What a crazy weekend it has been. The wind really picked up on Friday and the wildfire spread very quickly. We are safe, and hopefully will continue that way, but it’s quite terrifying to be in the midst of a state of emergency, with friends being evacuated and the world being shrouded in smoke. The wind did calm, which helped with firefighting efforts, but the situation is still dire.
It’s an incredibly weird feeling to know that there is panic and tragedy going on right on one’s doorstep, but being completely unable to do anything about it except to wait. In fact, the best thing to do is to just patiently wait at home, to see if any friends need a landing spot, and to not put strain on any public resources. It has a bit of a Fiddle While Rome Burns feeling, literally, not unlike when Calgary had the floods in 2013, or even the early days of the pandemic, when we all just stayed home, refreshing news feeds and texting friends to check in. Also not unlike those times, I distracted myself with baking.
On a lighter subject, let’s talk about something that happened last week, pre-fire.
The bookmarks are still missing. I briefly had a huge surge of hope and optimism, but those hopes have been dashed. Dashed, people. I think the time has come for me to accept this and move on with my life.
The surge of hope came with the discovery of some missing sweaters. To set the stage, I unpacked all of my clothes and organized all my closet and drawers over four weeks ago and I noticed that a few of my very favourite sweaters were not with any of the primary bedroom boxes. I had brought all of my workout clothes and summer outfits in two giant suitcases when I drove out with Rex, but my myriad sweaters and dresses were left in my closet for the movers to pack. Because we were so short of storage in the old house, I kept all my sweaters in rectangular collapsible bags, and stacked them all up on a shelf in my closet. Like Baa Baa Black Sheep, there were three giant bags full, and if I hadn’t organized them that way, the sweaters would have all tumbled down constantly and it would have been impossible to find the one I was looking for. I realized, four weeks ago, that I only had two bags.
It was very curious. All the boxes were unpacked, and that sweater bag was nowhere to be found. The only boxes I hadn’t looked in were the ones in the shed that contained garden implements and my husband’s tools, and I could not imagine the movers would have packed them in those boxes. I started wondering if indeed I DID have three bags, or if in a fit of purging I donated all those sweaters. I didn’t THINK I had, since they were my heaviest, warmest, most favourite winter sweaters, but I couldn’t say for sure. In other words, I was gaslighting myself.
After all, if not with all the clothing, where could they possibly be?
Finally I decided enough was enough. Surely I didn’t donate that giant cozy cardigan that feels like a bathrobe or the expensive-but-dressy swoopy black sweater from lululemon? Surely not! Did I think that because I had one black turtleneck I didn’t need a second one? That does not seem like me, but I DID donate a lot of clothes. I went back and forth with this line of thinking until finally I recruited my older son to come with me to the shed to look in the unlooked-in boxes and to reach where I couldn’t.
Well, I was correct. They were not in with the gardening implements or tools and neither, sadly, were the bookmarks. But as my son peered around the corner, he said “Hey, there is a bag of sweaters on the floor!” and lo, there it was, on the absolutely filthy shed floor, my bag of sweaters. How or why it was there no one can say, and I think it is safe to say that this mystery will never be solved, but I was thrilled. At that moment, the moment my son reached over a box to grab the sweaters, I looked up and there, scurrying up the shelving unit not three feet away from my face, was a mouse.
You know how I feel about mice residing in places that I also reside. I think I entered a fugue state.
Technically I know I do not reside in the shed that houses tools and tractors. Technically I know that on a two-acre property there are going to be mice in a shed that houses tools and tractors. But this was three feet from my face and, my son casually noted, there was a hole in the sweater bag.
It is very possible that the hole was the result of the material ripping while it was somehow dumped onto the floor of the shed. Maybe it was even probable. However, given the circumstances, my soul briefly left my body and my body left the shed.
I had my son take each sweater out individually and shake it vigorously, then flatten it on the grass. We, or, rather, he then checked all the pockets and shook them out again. When we were satisfied there were no stowaways, I immediately threw all the sweaters into the washing machine, hoping to god that this wouldn’t result in my discovery of any mouse corpses, and if there was, I planned to ask my mother-in-law to deal with them. Dead animals faze her not in the slightest, and in fact she had just told me a story about how she personally dealt with a fawn corpse in her yard not all that many years ago. Happily, her services were not needed.
