sprite writes
broodings from the burrow

September 18, 2025


into the stacks: june 2025
posted by soe 1:57 am

I slacked on sharing my summer reads, but it’s time to get back on track. Back in June, I finished four books — three on paper and one in audio:

A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrell

This is a double epistolary work of speculative fiction, which I started in audiobook format last year before remembering I hate listening to letter and email headers. (more…)

Category: books. There is/are 0 Comments.

September 12, 2025


studio ghibli, victory, and 20-20 once more
posted by soe 1:08 am

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. With a gorgeous Friday night ahead, I bike across town with my beach chair and snacks to a new-to-me park, where they’re showing My Neighbor Totoro, which I’ve never seen. Luckily, it’s dubbed, because the crowds are such that I would never have been able to read the subtitles!

2. My middle school team decisively wins their first match of the season. (I celebrate by buying myself a slice of pizza and a bag of Jordan almonds.)

3. Rudi and I both had eye exams this week, and I have new contacts (in the right prescription) for the first time in too long.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Category: three beautiful things. There is/are Comments Off on studio ghibli, victory, and 20-20 once more.

September 5, 2025


a lifetime ago, visit home, and we want you
posted by soe 2:25 pm

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Karen and I get to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon together. It is hard to believe I was her son’s age when we became friends.

2. My folks and I have a pleasant, temperate Labor Day weekend together. Mum and I get part of the garage organized.

3. I have taken a part-time, seasonal job as an assistant middle school volleyball coach, and this week was my first time meeting the girls and the coach. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun!

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Category: three beautiful things. There is/are 1 Comment.

August 29, 2025


invited, yellow squash, and final swim
posted by soe 12:21 pm

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Anna had a belated birthday party, so we got a chance to see her and Greg’s new house. It’s very nice, with a back deck to enjoy on pleasant evenings, and we spent a little while out there talking with them after everyone else left. They said it was their first party ever, so it felt lovely to be included.

2. I harvested what, to this point, is the only squash of this summer’s gardening. There are some more flowers on the plant, so there’s a chance that I could get more.

3. I’m up in Connecticut this weekend, so not around for the final days of the outdoor pool season. So Wednesday afternoon, I headed over and spent a little while paddling around the pool. I didn’t get to the pool as much as I’d meant to this summer, but some is better than not at all.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Category: three beautiful things. There is/are Comments Off on invited, yellow squash, and final swim.

August 22, 2025


finally shaded, birthday, and layers needed
posted by soe 1:32 am

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. We played volleyball until past seven on Saturday. We were exhausted, but the sun had been relentless, the skies cloudless, and the humidity punishing all afternoon. By the time our court was finally shaded by park’s tree border, we couldn’t just leave. So eleven of us played on, pouring our all into the final matches, clothes soaked through, but sunglasses finally abandoned, before we packed up for the week and headed for supper.

2. Rebecca, my D.C. friend, as opposed to dearest Rebs, turned 25 this week and invited us to join her birthday celebration Friday evening on the roof deck of Union Market. I met a couple of her non-volleyball friends, but otherwise got a chance to spend time with the Saturday volleyballers in street clothes.

3. The heat and humidity broke earlier this week and this afternoon’s baseball game required a sweatshirt!

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Category: three beautiful things. There is/are Comments Off on finally shaded, birthday, and layers needed.

August 20, 2025


top ten longest books on my tbr list
posted by soe 1:13 am

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic from That Artsy Reader Girl focuses on doorstoppers, the type of book that you can use to weigh down a beach blanket on a breezy day. I decided to share the ten longest books on my Goodreads want-to-read list:

  1. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1276 pages)
  2. Collected Poems: 1950-2012 by Adrienne Rich (1164 pages)
  3. Divine Days by Leon Forrest (1135 pages)
  4. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin (916 pages)
  5. The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton (848 pages)
  6. A Dictionary of Modern English Usage by Henry Watson Fowler (825 pages)
  7. The Saga of Icelanders edited by Jane Smiley (782 pages)
  8. The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope (776 pages)
  9. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (752 pages)
  10. Decca: The Letters of Jessica Mitford by Jessica Mitford (744 pages)

How about you? Do you have any lengthy tomes you’d recommend I pick up?

Category: books. There is/are 1 Comment.