April 2024

What I’ve been reading, watching, making, and otherwise doing for the past month!

In April, I spent most of my free time reading (of course), but I also dedicated some time to exercising, working on a painting project, and playing The Sims.

As a reminder, only monthly wrap-up posts are currently open to comments.

Books + Media | Arts + Crafts | Food + Health

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Books + Media

Finished

Books

• Audiobook – And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, 1939
• Audiobook – The Shipping News by Annie Proulx, 1993
• Book – The Birds of America by John James Audubon, 1827
• Book – The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, 1995
• Book – The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo, 1831
• Book – The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Gandhi, 1927
• Graphic novel – Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast, 2014
• Graphic novel – A Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories by Will Eisner, 1978

In progress

Nothing yet!

Reviewed

• Appetites by Anthony Bourdain (Cookbook)
• The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perelman (Cookbook)
• Backlist Love | Crimes Against Chastity (Nonfiction)

Arts + Crafts

Finished

Nothing this month!

In progress

Cross-stitch

• Multiple projects from the book Feminist Cross-Stitch by Stephanie Rohr

Knitting

• Beginner swatches from the book Stitch ’n Bitch by Debbie Stoller

Watercolor

• “Malacology” set by self

Food + Health

Finished

Cooking

• Cookbook cook-thru project – Tasting History by Max Miller, 2023
  Beef with garlic harvester sauce
• Cookbook cook-thru project – The Food Lab by J. Kenji López-Alt, 2015
  Broiled asparagus with breadcrumbs
• Cookbook cook-thru project – Methodist Morsels by the FUMC of Lamesa, Texas, 1983
  Sesame noodles by Mary Lane Peterson
• Cookbook cook-thru project – Essential Breads magazine special ed., 2018
  Pão de queijo by Rick Martinez
• Magazine clippings cook-thru project
  Shrimp in dill cream sauce from Bon Appetit magazine, recipe by Ned Baldwin

Of the new recipes I tried this month, I especially enjoyed the broiled asparagus from The Food Lab. It was quick and almost no effort for a delicious result. I ate an entire pound of asparagus in one sitting, no joke.

Dining + Drinks

• Dined out — Velvet Taco in Houston, Texas

I did not try any new wine this month, so no updated Wine Folly Challenge.

Fitness

• Walking, 22.25 hours (69.5 miles)
• Hiking, 4.25 hours (13 miles)
• Rowing machine, 2 hours
  iFit “English Channel Endurance Series” series with trainer Alex Gregory
• Stairs, 2 hours
• Weight training, 2 hours
• The Challenger “The Lord of the Rings” series — 668.25 total miles

I went on a couple of hikes around Armand Bayou. The weather was perfect; overcast with a breeze. I saw a lot of wildflowers, various birds, and a couple of snakes.

Husband joined a gym, and took me along as a guest. I might join, too, for the weights and strength training equipment, as well as for the cardio machines as an option during bad weather and the oppressive heat of the summer.

AND… I completed the final section, Mordor, for The Challenger “The Lord of the Rings” series! I haven’t decided yet which challenge to try next.

In progress

Cooking

• Cookbook cook-thru project – Tasting History: Explore the Past through 4,000 Years of Recipes by Max Miller, 2023
• Cookbook cook-thru project – The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science by J. Kenji López-Alt, 2015
• Cookbook cook-thru project – Methodist Morsels by the Cookbook Committee of the First United Methodist Church of Lamesa, Texas, 1983
• Cookbook cook-thru project – Bon Appétit + Gourmet Essential Breads from Condé Nast Special Editions, 2018
• Magazine clippings cook-thru project

Dining + Drinks

• Wine tasting project – Wine Folly by Madeline Puckette, 2015

Fitness

Nothing yet!

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