November Lists

On my playlist (in anticipation of an upcoming concert):

• Handel Concerto Grosso in D Major, HWV 323; Op. 6 No. 5
• J.S. Bach Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043
• Berio Selections from Duetti per due violini (1979)
• Schnittke Concerto Grosso No. 1

Watching

• Slow Horses
• The Moonflower Murders (I want a drive that red car... and I wish I could dress as well as Susan Ryeland)

Reading

• Just finished "A Psalm for the wild-built" by Becky Chambers. meh. Not my cup of tea.

Loving

• Trails at the nearby park
• Homemade pumpkin muffins with walnuts
• Relaxing under a warm fuzzy blanket next to kids 

Not loving

• Everything in the news

Struggling

• Parenting: kids talking back, kids glued to devices (they all have school-issued laptops, plus the older 2 have their phones), the youngest one not going to bed/not getting up, kids not doing chores (they are all super busy with homework and activities, so I kind of let things slide... but I don't think this is good). 
• Future: I think I am going through an identity crisis... it's been a while since I've had one of those

Cooking

• Recent hits: mujaddra (learned from a friend in college), roasted potatoes, Costco kale salads (salad from a bag, but I also add cucumbers, sweet pepper, pomegranate, tomatoes), pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin muffins, roasted butternut squash
• Recent misses: scrambled eggs, sauteed chicken breast medley - it wasn't terrible, but 2/3 kids complained and picked at/refused to eat
• I've been reluctant to experiment with cooking new things (because 2 of the kids will probably complain) - but I think I need to let go of that... My husband and my oldest will eat pretty much anything, and I am bored of making same old stuff.
• My youngest baked chocolate cupcakes from scratch, all by herself. They were delicious. She tried making the icing but that didn't quite work out - I am not a fan of icing, so I was thrilled to eat the "naked" cupcakes.