Three (Book reviews) on Thursday

I read three books this week, so I decided to post all the reviews together today. Edited to add: It turns out that I actually finished four but didn't want to ruin the alliteration of Three on Thursday. 

The first is one that Sarah read last week, and I read the second one in an attempt to try and make more sense of the first. Abigail Thomas’s What Comes Next and How to Like It is a quiet, contemplative memoir that reads less like a traditional narrative and more like a collection of fleeting thoughts, small, intimate moments stitched together in a non-linear, almost stream-of-consciousness style. Comprised of short vignettes, the book moves through grief, friendship, aging, creativity, and the strange, often unanswerable question of how to keep going when life keeps taking.

Thomas’s prose is undeniably sharp and direct. There’s a spareness to her writing that I appreciated; she wastes no words, and many passages carry a kind of understated honesty. Her reflections on long-term friendship offer glimpses of something deep and sustaining, even when the rest of life feels uncertain or diminished.

That said, the fragmented structure, while stylistically interesting, made it difficult to fully engage. The vignettes often felt more like impressions than explorations, and I found myself wanting more depth and more cohesion. While there are moments of insight, they felt fleeting, and I struggled to come away feeling truly enlightened, moved, or even particularly educated, which are qualities I tend to look for in a memoir.

Ultimately, this is a book that seems more about sitting with life as it is rather than drawing meaning from it. For some readers, that may be enough. For me, it felt a bit too slight to leave a lasting impression.

I came to A Three Dog Life after reading What Comes Next and How to Like It, mostly hoping to better understand the events that shaped Abigail Thomas’s later reflections. In that sense, this book provided some helpful context. It fills in the emotional and practical realities behind the fragments of her more recent work.

This memoir centers on the aftermath of her husband’s traumatic brain injury, and the life Thomas builds in response to that devastating shift. While her signature style is still present, with brief sections and a somewhat impressionistic structure, it felt more cohesive here. Her emotions are written more clearly, and I was better able to follow the arc of her experience, from shock and guilt to a kind of fragile stability.

Thomas’s prose remains spare and direct, which works well for the subject matter. There are moments of genuine insight, particularly in how she grapples with what it means to remain connected to someone who is, in many ways, no longer the person you knew. I also appreciated that I did learn something from this memoir, about care giving, adaptation, and the ways people continue living after unimaginable disruption. That’s something I tend to look for in memoir, and this book delivered more of it than her later one.

Dogs, as the title suggests, play a central role here, not just as companions, but as emotional anchors. Thomas’s deep affection for them is evident, and they help shape the quieter, rebuilt life she describes. It’s striking, too, that despite everything, she manages to carve out a decent, even meaningful life.

Still, while I admired much of what this book was doing, it didn’t fully land for me on an emotional level. The distance created by the fragmented style sometimes kept me from feeling as immersed as I wanted to be. I gave it 3.5 stars, but couldn’t quite round up.

Maxim Loskutoff’s Old King is a quiet, unsettling novel that lingers in the spaces between men, between ideologies, and between the myth of the American frontier and its unraveling. Set against the rugged backdrop of Lincoln, Montana, the story follows Duane Oshun as he runs away from a divorce in Salt Lake City and stumbles into a logging community and the orbit of a reclusive neighbor, Ted Kaczynski, along with some other reclusive and stubborn men. There are few women in this book, and they are definitely secondary characters.

I’ve always had some degree of interest in Kaczynski, with my own connection to Lincoln through having a cabin there. That familiarity made this novel feel quite grounded. Loskutoff captures the place with an authenticity that’s hard to fake, the rhythms of the town, the isolation, the quiet tensions simmering beneath everyday interactions. Lincoln is more than just a setting; it’s a force that shapes these men and their choices.

What makes Old King particularly compelling is that it isn’t really about Kaczynski, at least not in the way one might expect. Instead, it’s about the intersection of several lives of along Stemple Pass Road, men who circle one another, sometimes barely aware of the impact they’re having. Their connections are loose, almost accidental, yet deeply consequential. Loskutoff explores how proximity alone can bind people together, for better or (more often) worse.

