November 15, 2025

A Few Things to Tell You Vol. 9

a new tattoo, magical books, and MORE!

Well hello there, it’s Saturday again! Thanks for allowing me into your inbox yet again.

This week was a blessedly quiet one, with all interruptions to my typical schedule completely chosen by ME! Two highlights are my new tattoo done by a favorite local artist (more on this on Tuesday!) and going to a lecture about QUILTS at UW-Madison with the oldest.

Before we went to the quilt lecture (description below) we viewed the exhibit Parallel Lines: Quilts and the American Landscape. FIBER ARTS FOREVER!!!!

Quilting as Citation: Witnessing Through Material

In her talk, Dr. Sharbreon Plummer explores how quilts act as both record and methodology–a material archive through which Black women have documented the contours of their lived experience and theorized about the world around them. Bridging together the voices of writers, artists and researchers, this lecture asks us to consider how quilting can be a mode of citation—an intentional practice of acknowledgement, lineage shaping and care that transcends the hierarchies of traditional scholarship. By engaging examples from historic and contemporary makers, Dr. Plummer invites us to see the quilt not just as an aesthetic object, but as a site of relational knowledge. In thinking with and through the quilt, she illuminates how material culture can expand our understanding of research, personal narrative and place. Together, we will explore how we can witness and be witnessed in ways that exceed the written word.

A Trio of Magical Reads

I usually tell people that I don’t typically read magical fiction, but I mean … every rule has an exception. I DO try to read magical books in October, and I have a few authors I break my rules for year round.

These three October reads range from light magical realism from one of my very favorite authors, to SO much magic, but also so cozy that I could actually keep up. Left to right.

The Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather Webber is one of my new favorites by this delightful author ~ a library, a small town, an incredibly light magical touch, found family, and a little bit of romance. A perfectly soft, cozy read!

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna and The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst both completely won my heart via their audio narration. The soft, warm accents and the sweet, gentle very magical stories lulled me on my drives home from school. I can’t really give you a strong summary of either of them, but honestly, just their essence in my ears earned their spots in my heart!

Some Random Tidbits

• I’m adoring this tea right now ~ I remember something very similar from when I was much younger, but I haven’t bought this in AGES. Once I found it again recently, it’s one of my go-to’s

• Several of you said YES to wanting the outline and documents from my PD session last week, so I’m working on getting it into a shareable not-tied-to-my-school format - I’ll share soon!

• Literary. eye. candy.

• I booked our first summer 2026 concert and campsite ~ the future is BRIGHT!

• The future is also now. And terrifying."Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."

• Also bleak. “Biased”, “Boring”, and “Bad.” Sorry, last bleak one.

• A bookseller recommended this podcast after I purchased the accompanying book this week. Both seem soothing and delightful.

• I can’t express my love for these pants strongly enough ~ buttery soft, can’t feel them when they’re on my body, ample stretch, warm, fit me PERFECTLY. I have these in Canyon Rose and Maple Brown, and am eyeing up the Faded Black if my size is ever restocked.

• Speaking of loving something buttery, I HAVE FINALLY MASTERED(ISH) BISCUITS!! This is the recipe that unlocked the magic. We just eat these as snacks, no accompanying meal necessary, and I make a double batch and freeze half right away. Also magical ~ since I don’t have a food processor, I used the trick of freezing the butter and GRATING it in.You’re welcome. (NYT gift link)

I hope this weekend brings you rest and / or adventure, whatever your heart desires … take care out there ♡

Thanks for stopping by!