by Sharlene

It’s Monday (September 14, 2020)

If you’ve been keeping up with the news, you probably will have read about the many many fires we’ve been having in western USA. At first it started with mainly the Bay Area (and luckily that huge fire  – 396,000 acres – nearest us has been contained).

But there are still very many huge wildfires in Northern California, now also in Oregon and Washington. And it’s been scary to read of the many communities that have been destroyed, the lives lost. We had that one weird Thursday of apocalyptic skies, waking up to an orange glow that never went away all day.

Lights were on all day because we couldn’t see the sun, which was blocked by both the wildfire smoke and the marine layer that trapped it. The skies haven’t been orange since then but the air quality has been horrendous. Our windows are always closed, the air filter running, but I still wake up with a scratchy throat.

Well, we didn’t do much last weekend. But the kids and I made chocolate chip cookies.

I felt like having steak and wine so we shared a ribeye (which I butter basted), also grilled some asparagus and baby potatoes.

Some spicy beef noodles we had for takeout on Saturday.

Currently…

Reading:

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires – Grady Hendrix

Watching:

We just got HBO Max and so I can finally watch HBO series like Westworld and Game of Thrones.

Listening:

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Eating:

A slice of homemade banana cake – it’s more of a Southeast Asian style banana cake, very light

Drinking:

Assam Calcutta Auction tea from Lupicia

Cooking:

Last week:

I read:

You Brought me the Ocean – Alex Sanchez and Julie Maroh

Dirt – Bill Buford

I posted:

Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho

Library Loot (September 9 to 15)

badge
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. This meme started with J Kaye’s Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. 

13 Comments

  2. I’m glad I live in a place where natural disasters are rare. I’m glad you are safe. I almost never eat steak but I’ve been wanting one recently and you picture isn’t helping (also dinner is in the oven and I’m starving).

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  3. It’s been so scary watching what’s going on. I’m glad you’re safe and your local fire is now under control. All of the smoke from down south is making its way up here, so we’re not having much fun either. Vancouver had the distinction of having the worst air quality in the world over the weekend because of the that and is still in the top two (trading back and forth with Portland). At least everyone has a mask handy to wear if they need to go outside!

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    1. I have marvelled that there are still people – with their young kids in tow! – walking or cycling when the air quality is bad. This morning our air quality was actually excellent for a change and it was so refreshing to step outside and smell non-smokey air!

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  5. I’m glad you and your family are safe and that you find time to bake and had a good quality reading time. I would struggle with bad air as I have bad lungs. Very happy that this is all over now and you have fresher air to breathe. Sometimes we take the most basic things for granted until it’s gone!

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      1. I’m good Sharlene, busy cooking and taking care of the children, including working and K dramas which left not much time to do anything else! how do you sustain your habit of reading for so long? Respect!

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