Spring is almost upon us and I’m so very excited for its arrival! The wind, on the other hand, can kindly show itself out already.
The winds on our end of our little valley are always quite intense, but this year is already breaking records and ripping apart infrastructure, so that’s fun.
Alas, the seeds are arriving and my hands are itching to begin planting even though I have to wait just a bit longer.
Here’s a smidge of what I’ve been up to to keep my mind and hands busy while continuing to temper my social media and news consumption and waiting for the soil to warm up a bit more:
I am currently…
Reading:
I have paused in the of Orbital by Samantha Harvey, not because I don’t like it but because I simply have zero energy at the end of the day to read myself to sleep and it is my current bedside book. Instead, I’ve largely focused on audio books, though I’m not whipping through them quite as quickly as I did in January and February. There’s no judgement there, just an observation 🙂
Since my last Currently check in in February I have finished:
- Wicked by Gregory McGuire as a buddy read with my bestie, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Definitely not your grandma’s Wizard of Oz, which is why I loved it.
- Tales from the Cafe, book 2 of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. I continue to appreciate each short story for the deep emotions and reflection they offer.
I am currently listening to House of Crimson Curses by Ruby Roe. It’s the third in the Kingdom of Immortal Lovers trilogy (which is a bit of a spin off of the Girl Games trilogy) and while I struggle with some of the content I am invested in the storyline and am determined to finish it. Audio is easier for me in this instance than reading a physical copy so here we are.
Listening: Pandora has been offering up some awesome ’90s music for me and I’m here for it! Lots of Tori Amos, Alice in Chains, Radiohead, and Poe (among so many others). Apparently the Pandora Fairy knows what I need to hear on the fly (as intended, no?).
Creating: I’ve begun to crochet a baby blanket! My first one in years and years (all the babies came in a big, long wave and then nada!)
I mentioned last month that, in The Frozen River, Martha mentions making one “extra” quilt every year for a young family in her community and it has inspired me to begin a blanket for a baby girl who will be joining the family of a dear friend in mid-April. The baby shower is next weekend so I need to finish up quick.
I’m working a basic C2C stitch with no pattern, just lovely, fluffy white and light grey yarn coupled with the marvelous texture of the stitch.
Watching: Nothing. Truly. But I’ve been thinking about re-watching all the Star Trek Next Generation seasons. Google tells me that is a commitment of 178 episodes. Goodness.
Do tell, are you a Star Wars fan or a Star Trek fan? Apparently there’s a great divide in that simple question.
Planning: Because I simply must add more to my plate, I’ve decided to participate in the 2025 A to Z Challenge on my family history and genetic genealogy blog, Bold and Queer. I’m excited to get my Genealogy Groove back with 26 posts in the month of April and am hopeful I find some kindred spirits in that space as well.
Writing: I’m currently working on edits for the piece I’ve mentioned before that will be included in a forthcoming anthology. I was worried I’d written too much when I submitted my first draft but the Editor has asked for more so that’s what I’m doing 🙂
Additionally, here on Under the Elderberry Tree, I’ve written six posts since my February Currently update, including two Over a Cuppa posts and my very first Six on Saturday contribution in addition to general thoughts on blogging and my big Bold+Queer move.
Bold + Queer has featured three posts:
- A Feeling about my great grandpa Dutch and our shared experiences of emotions despite our generational distance. If you’ve ever felt alone or different or have wondered if you share characteristics with distant kin, please give it a read.
- Folding Time on a New Platform to give a brief intro to the new space and what to look out for on the site as it evolves.
- A to Z 2025 Challenge Theme Reveal announcing my participation in the above mentioned challenge as well as the parameters and my plan.
Ever Growing Farm featured two posts about Planning More Nutrient Dense Perennials and Spring Chicks.
There you have it…
Happenings currently feeding my heart and saving my sanity 🙂
What’s happening in your neck of the woods? Any good books, interesting shows, crafting, new or revisited music bringing joy or calm to your days throughout this transitional month? Please share all about what’s carrying you through your days.
I’m excited to be linking up with Sunday Salon at ReaderBuzz and The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer for the very first time this week and look forward to popping around and getting to know some new blogs and bloggers. Join me?
xoxo,
Melissa
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Your crocheting is lovely. The recipient will love it! Me? I’m a Trekkie, but no shade of Star Wars.
Thank you very much, Olivia! I’m a Trekkie, too, but have no ill will towards Stars Wars either 🙂 Thanks for popping by! Hope your weekend has been great!
