treat.

>113 scaifea: - I probably would too, tbh.

>112 scaifea: >114 katiekrug: I also don't remember a buffet but I'm pretty sure they had a salad bar. This is a weird thing to remember, but I had my first taste of focaccia at Ground Round (remember, I lived in Iowa) when they started offering deli sandwiches on a black pepper focaccia instead of a bun. I'm sure it wasn't great focaccia but I remember being immediately enamored. The roast beef on focaccia also had Boursin cheese, another revelation that I still use on occasion when making my own sandwiches at home.

And yes! to remembering Ponderosa. Such good baked potatoes.

>115 rosalita: - I never thought of putting Boursin on a sandwich, but YUM.

>114 katiekrug: I LOVED Poderosa so much. I remember there was still one close by when I was in high school and I had a date take me there. He was so goofy and adorable: we went up to the buffet together and I watched as he blobbed a giant scoop of whipped butter onto his plate. I suspected that he had mistaken it for pudding and I was right. I probably should have said something to him, but I really wanted to know how it was gonna play out so I just observed. The look on his face when he put a heaping spoonful into his mouth was WORTH IT. I giggled and said, "That's not pudding, is it" and he was such a good sport about it that I was thoroughly charmed. Turned out to be a pretty good date.

>115 rosalita: I must be thinking about the salad bar, then, which for some reason was, like, the height of sophistication to my childhood way of thinking.

I have never had Boursin cheese nor do I even know what it is, but now I think I need it. And YES to the baked potatoes! SO GOOD.

>116 katiekrug: What is this mystery cheese?! I. Need. It.

23. Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell (an unread book from my shelves) - 10/10
Peter Brown started life as an orphaned kiddo being raised by his loving, Holocaust-survivor grandparents, but when they're randomly and brutally murdered in their own home, Peter sets out for revenge and ends up as a very competent hitman for the mob, then as a very competent MD intern in the Witness Protection Program. And then his past comes calling during a hospital shift from hell.
This isn't my usual fare at all, but my friend, Rob, has been wanting me to read it for years and I finally gave in. I'm so glad I did. It's fantastic even as it's also very much not what I usually go for. It's dark and downright brutal in parts, but somehow Bazell manages even so to keep it light and funny. Most of that is because of the narrator, who ticks a lot of the right boxes for me: smart, *very* good at pretty much everything he does, but also very matter-of-fact about it and with a healthy dose of self-deprecation, and chock full of charisma. The plot is great, too: lots of interesting twists as the story plays out both in the present and in flashbacks that unfold his hitman past. Definitely recommended, even if, like me, this might not be your usual jam.

Mmmm....Boursin. I have some cream cheese in the fridge. I could sorta kinda make my own version with some herbs and garlic...

We had a Ground Round in Scranton for a long time, embedded in the mall. I don't remember what was good there, but I know I was sorry when it closed. It was a convenient place to meet people for lunch when I was working downtown.

>118 scaifea: You really must try to find some Boursin Cheese, Amber. The garlic & fine herbs flavor is my favorite, and usually the only variety stocked by my local grocery.

>121 laytonwoman3rd: It's funny that we remember that we liked the place but don't much...remember the place. Brains are funny.

>122 rosalita: Aha! It's a brand and not a type! Interesting. I'll have a look at the grocery for it next week.

*raises hand*
I remember The Ground Round too! There was one in Lafayette, IN where I went to college. Chris (whom I met in college) has fond memories of one in Syracuse, NY where he grew up. A quick web search shows only 15 Ground Round restaurants remain: https://groundround.com/menu-location/

Goodness me, a salad bar takes me back. I seem to remember somewhere local had one, and we thought it the height of sophistication. But you could only go up the once, so we got the thing down to a fine art. First you position the iceberg leaves to make the bowl higher, support this with the slices of cucumber and then fill in the middle. And you carry the cherry tomatoes in your hand.

mmmm. Boursin. I like the black pepper one. I'm trying not to eat bread during the week, cutting down on the carbs. Might just have to break that rule this week. It's shopping day tomorrow.

>124 scaifea: I think the type of cheese, non-branded, is Gournay, in case you can't find the specific brand.

>115 rosalita: Ah, first focaccia! In the mid-80s the ex-dump across from where I worked was developed into an office complex with several restaurants - one of which made itself known by filling the air with baking focaccia every morning. Cutter's. They had killer crème brûlée as well.