The author's portrayal of Kaczynski is especially fascinating, neither sensationalized nor excused, but rendered as one thread in a larger tapestry of disillusionment, masculinity, and environmental grief. The “Old King” itself, the ancient Douglas fir, stands as a powerful symbol of what’s being lost, and of the competing values that drive these men toward conflict.

This is not an easy or uplifting read. There’s a quiet inevitability to the tragedy that unfolds, and it’s striking how none of these men emerge unscathed. Their lives, shaped by isolation, stubbornness, and a kind of muted longing, seem destined to collide in ways that can only end badly. Still, Old King is a deeply rewarding novel, thoughtful, atmospheric, and sharply observant. It asks difficult questions about progress, connection, and the stories we tell ourselves about independence. Three and a half stars rounded up. 

Yesteryear is an ambitious, unsettling debut that’s at its best when it leans into its sharp social critique, even if it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own ideas. 

The premise was irresistible to me: a carefully curated “tradwife” influencer suddenly forced to live the actual reality of early 19th-century life. Burke wastes no time stripping away Natalie’s glossy, performative existence and replacing it with something brutal, filthy, and deeply disorienting. The contrast between the Instagram fantasy and the physical toll of survival is vividly rendered, and often genuinely disturbing. There’s a visceral quality to these sections that kept me turning pages.

What worked well for me was how pointed the novel is about performance, of femininity, of faith, and of morality. Natalie’s confidence in her own superiority, built on a curated life and a rigid belief system, feels uncomfortably real. I actually know a woman very much like this; she professes to be deeply religious, but she has also openly expressed that her faith makes her better than others. That familiarity made Natalie less of a caricature and more of a recognizable and unsettling type. Burke clearly understands the psychology she’s writing about, and that lends the book a sharp, sometimes biting authenticity.

That said, the novel doesn’t always balance its themes as smoothly as it could. At times, the satire feels heavy-handed, and the story’s central mystery, what exactly is happening to Natalie, loses momentum as the book toggles between possibilities. I found myself much more invested in the idea of the story than in its eventual direction. I'll admit that I childishly wanted Natalie to get her comeuppance, but I'm not sure that happened. Parts felt rushed, particularly given how extreme Natalie’s transformation is meant to be.

Still, Yesteryear is a thought-provoking read, especially for anyone interested in the intersection of social media, gender roles, patriarchy, and belief. It’s sometimes uncomfortable and unafraid to ask questions, but sadly, it doesn't explore those questions in any depth.

 

Some different reading for me this week, but that's what keeps things interesting. What are you reading? 

 

 

Three on Thursday: It's Pumpkin Spice Season!

Kym and Carole had an idea to get together for a Three on Thursday Pumpkin Spice post and I'm joining in. I honestly hadn't been paying any attention to various pumpkin spice things, but I found plenty when I went to Walmart with my eyes open and ready to take pictures. So here are Three Pumpkin Spice Things plus several bonus products.

These Little Debbie Pumpkin Delights probably taste fine; I just think they look a little creepy. 

Pumpkin Spice cookie mix sounds fairly normal but I was not tempted by Pumpkin Spice Chips. I'm not sure what they taste like; the ingredients are sugar, a bunch of oils, and "natural flavor". What that natural flavor might be, I do not know. 

I almost fell for this, Febreze! I love a nice slice or two of pumpkin roll and thought it might be pleasant to have my house smell like it. Except I know I would break down and bake an actual pumpkin roll and probably eat the whole thing myself.

I had to smell this for myself. While Pumpkin Spice Latte wasn't a bad scent, I do not want to apply that to my underarms. But these were the last two left at my Walmart so there may be plenty of others that do. 

Manufacturers seem to have figured out most of the places where the taste and scent of pumpkin spice might be appreciated by consumers, but I wonder if they might be overlooking some segments of the market. I have a friend who puts a dollop of pumpkin in her cats' food (maybe for a shiny, healthy coat?) so I wonder why there aren't pumpkin spice products marketed for pets. 

