Fall Favorites 2021
Can you spot the cat?
Hello Friends:
I have missed writing to you the last couple of months. How are you doing? I love it when you write back and share a little slice of your life with me.
It's become a bit of a tradition to share my fall favorites every September. Autumn has always been my favorite time of the year. And, reading back to my 2019 and 2020 posts, my favorites are fairly consistent. I am simple and straightforward like that.
Watching:
There's no binge watching going on in this house. Last year's favorites included the Nexflix show Somebody Feed Phil. It's still my "movie night" go to with a couple of episodes left to watch of seasons one through four. I am excited that there will be a season five and like most things these days, it seems that we may have to wait some time for that to happen.
My husband and I also enjoy "traveling" through Neflix's Chef's Table. This is one we tend to watch without the kids, due to some chef's colorful language and graphic depiction of animals being prepared for food. Some of the chefs are quite abrasive, but all of them have interesting life stories; which is really what the show is all about. It's certainly not for everybody.
As a family we have also been watching Sir David Attenborough's Netflix documentary, A Life on Our Planet and related Our Planet series, which are both heartbreaking and hopeful. It was released about a year ago. While it's difficult to watch just how much trouble our planet is in, it's important for us to be aware of the current circumstances and take action where we can.
Buying:
Many days, I feel overwhelmed with the state of the world. I worry about our planet and the equality of all humans. It's so much and I feel so small in comparison. However, I also believe that small actions matter. They matter in our own lives and homes. They matter in our communities and on our planet. If we keep chipping away, we will see change over time.
So, I have made lots of little changes in my home over the last few years. Please let me know if you are interested in my easy sustainable swaps and I will share details in another post. For today, I want to highlight two favorite local stores that are doing their part.
The first is By the Pound, which I originally learned about years ago through word of mouth. This bulk only grocery store feels like an old time Ann Arbor, Michigan institution to me. Due to the pandemic the bulk bins have been taken out of some grocery chains and admittedly, I felt nervous buying in bulk until lately. Mostly, I go to By the Pound for spices. I bring my own clean jars (remember to get a tare weight on your way in), a funnel from home and fill up on all kinds of spices, typically for under a dollar per jar. As I am trying to reduce the amount of plastic I consume, I have a goal to purchase more items package free.
The second place, Bee Joyful Shop, is a newcomer to Dexter, Michigan; but has been operating online and in Kalamazoo, Michigan for some time. In addition to having a liquid refill station, they carry household cleaning and personal care items. I have been purchasing shampoo and conditioning bars from Bee Joyful, although they do have liquid options as well.
I hope you will give both of these local shops some love. If you are not in Ann Arbor, check around in your area for alternatives. Most cities will have some sort of package free buying options. Please share your experience in the comments below or by replying to this message.
Reading:
No fall favorites post is complete without including what I have been reading lately. I use the term "reading" loosely, as I consume mostly audio books these days. It's a great way to make mundaine household chores more fun. I use the Hoopla and Libby Apps connected to my public library. If the book I want isn't available there, I use my every other month Audible subscription credit.
The Simply Organized Book Club is still chugging along at a completely irregular schedule. We are rotating between non-fiction and fiction reads. Our current fiction pick is The Bar Harbor Retirement Home for Famous Writers (And Their Muses). I have yet to start "reading" this one, or rather listening on Hoopla. If you would like to join our group, all are welcome. Just send me a message to be added to the list.
In the last few months, I also joined a book club hosted by our local public school to discuss issues of race and culture. It's been eye opening and educational as I learn to be a better human in a world of diversity. I particularly enjoyed former University of Michigan Professor Claude Steele's Whistling Vivaldi and former NFL player Emmanuel Acho's Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man. The two books couldn't be more different and yet, I learned so much from both reads.
On my own I recently finished a actual paper library copy of Christine Platt's The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less. In this book, Ms. Platt speaks directly to the influence of the African disapora and at the same time is inclusive of all people. This book is about moving forward, forgiving ourselves for overconsuption and mostly, about being your true self.
I wish you happiness and authenticity to your true self this fall and always.
All my best,
Carolyn
