September 2026

“Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul... but I must confess that I love you only because you are a prelude to my beloved October.” ― Peggy Toney Horton

READING:

• Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet — “Beth March’s sisters will stop at nothing to track down her killer—until they begin to suspect each other—in this debut thriller that’s also a bold, contemporary reimagining of the beloved classic Little Women” (Goodreads). Nope.

• Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth — “Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is eighty-one years old. She's lived on her idyllic street, Kenny Lane, for sixty years--longer than anyone else. Aside from being a curmudgeon who minds everyone else's business, few would suspect that Elsie has a past that she has worked exceedingly hard at concealing. Because when it comes to murder, no one ever suspects little girls or old ladies. And Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, once a little girl and now an old lady, has a strange history of people in her life coming to a foul end. When a new little girl (talkative, curious, nosy) moves into the neighborhood and stops at nothing to befriend Elsie, her carefully-constructed life threatens to come crashing down as the secrets in Elsie's past start coming to light. Who was "Mad Mabel" fifty years ago? Who is Elsie Fitzpatrick today? And if the past has a habit of repeating itself, who has the most to lose?” (Goodreads). This is a fun read.

• Theo of Golden by Allen Levi — “One spring morning, a stranger arrives in the small southern city of Golden. No one knows where he has come from…or why…His name is Theo. And he asks a lot more questions than he answers. Theo visits the local coffeehouse, where ninety-two pencil portraits hang on the walls, portraits of the people of Golden done by a local artist. He begins purchasing them, one at a time, and putting them back in the hands of their ‘rightful owners.’ With each exchange, a story is told, a friendship born, and a life altered. A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted novel about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another” (Goodreads). This book seems to be rather polarizing, but I liked it. I am certainly interested to see how Tom Hanks interprets this book in film.

• Playing for Pizza by John Grisham — “Rick Dockery was the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. In the AFC Championship game against Denver, to the surprise and dismay of virtually everyone, Rick actually got into the game. With a 17-point lead and just minutes to go, Rick provided what was arguably the worst single performance in the history of the NFL. Overnight, he became a national laughingstock and, of course, was immediately cut by the Browns and shunned by all other teams. But all Rick knows is football, and he insists that his agent, Arnie, find a team that needs him. Against enormous odds Arnie finally locates just such a team and informs Rick that, miraculously, he can in fact now be a starting quarterback–for the mighty Panthers of Parma, Italy” (Goodreads).

WATCHING:

• The Green Bay Packers — Yikes.

• The Hardy Boys (Peacock + YouTube) — Fall is spooky season, and I prefer fun spooky to horror movies. The Hardy Boys mysteries are basically Scooby Doo cartoons with a teenaged Shaun Cassidy. You can’t go wrong.

• TV and movies with cozy Fall vibes — You’ve Got Mail, Mona Lisa Smile, Dead Poet’s Society, and of course, the annual rewatching of Gilmore Girls.

LISTENING TO:

• September Instapuzzle Mini Playlist: September Song (Django Reinhardt), La La La - Gilmore Girls (Sam Philips), Autumn Leaves (Oscar Peterson Trio), Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison), Practical Magic (Alan Silvestri), Dreams (The Cranberries), Sweet September (Serene Station), The You’ve Got Mail Suite (George Fenton), September (Earth, Wind, and Fire)

• Some of my favorite playlists (Apple Music):

  • Fall — Cozy season calls for cool jazz and musical references to cooler weather, coffee, and books.

  • Halloween (just this past week) — This playlist couples classic Halloween songs with a lot of angsty 80’s alternative.

  • Paris is Always a Good Idea — I leave in three day!

PLANNING: Paris next week. I can’t wait to spend time in this beautiful Paris Perfect apartment. We have a fun itinerary planned and the weather looks amazing.