But wait, Tidy Cats makes Fall Frolic cat litter! I don't know exactly what it smells like, but what cat wouldn't enjoy Pumpkin Spice cat litter? (Nugget. Nugget would definitely turn her nose up at this stuff.)

I wash most of my dishes by hand and I honestly wouldn't mind the scent of pumpkin spice to make the job a little bit more pleasurable. No worries, Dawn has already thought of that.

If you look to the right of the Pumpkin Spice Powerwash, you'll also see Fresh Pine and Frosted Cranberry. Procter and Gamble has covered all of the holiday scents through the end of the year.

And then there is this photo that Justin sent me:

(Yes, it's photoshopped.)

What is the oddest pumpkin spice product you've seen? Or maybe a better question is what is the best pumpkin spice product you've used? Inquiring minds would like to know!

Three Books on Thursday

I usually include the books I have read in Unraveled Wednesday posts, but my book reviews have been getting longer for some reason. Adding them to an Unraveled Wednesday post makes those posts far too long, so long that even I wouldn't want to read them (and I wrote the darn reviews). Last week I finished three books, and wrote long(ish) reviews, so here they are in case you might be interested.

I requested The Briar Club from Edelweiss because the publisher's blurb mentioned that it was set during the McCarthy era. That sounded intriguing and became even more so once I started the book. The book opens with a murder, and subsequent chapters explore how this happened, each from a different character's viewpoint. A diverse group of women live in Briarwood House, a rooming house in Washington, D.C. in the 1950s. They all have secrets, desires, and wishes, but they begin to bond and come together during the tenant's Thursday "Briar Club" supper evenings. The pace is slower than other Kate Quinn novels, and there are also some slightly odd insertions of recipes and Briarwood House itself speaking. The recipes accompany the storyline but are an unusual interruption. I found the sentient house simply strange, both because it was speaking and the things it said were mildly unsettling. But the story is still good, and Quinn's extensive research is evident. The author's historical notes at the end answer the question about where she got the ideas for the book. 3.5 stars rounded down.

Thank you to Edelweiss and William Morrow for providing me with a copy of this book. It will be published on July 9, 2024.

The Far Field is an exploration of identity, loss, and the complexities of human connection set against the backdrop of the tumultuous region of Kashmir. The novel follows the journey of Shalini, a young woman from Bangalore, as she seeks to unravel the mysteries surrounding her mother's past.

Vijay's writing is both lyrical and evocative, painting vivid images of the lush landscapes of Kashmir and the multifaceted characters that inhabit it. Through Shalini's quest, the novel delves into the political turmoil and cultural divides that have long plagued the region, offering a nuanced perspective on the Kashmir conflict.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its richly developed characters, each with desires, fears, and contradictions. Shalini herself is a deeply flawed yet compelling protagonist, driven by a mix of naivety and determination as she navigates the complexities of love, friendship, privilege, and betrayal. One of the novel's big weaknesses is that Shalini does not seem to have learned anything from her journey. The author highlights the dangers of imposing our perceptions and ideologies onto others, even with the noblest intentions. Shalini's naivety and misguided actions serve as a cautionary tale, illustrating how the road to hell can indeed be paved with good intentions.

The novel challenges readers to question the ethical implications of intervention and the blurred lines between altruism and exploitation. It's a poignant reminder that genuine empathy requires more than just good intentions; it demands a deep understanding of the complexities and nuances of the situations we seek to address. Three and a half stars rounded up because of the excellent audiobook narration by Sneha Mathan.

Soil was recommended to me by a friend (thank you, Jane!) because she knew my son had lived in Fort Collins for several years. While I initially read it because I wanted to learn about gardening in this high plains area that receives little rainfall but is also subject to hail and strong winds, I learned about much more. Dungy tells the story of moving her husband and daughter to predominantly White Fort Collins and transforming her homogeneous suburban lawn into a pollinator garden with native plants. This multi-year process involved removing the sod, spreading newly delivered soil and mulch, and then planting, watering, and waiting. This is not simply a gardening journal; along the way, Dungy also writes about marriage, motherhood, racism, social justice, and nature writers who may (or may not) have written in isolation. I appreciated the author's points about John Muir and Annie Dillard writing in solitude, and Mary Oliver having the time to wander the forest and write poems without having to provide meals for children.

