What We're Doing While We're Away
Next week, Tim, Nolan, and I are making our annual pilgrimage to the New York-Canada border for our family retreat. While this year will be a little different (we'll be quarantining on site for the entire duration of the trip, so no boating jaunts for ice cream in town), we're excited to take this time to *actually* relax after months and months of... I'll just say it, sheer chaos.Our trusted manager Ana will continue to accept limited appointments while we're away and keep things moving in the workshop, but otherwise, we're taking a real break here. So, I'm leaving you with the things I'll be doing/reading/seeing, and I hope you can take some time to yourself as well to celebrate the (gasp) end of summer. Enjoy! 
What I'm bringing to read:
The Secret History, by Donna TarttWhile I had small issues with The Goldfinch's character development, I found the book completely engrossing, dense, and spellbinding - which is exactly what I want in a vacation book. I'm looking forward to digging into this for the week.Funny Weather, by Olivia LaingThis collection of essays by art critic Olivia Laing is enlightening and fun to read, and its essay-based format makes it perfect for diving in and out of as a break from reading longer books. I do not consider myself an expert on art by any stretch of the imagination, so I'm finding it inspiring to read through the thoughtful ways in which Liang distills the lives and works of modern artists and their role in shaping culture.
What I'm listening to:
We have an eight-and-a-half-hour drive to and from where we're staying and both Nolan and I get carsick if we so much as glance at a book, so we'll be listening to a lot of media along the way!For the adults in the car:Homecoming, a podcast by Gimlet MediaThis has been completely engrossing since I started season one for my drive back and forth to our cabin and I am excited to move into season two during our drive. It's an old-school style radio play, complete with sound effects and actors you'll recognize throughout the show. Highly addictive and so well done!For the child in the car:Anything by Roald DahlRoald Dahl is a favorite in our family - his way with words is just so entertaining to read, and most of his books are narrated by wonderful voice actors who nail the characters so well. Nolan is obsessed with The BFG and we'll be toting along other options as well.
What I'm eating:
Each year, we purchase pounds and pounds of whole lobsters and have an enormous lobster "festival" that would put any glutton to shame. This year, I'll also be bringing tons of local vegetables from our cabin in the Shenandoah area since we can't visit a grocery while we're on-site due to quarantine restrictions. So, I'm looking forward to fixing these herby tomato sandwiches using the pounds of local Virginia tomatoes and herbs we'll have on hand. Also, lots of peach crumble.See you when we get back!