Similar to Boursin is Alouette brand, which I also like 🙂

>125 lauralkeet: Have we had this conversation before? You're a Boilermaker? *tsk*

And rats - there's a GR in Ohio but it's two hours away.

>126 Helenliz: Only one trip to the salad bar?! Highway robbery.

The black pepper one is the one that looked really good to me, too!

>127 rosalita: Good to know - thanks! I hope I can find some.

>128 quondame: I think I was well into college before I even heard of focaccia but it's now one of my favorites.

>129 katiekrug: Oooh, I think I remember seeing that brand in my store...

>120 scaifea: I *loved* Beat the Reaper! Such a fun combination of over-the-top-action, cool protagonist, clever plot, and just plain nuts. The sequel was a little disappointing, and not just because the first act was hard to beat. Still, I'd have been up for a third, except that now I guess Bazell is paying his bills as an M.D., which probably works just fine.

>94 scaifea: I have never read anything by Allie Brosh before. I will have to give that one a try. Thanks for the recommendation, Amber!

Have a wonderful week!

>94 scaifea: I have never read anything by Allie Brosh before, so I am going to have to give that one a try. Thanks for the recommendation, Amber.

>98 scaifea: I wish my local library had that series. I have read 2 by Klune and enjoyed them both.

>120 scaifea: Already in the BlackHole or I would be adding it again.

Have a wonderful week!

>130 scaifea: Hmm, it's possible we have not had that conversation, Amber! I suppose because we first "met" around the time Kate went to the Kenyon Young Writers program, and after that Kenyon became a large part of our lives. But yes: IU was too much of a party school for this nerdy Computer Science major. Chris and I met in college, where he was probably too much of a party guy for that nerdy university LOL. These days I'm a bit disillusioned about Purdue because of its over-emphasis on technical subjects and "getting a good job," vs. the liberal arts and "becoming a good human". Also Purdue's current president ... ugh.

>135 swynn: That's really good to know about the sequel - I'll probably hold off on reading it at least for now. I'm glad you enjoyed this first one as much as I did!

>136 alcottacre: >137 alcottacre: Brosh is a hoot and I've already requested her other book from the library!

My library system doesn't have this Klune series in print form either, which is why I'm doing it on audio.

I hope you have a good week, too, Stasia!

>138 lauralkeet: IU as a party school - *SNORK!* Yes, that's probably true but I was completely clueless about that aspect. I spent my weekends in the library and never went to any parties.

On the agenda for today:
Class prep and teaching, then out about town on some errands: library, then I need to pick up a couple of bags of candy for Charlie's social studies class. They're having a Silk Road Trade Route simulation this week and they can bring in candy to barter with. Sounds like a blast. Then later I'll need to head out again to pick Charlie up after his after-school club - he's joined the Robotics Club! Smoked Chicken and Apple brats and tater tots for dinner tonight.

On the reading front:
I didn't get much reading done yesterday because I couldn't manage to stay awake. I kept nodding off on the couch and dropping my book and then I just gave up and crawled into bed for a proper nap. I won't lie: it felt great. But it meant that I only managed a few pages in The Portrait of a Lady and Darius the Great Deserves Better.

What We're Watching:
Charlie's pick last night so we watched a handful of My Hero Academia episodes.

Morning, Amber! I am so glad you loved Beat the Reaper. I agree it was a terrific read. I haven't read anything else by him. He has a follow-up called Wild Thing.

ETA- It turns out I read the follow-up but remember nothing about it. LOL.

>143 msf59: *snork!* Well then, it sounds like I can maybe pass on the sequel...

Hi Amber!

Trying to catch up but failing. I love the Valentine's Day cookies.

>145 karenmarie: Hi, Karen - thanks for the cookie love!

On the agenda for today:
Welp, Charlie wasn't feeling too well last night and woke up this morning feeling even worse, so he's staying home today. Hopefully it's just a 24-hour bug because I got an email yesterday from our pediatrician that they're closed effective immediately (?!). *sigh* I don't have much to do and nowhere to go today, so that's good at least. I'll probably work on making my midterm and final exams for the Latin class, take down the Valentine's Day decorations, and I may do a bit of sewing. Leftovers for dinner and maybe some chicken soup for Charlie.

