What are you up to this weekend? I’m excited to visit the St. James Art Fair here in Louisville, host an out-of-town friend, go for a long walk or two, and visit with my college kid home for Fall Break. It’s a full weekend but I’m hoping to squeeze in some reading time as well.
I hope you have something to look forward to this weekend, and that this collection of interesting reads and favorite things helps ease you into that weekend frame of mind.
My favorite finds from around the web:
I offer gift links for articles whenever possible (you may still need to create an account with the publication); if there’s no gift link and you’re not a subscriber, check to see if your library carries the publication or use a bookmarking service.
Who decides what goes on bookstore shelves? (Fisher the Bookseller) There’s a piece about publishing’s “gambling problem” making the rounds this week, and spurring countless responses. This one from the perspective of an indie book buyer is a favorite: “Space is at a premium in the stores. There are too many books that come out every year, and I want to make sure we carry the best ones: important, meaningful, beautiful, good. But I also want to make sure we carry books that sell, so we can keep the lights on and pay our people.” The initial piece is linked within.
How to Know When It’s Time to Take Down Your Hummingbird Feeder, According to Ornithologists. (Real Simple) It’s later than I expected!
My favorite pen of the moment: Uniball Roller Stick Pens with the micro tip, in blue to minimize ghosting. I’m pairing them on the daily (probably not an exaggeration to say dozens of times per day) with our new-for-fall Ampersand Leuchtturms; mine is Port Red and is gorgeous. Perfect fall combo (that will still feel on point for winter, spring, and beyond).
15 ghost novels for every reading mood. (MMD) These ghost novels come from a wide range of genres and are scaredy-cat friendly.
I’ve heard rave reviews about the Bonne Maman 2025 Advent Calendar so this year the Bogels are giving it a try. (I linked to World Market for its free shipping; you can also order directly from the brand.)
Warm and inviting stories of hearth and home. (What Should I Read Next?) In search of books featuring rambling old houses, loving (and perhaps found) families, and scenes of cheerful domesticity.
Types of jeans for women: every fit explained, from barrel to wide-leg. (Glamour UK) Such a helpful guide. (These Kut from the Kloth cuffed jeans are the ones I’m reaching for most during these early fall days; another wash is available at Nordstrom Rack for less. (00–16)
Why Getting Older Might Be Life’s Biggest Plot Twist. (New York Times gift link) Richard Osman on his Thursday Murder Club series: “It’s really about characters who are slightly older. And it’s about unlikely friendships and the world we live in, what we do to older people and the invisibility they have and the way we underestimate them. “
We Tested 6 Ways to Cook Oatmeal — and Found the Perfect Bowl. (Food & Wine) I didn’t think I was interested but it turns out I really, really am. Spoiler alert: stovetop is the winner. We’re steel cut oats fans in this family, so if you have specific tips, I’d be grateful if you shared them in comments!
Shelf Life: R. F. Kuang. (Elle) Love her picks, plus the story behind the book that’s one of her most treasured possessions.
I laughed out loud at the promo for Merriam Webster’s new Large Language Model, coming November 18.
How to include kids without centering them. (Group Life by Priya Parker) “When we include kids without centering them, we’re teaching them how to be part of a shared life, and reminding ourselves how to live one.”
‘Reading Rainbow’ to return, with viral librarian Mychal Threets as its host. (NBC News) “After nearly 20 years… Reading Rainbow is returning to motivate, help, and encourage kids to become avid readers with new episodes, new friends, new projects, and of course… new books!”
This Cashmere Structured Cardigan from Quince (XS–XL) is so good! It’s a lovely combination of cozy and classy; it wears more like a sweater blazer than a cardi. I can’t wait to put it in heavy rotation once it finally cools off around here. (I’m 5’9″ and the small is perfect.)
Fall Movie Guide: Here are the films coming out from September to Christmas. (AP) Which movies are you most excited to see?
Don’t miss these posts:
21 spine-tingling but not TOO scary audiobooks for fall. Spine-tingling audiobook recommendations from a self-professed scaredy cat!
The coziest item in my home. The quest for the perfect throw blanket.
20 banned books I find myself recommending all the time. Banned Books Week is October 5-11 this year.
Have a great weekend!
