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Who else is looking forward to soup day? By the lovely Grace Farris.
P.S. The best tomato soup and fall weekend lady.
November Plans
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What about the time change?! A whole week of being hungry at the wrong time and my 7 year old saying “I’ve never been out this late!” at 6:15pm!
Cracks me up!!!
I promise this comes back around and is relevant to the post. It’s also content about loss, in case you’d like to skip past, which I understand.
My spouse and I are going through a pregnancy loss, and I emailed my department at work to let people know what we’re going through, and because for me personally it would have compounded my grief to feel like this is a secret I am keeping. I also definitely work in a department with folks who are not the most socially-emotionally expressive, a lot of men older than I am, etc.
So for people who wanted to show support but really aren’t comfortable even expressing condolences or concern, I included in my note that I have found comfort in reading paper books, and I’d welcome any suggestions for favorite not-dark fiction.
My department has delivered beyond what I could have imagined. So many people who clearly aren’t comfortable just directly talking emotions have been sending me their best book recs. The department pooled together and got my spouse and me a very generous gift card to a local independent bookstore. Needless to say, this has been my week of starting way too many books all at the same time, with help from my awkward, kind, and caring village. 🤍
Oh Ruth, I’m so sorry for your loss. You feel so much like a not-so-stranger – I always remember your comments because though I (happily) left academia after I finished my PhD, we seem to be a similar age, at a similar life stage, are Jewish, etc. – so it’s always so interesting for me read! And I also remember reading your comments about thinking about ttc, then ttc, then that you were pregnant, and about telling your dad just a few weeks ago – I was so excited for you (and in hindsight should have said that in a comment earlier). Holding you and your family in my thoughts and sending you baby dust for later, if and when you’re ready 💕
I’m so sorry. And I’m glad your department is sharing their care for you through book recommendations and a gift card for books.
Ruth, I know we are all holding you in our thoughts and hearts. ❤️
I am so sorry for your loss. And what a beautiful way to share and to let others support you. Thank you for sharing
To Ruth and S both:
I also see you and have a similar background. Conceiving was one of the most soul challenging heart obstacles. And despite an academic background and being of an age where people might judge… I found myself finding solace in the pages and screens of YA fantasy. The vampire diaries saw me through failed cycles and a chemical pregnancy and losing my dear cat. Sarah J Maas got me through another failed cycle and endometriosis surgery. VE Schwab has held my hand while all my friends started their families. Leigh Bardugo might as well have gone to Costco and bought me the giant box of tissues that saw me thru month and after of disappointment. I know I’m not 14 anymore and that my fantasies of a fae husband or life fighting evil with inner dragon fire may seem naive at 37, but maybe that propensity to hope and believe in magic is what’s actually buoyed me and gotten me this far.
Sending you hugs and a wish to find solace and maybe some fantastical adventure.
While I love all the cozy things on this calendar (soup! tea! socks!), the only thing missing is a million days that the kids are off. My mom taught me that the proper name for this month is ‘No School November.’ So plenty of cozy family time but tricky to balance!
I’m turning 40 this month! I’m so excited for my birthday. I love birthdays!!!
You should so draw a calendar for the year! I love your november!
She has one and it’s fantastic! Mine is up beside my coffee machine and we all love the little notes and drawings on it. :)
Love your calendat!!
Prep for cold and flu season is about 2 months too late! Haha we’re already in deep over here.
Try a new color of sock–hahaha! I also seem to be right on schedule with everything else! Grace is so hilarious, relatable, insightful, & uplifting! Love her & her work so much!
Steering clear of Nov 14!! lol
Ugh I wish we had until the 29th to prepare! Our cold and flu season is already in full swing 😩
Lol the books tho! I don’t know why I always have to be reading a piece of fiction and nonfiction at the same time. And now with audiobooks for car rides and walks thrown in it’s total chaos! But I love it?
need this! November is rough
LOL I did a deep dive this past week of finding old high school XC team members on Facebook. Pretty much they are all doctors.
This made me LOL
The XC to doctor pipeline!
This made me lol too. I always tell my kids to try to stick with the XC team kids because they aren’t like the other sports kids. It makes total sense that they’d all be doctors.
I’ve made soup four times in the past month. Yaaaayyy!! Lemony turkey kale, red lentil, Lebanese vegetable, and Cuban black bean.
I’ve been thinking of throwing a soup party: I’ll make a giant pot of soup, you come with something to go with – some bread, some wine, a good joke…
Those soups sound delicious and original! And the soup party idea is so cozy :)
My Lebanese genes went crazy for this one. Our cuisine doesn’t always get the attention it deserves so seeing your comment made my day. Thank you! Cheers
Perla, Lebanese food is the best! I once worked with a girl whose parent’s ran what was one of the best Lebanese restaurants in Sydney. Sometimes she’d get her brother to drive her in and we’d all run out to help bring in the food – her parents used to surprise us with a feast randomly. BEST work colleague ever. I really want a Lebanese gonna in my life because seriously YUM! It’s so fresh and flavoursome and healthy and delightful. YUM.
Oh, yay! My Lebanese soup is from Vegan under Pressure and it is incredibly delish! Chickpeas, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, greens, and lemon, with plenty of cumin and spice. I like to just pour the hot soup over raw baby spinach. In my house we call it healing soup, because it just feels like its doing you good!
The other soups: Lemony turkey kale is a Melissa Clark NYT recipe. The red lentil soup is also a Melissa Clark recipe, from her instant pot book, Dinner in an Instant, and the Cuban black bean is Mrs. Garcia’s from the Kitchn.
Yes to soup parties! I host one the first Sunday of every winter month and it’s just the right mix of hosting duties and hang-out time with friends.
I had a soup party last Saturday!
Soup day! My good friends just had twin boys and I’m making a giant pot of stew to bring to them on Tuesday.
Why do I always start so many books the week of Thanksgiving? I don’t actually have free time to read that week EVER. :D
oh golly – I tried a new tea yesterday. HA – too funny!
Same!
From soup to hot cocoa to golden milk, I could have a yummy drink for every day of November ☕️
Did a soup party at work and it was just the loveliest work party I have ever been to. Something about a warm bowl of heart soup made everyone happy and cozy and comfortable. 10 out of 10 would recommend
Such a good one this week, Grace! The 29th … Just this last year after 6 years of sick (Covid, norovirus, colds, goshknowswhatelse!) season with kids I finally decided I would be ahead of the train wreck our fam becomes. I filled a bin with teas, medicines, a puzzle, a few toys that would feel fresh after 6 months without, ingredients for soup on the fly (bone broth, canned tomatoes, farro, bouillon), and diapers/wipes. Because I always run out when we are too sick to make a store run.
Bless it, Grace. You nailed it!
That’s genius, Brenda!
I think I need to do this… we get in the middle of a new ickness and I’m like – what kind of nasal spray did we use? why do i only have the drowsy cough medicine, not the non-drowsy? crap, our tea stash is low!
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