September book club

This post is overdue by a good two weeks, but I still wanted to give an update on our last book club, which was held on an end-of-summer evening over ice cream treats! 

Our previous meeting was in June (read about it here), but we took a break over the summer since changing schedules and vacations made it hard to coordinate a meeting. We all agreed it was too long in between, because some of us had been finished with the book for a while and it wasn't as fresh in our minds.

The Last Green Valley

Mark Sullivan

Historical fiction

☆☆☆☆

This is a WWII novel unlike any I've ever read, and I really enjoyed the different perspective. It's based on the true story of a Soviet family of German heritage who is caught between two evils - Stalin and Hitler. Because of their "pure blood" German ancestry, the Nazis offer protection as they escape Ukraine. The Martels face many terrors, hardships, and a long struggle before finally finding their "last green valley" - a place of peace they imagined and dreamed of throughout their journey. 

Our next book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle was chosen by Crystal. I'm listening to it on my way to work, and so far it's been very interesting! I have a feeling I may never look at food the same way!

Not only has book club helped me read books I wouldn't have normally picked up, it's also been a great place to get ideas. On my night stand right now is The Ultimate Gift, a book that was recommended at one of our meetings. Although I haven't finished it yet, I've found it to be a very worthwhile read and reminder of what's really important. When I found out author Jim Stovall is blind, it made the book even more meaningful. 

The evenings are getting shorter and cooler, perfect for cozy book nights! I need to focus on getting rid of other distractions so I can experience more of them.

cubicle sweet cubicle

I'm happy to say I made it through my first week at Gehman Accounting! It's been a great experience so far and I feel extremely lucky to work there. I knew the environment would be vastly different from what I was used to, and I'm still marveling at it! 

LVHN never felt like "home" to me, but I can already tell GA will become that way. It's nice to have my own space, even if it is a cubicle. On my first day I was taken aback by the quiet office setting. I'd grown accustomed to always having background noise, and now I know why some people can't function without it! When it's silent, my brain wants to latch on to any sound that comes along and I can't focus if I hear someone talking on the phone or carrying on a conversation in another office! It's becoming more normal now, after a few days of adjusting. Another challenge was sitting all day when I was used to being on my feet. That's why I never wanted a desk job - I need to move! Thankfully there's solutions for that. On my third day at work I inquired about a sit to stand riser I saw being unused. Just like that, IT installed it for me and I now spend a good part of the day standing (and feel much better)! 

There's many other things I've found remarkable, and have lifted my spirit. It's nice to see people taking pride in their work, not spending excessive time on their phone, and caring about others. I can come home from a day at work feeling good instead of drained. It almost makes me anxious (what if this is a fluke, and it won't last??) to give such a good report when I've only worked six days, but if I'm feeling optimistic, that's a good sign!

In the staff meeting today, Nate said something like this - "You work at Gehman Accounting for 6 months, then mentally think that's only your first day on the job." That was reassuring because I feel like my knowledge is very basic, and I ask lots of questions and feel stupid on a daily basis. 😅 

If you're interested in seeing who I work with, here's a link to the Gehman Accounting "meet our team" page. I'm part of the bookkeeping team.

summer's end + the perfect iced coffee

It's the unofficial last day of summer and I'm swinging between sadness and invigoration. The crisp, cooler days of fall in Pennsylvania are undoubtedly some of the finest, but this season always brings out the melancholy in me. I wish I was one of those people who believe "September is the other January" and feel motivated and inspired to reset. To me, there's a kind of beautiful sadness in the shortening days, weaker sunshine, and chilly edge to early mornings. Whereas spring is a season of anticipation, fall holds a sense of loss. 

This is also my last day of freedom before starting my new job. The last three weeks without a schedule have been a lovely reprieve. The old to-do list got a few things checked off but I always seem to run out of time or energy to completely accomplish my goals. I'm happy to say I got rid of a lot of extra stuff and made room for a few new furniture items. Having too many possessions bogs me down and I like the feel of "less is more."

Like ice cream, iced coffee has become a summertime staple for me. I'm not a huge coffee lover, but I do appreciate a well-blended iced coffee. I was never able to make one that was completely satisfactory until I discovered a recipe for white chocolate mocha syrup that nailed it. Yes, it's ultra-sweet and rich, but a generous splash in strong-brewed coffee is perfect. Go to Southern Mom Loves for the recipe. To make the brew, I do about 8 tablespoons coffee and 4 cups water, then put a generous amount of ice cubes in the coffee pot. When the coffee is done, it should be cool. Extra brew can be stored in the fridge for several days. For a pint sized jar of iced coffee, I'd fill the jar 2/3 full of ice, about 2 tablespoons syrup (I like it plenty sweet!), add coffee until jar is 3/4 full, then add milk. Stir and taste - add more coffee, milk, or syrup to your liking. I'd love to hear how you make iced coffee! 

I know, it's actually pumpkin spice/hot drink season, but I'm still holding on to every bit of summer I can! Maybe I'll figure out how to make the perfect latte next (with my very limited coffee-making abilities!)