There is a moment when the author is a bit prickly and I didn't understand why. She is upset because the pastor at church used language in a sermon about "getting along with people who might have voted differently" in the 2016 election that she felt was hurtful and dangerous. She told him, "All those people you listed, we are not 'on the outside of society looking in'. We are part of this society! We are at the very center of what America has been built upon. But the rhetoric you used during your addition to that prayer is the rhetoric of exclusion." The pastor apologized and said Ms. Dungy should always tell him if something he said or did was hurtful. "These must have seemed like generous gestures to him but he took no agency. He made me responsible for calling his attention to the hurt he caused." I am not a Black woman, so I'm not intimately familiar with the author's experiences. I don't wish to inflict pain upon others, but I don't know what I don't know. One of the ways I can learn is if others help to teach me, and it seems that was what the pastor was asking for.

Several reviewers have complained that the author jumps from subject to subject; she tells her stories non-linearly, but I enjoyed her writing style. For me, it helped to highlight the interconnectedness of nature and gardening with day-to-day life. There are times when the prose may not be cohesive, but Camille Dungy reminds us that gardening, the natural world, massive wildfires, and racism are parts of our daily lives and are all related. Three and a half stars rounded up.

What have you been reading lately? 

Three on Thursday: 12/22/22

I've been struggling to come up with topics to write about this week, so when I stumbled upon three things that are winter solstice-related, I decided that a Three on Thursday post was meant to be. The winter solstice occurred in the Northern Hemisphere yesterday at 4:47 pm Eastern time. Now that this has passed we can celebrate the lengthening of daylight. 

First is this painting entitled The Shortening Winter's Day is Near a Close by Joseph Farquharson (1903). I love the name, the sheep, the pale sun, and the shadows on the snow.

The second thing is a link to the sunrise at Stonehenge. They observe the first sunrise after the exact point of the Solstice, which means this year it's on Thursday 22 December. This happened live at 3:09 am Eastern time this morning, but I sure wasn't getting up at that hour to watch. This article from the British Museum explains that Stonehenge was designed to align with the movements of the sun, with the sarsen stones and smaller bluestones arranged to frame the sunrise at the summer solstice and sunset at the winter solstice. This is kind of incredible to me, considering that this was done around 2500 BC. 

Lastly, here is a link to the BBC World Service's production of The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper. As I write this there are three episodes available, but they will continue daily through December 31st. The Dark Is Rising tells the story of Will Stanton, an ordinary boy who begins to have eerie and magical experiences on his 11th birthday, one snowy December. Will discovers that he belongs to a group of ancient, time-traveling beings called the Old Ones, who are guardians of The Light and must wage an unending battle against the forces of The Dark. The music is by Johnny Flynn who I first became aware of watching The Detectorists, and while I have only listened to two episodes they sound quite interesting with headphones (due to recording in binaural sound). There is something special about having a story about battling the forces of darkness read to you during the dark days of winter. 

(If you like The Dark Is Rising, it's actually the second in a series of five fantasy novels for young adults. My own children were not huge fans, but when I worked in our middle school library, I recommended the books to many of our fantasy readers. We eventually had to order several extra copies of each book because we had so many students clamoring for them.)

Wishing you a wonderful return of the light however you celebrate!

Three on Thursday

I was driving home from Ryan's house last week and noticed the striking clouds. I'm always an admirer of interesting clouds, so I pulled over to take a picture:

I drove a little further and almost gasped when I came down the hill to the Delaware River and saw the sunset:

It was a stunning sunset and the reflection on the river made it even more so. I parked so I could walk out on the bridge and took lots more pictures.

Normally I'm concerned about driving in the dark, and especially just after sunset. There are so many deer around and they dart out in front of cars all the time. I'm afraid I won't see them in time to avoid a collision. But that evening the beauty overtook any fear of deer and I just couldn't get enough of the sunset. I'm so grateful that I happened to be in the right place at the right time. 

