We had a snowy February and I’m looking forward to the gradual approach of spring. But first here are some recent favourites that might inspire you to read, eat, watch, listen to, or meditate on something new.

Read

Looking back I see that I enjoyed my reading more in December and January. I’ll have to try to find some really good books in March!

The Confusion of Languages was a fairly interesting novel about flawed characters and relationships set in the community of American ex-pats in contemporary Jordan.

I enjoyed One Time, Sharon Creech’s latest middle grade novel. It wasn’t my favourite of hers, but I’m inspired to read more of her backlist. (I loved Chasing Redbird, Walk Two Moons, and Love That Dog.)

For readalouds, The Moffats and The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden were popular with the kids and listening to the audiobook of Return to Gone-Away made a nice afternoon break for me.

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We read quite a few Valentine’s Day picture books. My favourite was The Ballad of Valentine (what can I say, I loved singing it to the tune of “Oh My Darling, Clementine”).

Eat

Some culinary highlights: we made tres leches rice pudding from this cookbook that I remain obsessed with, waffle iron hashbrowns from this new Barefoot Contessa cookbook, and an orange pie from this giant pie cookbook. Another hit was these Jamaican patties.

Watch

Listen

I’m trying to get into the habit of listening to some more uplifting/challenging/constructive podcasts beginning with Scholé Sisters and Risen Motherhood.

Meditate

“But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.” – 1 Corinthians 15:35-44a

Care to share any of your February favourites? Alternatively, what are you looking forward to in March?