We had almost no plans this weekend, and the boys were deep into Magnatiles Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I mean, deep into them all weekend long. I could barely tear them away from this game they had made up that, I think, included a blend of Magnatiles’ ships, Lego men, some dinosaurs, and a lot of sound effects. I stayed in bed until almost 9 on Saturday morning, hearing that their playing was well underway, I had a book, Steve brought me coffee, and really, why should I get up?
I finished the Three Women book. I have so much to talk about. I had a reader suggest I start a book club. Are you already in one? Do you want to be? Is too much of the good stuff lost were it to be hosted online? Give me your thoughts. The overwhelming feeling I had closing the book was sadness, I think. But Lisa Taddeo is a beautiful writer, and includes flourishes of language that make you forget you’re reading nonfiction. Also, eight years! Eight years is the length of time she researched, interviewed, and wrote to produce this book. That’s amazing.
So this weekend included baking bread (twice), making the best pot of chicken noodle soup ever, doing some laundry, and a lot of reading. The reading feels especially luxurious, decadent. I’m sitting down to my sofa to just… read? Hoo girl, who you think you are? Must mean the laundry is done, and the floors are vacuumed. But it doesn’t. I take stock of the day, what’s happening at that precise moment. Kids are fed and playing, house is clean enough, I really don’t have any place to be, and I grab a blanket, and get comfortable. If it’s mid-afternoon, sometimes I close my eyes and doze off for 15 minutes (I remember well the days of a baby underfoot when such an impromptu nap would be an impossibility. Moms, you will get there!). It is wonderful. Every year, I plan to read more. I figure if I continue making this resolution, then there will be a slight uptick in the actual reading year by year. (So far, so good. I’m 2.5 books into 2020. I’m satisfied.) For interested readers, I do try to update this every once in awhile, as well as my “read” highlights on Instagram.
As for the bread, I use this recipe from Bread Toast Crumbs. If you think you can’t cook bread, if you think you’ll screw it up, if you’ve never mastered it before, make this. There’s really nothing to it. I did buy the yeast she recommends, this kitchen scale, and these oven-safe bowls, but I’ve also used an envelope yeast from the grocery store, and the kitchen scale isn’t totally necessary if you’re precise when measuring. They are two different sizes because of the bowls they’re cooked in. It’s hard not to eat slice after slice after slice slathered with cold butter once it comes out, but I do remind myself that although it’s homemade, and better than store bought, it is still bread. Freeze one for a future soup night!
Next, I’m going to try some cinnamon bread and/or rolls from her. A little more labor-intensive but wish me luck.
I’m in a book club and LOVE the in-person meeting (away from the home and girl time!) so online wouldn’t work for me. However, I think that having the latter type of book club would be loved by many. I, for one, would be curious to see what you are reading in hopes of finding new books to read. Just my two cents! 🙂 By the way – I’d like to recommend a book I read last year called A Gentleman in Moscow – just a great book with amazing characters! Currently our club is reading Erik Larson’s Lusitania, and I’m learning so much!!
I’ve tried baking bread so many times but I’ve never been successful 🙁 Now I want to try again! Sounds like you had a great weekend! ❤️✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
I had tried baking bread so many times over the last few years, albeit terribly unsuccessfully then a few months ago you shared that peasant bread recipe and it has become a Sunday dinner staple. I’ve made it at least a dozen times and have yet to have a bad loaf. Thank you for sharing!
YAY!
I LOVE that bread! Pretty sure I got it from your blog years and years ago! Have you tried coating the bowls with butter and then putting everything but the bagel seasoning all around the bowl? It bakes into the bread and is Amazing!!!!
oh my gosh. you are BRILLIANT. i’m doing that.
Yes, start a book club!! I would partake. 🙂
Oh I would love to try an online book club! I am doing a certification program via Zoom meetings, and it does feel like I am with the people. It would be a cool way to collect folks together across distances, be cozy in your own space and BYOB and BYOS (snacks haha). You could always do a local meet-up for those in the Boston area, and then have those of us further away tune in. Just some thoughts!
That is the most delicious bread ever. Just made it. So easy. Thank you for sharing!!!
I might try an online book club. I did one once with a few friends but it fell apart eventually. We couldn’t find a balance between girls who wanted to actually read and discuss a book over wine and a monthly get together and girls who just wanted to do the wine and get together part. That or someone would pick a book that others thought was too basic.
BTW, I was compelled to look into your recommendation of Three Women and decided to give it a go. I read it in 3 days! I couldn’t put it down! Thanks.