Monday Musings No. 40

A book, a new Youtube channel, a quiet weekend, some cosy finds from West Elm and so much more on Monday musings. 

Good morning friends, happy Monday! Did you have a nice weekend? It was pretty quiet here over the weekend.

After a long day of of tropical storm Ian Friday I felt like some comfort food.  I made the sweet potato nachos that I told you about on Friday Favorites and they were scrumptious! We loved them so much I am making them again tonight. You can find recipe in the latest Half Baked Harvest cookbook.

Everything Tieghan on her blog and in her books is delicious, I highly recommend both the cookbooks and the blog.

Saturday

We woke to the buzzing of chain saws and blowers, the neighborhood was up and at it early assessing the damage from the storm. As I have said, we were very lucky, just lots and lots of pinecones and limbs down. Many people in our neighborhood lost large trees and smaller trees were completely bent in the direction of the prevailing wind.

It was still wet and cold so I didn’t feel the need to jump out of bed, except to make a hot chocolate. Then it was right back under the covers with a pile of magazines, a book and some time reading and relaxing.

About 9 we went out to survey the damage, and quickly realized that we were in for a long day of picking up pinecones. We decided to pile the limbs, twigs, and sticks up instead of taking up space in the waste cans. By 3:30 we had filled 2, 96 gallon cans with pinecones. That my friends is a lot of pinecones.

Unfortunately, that was only the front yard, the back will have to wait until Wednesday when they empty the cans.

Sunday

Lucky for me Sunday was spent in the kitchen. I baked Smitten Kittchens‘ ultimate banana bread for my neighbor and then made a loaf of apple cinnamon bread with the apples we picked last week. The recipe will be on the blog this week.

All in all, a quiet, productive weekend. Now on to 5 things!

5 Things

1.Watched

Recently I discovered Middle Age Minx on Youtube, are you familiar  with Jo?

Jo is a 60-ish  Londoner, who has a radio show on the BBC and an adorable pup named Myrtle.

Here is how she describes herself.

“I’m an actress, a broadcaster and a show off. I post a beauty/fashion vlog every Wednesday at 3pm and vlogs about my life in London every Sunday at 10am!”

2.Read

The Break

Amy’s husband Hugh has run away to ‘find himself’. But will he ever come back? ‘Myself and Hugh . . . We’re taking a break.’ ‘A city-with-fancy-food sort of break?’ If only. Amy’s husband Hugh says he isn’t leaving her. He still loves her, he’s just taking a break – from their marriage, their children and, most of all, from their life together. Six months to lose himself in South East Asia. And there is nothing Amy can say or do about it. Yes, it’s a mid-life crisis, but let’s be clear: a break isn’t a break up – yet . . . However, for Amy it’s enough to send her – along with her extended family of gossips, misfits and troublemakers – teetering over the edge. For a lot can happen in six-months. When Hugh returns, if he returns, will he be the same man she married? Will Amy be the same woman? Because if Hugh is on a break from their marriage, then so is she . . . The Break is a story about the choices we make and how those choices help to make us. 

3. Link Love

Check out Mollys; amazing, new, old fashioned Main bathroom?

Spooky Movies to Get You in the Moo for Halloween

30 Awesome Diners Across America to Put on Your Bucket List

9 Outdated Grammar Rules You Can Finally Ignore

At these free cabins, Sweden goes wild

Dachshund lovers you might need these.

How to Open a Bottle of Champagne Like a Pro

Learn how to make an easy apple centerpieces!

Blue and white chinoiserie lovers you are going to what to jump on these ornaments! They are a steal.

Love the color of this sweater and this one too!

What Is Happening in Iran and What We Can Do

4. Cosy Christmas Finds from West Elm

Have you shopped lately at West Elm? There are so great Christmas and holiday finds, including this garland, this felt advent calendar, these felt reindeer, the lacquered nutcracker and this adorable Nutcracker bundle for kids.

5. WEEKEND MEANDERINGS

Just in case you missed weekend meanderings, I shared Pears, pears and more pears, a classic casual fall outfit, J. Crew home and more.

Until Tomorrow  

I hope that you had a lovely weekend and that you found something on Monday Musings that you enjoyed. Floridians, you are in my prayers, I hope that you receive all of the help and resources that you need to rebuild and stay safe during this trying and difficult time.

Take care and thank you for spending part of your day with me. You can also follow me on  Instagram and Facebook to see daily stories and life at home with my pups who make frequent appearances.  Or subscribe to the blog so that you do not miss a thing.

This post contains affiliate links.