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.

March 2026

"In March winter is holding back and spring is pulling forward.” — Jean Hersey

MARCH 2026 - Green is my go-to color for March, but this year, those lovely first signs of spring were twice covered by a blanket of snow. As the American writier, Hal Borland, famously stated, "No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” In the meantime, here is what I enjoyed, read, watched, and listened to in March.

ENJOYED:

• A (virtual) snowday on March 16th — I love snow, now that it’s officially spring, like everyone, I’m eager for warmer days.

• A quiet start to spring break — Eric is working in Australia, so Piper and I are organizing closets, cupboards, and drawers; cleaning up our garden beds; and snuggling with lots of books.

• A really nice dinner at Cassis, a new French restaurant in the Third Ward — I met Mary Ann and Keiji on a rainy Thursday evening. We enjoyed several of the creative, yet traditionally inspired, dishes including escargot, ravioli, and pot au feu. We were so fortunately to have Thomas, the sommelier from Cannes, as our server. He offered us a tasting of wine parings for each course including Champagne with our millefeuille.

READ:

• My Heart Rocks by Amy M. Dykens — “Imagine finding a perfectly shaped heart rock on the a gift from the sea symbolizing the universal image of love, while also crystallizing the simple joys of walking by the water's edge. Inspired by these wonders of nature, photographer Amy M. Dykens Some of these treasures are heart shaped, some have a heart image through or on them, but all are precious creations” (Goodreads). I have always hunted for heart shaped rocks at the beach and when I’m on vacation. This beautifully photographed book was a birthday gift from Nan.

• White Gardens: Creating Magnificent Moonlit Spaces: Includes Guide to White and Luminous Plants by Nina Koziol — “Appreciate your garden from a whole new light -- at night! A complete guide to creating a stunning white garden, White Gardens offers tons of tips to cultivate a beautiful night garden. Fill your garden with white flowers and native plants that reflect the light of the moon -- or even only bloom at night! -- so you can enjoy the beauty of your outdoor space in the evening, not just during the day. Featuring detailed overviews on gardening basics, elements of a moonlight garden, garden design guidance, and profiles of white annuals, perennials, shrubs, vines, tender bulbs, and tropical flowers, also included is a section on hardscaping for even more night-time enhancements, from light, fire, and water to arbors, pergolas, trellises, and more” (Goodreads). This inspiring book, along with a gift card from Eberts, was a birthday gift from Lynn. I’m am so eager to start shopping and planting.

• Skylark by Paula McClain — “a mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below—where a woman’s quest for artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation in the 1940s, revealing a story of courage and resistance that transcends time” (Goodreads).

• The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins — “If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated with where you are, the problem isn't you. The problem is the power you give to other people. Two simple words—Let Them—will set you free. Free from the opinions, drama, and judgments of others. Free from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you. The Let Them Theory puts the power to create a life you love back in your hands…” (Goodreads).

• The Light of Paris by Eleanor Brown — “Madeleine is trapped—by her family's expectations, by her controlling husband, and by her own fears—in an unhappy marriage and a life she never wanted. From the outside, it looks like she has everything, but on the inside, she fears she has nothing that matters. In Madeleine’s memories, her grandmother Margie is the kind of woman she should have been—elegant, reserved, perfect. But when Madeleine finds a diary detailing Margie’s bold, romantic trip to Jazz Age Paris, she meets the grandmother she never knew: a dreamer who defied her strict, staid family and spent an exhilarating summer writing in cafés, living on her own, and falling for a charismatic artist. Margie and Madeleine’s stories intertwine to explore the joys and risks of living life on our own terms, of defying the rules that hold us back from our dreams, and of becoming the people we are meant to be” (Goodreads).

• Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo — “Gabriel Fisher was born an orphan, weighing eighteen pounds and measuring twenty-seven inches long. No one in Lakota, Wisconsin, knows what to make of him. He walks at eight months, communicates with animals, and seems to possess extraordinary athletic talent. But when the older brother who has been caring for him dies, Gabriel is taken in by his devout Amish grandparents who disapprove of all the attention and hide him away from the English world. But it’s hard to hide forever when you’re nearly eight feet tall. At seventeen, Gabriel is spotted working in a hay field by the local football coach. What happens next transforms not only Gabriel’s life but the lives of everyone he meets. Life, and Death, and Giants is a moving story of faith, family, buried secrets, and everyday miracles” (Goodreads).

• What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love by Carole Radziwill — “An award-winning television producer traces her life and marriage to Anthony Radziwill, JFK's nephew, in a personal account that describes the influence of her mother's Austrian heritage, her work as a journalist in different international locales, her devastation at the deaths of JFK, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, and her husband's struggle with terminal cancer throughout their short marriage” (Goodreads).