While I don’t have anything against Star Trek, I am definitely a Star Wars woman, more a fan of fantasy than Science Fiction. Star Wars is a combination of both it seems to me.
That blanket is so pretty. Lovely to think of it covering a little baby.
Thank you, Laurie! I’m so happy to be crocheting again 🙂 I have no judgement towards fans of either but some people have *fierce opinions 🙂 Hope you’re enjoying a great weekend!
I think this is my first visit to your blog and laughed when I saw the title! My son and I were just talking about elderberries this morning! 😊Yes! Please, windy days, go away.
I think I may have to read Wicked. I was able to borrow both books by Kawaguchi from my library! Thank you for sharing! that you mentioned! Thank you for the reminder! Great idea. Your baby afghan looks really cuddly.
My grandson is a major Star Wars fan. Every year I cross-stitch a character as a Christmas ornament.
You are definitely an active person! Happy reading, crafting and living!
Ha! Well, welcome! Elderberries are my favorite medicine and I have such a love for them in every way 🙂 So glad you made your way here! Sounds like you have some good, solid reading in your future. I hope you like them as much as I did! I love that you cross-stitch ornaments for your grandson every year! What wonderful gifts for him to carry forward with him <3 Hope your week ahead is a lovely one!
Good luck with the A to Z Challenge! I did it once, and I have always wanted to try again.
Thank you! I’m a very excited Newbie 🙂
You are so talented. I was to do a re-read of Wicked.
Hi Kimberly! Thank you for your kind words! I truly did enjoy Wicked, lots of laugh-out-loud and cringe-worthy moments.
Hi Melissa, hey good luck with the A-Z challenge and crochet poject.
Thank you! I’m so excited about both 🙂
My cousin’s daughter is fascinated with our family history and she’s got the fire for genealogy burning in me again.
Love the crochet work! I think I could do crochet with some big thick yarn and a big hook. Maybe I will try soon.
Star Wars or Star Trek? Both, please.
It’s such a lovely thing when younger generations find the genealogy spark within them! Sometimes it skips a generation, but that’s OK! I’m glad she’s re-inspired you!
Thanks for popping over, Deb! Hope you’re enjoying a lovely week!
I have never been a Star Trek or Wars person.
None of the shows I am watching are bring me joy.. they are all good show but not exactly light watching.
It’s hard to find lighthearted shows anymore. I’m not a big TV person but my wife is and she’s loving repeat seasons of Ted Lasso as her feel-good show these days. Hope your week is lovely, Hena!
I wanna get round to reading Before the Coffee Gets Cold… but I was about the millionth in the holds queue at the library last time I looked, haha.
And ooh, I do love doing C2C crochet. There’s something so satisfying about it, and it feels like it grows really fast.
You won’t regret practicing a little patience for Before the Coffee Gets Cold… 🙂 It’s totally worth the wait, as frustrating as it might be.
You’re totally right about the growth of a solid C2C project. Watching it build at and angle tricks my mind in the best ways!
I hope you can finish Orbital. It’s really remarkable. And it was nominated yesterday (March 19, 2025), for the first ever Climate Fiction Prize.
I really enjoyed it a lot: https://wordsandpeace.com/2024/11/16/book-review-for-novnov-novellas-in-november-orbital-by-samantha-harvey/
Oh, I definitely intend to! It’s still sitting at my bedside, I just need to get past this very.busy.time where sleep envelopes me as soon as I’m under the covers 😉 Thank you for sharing your review!
I hope to plant a few seeds tomorrow, but I caught something while on vacation this last week and I’m not feeling that great now. I do have quite a few plants I’ve started indoors that I’m hardening and then will plant. Your baby blanket is gorgeous! I love the combination of gray and white and the stitch! What a beautiful gift! Have a lovely week, Melissa! Sorry for the late comment back! I didn’t get much computer time while on vacation with family. Lots of chaos, lol!
Hi Rachel! Thanks for popping over and for your kind words! No worries at all, family time *always comes first!
I’m so glad to hear you’re starting seeds and tending starts, it’s such a lovely process as we wait for the warmest months ahead.
I hope you’re feeling better and enjoy a lovely week ahead!!
Yay about the baby blanket! I love C2C crochet. I like both Star Wars and Star Trek. I used to watch Star Trek Generations and even would read the books in my 20’s. But Star Wars is my fav of the two for sure.
See, I like both Star Wars and Star Trek, too! I’ve enjoyed hearing who prefers which series 🙂