August 2026

"Less than a month ago, all of August still stretched before us...long and golden and reassuring." - Lauren Oliver

READING:

• Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel — “Nine Americans in Paris. Seven intertwined love stories. One City of Light. Love Actually meets The Notebook in a tale of love, loss, and finding your way home, all set over the course of one life-changing week in Paris” (Goodreads). I have enjoyed a few of Harmel’s books such as The Paris Daughter, TheWinemaker’s Wife, The Sweetness of Forgetting, and The Book of Lost Names, so I was eager for this new release. I love Paris and Love Actually, but I didn’t really like this book. Perhaps Harmel should stick to historical fiction.

• Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman — “A collection of quintessentially American poems, the seminal work of one of the most influential writers of the nineteenth century” (Goodreads). It has been a while since I’ve read anything from the American canon especially poetry. Back to school makes me want to study literature and quote Whitman like Robin Williams.

• The Official Preppy Handbook by Lisa Birnbach — I devoured this book in high school. We even modeled our 1984 yearbook after it. Years later, it’s hard to know which of my interests and proclivities —sailing, East Coast and European travel, literature, a timeless “uniform”, gin and tonics, etc.— were formed by the timeliness of this book’s publication during my most formative years. This week, The Pop Culture Preservation Society podcast deemed The Official Preppy Handbook “the original influencer” and discussed all the ways the book shaped their perceptions of fashion, college, culture, etc. They also mentioned that an original copy of the handbook (now out of print) sells for over $100 on several secondhand sites. I immediately found my well-loved copy and began re-reading — this time, more ironically, as the author intended.

WATCHING:

• Ted Lasso Season 4 (AppleTV) - It has been a few years, but Ted is back in London coaching the Richmond women’s team. I love it!

LISTENING TO:

• Cardinals, chickadees, hawks, and cicadas in our backyard

• A snoring beagle on my lap

• Vinyl — We purchased a turntable that integrates with our Sonos system. It has been so fun to revisit some of our childhood favorites, records from our parents and grandparents, and a few new purchases, including an orange, vinyl, pumpkin-shaped It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

• My August Instapuzzle Mini Playlist: Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles), August (Ophelia Wilde), Bonjour Soleil (Maison Parisienne), august (Taylor Swift), Honey, Honey (ABBA), Sunflower (Glen Campbell), Walking on Sunshine (Katrina & the Waves), You Are My Sunshine (Kina Grannis), L’amour, le macaron, Häagen-Dazs (Stella Jang)

LOOKING FORWARD TO:

• Paris in 33 Days — We are staying in this beautiful Paris Perfect apartment in the 7e with an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower. Here is the itinerary so far.

• 33 and Out — I am trying to savor what, barring any surprises, will be my final year in the Pewaukee School District. The countdown begins on Tuesday: 171 days minus 15 flex days.

July 2026

“July, with its days of blue skies and time that seemingly stands still, holds a special place in my heart.” —Daisaku Ikeda

Here’s a review of what I read, watched, and listened to in July, as well as what I’m currently enjoying…

READ:

• This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page — “When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her husband waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. Mainly because Joe died five months ago…The gift is simple – twelve carefully-chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him” (Goodreads). This book reminded me of the film P.S. I Love You.

• Funny Story by Emily Henry — “A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common” (Goodreads). Chick Lit is not my favorite genre, but this book was available on Skip the Line in Libby, so why not? It is definitely an entertaining, summer read, and although it takes place in Michigan, a lot of it reminded me of Wisconsin.

WATCHED:

• The World Cup, especially teams USA, Norway, France. The outcomes were not in our favor, but we enjoyed the competition and comaraderie.

• Enola Holmes 3 (Netflix) — Enola is in Malta about to be married to Tewkesbury, when Sherlock goes missing, leaving a mystery to be solved.

• The Devil Wears Prada 2 (Hulu) — Meh. “That’s all.”

• Ride or Die (Prime) — “Best friends Debbie and Judith are forced on the run when Debbie discovers Judith isn't a forensic accountant, she's an international assassin! With a mysterious figure chasing them, and Debbie's husband involved in something deeply corrupt, it's a race against time and a road trip across Europe to untangle the truth and stay alive.” This show has two great female leads, lots of book references, beautiful locations throughout Europe, action and humor (albeit occasionally over the top).

