Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

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The Best Scary Podcasts for October and Beyond

10.20.24 | Life

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30 Days of Thanks 2020 // Week 1

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The last few years, I’ve followed along with the @positivelypresent Gratitude Challenge. This Instagram challenge (that I co-opt into blog posts) is a good way to reflect upon the year and count blessings.

I think this year, it’s more important than ever to take stock of what good manages to flourish, even in the darkest of times.

Health

I’m very fortunate that I’ve managed to stay healthy during this pandemic—as have my loved ones. Even with an abundance of caution, this is a feat.

I am so, so thankful for this, I can hardly express it.

Seasons

Staying in most of the year, put me more in touch with the seasons. On my daily walks, I got to enjoy the slowly warming (and cooling) weather, and in the garden, we really appreciated harvesting early crops like lettuces, then summer squash and late-season harvests like beets and carrots.

Appreciating these small changes makes staying home a bit more bearable.

Optimism

via @joebiden

Waking up on Election Day, I was full of hope. I didn’t feel worried or anxious, I actually felt good. And while it took a few days to confirm this feeling, I am so happy to see a Biden-Harris win. This fills me with such hope for the future.

And while I know this change won’t be a cure-all, it’s a big step in the right direction. Looking forward to good things!

Strength

I think it’s safe to say that 2020 has put a strain on everyone. It’s really hard to get up and keep up every day, but I’m managing it and maybe even managing it well. I think this is a type of strength. I’m certain it comes from my mom who is incredibly strong, optimistic and resourceful. I think that I inherited about 10% of what she has, but that’s enough!

Nature

Michael and I are nature people. We both grew up with dads that appreciated the outdoors. I’m thankful to my Dad for encouraging me to pick up pinecones as a kid and taught me how to make a fire. I’m thankful to have a partner that enjoys the smell of the trees the way that I do (maybe even more so).

Fun

I’ll be real: Fun has been a little harder to come by in 2020, but I’m still managing to squeeze some in here and there.

I’m thankful for costume-clad Teams meetings and virtual presentation parties. I’m also thankful for quiet forms of fun like listening to audiobooks while doing a puzzle or downloading so many cross-stitch patterns.

I’ll be back next week with more gratitude. I encourage you to take inventory of your life and find a few small things to be thankful for these days. It can be hard, but counting blessings is never a bad thing.

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Small Goals // November 2020

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Hello, November! Here’s how I did in October re: goals.

  1. Get pumpkins. We did it! And carved them. And made seeds.
  2. Read something spooky. Done! I read a few spooky things.
  3. Clean up the den. Done! I’ve been sewing nonstop since springtime. I cleaned up my fabrics (mostly) and put away the machine. Now I have a real workspace for my 9-5 (meaning the kitchen table is also clean now!).
  4. Make rye bread. Done, but not satisfied! I used the recipe from Wild Honey & Rye—twice. The first time, I totally misread the recipe. The second time, well, I just didn’t care for how it turned out. It’s a work in progress, but I definitely gave this one a go.
  5. Do six video workouts. I was on track with this one, I swear (I did four videos by midmonth)! But I busted my foot and tore a ligament so I have to rest a few weeks.

4/5. Considering I’m hobbling around right now, I think I had a pretty good month. I also feel like I had a really full spooky season. Books, podcasts, movies, shows, online scary storytelling (highly recommend). I spent a full month (OK, almost two) immersed in all the spinetingling things I adore.

Now that October is done, though, I’m ready to lift the veil and just enjoy the cozy, comforting vibes of November. The holidays on the horizon do stress me a bit, but there’s a lot of really good things about the holidays that I can do from the comfort of my home.

  1. Finish custom hoops. I’ve got a custom hoop in the works. Time to get it finished so the recipient can enjoy it (and I can start on other projects).
  2. Photograph hoops. I know that virtual craft fairs are popping up for the holidays. Time to snap photos of what I’ve got made and see what I can do!
  3. Make cinnamon rolls. That’s Taste of Home’s Bakeable challenge for the month, and it’s perfect for November. Plus, I’ve got a bunch of new types of cinnamon from The Spice House and I’m excited to use them!
  4. Start holiday cross stitch projects. I’ve gotten really into cross-stitching lately. I downloaded a bunch of new patterns and I’m so excited to get into them!
  5. Get our hi-fi up and running. We have a 1950s Magnavox hi-fi and love it—when it works. Right now it’s out of commission, but I’m taking it to a local repair place to get a tune-up. I’m hoping to get it back this month and treat myself to a new record to re-christen it.

That’s all for me folks! I hope that you are all staying safe out there. Stay in as much as possible, keep your distance and stay busy! These goals help keep boredom and cabin fever at bay.

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What I Read // October 2020

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October is my favorite month of the year, so I wanted to soak up all the scary spooky vibes that I could. I had some good picks this month (and I’m working on a few more still!).

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a pretty short book, and a quick read like this was the perfect way to kick off spooky season. Even if you’ve seen the movie, I highly recommend picking this one up.

I sped through The Woman in Black in about three days and really enjoyed it. It had all the elements of scary stories I love: a dilapidated old mansion, a specter, a curse. Just go read it quick!