Finding the sweaters made me think that maybe something similar happened to the bookmarks. After all, if an entire large bag of sweaters could somehow end up on the floor of the shed, then anything could happen. We scoured the shed, I opened and went through all the tool and garden implement boxes again, I even checked each and every suitcase on my husband’s suggestion (Him: maybe you put them in one of the outer pockets? Me: OMG MAYBE! *five minutes later, silent and dejected*).
Well. It’s really time for me to move on. After all, people have lost houses very close to me, me losing a bag of bookmarks feels like Embarrassingly Small Potatoes. I’m not even sure that in the grand scheme of things, they could even be considered potatoes. It’s more like losing a single grain of sand on the beach. In fact, I feel a bit ashamed that I have been sad about such a thing when there is so much tragic loss around here. Perspective, it’s a thing.
Weekly Reading
Bel Canto. Late to the party but WOW, did I love this book about a hostage taking gone…right? This is an absolutely beautiful story about hostages and their captors, and how they ended up creating a world of beauty and wonder together, how they went on living their lives as a little community. It is so subtly hilarious and the writing is witty and gorgeous; the characters are all so incredibly loveable and fun. There is the translator who is used by everyone and who learned Swedish from watching subtitled films and so his knowledge of the country is “somewhat dark.” There is the opera singer who everyone is in love with, the country’s Vice President in whose house the hostage taking takes place, and so he takes on the role of host looking after his houseguests. There is the French diplomat who becomes the house cook, the long-suffering General whose shingles keeps flaring up, the Japanese businessman for whom the original party was thrown for and who is an opera and chess aficionado, and the man from the Red Cross who is in charge of the negotiations. This book is incredibly moving and the end, while it should be obvious what happens, was such a shock to me. Back in April 2020, on one of my many daily walks (what else did we do then?), I ran into a neighbourhood acquaintance and she mentioned this as her favourite book. I put it on my list, but the libraries were closed, and so I forgot about it. I am SO glad I read this, it’s absolutely an incredible piece of writing.
And Then There Were None. Murder mystery isn’t my usual genre but my son just read this and insisted I give it a try – and he was right! Ten people are invited to an island, and each one disappears one by one. It’s so good and it kept me guessing until the very end!
My Name Is Lucy Barton. God, I love this book. This is the fourth time I’ve read this and every time I read it I am moved anew. I find as I get older I understand it in different ways. What a gorgeous, moving, complicated book about love and life. It’s so powerful and yet simple. I received Lucy By The Sea for Christmas and have decided to read all the Lucy books again, before starting the newest. What a pleasure to do so. After all, I don’t have a library card yet – I was hoping to try last week with two pieces of mail and my passport, and if that’s not enough, I don’t know what, but with the fires I decided to stay home – and so I’m going back and rereading my shelf.
I hope things settle down this week; even without the fire situation things are a little bit crazy around here. More on that to come, and in the meantime, take care of yourselves. xo
Oh, I am so disappointed that the bookmarks still haven’t turned up! For whatever it’s worth, I don’t think it’s silly or in any way shameful to be sad about this particular loss. At any time, a sentimental loss is sad. But especially when your whole life has been uprooted, I think it’s hard to have one of the comforts of your prior life disappear. And maybe, even, the loss feels sharper because it is linked to such a big change. While I understand what you mean about bookmarks vs. say, wildfires, I still believe it’s okay to feel your feelings. <3
Speaking of feelings: MICE. Omg. I mean, yes, shed — hopefully the rodents will STAY THERE. And hooray about the sweaters! And also a slightly less enthusiastic but still grateful hooray that your MIL has such a useful skill set.
We got into the new house finally!!! Yay!!! and there is a lot of, shall we say, evidence of mice. Technically, I grew up in the country and there were mice in the country. But… my dad handled all the corpses and my cat handled the creating of corpses (and my mom handled picking up the gifts my cat would leave her gag gag gag), so I don't have any DIRECT experience with mice until now I guess. Anyway: EMPATHY, I have it.