WATCHED:

• Man on the Run (Prime) — “A portrait of Paul McCartney's trajectory after The Beatles, as he and his wife Linda form Wings” (IMDb).

• An Irish trifecta in honor of St. Patrick’s Day:

  • How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (Netflix) — “Three lifelong friends reunite after the death of an old classmate turns a wake into a dark mystery. They embark on a thrilling adventure across Ireland, piecing together enigmatic truths amid complicated lives” (IMDb) — We hoped this would be as funny as Derry Girls, but it was much darker.

  • P.S. I Love You — Sad, funny, beautiful Irish landscapes, Harry Connick, Jr….not bad.

  • Leap Year — Also funny with beautiful Irish landscapes, no HCJ, but still not bad.

LISTENED TO:

• Music from my childhood - ABBA, Shaun Cassidy, John Denver, Olivia Newton-John, Jackson 5, etc. — Maybe it’s because getting rid of excess, cleaning, and organizing reminds me of my mom and the silly music we listened to when I growing up.

• March Instapuzzle Mini-Playlist:

  • Morning Has Broken (Cat Stevens)

  • Snowdrops (Beth Benecke)

  • Days Like This (Van Morrison)

  • Spring from The Four Seasons (Antoni Vivaldi)

  • The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Dominic Lewis)

  • Lucky (Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat)

  • Happy Little Things (Holly Kluge)

  • Love and Luck (Jimmy Buffett)

  • They Say It’s Spring (Blossom Dearie)

February 2026

"Though February is short, it is filled with lots of love and sweet surprises.” – Charmaine J. Forde

FEBRUARY 2026 highlights la vie en rose — the rosy hues, the snowy days, the little tokens of affection, and the beagle with the dreamy eyes and the heart-shaped nose — all the sweet treats that make February truly lovely.

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

READ:

• The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life by Shawn Achor — “Conventional wisdom holds that if we work hard we will be more successful, and if we are more successful, then we’ll be happy. If we can just find that great job, win that next promotion, lose those five pounds, happiness will follow. But recent discoveries in the field of positive psychology have shown that this formula is actually backward: Happiness fuels success, not the other way around. When we are positive, our brains become more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient, and productive at work. This isn’t just an empty mantra. This discovery has been repeatedly borne out by rigorous research in psychology and neuroscience, management studies, and the bottom lines of organizations around the globe” (Goodreads).

WATCHED:

• The 2026 Winter Olympics — I absolutely loved the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024. The opening and closing ceremonies were captivating, and sailing and rowing are my favorite sports. However, I have always preferred the Winter Olympics — the gorgeous snowy scenery, the numerous athletes from Wisconsin, the grace of skiing and skating, the excitement of hockey (USA!), the wonderful strangeness of curling and the biathlon…so good.

• Drops of God Season 2 (Apple TV+) — Three years later, the wine riddles continue…such a good show!

• Shrinking Season 3 (Apple TV+) — Michael J. Fox joins the already amazing cast for this hilarious and touching season.

• Love Story: John F. Kennedy, Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (FX) — I’ve always had a fascination with the Kennedys. At one time JFK, Jr. was on my list (along with Shaun Cassidy, Harry Connick, Jr., Sting, and Dan Jansen…IYKYK - Friends). I remember being glued to the TV that summer weekend in 1999 when the plane disappeared.

LISTENED TO:

• February 2026 Instapuzzle Mini Playlist:

  • Groove is in the Heart (Deee-Lite)

  • Zou Bisou Bisous (Jessicia Paré)

  • My First Crush (Shaun Cassidy)

  • La Vie en rose (Édith Piaf)

  • Sweet February (Serene Station)

  • C’est si bon (Emilie-Claire Barlow)

  • Birthday (The Beatles)

  • This Kiss (Faith Hill)

  • Oh l’amour (Erasure)

• A lot of 70s Music — On the drive to and from Green Bay (see below), I really leaned into the music of my childhood. I listened to a lot of ABBA (well, to be fair, I always listen to a lot of ABBA), Shaun Cassidy, and my Sappy 70s playlist.

ENJOYED:

• A French brunch and Valentine’s Day pastries at Le Rêve.

• Shaun Cassidy at the Meyer Theatre in Green Bay with my cousin, Mary Ann. We had VIP tickets which included a Q&A with Shaun before the show. Since I had already asked a question when I saw Shaun in Brookfield in November, I took the opportunity to share my cardboard Shaun story (again, IYKYK). It was lovely to chat with him. He is funny, intelligent and sincere. Bonus this time: He even shook my hand. The 10-year-old girl in me was delighted (as was the almost 59-year-old woman). Click here for photos and videos from both shows.

• A week of spring weather — I love snow and happily welcome it through February, but a week of temps in the 50s was such a treat.

• Birthday wishes and celebrations.