Be sure to check in with Carole for more Three on Thursday thoughts. 

Three on Thursday

I'm joining Carole for Three on Thursday this week, with three questions each for two three distinct groups of people that I've wondered about this week.

For those that have a blog: Why do you blog? Have you thought about quitting? What keeps you going?

For those that don't blog: Have you ever thought about blogging? Do you have reasons for not blogging? What has kept you from trying it? 

Edited to add because Valerie helpfully pointed this out: For those that used to blog but gave it up: Why did you quit? Do you ever regret it? Have you ever considered starting your blog again? 

It seems only fair that if I'm going to ask questions that I should also answer them.

I started blogging back in 2013 when Ryan moved to Colorado. It felt like something was missing (really it was someone). I needed some sort of outlet, so on a whim, I started to write. I have looked back at some of my first entries and cringed. The photos and content were crap, but they were mine. 

I have contemplated quitting, mainly because I run out of ideas to write about. My grandmother always said "There's no point in talking if you don't have something to say", and I think about that often.

I think that several things keep me going. The first is that I write mainly for myself. It helps me to get things out of my mind, write them down, and it just happens to be in a public sort of format. I can refer back to my blog to remind myself about when things happened (as several of you have written about recently)! The other main reason that I am still blogging is that I enjoy the personal contact. I've only met two bloggers in person (Dee and Vera at NJ Sheep & Wool), but I feel like many bloggers and commenters are friends (even if some people think they are "imaginary friends"). I'm grateful that you have chosen to read what I've written; I take joy in reading the comments, and often look forward to responding and continuing the conversation by email. I appreciate the personal interactions (be they words of encouragement, book recommendations, recipes, differing opinions, and possibly some help with a sweater in the future), and they have all added something valuable to my life. 

This was back in 2018, the good old days pre-covid.
We all look much better than this now!

Thank you in advance for your answers to any questions that you choose to answer!

Three on Thursday

On this last day of September, I'm joining Carole for Three on Thursday, with all things pumpkin spice. (There may be far more than three.) I went grocery shopping yesterday and was greeted with several large displays of pumpkin spice "stuff".

Starbucks pumpkin spice coffee seems fairly normal.

Pumpkin in baked goods also seems commonplace to me. I considered some pumpkin donuts, but decided I didn't need the calories, nor do I need pumpkin cookies. Those pumpkin donut holes are small, so surely they don't have many calories, but the box says 60 calories each, so I didn't get them either.

It's a big NO to pumpkin spice Special K and the same for pumpkin spice tortilla chips. 

How about some pumpkin spice Spam? I didn't actually see this at the grocery store, because it's only sold in Canada. Justin uses Spam for catfish bait, but I don't think PS flavor will help him catch more fish. 

Another item I didn't see at the grocery store, but it is real! I'm wondering what kind of day I might have if I walked around with pumpkin spice latte-scented armpits. I'm not sure when the season ends, so be sure to get your pumpkin spice products while you can! 

On the Plus Side

On Monday I whined a bit about how I dislike the drive to MD from NJ and back, that white-knuckle, 246 mile, five hour plus round trip that we have to make every week. But a lovely positive comment from Becky started me thinking about the good things. I still can't come up with anything good about the drive, but there are some things I like about the house in MD. Since it's Thursday, I'm joining Carole for Three on Thursday.

It's a tiny house. Not one of those tiny houses on wheels, but rather a small house. There are three bedrooms, but I'm not sure we could even fit a single bed in the third one (but there is knotty pine on the walls). With a desk and a bookcase, it works fine for John's office. There is just one bathroom, a smallish open combination living room/dining room and a little kitchen, all contained in ~ 1000 sq. ft. There's a weird little five foot square nook off of the kitchen, but it makes a good place for my plants. 

The small size is just right for two people. It means that I can clean it in about 20 minutes. It means that we didn't have to buy too much furniture. I even found some of my plant stands on the street and I like them. 