Thinking of you and your family and friends and hoping the fires burn themselves out soon.
YOU’RE IN THE HOUSE, YAY! I mean, not yay about the mice, but hopefully that can get under control asap.
And thank you so much for your comment about the bookmarks. I think it does feel sharper because there has just been so much change! Thank you xoxoxo
The fire situation is terrible. I hope they stay away from you.
I used to teach And Then There Were None as the mystery in a genre fiction class. It is very twisty.
Thanks Steph, so far so good! I hope it stays that way.
I’m sending prayers and hugs that the fires get under control soon. Yes it’s not on the same tier but I also have hope that the bookmarks will come home.
During my years as a single girl homeowner I got the occasional dead mouse (ALWAYS OUTSIDE!!!!), and there was a Blood Summer when we had a lot of outdoor cats in the neighborhood who took out a bunch of chipmunks on my property. And then there was the time that I got a dead woodchuck in my yard…believe me, I was very fazed by all of this. Today in my married girl life I’m not shy about enlisting the menfolk to take care of any business that comes up in pest control.
I loooooooove And Then There Were None. It’s in my top 5 for sure. I first read it in middle school and continue to reread it every few years. That moment right before the epilogue where no one knows what happened gets me every time. I’ve seen all of the movie and TV adaptations, and though the most recent one was really good, they all shy away from the book’s ending a bit, which is disappointing.
OH GOOD LORD. The menfolk around here are all in charge of the corpse disposals around here, but since my MIL is next door I’m adding her to my list. She was setting vole traps in the garden and told me not to go near them because “I think you’re too sensitive, dear” which YES I SURE AM.
I loved that book and I really had NO IDEA that the epilogue was going to be like that!
“I think you’re too sensitive dear” I love her.
I read Bel Canto about 2 decades ago in college: I went to school in Nashville, where Anne Patchett lives. I remember the gist but not the details. I should reread!!
I’d love to go to her bookstore! I vote you reread and then we can talk about it!
Ugh, the wild fires are so sad and terrifying. I hope you remain safe. Those smoky skies look so ominous. We’ve had days where it actually looked somewhat similar here in Minneapolis – you know it’s bad when a place far far away from the fires is dealing with heavy smoke. I’m listening to the NYT podcast about a man who was in Lahaina during the wildfire. His escape is so harrowing and horrifying. But it’s a good reminder that the things I worry about or am upset about are nothing compare to what others are dealing with. I can’t imagine the PTSD the survivors of the wildfires must have. 🙁
I read Bel Canto when I was much younger – maybe in my early 30s? At that time I think I was more into plot driven stories so I gave Bel Canto a really low rating! But now I love Patchett’s work (I really liked her latest, Tom Lake.)
PS you make a good point about Taco playing with cheerios in his trucks. I do need him to get more involved with the clean up efforts, though. He does love sweeping so I just need to push him to sweep up all the crushed cheerios that litter our main floor. Although, full disclosure, over the weekend he was using the broom, got mad and started to hit his brother with it so the broom is currently “taking a very long nap” in a hiding place.
Oh dear, the broom and the nap. I don’t remember a whole lot from 2005-07 because NO SLEEP but I do remember that at their playgroup they would sing the Barney cleanup song, and I think it had some kind of Pavlovian effect on the kids because as soon as I’d start singing it they would start putting their toys back in the bins and baskets!
I loved These Precious Days and adored The Dutch House, but feel like I started and DNF Bel Canto(?) and I can’t get into Tom Lake for the life of me (it has been on my bedside table for weeks now). All that to say, for some reason, Ann Patchett is hit or miss for me.
I want to read that Agatha Christie book, now. I went through a brief period of reading a lot of Agatha Christie, but haven’t read any of her books in well over a decade. This sounds like a good place to restart.
