Thanks for the book recs!! I haven’t heard of both of those authors. I also love to dance! I used to do west coast swing pre-kids and now I just dance around the kitchen with my Bluetooth headphones 😂
Ok so totally lame but I just read the summer I turned pretty in a day. It is cheesy, romance style and for teens, but after taking time to read it made me feel somewhat calmer at home?
Listening to a podcast while doing jobs feels a bit like play for me, but ultimately it’s my head that gets in the way of my play!
Oooh! That sounds fun. I need books that are a break for my brain. Have you read any Emily Henry? I feel like you would love her. Maybe start with Book Lovers or Beach Read.
I love podcasts while I’m cleaning the house! But yes, my brain is also always like, “play isn’t ticking boxes! You’re wasting time!”
A couple of months ago I finally read everything sad is untrue and I can't stop thinking about it... I think I need reread to savour it properly. Can't believe it's a kids book! It has so many good things to chew on!
I also read The War Pianist from Mandy Robotham when I was sick with a flu two weeks ago and I loved it as just a good historical story! Picked up another book of hers today at the library.
Also we have found the black caterpillars too and my husband is convinced they are the spitfires but I'm so sure they were more colourful! Either way, my girls down want to touch them anyway 😂
Taking photos on my big camera always feels like playing! ✨
This thread is the best! I am so excited for all these book recs!
Good to know you have them too! I totally googled but came away more confused about what spitfires actually are 🤷🏼♀️
That sounds so fun! I’m so impressed by all the women taking beautiful photos with an actual camera. It’s too technical for me but I love seeing the photo essays on C+C. Maybe one day we will see yours on Substack ☀️👏🏼
Yes me too re the caterpillars! I think the black ones are called woollybears but not sure what they grow into 😂
I taught myself how to use one over the past 10 years and it's so satisfying compared to a phone camera! It's not too scary 😉 the photo essays on C+C are amazing!! And yes one day you will see my photos here on Substack 😉 after baby!
This was so lovely! I want to find a caterpillar now. I need more play in my life.
I am reading/listening to Made for People by Justin Earley, and it has given me much to think about. I also recently plowed through Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister. Such a cool premise for a plot!
Oooh! Thanks for the recs! Is Made for People the same guy who did the habits of the household book? Because I have been wondering whether to read that…
ooo #2 and 3 are such good questions. I'm dipping my toes into "doing school" with my 3 year old. It's been so fun watching her learn and make connections, and it's preschool so it doesn't feel so high stakes. I'd also say cooking and baking. We're lucky enough to have access to a lot of fresh (and cheap) foods here, so it's fun to get creative in the kitchen.
Oh my goodness, that sounds delightful. I love cooking too. Inflation is crazy in Australia right now though. I saw snow peas for $27 a kilo the other day 🫠
Hahaha I know! I got out two Colleen Hoover books from the library and couldn't face a second one about a Mum getting out of prison and wanting her baby back. Returned it to the library unread!!! Have you read anymore Emily St John Mandel?
Oh my gosh. Well definitely avoid Verity. That’s the only other Hoover book I’ve read, and it really freaked me out. Like too much. And no, Station Eleven is the only book I’ve read from that writer, but I did enjoy it!
Hahaha see I read Verity first, but I thought it was so over the top it didn't even seem possible, so it freaked me out less. It Ends With Us was worse because it is so real, like women do that every day.
Ooh new chickens! So fun!! Love all the short stories here. Some of the things my farm kids do, I wonder if people think they are telling stories when they tell other people, but they are actually true! (i.e. my 8 year old driving alone!)
I definitely feel like an inchworm and have had all those thoughts!
Hahaha thanks Stacey! I love the farm kid stories! We just spent a week camping with two other families at my in-laws farm and getting to see my kids run around, basically wherever they liked, with a mob of kids really made me so happy after a lifetime in the suburbs. Although, my Dad was a traffic cop and taught us to drive at 5 years old! Kids are capable!
Love this!! The reference to cricket made me thinka of my Aussie framily and smile.
1. I’m currently about halfway through Demon Copperhead, and wow! It’s breaking my heart and blowing my mind. I want everyone to read it but also I think this is the only time I’ll be able to read it because there’s so much hard stuff on it. I did read David Copperfield 20 something years ago, and I remember enjoying it too.
2&3. Such good questions!! I’ll have to think about them.
4. I love paneer curry but always get it made for me at Indian restaurants. I’d love if I could make it, but my curry attempts never quite hit the mark.
Thanks Joy! I got Demon Copperhead out of the library two weeks ago, but my mother-in-law ended up reading it before me. She has just posted it back - so excited to read it!
2&3 - please do! I'm so intrigued to hear your thoughts after so many years of writing online.
2. Dancing while I do the nightly clean. Going all-in when I do art and crafts with my son, mess and mayhem and glorious creativity.
3. Time, and with it the worry of what still needs to be done. knowing that that comes after this and then the next thing comes after that…. and we only have so much time for this. It sometimes steals ability to be present, to play despite the limit of time.
4. Curries are the one type of food I always wing it with.
Thanks for reading Jess and the book rec!! I am also a kitchen dancer when I do the nightly dishes! My husband gave me a set of over ear Bluetooth headphones and they have been such a delight! I feel that barrier too, it is hard to escape the feeling of all the jobs... I might just have to give a curry a crack and just wing it haha
I also worry about running out of ideas!
I’m currently teaching Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls who wrote The Glass Castle and Well to the Core by Robin Long.
I need to be better about prioritizing play! I love to dance and it’s been awhile since I had a dance party.