LISTENED TO:

• Summer Playlists:

  • Sailing

  • Jimmy Buffett — Well, let’s face it. We listen to Jimmy all year long, but his songs sound best in summer.

  • My work-in-progress Summertime playlist. — Any suggestions?

• July Instapuzzle Mini Playlist: My Favorite Things (Julie Andrews), Flower Child (Kacey Musgraves), Cherry Oh Baby (UB40), Little Birdie (Vince Guaraldi Trio), July Days (Serene Station), American Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Sailing (Christopher Cross), These Are Days (10,000 Maniacs), Mr. Blue Sky (Electric Light Orchestra)

ENJOYING: The pace of summer in our own yard — I have had to work a lot this summer, but preppeing for PD at home with my sweet Piper on my lap is much better sitting at my desk in school. Our garden is in full bloom and our yard has become a sanctuary for countless dragonflies and hummingbirds sipping nectar from our feeder; young deer grazing nightly on elderberries; a couple of sandhill cranes squawking noisily overhead or napping in the shade of the maple trees; three junvenile hawks learning to stalk their prey; and a family of over a dozen turkey chicks whom I hope grow quickly enough to avoid falling prey to the aforementioned hunting lessons.

June 2026

"June is the pearl of summer, shining with warmth and joy." — L.M. Montgomery

I have always featured the color white in my June images. The end of another school year feels like a fresh start, a clean slate.

READ:

• Letters From Paris by Juliet Blackwell — “After surviving the accident that took her mother’s life, Claire Broussard has worked hard to escape her small Louisiana hometown. But these days she feels something is lacking. Abruptly leaving her lucrative job in Chicago, Claire returns home to care for her ailing grandmother. There, she unearths a beautiful piece of artwork that her great-grandfather sent home from Paris after World War II. At her grandmother’s urging, Claire travels to Paris to track down the century-old mask-making atelier where the object, known only as L’Inconnue—or The Unknown Woman—was created. Under the watchful eye of a surly mask-maker, Claire discovers a cache of letters that offers insight into the life of the Belle Epoque woman immortalized in the work of art. As Claire explores the unknown woman’s tragic fate, she begins to unravel deeply buried secrets in her own life” (Goodreads).

• A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge — “American expat Tabitha Knight has found a new life in postwar Paris, along with a delightful friend in aspiring chef Julia Child. If there’s one art the French have mastered as well as fine cuisine, it’s haute couture. Fashion is returning to the forefront in Paris, as the somber hues of wartime are replaced by vibrant colors and ultra-feminine silhouettes, influenced by Christian Dior’s New Look. Tabitha and Julia join a friend for a private showing at an exclusive fashion atelier, Maison Lannet. The event goes well, but when Tabitha returns later that evening to search for a lost glove, she finds the lights still on—and the couturier dead, strangled by a length of lace. The shop manager suspects that a jealous rival—perhaps Dior himself—committed the crime. Tabitha dismisses that idea, but when another body is found, it’s apparent that someone is targeting employees of Maison Lannet” (Goodreads).

WATCHED:

• FIFA World Cup - We are watching team USA, Norway (love the rowing fans), and of course, France. Les bleus have been my favorite team since I was in Paris when they won the World Cup at home in 1998.

• Ted Lasso (AppleTV) —This is our third time through the series, but we are in “football is life” mode chez L-H this summer. I love the characters, the dialogue, the music, and especially, the optimism. We are eager to watch the fourth season which begins on August 5th,

• Why’d They Wear That? (YouTube) — “A fun, fast-paced fashion talk show where Clinton Kelly and Stacy London break down the most unforgettable outfits in pop culture. With humor, honesty, and insider expertise, they celebrate great looks, question questionable ones, and reveal the stories behind what people wear.”

LISTENED TO:

• A lot of Apple playlists while driving. I started a Summer playlist that is definitely a work in progress. Any song suggestions?