It has central air conditioning. Our house in NJ does not, and window units are expensive to run. You can't be comfortable in all the rooms at the same time, so central air has always felt like a (delightfully comfortable) luxury to me. And since we're cooling such small square footage, it's not too expensive. 

We haven't had time to clutter it up. We've lived here for three and a half years and we just moved in with the basics. (Well, I did. John may have way too many shoes, coats, and fishing stuff.) Our only Christmas decoration is a wreath for the door because we usually spend Christmas in NJ. Our dishes and much of my kitchen equipment came from Goodwill. It's really nice and feels quite freeing not to be surrounded by the clutter and all the stuff we've collected in 30+ years in NJ. 

Small, cool, and uncluttered. Those are all good things!

Three on Thursday

I spent a restless night last night, listening to the thunder and rain on the windows through about 3 am, but despite the locally heavy thunderstorms and flash flood warnings, it doesn't look like a repeat of last week. Thank goodness, especially because we haven't yet had a chance to install second sump pumps. Because I'm a little bleary-eyed this morning, I looked through my folders and found three random things that I thought would work to join Carole for Three on Thursday. 

1.  Did anybody else know that ivy bloomed? I sure didn't.

Our neighbor's fence in MD is covered with them, and I like how they look like little fireworks. I'll have to check next week and see what the flowers actually look like.

2.  I saw this on instagram a while ago and really liked it. This is a new way to think about exercise for me!

3.  While checking facebook for precipitation and possible flooding during my sleepless night, I came across this. I find this to be quite true and something to remember (and it looks like it's even attributed correctly!)

Have you found any interesting random photos, quotes, or something new to you lately? I'd love to hear about it!

Three on Thursday: The Zucchini Edition

I'm joining Carole and friends for Three on Thursday: the Zucchini Edition. We are obviously eating from the garden, and here's what was for dinner last night.

1. Stuffed Zucchini

2. Kolokithokeftedes (aka Zucchini Fritters) with Tzatziki Sauce

I thank Vicki for this recipe every time I have a glut of zucchini and cucumbers. It's delicious!

3. Zucchini Bread 

This fancy version (the bundt pan makes it fancy) was going to be for our neighbor, but then John and I each had a slice for dessert. Next time, Ralph!

We're not vegetarians, but we sure are eating like it this week. 

Three on Thursday: More Questions

I'm joining Carole for Three on Thursday, with three more questions. I've been having fun asking my kids some of these questions, and I may have asked the clerk at the library the one about the best lesson she had learned from a work of fiction. 

A friend sent me this photo and said seeing the smiling sun hot air balloon fly
over her neighborhood was the best thing that happened to her this week. 

In the spirit of fairness, I've included my answers. 

1. What strange or uncommon food combinations do you really enjoy? 

It's not all that strange, but I love to dip pretzels in slightly melted chocolate ice cream. What I enjoy is the sweet/salty combination, but my father made a big deal out of it for some unknown reason and wouldn't let me do it when I was growing up. Now I'm the boss and I feel like I'm getting away with something when I dip my pretzels in my chocolate ice cream.

2. What’s the best lesson you’ve learned from a work of fiction?

He is not my favorite Agatha Christie character (that would be Miss Marple) but I've learned some lessons from Hercule Poirot. Because he is a detective, his primary traits were to be curious, seeking, and detail-oriented and this has validated my desires to be observant, stay authentic, and be comfortable with who you are. He believed curiosity feeds the intellect, and I agree. 

3. What was the best thing that happened to you this week?

It didn't happen to me, but it is still the best thing that happened this week. Over the weekend, Justin got a call from the HR person at his workplace that he had been exposed to someone who tested positive for Covid. He had a test scheduled for Tuesday morning and the best thing was that it was negative. He already had a vaccination appointment scheduled for tomorrow, so I'm very glad that that can proceed as planned.

Answer one, two, or all three questions, or make up your own. I'm looking forward to reading what you have to say!

