Aww I love how you mention associating songs with fall. This season in particular always conjures up songs by Laura Nyro (The more mellow songs New York Tendaberry), Kate Bush's The Dreaming and The Sensual World, Radiohead's Kid A, and PJ Harvey's Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea--the latter which were release in September oh so many moons ago. Beth Orton's latest, Weather Alive, is just lovely for fall. Happy listening!
My youngest just started their junior year of high school (!!!) and turned sixteen (!!!). A tremendous joy for me these days is that for their birthday they requested that I take them and two of their friends away this weekend to an AirBnB with a hot tub. And the three of them aren't just expecting me to hang out in the background and let them do their thing. They actually want me to hang out with them, which is an increasingly infrequent enough occurrence these days that I am literally giddy with excitement.
Related: we took a vacation week at the lake in August and watching my youngest and my bonus daughter hang out and play on the paddleboard for hours was such deep joy. They are at that odd age where they are literally GORGEOUS (Dewy skinned, lithe, running around in their thong bikinis), but when they drop the make-up and the attempt to be cool they are still clearly just children. Seeing them out there, not worrying about what they looked like or what anyone thought of them, simply rolling around like baby otters? I could have watched that for hours.
Hearing what brings other people joy always brings me joy!
My dad interrupted me the other day to point to our butterfly bush and exclaim, “a monarch!” After we both watched the scene for a while, I told him about ‘beauty emergencies’.
I love the craft chats and book suggestions but I was thrown off today when I noticed links to bed sheets and perfumes. Oh dear. This is not what I signed up for. The spirit of poetry - writing, reading, sharing - is aligned with the fallen and found cardinal feather. Not housewares. Not cosmetics.
Please, maintain the beauty of your Dear Life enterprise by safeguarding us all from the material world.
In truth, I will not renew if Dear Life becomes another iteration of Material Life.
Katherine, I always share recommendations in The Good Stuff posts—sometimes skin care, sometimes recipes, but always books and music. I don’t do sponsored or promotional posts and I don’t accept advertiser dollars, but I’m always happy to share what I like and get pleasure from, just as I’m always happy to read what other people recommend. That’s just me! Ok, back to baking these cookies before my kids get home from school. 💗
It always makes me happy to see mentions of Rhett and the Old 97s out in the world! They have been the soundtrack of my adult life. Love the songwriting, and their live performances are so fun. Great that you got to see them and that your Rhett was able to connect with his namesake.
I somehow only recently started listening to The National, so I’ve been really enjoying High Violet. Also heavy in rotation are Patrick Watson, Heartless Bastards, and khruangbin. Going to see Ani DiFranco this weekend, so lots of Ani, too. I’m also in re-reading mode, which is cozy reading and very Fall behavior (This is the Story of a Happy Marriage & Big Magic). Also, I am dissatisfied with all my sheets! I’d love to find some sheets that I love.
I’ve been listening to High Violet lately, too! So good. And I swear, it sounds frivolous, but every time I get into bed I think, “Damn I love these sheets,” so they’re clearly bringing me joy. 😂
Frivolous is so necessary. I teach Sociology to college kids, and have learned from them that finding some indulgences inside the system are crucial for building up the internal resources to work to change the system! So, while I work to change the system, I will also buy High Violet on vinyl even though I can stream it. Because, vinyl.
I have a great idea!! The Maggie Smith alt-country playlist on Spotify. Please? Please oh please oh please.
Oooh! Stay tuned. 😘
Aww I love how you mention associating songs with fall. This season in particular always conjures up songs by Laura Nyro (The more mellow songs New York Tendaberry), Kate Bush's The Dreaming and The Sensual World, Radiohead's Kid A, and PJ Harvey's Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea--the latter which were release in September oh so many moons ago. Beth Orton's latest, Weather Alive, is just lovely for fall. Happy listening!
Such great recs! Thanks, MacKenzie. Going to put on a Kate Bush record now...
Love that PJ Harvey album--haven’t listened to that in years!
My youngest just started their junior year of high school (!!!) and turned sixteen (!!!). A tremendous joy for me these days is that for their birthday they requested that I take them and two of their friends away this weekend to an AirBnB with a hot tub. And the three of them aren't just expecting me to hang out in the background and let them do their thing. They actually want me to hang out with them, which is an increasingly infrequent enough occurrence these days that I am literally giddy with excitement.
Related: we took a vacation week at the lake in August and watching my youngest and my bonus daughter hang out and play on the paddleboard for hours was such deep joy. They are at that odd age where they are literally GORGEOUS (Dewy skinned, lithe, running around in their thong bikinis), but when they drop the make-up and the attempt to be cool they are still clearly just children. Seeing them out there, not worrying about what they looked like or what anyone thought of them, simply rolling around like baby otters? I could have watched that for hours.
I love all of this. I'd be giddy, too! x
This is beautiful. I have two teenage girls and can relate so much. What an honor to be invited into the hot tub with lovely youth ❤️
Hearing what brings other people joy always brings me joy!
My dad interrupted me the other day to point to our butterfly bush and exclaim, “a monarch!” After we both watched the scene for a while, I told him about ‘beauty emergencies’.
Love, love, love ❤️
Dear Dear Life,
I love the craft chats and book suggestions but I was thrown off today when I noticed links to bed sheets and perfumes. Oh dear. This is not what I signed up for. The spirit of poetry - writing, reading, sharing - is aligned with the fallen and found cardinal feather. Not housewares. Not cosmetics.
Please, maintain the beauty of your Dear Life enterprise by safeguarding us all from the material world.
In truth, I will not renew if Dear Life becomes another iteration of Material Life.
I press SEND with respect and kindness.
Katherine, I always share recommendations in The Good Stuff posts—sometimes skin care, sometimes recipes, but always books and music. I don’t do sponsored or promotional posts and I don’t accept advertiser dollars, but I’m always happy to share what I like and get pleasure from, just as I’m always happy to read what other people recommend. That’s just me! Ok, back to baking these cookies before my kids get home from school. 💗
It always makes me happy to see mentions of Rhett and the Old 97s out in the world! They have been the soundtrack of my adult life. Love the songwriting, and their live performances are so fun. Great that you got to see them and that your Rhett was able to connect with his namesake.
Felt like a miraculous moment to me. I’m sure my Rhett will remember it so fondly years from now. 💗
I somehow only recently started listening to The National, so I’ve been really enjoying High Violet. Also heavy in rotation are Patrick Watson, Heartless Bastards, and khruangbin. Going to see Ani DiFranco this weekend, so lots of Ani, too. I’m also in re-reading mode, which is cozy reading and very Fall behavior (This is the Story of a Happy Marriage & Big Magic). Also, I am dissatisfied with all my sheets! I’d love to find some sheets that I love.
I’ve been listening to High Violet lately, too! So good. And I swear, it sounds frivolous, but every time I get into bed I think, “Damn I love these sheets,” so they’re clearly bringing me joy. 😂
Frivolous is so necessary. I teach Sociology to college kids, and have learned from them that finding some indulgences inside the system are crucial for building up the internal resources to work to change the system! So, while I work to change the system, I will also buy High Violet on vinyl even though I can stream it. Because, vinyl.
Hear, hear!
“Stashed like weed far in the back”
Sometimes the imagery of lines is so so perfect