• June Mini Playlist:

  • White (Mayrain)

  • Tea for Two (Oscar Peterson Trio)

  • Under the Sea and Kiss the Girl (The Little Mermaid Soundtrack)

  • June Days (Serene Station)

  • A Sprinkle of Happiness (Asa Palette Café)

  • La Vie en Couleur (Jazzy Croissant)

  • Theme from A Summer Place (Percy Faith & His Orchestra)

  • Pearly Shells (Iwao Ymaguchi)

ENJOYED:

• Paris Planning in Wausau — Suprisingly Wausau is quite a nice town. We had a lovely cocktail at the Velveteen Plum, strolled through the night market, shopped at the French-inspired Object, and dined at the Back When Café. We stayed at the beautiful Stewart Inn. Best of all, we planned itineraries and made reservations for the next trip to Paris in October.

• Cool weather in June — I love temps in the sixties and seventies, but the last two days of the month were really hot and humid. I hope this heat doesn’t continue.

May 2026

“April showers bring May flowers.” - Traditional Proverb

READ:

• Amplify Your Impact: Coaching Collaborative Teams in PLCs (Instructional Leadership Development and Coaching Methods for Collaborative Learning) by Thomas W. Many, Michael J. Maffoni, Susan K. Sparks, Tesha Ferriby Thomas

• “Chick Lit” — This is not a favorite genre, but I really like the East Coast summer setting and I felt like a little getaway.

  • Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand — “a propulsive medley of glittering gatherings, sun-soaked drama, wisdom and heart, featuring the beautiful and timeless island of Nantucket itself” (Goodreads).

  • The Wedding People by Alison Espach — “It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, without luggage, alone. Everyone in the lobby mistakes her for one of the wedding people at an impending wedding on the site, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t there for the big event. Phoebe is there because she’s dreamed of coming for years. She hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other” (Goodreads).

• This Is the City Everyone Should Visit Once (Travel + Leisure) and no, it isn’t Paris. It’s Milwaukee and once isn’t nearly enough.

WATCHED:

• Running Point (Netflix) — “Isla Gordon, overlooked her whole life, is appointed President of the LA Waves basketball team, a family business, when her brother enters rehab. She aims to prove she is the right choice despite skepticism” (IMDb). This is a fun, albeit naughtier, Ted Lasso-esque series. After binging the first two seasons, we’re ready to see what’s next for the Gordon family.

• Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix) — “Through unlikely bonds formed during night shifts at a local aquarium, Tova, an elderly widow, learns of a life-changing discovery that may bring her joy and wonder once again” (IMDb). Of course, I prefer the book, but this is a beautiful movie.

• The 40th Anniversary of Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick during the opening weekend at the Skyway Drive-In. It’s so nostalgic to go to the outdoor, but even more fun with our own concessions ;-)

LISTENED TO:

• PCPS Light episodes of the Pop Culture Preservation Society podcasts — I think this is my favorite podcast because I relate to so much of the ladies’ Gen X banter about the music, movies, TV, and the unique experience of growing up in the 70s and 80s. A couple of their recent episodes really spoke to me:

  • The Analogue Comeback We’ve Been Waiting For — “From writing by hand to creative hobbies to simply slowing down, we explore why so many people (including kids) are craving a break from constant screens. Is it nostalgia? Maybe. But it also feels like something deeper. It's like our brains and bodies asking for a different pace” (PCPS).

  • Listen to Your Meds — “Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious, try listening to your favorite music from your adolescence. Today we’re talking about how the music of our youth can act like a weighted blanket and is proven to help you calm down. Then we’re sharing our own ‘cortisol cleanse’ playlists with you” (PCPS).

• My May Instapuzzle Mini Playlist:

  • Wildflowers (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers)

  • You’ll Be In My Heart (Phil Collins)

  • Sous les fleurs tranquilles (Billy Easton)

  • The Lusty Month of May (Julie Andrews)

  • La Vie en Rose (Emily Watts)

  • Little Joys (Lysander)

  • Petite Fleur (Jill Barber)

  • Waltz of the Flowers (Tchaikovsky)

  • Sweat Pea (Amos Lee)

ENJOYED:

• All the May flowers featured in this month’s collage

• A weekend in Door County — Due to the 30-inch snowfall in late March, spring in Door County is significantly behind southeastern Wisconsin. The usual cherry blossoms and wildflowers were a bit scarcer, but perhaps even more beautiful because of their elusiveness. We watched Thursday night races at SBYC, spent time with friends and family, hiked, went to the outdoor, dined in our favorite restaurants, and witnessed the 2026 premier of the goats on Al Johnson’s roof.