On the reading front:
I started In the Woods yesterday but only managed a couple of pages. I'm hooked already, though. I also read more of Darius the Great Deserves Better while waiting for Charlie to get out of Robotics Club.

What We're Watching:
More My Hero Academia. Gosh, we love that show.

>147 scaifea: The pediatrician closed, like, permanently?! Did they offer any referral to another doctor? I've never heard of such a thing, but maybe it happens more than I realize.

I hope Charlie is feeling better soon!

>148 rosalita: No, I think it's pretty weird, Julia. The email mentioned that we could choose to follow our doctor to his new practice, but then gave zero information to follow up on. So, so strange. He's 13 so I'm not sure if we'll look for a new pediatrician or just find him a regular doc...

And thanks. He's bummed that he's missing school today because - get this - he has a math test he didn't want to miss. Oy.

>147 scaifea: They closed? I mean, what Julia said (>148 rosalita:). That seems awfully abrupt. Our Philly next door neighbors were both doctors (well, they still are, we just don't live next door anymore. But anyway...) When discussing a recent job change they told us that the customary notice period -- at least within a medical practice -- was a couple of months, to allow for continuity of staff and of care. I can't imagine leaving patients in the lurch like that.

ETA: Just read your response to Julia. So it's possible this doctor's move has been in the works for some period of time, but patients were not notified until they were leaving/gone. I actually had that happen twice -- first my doc retired, and her patients were turned over to another doc in the practice. But when the second doc left the practice the email was more like what you received: no information about her new employment, and kind of left on our own to figure things out.

I'm very sorry to hear that Charlie's sick. It's always worrisome for moms when their chicks are not feeling well. I was crazy with worry when Jenna had Covid and was 208 miles away.

Your pediatrician is closed effective immediately? Temporarily or forever?

I loved In The Woods. I'm glad you're hooked.

>150 lauralkeet: I missed the reference to In the Woods. Yay!

>150 lauralkeet: Yup, permanently closed, effective immediately. So weird. And we really liked the his doc, too. The gave no notice and no reason. It's bananas.

>151 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. It's impossible not to worry, right? I'm worried and he's right upstairs in his bed; I can't imagine being far away from him while he's sick. I'm so glad Jenna's feeling better!

And yep, forever. So. Weird.

I've been wanting to read some Tana French for a long time because so many folks here love her stuff. I can already see why!

>152 lauralkeet: Yes! I'm so excited finally to be getting round to French!

Morning, Amber! I'm so sorry to hear that Charlie is sick - hope he is feeling much better very soon. That is so weird about his doctor.

I'm another who loved In the Woods. And you are reminding me that Mark hit me with a BB for Beat the Reaper years ago - I should get to that one of these days.

Chiming in a day late and a dollar short as usual (the info about Charlie's doctor threw me for a loop is my lame excuse) to say that I adore Tana French and I'm hoping you do, too.

It's odd they didn't tell you where you could get the medical records so they could be passed on to a new doctor. I hope Charlie feels better soon so you don't have to make that decision too quickly. I started going to a general practitioner around age 7 or 8 because the pediatrician I liked at the practice went to serve as a missionary doctor in Africa. Mom liked the other pediatrician in the practice who had been her classmate in high school, but I didn't like him. I just switched to my mom's GP.

>156 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie, and thanks! He's slept in and is now snuggled up on the couch with some toast, so the tylenol has kicked in and brought the fever down at least. It's so very weird about the doctor's office, isn't it?

Yay for another French fan! And you really should bump Beat the Reaper up the list - it's so good.

Yay for Tana French! Boo for flaky medical practices! Hope Charlie feels better soon.

>157 rosalita: Ha! Well, it threw us for a loop, too. I'm really excited to be reading In the Woods finally - it's been on my radar for a long time.

>158 thornton37814: They at least gave us a link for the records, but no details about how to follow our doc to his new digs.

I never did have a pediatrician; we all just went to a family GP.

>149 scaifea: "he has a math test he didn't want to miss."

Lololol he's so great. I hope his bug passes quickly, and that he doesn't miss any more vital schoolwork.