I 100% get the frustration and sadness over the missing bookmarks. They are a source of comfort and joy and so many things have been in a state of upheaval for you lately. You don’t need to apologize for what is feeling hard even if it looks different and lands on a different scale than things others are currently experiencing. Hard is hard, sad is sad. I still feel so certain you’ll find them, but can see needing to mentally release that possibility. And I’m SO glad you found your sweaters <3 Praying you continue to escape any direct impacts from the wildfires and that the weather cooperates to limit any further damage across our country. It's unbelievable what a traumatic year it has been for so many people with floods and fires and other natural disasters.
This statement made me laugh out loud: "However, given the circumstances, my soul briefly left my body and my body left the shed." I actually did find A DEAD MOUSE IN OUR WASHING MACHINE ONCE. How did this happen? I have many mouse stories I could tell, but I won't do that to you. I'm not a fan either…
Ahhhhhhh that sounds like a crazy story! Yikes! I guess I can live with them in the shed as long as they are nowhere near the house!
Thanks also, I appreciate your opinion – I guess I CAN still be sad about the bookmarks while having perspective. Thank goodness I found the sweaters though, imagine, IMAGINE IF THE MICE HAD GOTTEN TO THEM AIIIIEEEEEEE
Nope! I didn’t read Bel Canto. It was another Patchett book I DNF (and now Tom Lake, too). Bel Canto sounds riveting! Was it The Magician’s Assistant I abandoned? I can’t remember.
Tom Lake is on my library hold list, but it’s like a 47 week wait!
Omg – mice! This new house has a mice in the garage problem, and I do not enjoy it. I am reminded of that story you wrote about where your son dealt with the mouse problem when you were away. I would love to get barn cats from the Humane Society but I don’t think that would work in the city. Maybe you could do this!
I actually briefly wondered if it would be cruel to get a cat JUST for the shed, but ultimately that’s probably not a great idea! We couldn’t have it in the house so that might be too mean…or would it? I don’t know.
I thought it was the law that anyone with more than a half acre got to have an outdoor cat? 😉
Lololol IT IS THE LAW!
Our Humane Society has a program for “working cats.” These are cats who have been neutered or spayed and basic vaccinations, but they’re generally undersocialized cats who don’t do well in confined spaces (i.e., a house). These cats cannot be house pets but thrive in a “working” environment where they can patrol a barn, stable, outbuilding, shed, or even a warehouse. To get one of these cats, you have to provide shelter (the shed – but maybe even a cat house for when it gets really cold in the winter), daily food and water, and the necessary vet care. If there’s a program like this in your area, it’s definitely worth considering. It’s a win-win for you AND the cat.
Yes! This type of cat is what I mean. I’ve seen them online on the Humane Society site here too. I think they are referred to as ‘Barn Cats.’ 🙂
In my younger days, And Then There Were None was not only my favorite Agatha Christie books, but one of those books I talked about constantly as an 11-year-old who had more books than friends! As for the bookmarks, I always land on the whole “two things can be true at the same time” approach; there’s a lot going on around you that is deep and heavy and serious AND you loved your bookmarks and they brought you joy and it’s ok to be bummed that they are MIA. (Note, I am not commenting on the mouse as I once saw one in my basement while laying on the floor for a workout and have never laid on the floor again, nor will I!)
Aw, thank you Lindsay! I appreciate your perspective. You’re right, two things can be true!
OMG MOUSE ON THE FLOOR
The wildfires are so scary,. The photos are bazaar. I hope the fires burn out soon and that no one else is put in harm’s way. Thinking of you.
Oh, dang. I continue to hope that the bookmarks show up. I was SO hoping they would pop up in that bag of sweaters. Eek – a hole in the bag and mice nearby and sweaters in the shed. You’ve got yourself a little mystery with twists and turns right there. What a relief that you didn’t accidentally donate your sweaters.
I’ve never read Bel Canto and I must make a note of it. I’m sure I’ve said this before, but I need to keep a notebook near my computer where I can jot down all the titles that I hear about from you. I haven’t read the Lucy book either. I know that we own Then There Were None. My kids have read it for high school. I feel like one of my kids didn’t like it, but if that was Curly then I need to ignore her perspective as there isn’t much that she does like to read. Sadly. I might have to give that one a try.
Stay safe and happy baking and eating.
