Before joining Substack I had a newsletter attached to my (now defunct) blog in which I used to do these monthly round ups. I loved doing those types of newsletters and I thought the start of a new year was a good time to bring back the practice.
“Books and Brews” is actually what we call the book club my husband and I started with some friends (hi Joey and Jacq 👋). Each meeting we come with our various brews and chat about what’s new, what’s true, good, and beautiful and of course, what we’ve read.
It’s the best of times. I know reading an email isn’t the same as a Book Club with your best friends but I wanted to create a similar vibe.
I plan to send this out on the first Friday of every month (though, if you’ve been with me since the blogging days you’ll know consistency isn’t exactly my forte; maybe this will be the year). Now on to the good stuff:
I just finished a week of solo-parenting while Ben was out of town for the annual SEEK conference. We all survived on pure grace and daily walks. Last year we attempted the 1000 Hours Outside challenge and made it to about 800. We started again on January 1 and found having such a big goal really encouraged us to brave the extreme weather + get outside every day.
In case you missed it: I just began writing a series on the theme of Play; you can read the first post here.
My friend
recently announced that she and will be hosting a pilgrimage to Ireland in October. Whiskey tastings, monasteries, sheep herding in the hills, and so much more. It sounds absolutely heavenly. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to swing it as we hope to buy a house this year, but if you can you should totally go. Find all the other amazing details here.Since deleting my Instagram accounts, including my bookbinding account, I’ve wanted to find a way to continue to share my recent projects. Is that something you’d be interested in? Let me know in the comments. But for today, here’s my latest project—a rebind of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women in a faux suede book cloth.
I’ve read many excellent pieces recently that brought me in touch with the True, the Good, and the Beautiful and I just had to share them with you.
I’m still catching up on
’s posts on technology and “unmachining.” I appreciate the suggestions she makes as well as the thoughtful comments people have left on the posts, and have a lot to think about as I consider the role of technology in my own life.This post by
on why we choose beauty when we are tired spoke to my (slightly sleep deprived) heart.If you’ve never read C.S. Lewis’ sermon “The Weight of Glory” print it out and read it TODAY. When I read it in college, it changed my life in a real way.I looked up from the page and the world looked different. At the beginning of the new year, it’s worth the (re)read.
After I finished listening to Dracula on Audible read by a full cast which included Tim Curry as Van Helsing, I immediately went to look for another Curry-narrated book. I was delighted to find his reading of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol and was enchanted by it. Highly recommend!
I’m almost finished with Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs, the first story of her mystery series about her female psychologist and investigator that I’ve been enjoying. It’s a fun + cozy mystery.
With the kids, I’ve been reading A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories (my kids usually request “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream” and “Macbeth”) and a few titles of the Story Orchestra Books.
Poem of the Month
This summer, I set out to make memorizing poetry a regular part of my life.
This is the poem I am memorizing right now in case you’d like to join me: “The Pillar of Cloud” (or “Lead, Kindly Light”) by St. John Henry Newman
One of my favorite cold weather drinks is a Hot toddy! It’s light and warming, and so easy to make.
Just combine ¾ cup water, 1 ½ ounces whiskey, 2 to 3 teaspoons honey and lemon juice, to taste. I like to add a cinnamon stick for garnish. And that’s it!
What have you done, read, or listened to recently? What are you drinking? What was the last thing that got you excited? Shout it from the rooftops (or you know, leave it in the comments so we can share in it too).
Thanks so much for sharing about the trip, Carissa! You should totally come!
Omg I did not understand that bookbinding was a legit hobby and now I need to see everything. Does it take hundreds of hours? Do you do it by candlelight? Do you feel like you're living in a medieval monastery while doing it?? Look at all my questions!
I just started the Maisie Dobbs series, too! 🙂