>163 London_StJ: He's so adorkable sometimes. Math is his least favorite subject because it's the only one that he struggles a bit with, but he and Tomm have been spending 30 minutes every evening working on his math skills and I think he was looking forward to showing his teacher that he's improved.

>164 scaifea: Oh, that's just lovely. And it's *such* a morale booster when you start doing well in a challenging class!

>165 London_StJ: It's so fun to listen to them from the other room. Tomm's a literal astrophysicist by training, so he's got the goods, and his dissertation was on physics education and he's taught both high school and college level courses, so he knows what he's doing. He can turn Charlie's frustration into giggles on a dime and it's amazing.

>160 katiekrug: - Ew, Amber!

>166 scaifea: Magical

>167 katiekrug: *SNORK!* Did you just "ew" me because I missed your post up there? HAHAHA!!
Anyway, thanks for the yays and the boos and the well wishes!

>168 London_StJ: Agreed!

>169 scaifea: - Sure did!

Wow....just WOW about the pediatric practice closing like that. I SUSPECT that you will soon be hearing from Charlie's doctor under the banner of his new practice, which he probably could not do until the existing association had been dissolved.

>171 katiekrug: I totally deserved it.

>172 laytonwoman3rd: I sure hope so!

>166 scaifea: That's awesome! Do you think Tomm could travel back in time to when I was Charlie's age and tutor me in math?

>175 foggidawn: Ha! I wish he could have tutored me, too!

On the agenda for today:
Charlie's still running a bit of a fever this morning so he'll be missing another day of school. I'll still be teaching, though, so I have class prep to do this morning. I did get my midterm and final exams all sorted, so I'm happy about that. I also need to do my menu planning and get my grocery list ready for tomorrow and I may run to the library to pick up holds. I'm not sure what I'll do for dinner tonight; the original plan was to make pizza grill cheese sandwiches, but we'll see if Charlie's up for that. We may have some sort of soup instead.

On the reading front:
I read a bit more of In the Woods, which is very excellent so far, and a few pages in Darius the Great Deserves Better. I'm not too far into my audiobook yet (Brothersong, but it's good so far, too.

What We're Watching:
We started the second Mockingjay movie last night.

Sorry to hear Charlie is still feeling poorly. Here's hoping it's a day of recovery for him.

And pizza grilled cheese sandwiches sound delicious!

Happy Wednesday, Amber! Hooray for In the Woods! Another big fan here. I know not everyone loves this one or the follow-up but I loved them both. She only got tiresome later on. Grins...

Hope Charlie feels better soon!

I do like Tana French as well but have not read In the woods yet.

Morning, Amber! I hope Charlie starts feeling more himself soon.

The pizza grilled cheese sounds awesome.

>178 rosalita: Thanks, Julia. The fever is at least down some and I can tell he feels a bit better than yesterday.

Pizza grilled cheese is pretty amazing and easy - you add pizza sauce and pepperoni to the sandwich, use mozzarella cheese and then after grilling them you add shredded mozzarella and more pepperoni on top and then stick them under the broiler for a bit. So good.

>179 msf59: Morning, Mark! Tiresome? Oh no! Well, if this first one stays as good as it's going, I'll at least read the next one...

>180 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita! Me, too.

I'll definitely be reading more Tana French after this one!

>181 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie - I hope so, too. He's certainly at least somewhat better than yesterday so he seems to be on the mend.

See my response to Julia above about the sandwiches - they're really good and super easy.

Morning, Amber! Sorry that Charlie is still under the weather but glad that he seems better than yesterday.

The sammies sound most yum. We will have to try that.

Happy Wednesday, Amber! Hope teaching goes well and that Charlie feels better soon. Pizza grilled cheese sandwiches sound amazing!

>186 Crazymamie: >187 bell7: Thanks, ladies! Definitely give the sandwiches a try - they're really good!

I've been sitting on some news for a couple of days but now that it's official and the people who needed to know about it first know about it, I can share it here: My pre-Covid library position opened up again, they've offered it back to me, and I've accepted! I'll finish up this semester's courses and start at the library in April! I'm so excited - I've missed my library job tons.

>189 scaifea: Congratulations, Amber! I'm a bit surprised because I thought you were really enjoying the teaching gig but glad you'll be going back to a job you've been missing.