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I started The Wonder a few years back but just had a hard time with the protagonist—she was unlikeable! But I rented the audiobook from the library and really settled into this story.

It was gloomy, atmospheric and mysterious which made for a great early October listen.

The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koike • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

While I love a good scary movie or show, it’s not too often that I read horror books. But this month I really wanted to dive into some spine-tingling reads.

The gist here is that a family moves into a new apartment next to a cemetery. It’s the perfect location for the family and they become friends with their neighbors. As great as this all seems, there’s something spooky going on there. Soon, tenants start moving out one by one until this family is living in this giant complex all alone.

The Graveyard Apartment really came through for me. In fact, after I finished this book, I had to take a break from scary stuff for a few days. That’s a hallmark of a good scary read!

The Secret Mother by Shalini Boland • ⭐️⭐️

The first chapter of this book was really intriguing. A woman comes home to find a little boy in her kitchen calling her “mum” like it ain’t no thing.

But the rest was pretty blah and I found the protagonist to be unlikable. Skip it.

Milwaukee Ghosts and Legends by Anna Lardinois • 👻👻👻👻

Let me say first that I am a huge fan of Anna Lardinois. She operates Gothic Milwaukee, the best spooky tour company around. I’ve gone on her ghost tours, spooky boat tour and have had the pleasure to run into her around town. She’s charming, smart and so fun to talk to.

Milwaukee Ghosts and Legends is just the sort of book you want to pick up this time of year. It’s full of short spooky stories from the Milwaukee area—some well known, some lesser-known.

I’ve read parts of this book before, but this October I read stories each night before bed and it was such a nice treat to settle in with a little local lore.

As always, you can keep up with what I’m working on over on Goodreads!

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What I Read // September 2020

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I’ll be real here: I spent all of September trying not to go overboard on scary stories so I had something to look forward to for the spookiest month of the year. Here’s what I read and listened to this month:

Vintage by Susan Gloss • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Once in a while, a fluff book is nice. Vintage was definitely pure fluff and an easy listen. Did I see the end coming from the very start? Yes. Did I still listen? Also yes.

The book, about a vintage shop owner, is set in Madison, Wisconsin, and the author would not let you forget it. For someone that lived in Madison once upon a time, this was sort of heartwarming (hearing Pinkus McBride given a shoutout was sweet), but it was overkill. I felt like I was being hit over the head with charming details about a city that loves to remind you how charming it is.

The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James • ⭐️⭐️

This Gothic-ish book was really promising in theory, but wasn’t super satisfying.

I’d elaborate, but I don’t need to spend any more time on this book. Next!

The Girl with the Golden Scissors by Julia Drosten • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love a good bit of historical fiction, especially if it includes any of the following: is set in Europe, involves a hobby I enjoy or is about an independent lady.

The Girl with the Golden Scissors had all three and it was a good read. It’s a story about an orphan moving up in the world, first as a student, then as a maid and then as a seamstress and entrepreneur. I love that sort of arc. I didn’t love how part of the book ended up set during World War I (I just don’t love wartime fiction), but still enjoyed this read.

The Perfect Couple by Lisa Hall • ⭐️⭐️

This book was fine. After reading a lot of historical fiction (some of which I’m still working on), I wanted a domestic thriller without a lot of Gothic trimmings.

The Perfect Couple fit that just fine. I waffle between two and three stars because the characters were so annoying, but I also was compelled to keep listening. Honestly, this is what I’d consider a good airport read. Nothing more or less.

The Last Mrs. Parrish • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another suspenseful domestic story. The Last Mrs. Parrish is definitely a beach read (or listen in my case).

I was poised to give this book a lower rating until halfway through the book shifted perspectives from one woman to another. It switched up the whole novel, not necessarily in an unexpected way but satisfying. This reminded me of a B.A. Paris novel, but a bit more plausible.

Save this one for when you finally get to go on vacation again. You’ll like it.

As always, you can keep up with what I’m working on over on Goodreads!

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Using My Powers for Good

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Let’s be real: The world is a mess. Between the pandemic, the election and addressing all the racial iniquities in this country, it’s easy to feel awful.

But the best way to combat all these terrible things is to try and make a positive change—even in a small way—in a way that speaks to you.

For many of my amazing friends, that’s been by protesting and attending demonstrations (safely, of course). I support these friends and these Black Lives Matter protests in a big way. I’m so glad that so many people are holding local orgnizations and police departments accountable. It’s time!

However, this method of turning up isn’t for me given the health of some of my family (I’m taking a lot of precautions to keep vulnerable loved ones safe). But I still want to show up for the movement and to show my support.

That’s why when a friend approached me asking if I’d be willing to sew a fabric protest sign, I jumped at the chance. And then I spent time creating this giant (about 6×3.5″) banner for Black Lives Are Sacred MKE.

Making this sign was a small way that I could help provide visibility to this group’s message. It was a reminder of my Catholic upbringing and how I was taught to use my talents for good—perfect for a faith-based organization like Black Lives Are Sacred MKE.

Even though the temperatures are dropping, I hope that important protests and action continues. And if you need help getting your message across (with needle and thread), don’t hesitate to reach out. This is one small way I can help and I’m ready to do it.

