What I’ve been reading, watching, making, and otherwise doing for the past month!
In August, I quite honestly spent most of my free time playing videogames, although I did also spend some time reading and puttering around in the kitchen. I had all kinds of plans to work on my long-neglected watercolor project, but haven’t touched a paintbrush in weeks!
There’s some stuff happening in my personal + professional life right now that is taking up most of my energy, and next month promises more of the same.
I’m so, so, so grateful that we didn’t have to deal with any major tropical weather this month, but all the models suggest that the remainder of hurricane season will be super active — I’m trying not to let this get to me, but can’t deny that this is contributing to my stress.
Books + Media | Arts + Crafts | Food + Health
Books + Media
Finished
Books
- Audiobook — Better Living Through Birding by Christian Cooper, 2023
- Audiobook — The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, 1959
- Audiobook — Orlando by Virginia Woolf, 1928
- Book — Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih, 1966
- Book — Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh, 1956
- Book — Uprooted by Naomic Novik, 2015
- Book series — Wizards subseries of Discworld by Terry Pratchett, 1983–2009
The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Sourcery, Interesting Times, The Last Continent, Unseen Academicals
Media
- Movie — Deadpool and Wolverine starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, 2024
- Movie — Free Guy starring Ryan Reynolds, Joe Keeny, and Jodie Comer, 2021
- Movie — Some Like it Hot starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe, 1959
- Movie — South Pacific starring Mitzi Gaynor, Juanita Hall, Rossano Brazzi, John Kerr, and Ray Walston, 1958
In progress
Books
- Book — Envisioning The Tale of Genji: Media, Gender, and Cultural Production by Haruo Shirane, 2008
- Book — The Tale of Genji: A Visual Companion by Melissa McCormick, 2018
- Graphic novel — The Tale of Genji by Yoshitaka Amano, 2012
Media
- Animated series — Star Trek: Prodigy produced by Paramount+, voiced by Kate Mulgrew, Rylee Alazraqui, Brett Gray, Angus Imrie, Jason Mantzoukas, Ella Purnell, et al. 2021–2024
- Podcast — Wine 101 hosted by Keith Beavers, produced by VinePair, 2020–TBD
Reviewed
- The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman (Nonfiction, Audiobook)
- Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen by Lili’uokalani (Nonfiction, Audiobook)
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (Nonfiction, Audiobook)
- Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs (Nonfiction, Audiobook)
Arts + Crafts
Finished
Cross-stitch
- Multiple projects from Feminist Cross-Stitch by Stephanie Rohr
In progress
Watercolor
- “Texas gastropods” set by self
Food + Health
Finished
Cooking
- Cookbook cook-thru project – Tasting History by Max Miller, 2023
Patina de piris - Cookbook cook-thru project – The Food Lab by J. Kenji López-Alt, 2015
Cobb salad - Cookbook cook-thru project – Methodist Morsels by the FUMC of Lamesa, Texas, 1983
7 Up salad - Cookbook cook-thru project – Holiday Entertaining magazine special ed., 2018
Cauliflower and herbed barley salad by Chris Morocco - Magazine clippings cook-thru project
Bruschetta from Bon Appetit magazine, recipe by Claire Saffitz
Of the new recipes I tried this month, I especially enjoyed the cauliflower salad from Holiday Entertaining. I’d never made barley at home before, so this was a simple but delicious way to give it a try.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the 7 Up salad from community cookbook Methodist Morsels. It was overly sweet. Also, I thought it was meant to be one of those retro-style shaped jelly desserts… but it did not hold its shape after releasing it from the mold (24 hours chilling notwithstanding), so it ended up more like a citrus-pineapple pudding than a molded salad. I might make this again with extra gelatin and some sugarless soda substitute, perhaps lime-flavored sparkling water.
Dining + Drinks
- Wine tasting project – Wine Folly by Madeline Puckette, 2015
Albariño from Val do Sosego, 2022; Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain
- Wine tasting project – Wine Folly by Madeline Puckette, 2015
Carménère from Carmen, 2020; Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile
- Dined out — Nancy’s Hustle in Houston, Texas
- Dined out — Star Cinema Grill in Houston, Texas
Fitness
- Walking, 6.5 hours (16.5 miles)
- Rowing machine, 0.5 hours
iFit “Hawaii Weight Loss Rowing” series with trainer Kai Wilding - Stairs, 3.5 hours
- Weight training, 0.75 hours
I definitely did not get in as much physical activity as planned, and certainly not as much as the last couple of months. It’s far too hot to go for long walks outdoors, but even getting myself to the gym or upstairs to our at-home machines has been a little bit of a struggle this month.
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 Holiday Entertaining from Condé Nast Special Editions, 2018
- Magazine clippings cook-thru project
Dining + Drinks
- Wine tasting project – Wine Folly by Madeline Puckette, 2015
Fitness
- iFit “Hawaii Weight Loss Rowing” series with trainer Kai Wilding
Have something to say? Monthly wrap-up posts are open to comments!
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