November continued to be a blur of kids’ activities but we managed to squeeze in some family fun and good food. If you’re into theater, soups, streaming shows and a variety of books, then keep scrolling to read the details of our month.
What We Did
The school held a bonfire in the first week of the month. It’s their annual fall gathering, and it’s more like bringing a bunch of kids and parents and staff together in an open field where they’re selling concessions and it’s a bit of a free-for-all. I worked the band concession stand so I didn’t get to see much of the actual bonfire, but it was a fun time. Oh, and there were fireworks.
One sports season wrapped up with a soccer tournament early in the month and another sport began with basketball tryouts near the end of the month. While our son didn’t make the middle school team, he is still going to play basketball in the rec league.
Marching band also wrapped up with championships in Hershey and a banquet at a local country club.
We fancied ourselves up for the banquet.
Puffs! Our daughter was in the fall play, which was based on a very popular set of books that feature a boy who lived and attended a school of magic for 7 years. It was an enjoyable show.
Youth Sunday. Our son participated in the Youth Sunday service, an annual event at our church.
I donated blood again. And nearly passed out again. But I pushed through. I’m learning about what it takes for my body to handle this kind of thing.
The kids and I had a week off for Thanksgiving. I did some organizing and cleaning projects. We also attended the Mayor’s Tree Lighting in downtown Lancaster on the Friday after Thanksgiving. It’s such a fun gathering and really kicks off the holiday season.
I wanted to spend some of the week off in nature, so Phil and I took a hike at Ferncliff Preserve, just the two of us, which was needed time together. Our life has revolved around work and the kids of late, which has left us without much time or energy for each other.
And on the last day of the month, some of my book club friends went out to celebrate a birthday. We had dinner and drinks at Decades, a local establishment that offers bowling and arcade-style games as well as food and beverage.
What We Ate
Early in the month, I met a couple of work friends for a drink and since I’m not currently drinking alcohol, I asked the bartender to make me something seasonal and non-alcoholic. This is what I got, and I wasn’t disappointed.
I got a new cookbook and made a couple of recipes from it that our family really enjoyed:
old-fashioned beans with cornbread;
and oil-poached fish.
We often go out for dinner on Veterans Day to take advantage of the deals for veterans because Phil is one. This year, we hit up Primanti Brothers again.
I almost always get this salad.
And Primanti is known for sandwiches with a knife stuck in them.
As a treat for hanging out at band championships, we ate ice cream from Milton’s Ice Cream Shop at Hershey Park.
This jolly rancher sundae was our son’s choice.
While our son was rehearsing for the youth service at church, we took our daughter out for lunch to Rachel’s Creperie because we didn’t see much of her in the fall.
Coffee and crepe and tiramisu; what could be better?
Soup is unashamedly my favorite season. I could eat it every day. We made the following soups this month: vegetable Tortilla stew;
chicken chowder (not pictured, I guess);
stuffed pepper soup;
French onion soup;
potato leek soup.
And no November would be complete without a Thanksgiving feast.
This year we ate old-fashioned roast pork, mashed potato casserole, cornbread stuffing, pumpkin roll, and apple cider.
At the tree lighting, we made sure to stop by Thom’s Bakery for a chocolate and powdered sugar topped waffle. I thought I took a picture but it’s not on my phone anymore. Trust me, it’s worth it.
While out with my book club friends, I had a flatbread pizza with mushrooms, cheese and arugula.
And I was pleasantly surprised to find they had mocktails on the menu, so one of my friends and I both ordered one.
Yum-o.
What We Watched
Richard Osman’s House of Games. It is now my favorite quiz show.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. We finished it. I loved it. I want more.
Election night coverage. Nuff said. That feels like an eternity ago.
SNL clips. Comedy is the cure for what ails me.
Nailed It! Halloween. Yes, we’re like a month behind on our holiday shows, but that fits our fall.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Always. I like the music and the Broadway shows.
World Cup soccer. I am a World Cup widow right now.
The National Dog Show. We caught this one on replay because of some big sporting event that’s happening for a month. I love the variety of dogs. Such good puppers.
Slumberland. Netflix tricked us into thinking this was like a fun, feel-good family movie, and I NEARLY CRIED, NETFLIX. If I wanted to feel things that deeply, I’d pay attention to my life. (It wasn’t a bad movie. It just surprised me, that’s all.)
Schmigadoon!. We finally jumped on the Apple TV bandwagon (with a free trial) and started watching this series. I’m not sold on it yet.
The Crown. I finally got a chance to watch one episode. This is not really entertainment for me because I grew up in the Diana era and her life was a tragedy.
What We Read
Books I finished:
Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li. So much to love about this story. It felt like a combo of Ocean’s 11, Fast and the Furious and Crazy Rich Asians. A lot of twists I didn’t see coming.
Here For It by R. Eric Thomas. This was our fall book club pick. We were looking for something light and not too cumbersome. After reading an essay collection by Ann Patchett, another essay collection seemed appropriate and doable. Thomas’ storytelling is full of honesty, humor and hope (oh, look, I alliterated!) and I enjoyed reading about his journey as a gay, black Christian man.
A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny. I’m looking forward to seeing Inspector Gamache hit the TV series screen in Three Pines on Prime. This was a roller-coaster ride, as is often the case with Louise Penny mysteries.
Poster Girl by Veronica Roth. I needed something different and I got it. I love Veronica Roth’s writing, and dystopia hits different when you live in a pandemic world but I still enjoyed this journey.
The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon. Smart and funny. I can’t wait to read more.
Icebound by Andrea Pitzer. I’m mildly obsessed with polar exploration stories. This one focused on William Barents and his exploits in the Arctic Sea in the 16th Century. Polar bears, mutiny, being stranded by ice … I do not want to experience any of these things but I do like reading about them.
In progress:
Spy School at Sea by Stuart Gibbs. This one is taking us a long time because of our schedule.
Looking for Alaska by John Green. I thought I would have more time to read this at school than I do.
The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews. My current read.
We put together a Wrigley Field puzzle and kept it on the table throughout the playoffs. And sure enough, they won the whole darn thing! Go Cubbies!