>190 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! I love teaching, but most of what I love about teaching is involved in the relationships forged in the classroom, and the more I teach fully online, the more I realize that I'm missing that vital part. I've worked hard to foster a relaxed and close-knit atmosphere in my zoom classes, but it's difficult. I've had students tell me in the last two years that mine are the only online classes they actively enjoyed, so I've succeeded in some ways, I guess, but *I* am not feeling those connections like I need to. All the usual stresses of teaching are there but fewer and fewer of the joys, and the older I get the more I'm trying to realize that I do have a choice when it comes to a lot of stressful situations - I can choose to leave them.

>189 scaifea: Congratulations! They are lucky to get you back.

>191 scaifea: I get that. Even happier for you now :)

>192 foggidawn: Thanks, foggi! That's so lovely of you to say! They're a great bunch to work with, too.

>193 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba!!

Congrats, Amber!

That is awesome! Congrats!

>196 curioussquared: >197 katiekrug: Thanks, folks!! I'm really excited!

Congrats, Amber! So happy for you!

>189 scaifea: Congratulations! I'm sure U Dayton will be sorry to see you go, but it's so important to do work that's most meaningful for you.

Oh, awesome!

>199 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky!

>200 rosalita: The chair of my department said some really lovely things about working with me and then scolded me when I said I'm feeling guilty for leaving. She's amazing.

>201 drneutron: Yes!! Thanks, Jim!

Oh, Amber, that’s great news about your job! I’m so happy for you!

That sounds exciting. >:-)

>189 scaifea: Oh congratulations! That's so great. It's a special experience to be wanted back in a position.

What does this mean for your classics and Latin teaching?

Congratulations Amber my dear, i am sure you will enjoy it more.

>189 scaifea: Happy, happy, joy, joy!! I'm kinda sorry for the kiddos who won't have you to teach them (to love) Latin, but I'm thrilled for you, since you feel the way you feel about the teaching and the library, respectively.

Sorry to hear that Charlie is still feeling under the weather today, Amber, and hope he feels better soon. I also hope that you get the pediatrician thing sorted too.

>189 scaifea: Congratulations!!

>189 scaifea: Congratulations! How exciting!!

>189 scaifea: That is wonderful, Amber, going back to the library.
I will miss your classics teaching talk, but do understand that on-line teaching feels less rewarding.

>204 PawsforThought: >205 Helenliz: >206 quondame: >207 johnsimpson: >208 laytonwoman3rd: >209 alcottacre: >210 aktakukac: >211 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, everyone! I knew I could count on you all to be happy for me!

>206 quondame: I'll finish out this semester and then be done with teaching. For now, at least. I won't rule out returning to teaching somewhere down the line, but I don't think it's in my near future, at least.

>208 laytonwoman3rd: That's so lovely of you to say, Linda - thank you!

>209 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia - I think he's steadily been improving today so he may be well enough to go back to school tomorrow. I know that's what he's hoping for.

>211 FAMeulstee: I'm happy to talk classics shop any time, Anita! And yes, the online teaching is too much stress for the diminished rewards.

Amber, what lovely news. Congratulations!

>215 scaifea: That is good news. I am happy for Charlie.

>189 scaifea: Woot! Good to read this.

Amber, what wonderful news! I am so happy for you. And I know we will all enjoy hearing about library patrons and other inside information just as much as we have enjoyed stories about your cherubs. Congratulations!!

Congratulations on going back to the library! Much like what you enjoy about teaching, I love the relationships with patrons that develop after awhile, so I hope that aspect of the job brings you joy as well when you transition back.

Congratulations, Amber! And good news for the library too.

>217 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! I'm really happy about it.

>218 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia. He's going to try going back today - his fever is gone but he feels pretty tired still. He just doesn't want to miss any more school, the poor kiddo.

>219 ArlieS: Thank you!

>220 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura! I love telling stories about the library patrons and I can't wait to have more. You have your own access to the inside scoop now, though!

>221 bell7: I've missed those relationships with patrons so much - I was only there three months before covid hit, but I had already come to know the regulars and loved them.

>222 swynn: Thanks for that, Steve!

On the agenda for today:
Charlie's fever is gone so he's heading back to school although he's still a little tired. So I'll make sure to have my phone nearby today in case he takes a downhill turn and wants to come home early. I have grocery shopping to do this morning and a trip to the pharmacy to pick up refills, then I may try to do some writing this afternoon. Walnut-Pomegranate Chicken Stew for dinner tonight (so fancy!).