Thankfully no people have been harmed, which is really incredible. A number of houses have been lost though, which is so tragic.
And Then There Were None was so diverting and fun to read!
The fire is so scary! Plus breathing all that smoke has to be miserable too. I really hope you get some rain! We got a ton of rain over the weekend, apparently thanks to Hurricane Hillary, and it really helped with our fire danger.
Your baking looks delicious!
Oh, Michelle, the smoke has been miserable indeed. Today is a bit better but yesterday it was so thick I could hardly believe it. Supposedly Hillary is sending us rain too, fingers crossed.
Oh, I’m so glad you and your family are safe, but I’m so sad for all the people losing their homes and hope that the people fighting the fires are doing okay.
The stories you tell about the lengths your sons will go to protecting you from the mere IDEA of rodent infestations make me think they’re really good dudes. I still sometimes smile thinking about all the traps they set while you were away for a couple of weeks last year.
Thanks Engie, the boys are pretty great (I’m biased, but I think they are!).
No bookmarks, still? It’s not like it matters, but IT MATTERS. I’m glad you and your family are safe, but what a thing to happen near you so soon after you relocated. I’ve read all three of your books, liked them all, approve of your reading choices! 😉
Ally, one of the women I just met at girl’s night had moved here the same exact time as me, and she was evacuated from her home. She said that moving here, fires were her worst fear – and then that fear was realized only a month after moving! It’s pretty awful.
I like that you like my books!
Wow, that is a scary situation- and so close to you. It must feel odd to be so close, and just be home, baking (btw your pie looks fabulous!) I’m still holding out hope for those bookmarks… but it’s probably good to let it go (that way, when they turn up it’ll be an astonishing surprise.)
I remember my mom loving Bel Canto but I never read it. I believe you that it’s good, but I’m a little leery because it sounds like a “character driven” story, and I like plots. But- the premise is to interesting I might try it anyway.
I will come to your house- shed- and gently usher out any mice you would like to be rid of! I’m not afraid of them and I think I still have some humane mouse traps in the closet.
Stay safe.
I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t enjoy Bel Canto, Jenny, it’s not heavy on the plot. But it is exactly what I love in books!
That’s not a pie, it’s a sunken plum cake! It was delicious.
Bel Canto is one of my favorite books as well. I read it on a plane and was sobbing at the end, eliciting strange looks, but what a book, right? I’ve read everything by Ann Patchett and admire her bookstore in Tennessee. If you haven’t read State of Wonder by her, try it. I think you would like it.
I have read that one, Laura, and I agree! It’s wonderful! I would love to go to her bookstore as well.
I hope you continue to be safe from the wildfires (I almost wrote “wildflowers”, but to my knowledge they remain non-aggressive.) I love Bel Canto and need to reread that; it’s what got me started on Ann Patchett and it’s still my favorite of her books.
Lolololol those aggressive wildflowers, always spreading their damn beauty everywhere!
My favourite Patchett is These Precious Days but Bel Canto is a close second!
I’m so sorry about the fire so close to you, Nicole–glad you’re safe, but a bit worried about all the smoke around you in the pics.
Plus mice.
Plus no bookmarks yet.
Good thing there’re are always good books to be found!
Sending best wishes for a calmer week this time around. XOXO
Thanks Maya, R is out of town this week and M was supposed to move into residence but that’s been postponed until next week, so things are kind of weird but ultimately fine. But you are right – there are always good books, including some that are on my shelf!
Thank you, Nicole for keeping us updated on you and your family’s safety. Y’all have been on my mind constantly and it takes everything in me to keep from reaching out every hour or so.
I’m still of the mind that those bookmarks will show up eventually. But in the meantime, I will happily send you temporary replacements, if you’d like.
Stay safe!
Oh you’re so sweet! That would be lovely, Gigi. And feel free to reach out anytime, what a lovely friend you are. We are still safe and some evacuees have even been allowed to go back home, which is a huge step.
Seeing a mouse near my sweaters would have indeed put me in freak out mode. Oddly enough, a dead deer in my yard one time years ago didn’t bother me in the least!