Thanks for the book recs!! I haven’t heard of both of those authors. I also love to dance! I used to do west coast swing pre-kids and now I just dance around the kitchen with my Bluetooth headphones 😂
Ok so totally lame but I just read the summer I turned pretty in a day. It is cheesy, romance style and for teens, but after taking time to read it made me feel somewhat calmer at home?
Listening to a podcast while doing jobs feels a bit like play for me, but ultimately it’s my head that gets in the way of my play!
Oooh! That sounds fun. I need books that are a break for my brain. Have you read any Emily Henry? I feel like you would love her. Maybe start with Book Lovers or Beach Read.
I love podcasts while I’m cleaning the house! But yes, my brain is also always like, “play isn’t ticking boxes! You’re wasting time!”
A couple of months ago I finally read everything sad is untrue and I can't stop thinking about it... I think I need reread to savour it properly. Can't believe it's a kids book! It has so many good things to chew on!
I also read The War Pianist from Mandy Robotham when I was sick with a flu two weeks ago and I loved it as just a good historical story! Picked up another book of hers today at the library.
Also we have found the black caterpillars too and my husband is convinced they are the spitfires but I'm so sure they were more colourful! Either way, my girls down want to touch them anyway 😂
Taking photos on my big camera always feels like playing! ✨
This thread is the best! I am so excited for all these book recs!
Good to know you have them too! I totally googled but came away more confused about what spitfires actually are 🤷🏼♀️
That sounds so fun! I’m so impressed by all the women taking beautiful photos with an actual camera. It’s too technical for me but I love seeing the photo essays on C+C. Maybe one day we will see yours on Substack ☀️👏🏼
Yes me too re the caterpillars! I think the black ones are called woollybears but not sure what they grow into 😂
I taught myself how to use one over the past 10 years and it's so satisfying compared to a phone camera! It's not too scary 😉 the photo essays on C+C are amazing!! And yes one day you will see my photos here on Substack 😉 after baby!
Yay for play and yay for resting in your season 👏🏼👏🏼
This was so lovely! I want to find a caterpillar now. I need more play in my life.
I am reading/listening to Made for People by Justin Earley, and it has given me much to think about. I also recently plowed through Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister. Such a cool premise for a plot!
Oooh! Thanks for the recs! Is Made for People the same guy who did the habits of the household book? Because I have been wondering whether to read that…
Yes, that’s him!
Love this!
ooo #2 and 3 are such good questions. I'm dipping my toes into "doing school" with my 3 year old. It's been so fun watching her learn and make connections, and it's preschool so it doesn't feel so high stakes. I'd also say cooking and baking. We're lucky enough to have access to a lot of fresh (and cheap) foods here, so it's fun to get creative in the kitchen.
Oh my goodness, that sounds delightful. I love cooking too. Inflation is crazy in Australia right now though. I saw snow peas for $27 a kilo the other day 🫠
Ah I read Station Eleven and It Ends With Us! Both great! Although the latter is at my limit.
Hahaha I know! I got out two Colleen Hoover books from the library and couldn't face a second one about a Mum getting out of prison and wanting her baby back. Returned it to the library unread!!! Have you read anymore Emily St John Mandel?
Oh my gosh. Well definitely avoid Verity. That’s the only other Hoover book I’ve read, and it really freaked me out. Like too much. And no, Station Eleven is the only book I’ve read from that writer, but I did enjoy it!
Hahaha see I read Verity first, but I thought it was so over the top it didn't even seem possible, so it freaked me out less. It Ends With Us was worse because it is so real, like women do that every day.
I really enjoyed this and the Annie Dillard quote was great too
Thanks Jeffrey!
Ooh new chickens! So fun!! Love all the short stories here. Some of the things my farm kids do, I wonder if people think they are telling stories when they tell other people, but they are actually true! (i.e. my 8 year old driving alone!)
I definitely feel like an inchworm and have had all those thoughts!
Hahaha thanks Stacey! I love the farm kid stories! We just spent a week camping with two other families at my in-laws farm and getting to see my kids run around, basically wherever they liked, with a mob of kids really made me so happy after a lifetime in the suburbs. Although, my Dad was a traffic cop and taught us to drive at 5 years old! Kids are capable!
Love this!! The reference to cricket made me thinka of my Aussie framily and smile.
1. I’m currently about halfway through Demon Copperhead, and wow! It’s breaking my heart and blowing my mind. I want everyone to read it but also I think this is the only time I’ll be able to read it because there’s so much hard stuff on it. I did read David Copperfield 20 something years ago, and I remember enjoying it too.
2&3. Such good questions!! I’ll have to think about them.
4. I love paneer curry but always get it made for me at Indian restaurants. I’d love if I could make it, but my curry attempts never quite hit the mark.
Thanks Joy! I got Demon Copperhead out of the library two weeks ago, but my mother-in-law ended up reading it before me. She has just posted it back - so excited to read it!
2&3 - please do! I'm so intrigued to hear your thoughts after so many years of writing online.
It's sounding like curry is the way...
1. Guerrillas of Grace
Prayers for the Battle
By Ted Loder
2. Dancing while I do the nightly clean. Going all-in when I do art and crafts with my son, mess and mayhem and glorious creativity.
3. Time, and with it the worry of what still needs to be done. knowing that that comes after this and then the next thing comes after that…. and we only have so much time for this. It sometimes steals ability to be present, to play despite the limit of time.
4. Curries are the one type of food I always wing it with.
Thanks for reading Jess and the book rec!! I am also a kitchen dancer when I do the nightly dishes! My husband gave me a set of over ear Bluetooth headphones and they have been such a delight! I feel that barrier too, it is hard to escape the feeling of all the jobs... I might just have to give a curry a crack and just wing it haha