On the reading front:
I started A Court of Thorns and Roses yesterday and so far I'm really enjoying it. I'm also still slowly working on Darius the Great Deserves Better and listening to Brothersong.

What We're Watching:
Charlie's pick last night, so lots of My Hero Academia.

>229 scaifea: Oooh, walnut pomegranate chicken stew sounds interesting.

And good to hear Charlie's feeling good enough to head back to school.

>230 PawsforThought: The stew is really good! Fancier than my normal cooking fare, but it's in a cookbook that Charlie bought me for either Christmas or my birthday and now I can't remember which: Antoni in the Kitchen.

I'm glad Charlie's better, too, but I'm still a little worried that he may overdo it today. We'll see.

Morning, Amber! Sweet Thursday. Glad to hear Charlie is doing better and going back to school. The Walnut-Pomegranate Chicken Stew sounds fantastic. Have you made it before?

>232 msf59: Morning, Mark! Thanks for the Charlie good wishes - fingers crossed that he makes it through the day okay. And yep, I've made the chicken stew before and I can happily say that it's delicious!

Morning, Amber!

>234 katiekrug: Morning, Katie!

Good morning, Amber! I'm glad to hear Charlie's feeling well enough to return to school, and hope he makes it through the day.

I saw this video from the BBC on Twitter and thought you might like to share it with Agent Fitzsimmons — a family-album sort of thing:

A man, a dog, and a lot of sheep - the first broadcast of One Man and His Dog was #onthisday in 1976. Shepherd Tim shows us how it's done.

>236 rosalita: Wow! I showed it to Tomm, Simmons, and Mario and everyone loved it! Simmons and Mario kept doing head tilts to the whistle!

>237 scaifea: Yay! So glad everyone liked it — I thought it was so great. The "That'll Do" at the end gave me serious Babe flashbacks!

>239 rosalita: Yes! So very Babe!

That’s really super good news about getting your beloved library job back, Amber. Having a job you love is rare enough. Getting the chance to return to it is beyond divine. Congrats!

>241 Fourpawz2: Thanks!! I feel pretty lucky.

On the agenda for today:
Class prep and teaching this morning, then this afternoon I'll bake the Oatmeal Carmelitas that I didn't a couple of weeks ago because I finally found caramels at the store yesterday. After that I'm looking forward to some serious reading time and then Frozen Friday for dinner.

Charlie made it through the school day yesterday and was tired when he got home but otherwise feeling fine, thank goodness. I actually managed to get some writing done yesterday and that felt pretty good.

On the reading front:
I read a few pages in Les Miserables (I'm loving it but it's going to take me a long while to get through) and I'm getting close to the finish line with Darius the Great Deserves Better.

What We're Watching:
A West Wing and a My Hero Academia last night.

Please post a pic of the oatmeal carmelitas when they are done. I have no idea what they are but they sound delicious!

Glad Charlie is feeling better.

>244 katiekrug: Will do (as long as they turn out okay - this is my first attempt that this recipe)!

I'm relieved that he's feeling better, too. He was starting to get nervous about falling behind in school and although I wasn't worried about that (it's middle school, for crying out loud, not the end of the world), I *was* worried about him being worried about it...

On the agenda for today:
Not much of anything at all and I am so happy about that! A little laundry and maybe some time in the sewing room, but otherwise I'm planning on lounging on the couch with a book. Tomm's in charge of dinner tonight and he's making a beef roast with carrots and potatoes, which sounds pretty amazing.

It is super blustery and grey here today and the clouds look like they are full of snow. We'll see what happens but I'm totally okay with looking up from my book occasionally to watch the flakes come down, if it comes to that.

The Oatmeal Carmelitas were a huge hit! I'll definitely be making them again:



On the reading front:
I started and finished One More Thing yesterday - review to come - and read a bit more of Darius the Great Deserves Better, which I think I may try to finish up today.

What We're Watching:
An episode of Loki and a couple of My Hero Academias.

Morning, Amber! Your day sounds pretty perfect. And thanks for the photo of the Friday treat. Looks wonderful.

>247 katiekrug: Morning, Katie! The bars are *so* good.

The new thread is up:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339686