Friday Five Favs

Each week Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a recap post highlighting five favorite things from the previous week. I've never met Susanne, but learned of this weekly even via Carrie at Reading to Know. I don't always get a chance to participate, but I think it is a great way to remember to count my blessings, especially during those weeks where it feels they are few and far between, so thank you Susanne for this idea!

This week, although very busy seems to have a fair amount of things to make me happy. They are...

1. Indian Summer. Some people have been calling the weather we've been having as "Indian Summer," but I don't think that's technically correct considering the term usually applies after the leaves have changed and there's been a frost. We haven't had a frost yet and not all of the leaves have changed, so to me the beautiful weather we've had has just been the final weeks or days of our summer weather. Either way, whatever you call it, I love this time of the year. Being outside is so pleasant. I've been trying to take advantage of it and get my daughter to the park or to play in the back yard as much as possible. It's also that small window of time when I can leave the windows open, post AC, but pre heating. (P.S. That's actually a picture I took, isn't it pretty how the sunlight hits the water?)

2. The Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge. For some of you this may seem to be all I'm talking about these days... and maybe it is. We're two weeks into the month long reading challenge with another two weeks to go before this blog returns to its regularly scheduled programming. Thus far I have had a lot of fun. It's been really interesting to meet other fans of Maud Hart Lovelace and to read their excitement as they discuss their favorite (or in many cases their first) read. I am both thrilled and honored to get the chance to help readers rediscover (or discover) such a beloved author.

3. A mini-vacation of sorts. This week we had the unexpected opportunity to house-sit for some friends. It's not really a vacation because my husband and I still had to work, but it did mean getting away from our house and hour chores to get to stay somewhere else and experience the blessings contained in that house. You know, like having a dog for a few days without the responsibility of a long-term commitment. Having a crackling fire to read by. Etc. etc. It's always good to return home, but it helps to appreciate home more by getting away every now and then.

4. Recent reads. I've nearly completed the stack of books I listed in my September What's On My Nightstand post. I am a little amazed at how quickly I flew through the stack. Within it I found some very enjoyable reads. What I didn't know I would be adding is this month's book club read: The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. Classic detective fiction... In fact, it's the first detective novel to be written in the English language. I'm only a few chapters in, but the word that comes to mind is: Riveting. Stand by for my review.

5. If I Die Young by The Band Perry. I have heard this song here and there of late and while the lyrics make its meaning fairly clear I was still curious what the band's interpretation was. (I've noticed how often a music writer can have a totally different visual picture than the audience.) That's when I stumbled upon the music video. I love the "nod" to Anne of Green Gables (click link to view movie scene) and I had to post If I Die Young here for that reason alone. Enjoy.


Have a wonderful weekend!