I think I’ve read all of Ann Patchett’s books; Bel Canto being the first one. I KNOW I have read every Elizabeth Strout book because she’s my second favorite author (Elin Hildebrand is the first). Those Strout books are so darn good!
I hope you stay safe. These fires breaking out all over the place are terrifying. And I still have hope those bookmarks will fall out of something someday.
Elizabeth Strout is SO good! Her writing is just so gorgeous and unique. I have only read one Elin Hildebrand, which makes me excited – so many more to experience! I like her as well.
When I tell you my heart leapt in simultaneous joy and apprehension when I saw Bel Canto, one of my Top Ten of All Time, which some people absolutely hate. *happy sigh*
It feels so weird going on about our lives when the customary tragedy and trauma is happening, not just various places like always, but even closer. I want to do something that will be immediately helpful and positive, but there is … nothing really. But don’t feel bad about being sad about your bookmarks. Perspective is a thing, but there will always be worse things going on, you’re still allowed to be sad about your losses.
A mouse THREE FEET FROM ONE’S FACE is never to be shrugged off. My friend is deathly afraid of snakes and when she picked up her firewood at Sandbanks she had to ask the firewood lot attendant to shake it and bang it around before she took it, to make sure it was snakeless.
ALLISON CAN WE TALK ABOUT BEL CANTO BECAUSE I LOVED IT SO MUCH. I found it so funny too! The writing was simultaneously moving, beautiful, and HILARIOUS. I can’t believe it took me this long to read it!
THREE FEET FROM MY FACE. I felt like Winston in 1984. Except without the torture.
I chuckled so much (SYMPATHETICALLY) over your mouse encounter, and my goodness if “fawn corpse” isn’t the most weirdly beautiful and whiplashy turn of phrase I’ve heard in quite a while. So good.
I had a snek (can’t even type the real word) encounter about a year ago in my backyard — never saw one before or since — and I have barely recovered. I screamed such that my husband thought there was an intruder (THERE WAS.), and as you say, entered a fugue state. *shudder*
I’m very glad you and yours and your property are all safe.
Fawn corpse! I’ll spare you the details of HOW she disposed of it but I had to go and deep breathe for a few minutes.
OH GOOD LORD SNEK
That reminds me of when I pretty much had a breakdown over a mouse in a trap probably eight years ago, and my son thought that I was having a heart attack or something because I couldn’t stop screaming. SOLIDARITY, ARIANA.
I grew up in a city, and for the last 20+ years, have lived in very small towns (my current town has about 900 people). Lots of small farms and animals here. And, with that, many rodents. My deal with the rodents is “you stay out of my house and we’ll get along just fine.” That being said, there are also many outdoor cats around here, and while they certainly help keep the rodent population down, they don’t always do agreat job of cleaning up. Long story short…I have had to learn to be ok with cleaning up dead things. It surprises me that I can do this. Occasionally, I’ll put a bucket over the mess and ask some else to handle it, though.
I love Elizabeth Strout. Currently reading Unraveling and enjoying it so much.
I’m sorry about your still missing bookmarks and hoping that you are still safe.
Oh, I didn’t think about THAT aspect. Woof. Well, I’m with you. As long as they aren’t in my house, we can all get along!
I’m so glad you like Unraveling! The premise sounded SO boring to me but wow, did I find it fascinating! Elizabeth Strout is a gift to this world!
Nicole – I have a ton of bookmarks and I am trying to purge, so if you want, I can send them your way! I even have one that I know you would love! If you are interested, my email address is on my About Me page.
Re the fires, woof. As you know, my parents house nearly burned in the Dixie fire, and they were surrounded by blackened forest afterward. It was tragic and hard and they had that same helpless feeling that you are feeling where you can’t do anything about it and you just have to wait! However, life still goes on. You have to eat, people are getting married, babies are being born, and you have to do mundane things like grocery shopping. It is so strange, the dichotomy of life. On the other hand, there is a certain beauty in fire and my mom has this picture of her neighbor standing there staring at the hill side burning and it is pure art. I was so happy when they were spared but so sad about the desolation around them and the loss of such a beautiful place in my memory and now when I go to visit, there are no trees, but the bushes and small plants have grown back and it is not the same but it is still beautiful. There are a lot of cases where the feelings are so confusing! I hope that you and your loved ones and your countrymen get through this soon; you are in my thoughts!