I'm Back With Three Things

After a long week of cleaning out and packing, driving for 1750 miles and 27 hours, and several failed attempts to meet the moving van at the storage facility before we finally succeeded, we are back. I enjoyed sleeping in this morning and not having any scheduled tasks that had to be started at the crack of dawn. There is still plenty to do - catching up with bills, laundry, and life in NJ before I head to MD next week to catch up there, making room for Ryan and some of his stuff since he can't move in to his house until Aug. 15th, and making a little time for a bit of reading and knitting.

Since it's Thursday, I thought I might ease back into blogging and share three things we saw during the drive from CO to NJ.

1. Some interesting skies

I took this one on Saturday morning as we left Kearney, Nebraska. There were torrential thundershowers that woke us up frequently during the night, but at least we didn't have to drive in the pouring rain.

2. Thousands and thousands of acres of corn

All we saw through Nebraska, Iowa, and much of Indiana was corn, with a few soybeans for contrast. Nebraska is the Cornhusker state, and it turns out that Iowa grows more corn than any other state in the US (2.7 billion bushels). We got a real feeling for just how vast corn production is in these states.

3. Wind Turbines

We got to see hundreds of these along Route 80, and they were interesting every time. Most of them were in Nebraska with a few in Iowa, and most had their rotors turning slowly and steadily, even though there was no wind evident at ground level. 

We saw several trucks towing turbine rotors and they gave us an even better idea of how massive these things are. It took us a while to figure out what they were were!

I'm glad to be back. Be sure and check in with Carole to see what three things others are writing about today.

Three on Thursday

I'm joining Carole for Three on Thursday, and today I was inspired by Sarah's post about three things to pack when traveling. Most knitters will not be surprised that there was no mention of packing proper footwear, enough underwear, or raincoats. It's all about making sure we have enough yarn, needles, and reading material. As I prepare for my own upcoming travels to CO, here are three things that will be in my suitcase.

1. My Kindle 

I'd love to continue reading Shake Down the Stars, but it's a big, heavy, 500-page, hardcover book. So instead of carrying this along, I'll have my Kindle with Mrs. Lorimer's Quiet Summer downloaded, along with a few other library books as backup.

2. My ipod

I love audiobooks, so that's why I'm taking this little device along. I've been saving several books for the trip, including The Narrowboat Summer, Empire of Pain, "re-listens" of Anxious People and Olive, Again, and a favorite of both Ryan and I, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. These books make up almost 60 hours of listening time, so I think we're pretty well-prepared for our estimated 30 hours of driving time. 

3. An easy knitting project

For me, this is, of course, a Hitchhiker (and I think forgoing the beads was a wise decision).. I haven't worked on it at all since yesterday, but I know this will keep my hands busy on the plane flight out and the drive back (when I'm not the driver!)

As a knitter and reader who has always over-packed, I know that I may only read or listen to a few books and knit just a few more teeth on the Hitchhiker. But we all know it is far better to be prepared than to be caught short-handed! 

What's in your suitcase this summer?

Three on Thursday

I don't have any poetry today because I couldn't find a poem that spoke to me. But I do have three random things from this week, so it's a perfect opportunity to join Carole for Three on Thursday. 

1. It's a cute robot! John loves Chinese buffets, so for our first foray out into the wide world, we went to one that had just reopened in Newark, DE. A live person greeted us, but then she asked us to follow the robot to our table. It was a little odd, and I can't see that the robots save any labor or personnel, but they are entertaining. There was another type of robot that seemed to have shelves but it wasn't serving drinks or clearing dishes. (It didn't even have a cute face.)

2. We often see ... different things on our walks in Elkton, and this is one of those things. This car has been parked here for several months and doesn't seem to move at all, but the skeleton in the driver's seat is a new addition. It's always nice to be entertained on a walk!

3. I did enjoy my raspberry cheesecake birthday ice cream from UDel creamery. I've heard that they also used to sell blue and gold yarn (the school colors) but they didn't seem to have any when I visited. Maybe I'll ask about it next time. (A place that sells ice cream and yarn would be genius!)

I hope that your random encounters this week are surprising, cute, different, and delicious!