April 2026

“There is no fragrance in April breezes till breathed with joy as we wander by.” – William Cullen Bryan

In the opening lines of The Waste Land, T.S. Eliot laments, “April is the cruelest month." He challenges the idea that spring is a happy time, preferring the forgetful numbness of winter over the pain of growth and renewal. While this April has indeed been challenging with its severe weather fluctuations, power outages, taxes, and, in our case, car trouble, I am still energized by longer days and emerging growth in our garden. I love every season, but the first few weeks of each new one are always my favorite.

Here’s a review of what I read, watched, listened to, and enjoyed in April.

READ:

• Forever Paris: A Guide to the Timeless Soul of the City by Marin Montagut — “Marin Montagut est un illustrateur et designer français. Sous sa marque éponyme, il crée des manquent à son quotidien et les met en scène dans sa boutique parisienne. Il est l'auteur de plusieurs ouvrages” (Goodreads). I love the illustrations in this book and would really like to visit Montagut’s shop.

• Home Sweet Maison: The French Art of Making a Home by Danielle Postel-Vinay — “How do the French create the elusive and alluring sanctuaries they call home? This question long intrigued Danielle Postel-Vinay. Thanks to a chance encounter with a French expat in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and years of immersive research, she embarked on a quest to discover the secrets of the French home aesthetic. Experiencing first-hand la belle vie—the beautiful life—Postel-Vinay now shows everyone how to create their own French sanctuary, a home sweet maison, no matter where they live. Providing more than just interior decorating and design tips, Postel-Vinay teaches you how to foster the warmth, beauty, and rituals inherent in the French home and create an environment better suited to living a rich, full, connected life. At the center of the book is the idea that your house should be a reflection of you, your hobbies, your family history, your rituals, all the things that make your life unique. A happy home is a home that expresses your rituals and your taste, not one that relies on prefab décor from a mass retailer” (Goodreads). I would have loved some images and illustrations in this book.

WATCHED:

• Eva Longoria Searching for France (CNN) — “A devoted Francophile whose career has taken her to France countless times, Longoria now goes deeper, savoring the traditions, innovations and regional flavors that have defined French cuisine for centuries. Along the way she uncovers the history that shaped it, from royal courts and monastic vineyards to the regional communities that turned local ingredients into enduring culinary traditions.” I can’t say I’m a bit fan of Eva or her French, but I love France and its culinary diversity.

• Old episodes of Restored on the Magnolia channel — “Preservationist Brett Waterman transforms historic homes with fascinating stories and untapped potential. With a passion for homes with unique character hidden beneath neglect and poor renovations, Brett restores these properties to their former glory” (YouTube). The restorations are fascinating, but I’m not a fan of the finishing touches (paint, decor, etc.). I might be done.

LISTENED TO:

• My newly updated I Love Paris playlist. I miss visiting Paris this spring, but I’m eagerly anticipating my next trip in October.

• April Instapuzzle Mini Playlist:

  • April Daydream (Serene Station)

  • Sugar Sugar (The Archies)

  • L’Amour, Le Macaron, Häagen-Dazs (Stella Jang)

  • Spring Flower (Hey Joon),

  • April (Ophelia Wilde)

  • It’s a Lovely Day Today (Ella Fitzgerald)

  • Tiptoe Thru the Tulips (The O’Neill Brothers)

  • Beautiful Things Piano Instrumental (Benson Boone)

  • Yellow Spring (30 Dream)

ENJOYED:

• The first signs of spring in our yard — The magnolia, red bud, and Tina crab are blooming and my Wisconsin wildflower garden is already lush with ferns, Virginia blue bells, violets, lilies of the valley, and even the first trillium.

• The first week with my new car; although the L-H cars saga is ongoing.