17 comments
I had the best bowl of steel cut oats ever when I was staying at a bed and breakfast on the Isle of Skye! On our last day I asked the owner what the secret was and she told me she cooks them in oat milk with a dash of cinnamon. It seems like such a small thing, but it is SO GOOD. I make them this way at home now.
I am curious about this. I guess I wasn’t paying attention when oat milk became a thing. Is it mainly used as a dietary alternative to cow’s milk or is its own thing? Like, I drink cow’s milk but I also love oat milk? Also, my daughter and I have the IOS on our bucket list. Did you love it?
Did I miss the “perfect bowl” in the oatmeal post? I’ve been through that article and don’t see it.
My favorite steel cut oatmeal trick: Soak the oats overnight in cold tap water to which you’ve added a tablespoon of plain yogurt (or skyr or whey) per uncooked cup of oats. Then just cook up the next morning, adding a bit of water if needed (I soak and cook in the same stainless steel pan). This method cuts cooking time, yields creamy oatmeal, and apparently breaks down phytic acid via the yogurt, making the oatmeal more digestible. We need to go low-salt, but if you don’t, adding salt also bumps up the flavor. I eat steel cut oatmeal daily with additions like toasted walnuts, dried cherries, chopped apples &/or pears, kefir– even chopped cooked kale and homemade pasta sauce if I’m craving savory & adventurous. Great stuff!
It wasn’t very clear, was it? My guess is the “perfect” bowl was the stovetop version they ranked 10/10, but they didn’t really spell it out for us!
No, they didn’t! Thanks for the guess, though!
My guess was they meant the “perfect bowl of oatmeal”, not the perfect actual “bowl”! If that’s what YOU meant! I was curious about a bowl, too, because I prefer to use the microwave option and cook the oatmeal right in my bowl.
I make steel cut outs in chicken broth, topped with poached eggs, black pepper and a lot of parmesan cheese. It’s so good for lunch!
I ordered the Bonne Maman Advent Calendar as soon as I read about it! Looking forward to trying all tge different spreads – thank you so much for sharing about it!
Ooh, first time *ever* one of these links isn’t new to me (I love anticipating reading something new each Friday) – the Merriam Webster one – and yes, a laugh out loud moment!
Try one of the Lola blankets! They usually have a special offer going, too. They feel like real fur that’s been knitted. Once they tried it, I had to get one for all my college kids too!
Steel cut oats can be cooked ahead and frozen. My method: After cooking the oats, freeze them in a large muffin tin (I make 8 portions of oats according to the recipe on the back of the box to yield 12 muffin-size portions). Once the oats are frozen in the tins, to remove them turn the oven on (bake) and set the tin on the bottom shelf just long enough to twist them out of the pan. Set on a cooling rack, put the rack in the freezer, and once they are firmed up take them off the rack and store in your preferred container. To eat, heat a portion in the microwave (mine takes 2 minutes on high).
Highly recommend the calendar! After the delicious jams and jellies are gone, the tiny jars have endless uses…..
We also love savory steel cut oats in the instant pot. We cook in chicken broth (or more likely, stir in some Better Than Bouillon paste at the end), then add chopped oven roasted bacon (Niman Ranch is my new favorite bacon!) and put a fried egg on top. So so so good. (You can steal some of the bacon fat that renders out to fry the eggs in. And pour the rest through a paper towel funnel into a jar and save in the fridge.) We also sometimes add a drizzle of maple syrup for sweet/savory.
I love the texture of overnight steel cut oats. Someone else had directions for soaking cold, but I boil 4 cups of water to one cup steel cut oats, cook oats in boiling water 1 minute, turn off the heat, cover and leave on the stove until morning. Add water or milk to your desired texture and heat up. You’ll have individual perfectly chewy grains. It’s lovely.
It seems like “mushy” was the enemy in the oatmeal article, but that’s just what I’m looking for! I want my oatmeal to be the consistency of pudding! I want to take a bite and swallow it, no teeth needed. When I feel the actual oat flakes in my mouth and have to chew, I think it’s not done enough, or maybe doesn’t have enough liquid. So I found that microwaving gives me the best (but not perfect) effect, and I also don’t cook it as long as the tester did. Only 1 1/2 minutes, then maybe another 3o seconds after I add some brown sugar. It never overflows.
And Bravo for Merriam-Webster!
The easiest and most foolproof way to make steel cut oats!
https://www.hummusapien.com/overnight-steel-cut-oatmeal/
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