I am so sorry about the devastation around your parents’ house. What a nightmare. There was a big fire in Kelowna 20 years ago this month, if you can believe it, and my in-laws were evacuated. Since they are on irrigated vineyards, they were never really in danger of losing their home, but not far away people did. It’s just such an immense loss and as you say, life still goes on.
I sent you an email!
By coincidence this time, all three books are ones that I’ve read and that VERY MUCH affected me. Bel Canto is in the category of “favorite book I will never be able to read again.” It BROKE me.
I think the reason I hold out hope for the bookmarks has to do with all the stories I’ve heard of people discovering that the movers packed LITERAL GARBAGE from LITERAL TRASH CANS. It means I continue to have faith.
I loved the part about the possibility of a mouse, including the part about how your mother-in-law could have coped.
*weird commas: should have been more like: “By coincidence, this time all three books…”
Swistle, this happened to my mother! She told me the movers packed her kitchen garbage and moved it! So who can say, I will try to keep the faith!
BEL CANTO. What a book! I felt like I did when I watched Life is Beautiful and got to the end, devastated. Like I kept thinking, ridiculously, “Maybe this will all work out!”
Ugh– so sorry about the book marks! Glad you remain safe from fires and are settling in. Moving– a long, terrible process– but your pics are lovely here and on IG (I also have a soft spot for all of the books you posted today)
Thanks so much, Sarah! Those books are great, and I’m finishing the Lucy series this week.
I’m so glad you are still safe. What a horrific experience to have all around you. It does put the missing bookmarks into perspective, although it’s still ok to be sad
That cake looks like plum kuchen, a popular German cake?
I recently read bel canto and loved it. I only heard about it when I read her book of essays, These Precious Days (which I LOVED- have you read that book?).
Pat, you win the prize! It is a plum kuchen!
These Precious Days was my favourite book of 2022! I loved it.
Yay, you found the sweaters! Boo hiss on the mice, but they gotta live somewhere, right?
I understand your plight about the bookmarks and I do hope they show up at some point.
I had a two gallon ziplock bag of barbies and old happy meal toys from when my girls were little that were residing at our beach condo for when my great niece visited. Don’t ya know, I was more upset about losing those than the almost brand new pottery barn furniture? Sentimental IS our thing.
Praying the fires are under control and YOU are safe and sound. XO
So long as the mice stay in the shed, we can live in harmony!
Aw, I totally understand about the toys, Suz. We are sentimental girls!
I am so sorry, Nicole, you had to go through the wildfire scare so close to your home. The smoke is really awful and I am just so glad you’re safe. Feeling like you can’t do anything to help and can just sit and wait is a terrible feeling too.
I am sad your bookmarks haven’t turned up but it does put things in perspective if you look at the big picture. I am glad at least the third bag of sweaters showed up, although not knowing how it ended up in the garden shed would drive be crazy. Haha.
I mean…how is it possible? Where did they come from?
These pictures are so scary. I am glad you are safe and able to cope with baking, but it must be so unsettling for it to be so close to your home. I hope things have gotten better in the last few days!
THE MOUSE INCIDENT. No, no, no, no, no. I could not. YOU ARE SO BRAVE!!!! I am glad you found your most beloved sweaters, though. I am still visualizing that you’ll find those bookmarks someday!
Things have improved immensely and the people who were evacuated are back home now – at least those who didn’t lose their homes. Some did, which is so very sad.
Like I keep saying, I know you’re okay but oh, Nicole, it must have been so terrifying to live through those fires so soon after moving. I’m so glad all is (still) okay.
I cannot even with the mouse. I’m so glad your menfolk are willing and able to take care of critters (*cringe*) for you. I’d love to live further out “in the country” (ha) but your story is making me seriously reconsider that… 🙂 At the same time, living in an apartment building, I also live in fear that my neighbors’ cleanliness/habits will affect me. Yeeks.
It’s always something, city or country!