Mini-series (indulgent summer TV watching)

Lately I've been loving some BBC miniseries on Netflix. Sadly, they don't have the best miniseries ever available on instant streaming but I have found several new good ones. Although given that Netflix is doubling its rates, we may be canceling and going for Hulu plus Amazon Instant.

My favorite so far is Downton Abbey. Its set on the eve of World War I. Its worth watching for the interiors alone. Bonus - season 2 will be available soon.

Another goodie was North & South. Somewhat similar story to P & P, but enjoyable.

I really enjoyed Daniel Deronda - a George Eliot book I haven't read. The heroine reminded me of Middlemarch - not exactly the most sympathetic. Will have to read it once I am done with Middlemarch.

The Way We Live Now is an Anthony Trollope book. The show was pretty over the top - dramatic music and the like - and was my least favorite.

What's up next? 

The Kennedys

Bleak House (A Dickens novel I've never heard of...)

snippits

I am liking instagram (when I remember to use it) but find it a little annoying to share the photos (the best I have figured is to email them one by one from the camera roll? help?)

I have had at least 5 people that I don't see regularly (3 are over 50 males) comment on my hair. Apparently its dramatic - never sure if this is a good thing - or maybe it looked awful before??

 Here's what else has been going on.

Froze 5 pounds of peaches. Now trolling Craigslist for a chest freezer...

Loving my new chacos - a birthday present from TD

Been serving tennis balls in the backyard for Prairie (Lost my Chuck it launcher). Hopefully I am not ruining TD's racket & perhaps there is some recreational tennis in my future. 

A sweet co-worker gifted me with this AWESOME push mower. We have a puny patch of grass in the front (not warranting lawn mower purchase) but its nice to know we won't be getting any HOA hatemail anytime soon (well at least not for the lawn being over grown)

In shameful news - I have broken down and Prairie is now allowed on the couch. I can't believe myself. 

....Gross! Dirty! Dog hair! Bad habits!

(But! Its only one couch & she now sleeps much later in the mornings.)

Birthday Week!

Had a great weekend with my Little Sis - her visit was short, but we managed to fit in biking to the farmer's market, a tour of campus, Satchell's pizza, the beach, and a dinner with friends. We did a bad job of taking photos but here are a few.

And, its birthday week around here. I am currently procrastinating working on finishing a grant so nothing big is planned - BUT I have a giant pile o'loot to celebrate the last year of my 20s!