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Small Goals // October 2020

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It’s officially my favorite month of the year! But before we dive into October, let’s do a quick check-up on September.

  1. Get my typewriters up and running. Done! If you need new ribbons for a vintage typewriter, I highly, highly recommend Colombo Collection on Etsy. The shop owner was a huge help and even found digital manuals for my very old machines. Over the top service!
  2. Start on some Halloween projects. Yes! I’ve really been enjoying cross-stitching lately and all these patterns were just right for getting in the spooky spirit.
  3. Bake apfelkuchen. Done. This was a really good recipe. So good, in fact, that I made it twice this month.
  4. Tackle a sewing project. I made a batch of Halloween masks and gave a new mask pattern I drafted a try. Plus, I’m putting the finishing touches on a fabric protest sign for Black Lives Are Sacred MKE.
  5. Do two workout videos a week. I did a few but didn’t meet my goal.

4/5. Not a bad month for goals. As always, exercise goals are the hardest for me to meet, but I am trying.

Now time for October! As a lover of all things spooky and magical, it’s fun to really be in sync with the season. I’m not going to set too many aggressive goals for myself so I have enough time to pack in all the scary movies, spooky podcasts and creepy shows I’ve been saving.

  1. Get pumpkins. We’ve skipped pumpkin carving the last few years, but Michael and I agreed that it’s time we get back into it!
  2. Read something spooky. This time last year, I finally read The Witches of New York. It’s time to pick up something similar.
  3. Clean up the den. My sewing area is scary right now, and it’s really getting in the way of Halloween decorating.
  4. Make rye bread. Finding rye flour was tough! But my shipment from King Arthur Baking is finally here. Can’t wait to give it a whirl.
  5. Do six video workouts. I’m just trying to keep myself accountable here (even though it’s very, very boring).

Alright, folks! I’m off to watch Twin Peaks and finish up some cross stitching!

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What I’m Rewatching This Fall

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via @sabrinanetflix

I’ve said it a thousand times, but this is my favorite time of year. I love to settle in to cooler days with comfy clothes, blankets and a cup of hot chocolate. It feels indulgent and homey—even in the midst of a pandemic.

While I’m enjoying reading more books than ever and keeping up with crafts, I’m planning on rewatching some fall favorites. Yes, I know that the internet is teeming with plenty of shows I’ve never seen before, some of which I’d probably love, but we’re in the golden age of the rewatch.

Rewatching favorite shows is soothing and a great shortcut to self-care. Here are the shows I’ll be unwinding with over the next few months. If you haven’t seen them, start now! If you have, give them another go!

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

via @sabrinanetflix

It seems like episodes of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina drop in the springtime. I diligently save them for the fall. Because I’ve got more sitting around time than ever, I’m planning on rewatching some episodes before enjoying the latest.

Where to watch: Netflix

Schitt’s Creek

via @schittscreek

OK, I wouldn’t say that Schitt’s Creek is a fall show, but the last season is dropping on Netflix this October. It’s a great time to relive the best Moira Rose moments in anticipation of season six.

Where to watch: Netflix

Twin Peaks

via @twinpeakspostcards

To me, Twin Peaks is the perfect fall show. The Pacific-Northwest setting, the Great Northern’s lodge-like feel, small-town diners, Audrey Horne’s wardrobe—it’s all autumnal perfection. Also is Agent Dale Cooper the perfect man?

Where to watch: Netflix or Hulu

What We Do in the Shadows

via @theshadowsfx

Funny and spooky? Yes, please! What We Do in the Shadows follows the lives of suburban vampires and I cackle just thinking of some of the episodes. Hearing Nandor the Relentless explain his title (“They would call me Nandor the relentless because I would never relent”) gets me every time.

Where to watch: Hulu or FX

• • •

There are so many good scary shows out there, though. I don’t have time for them all, but here are a few more of my favorites:

  • Bates Motel on Netflix
  • Castle Rock on Hulu
  • Hannibal on Netflix
  • The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix
  • Murder Maps on Netflix
  • Scream Queens (just the first season) on Hulu

And if you’re not ready to give into fall (why not!), I suggest Alta Mar on Netflix. A Spanish murder mystery show set on a ship in the 1950s. Very summer but also moody.

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Marking 3 Years at Taste of Home

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Today marks my third year of writing and editing at Taste of Home.

While the last few years I’ve celebrated my work anniversary on some really amazing press trips (one to Sonoma County, California and the other to Texas), this year I’m marking the occasion by hanging out with some of my best gal pals from work (outdoors and at a safe distance, of course).

Considering this milestone, I wanted to share a few of my proudest accomplishments and some cool projects I’ve worked on.

My Babka!

Last December, my babka recipe appeared on the cover of Taste of Home. It was such a huge, huge thrill! It’s an accomplishment that I’ll dine out on for years to come.

If you want to learn how to make it, check me out!

Trying New Things

This job provides me with the opportunity to try a lot of fun new foods, products and cooking techniques.

Recently, I got to give Caraway cookware a try and I’m in love.

Taste of Home’s Baking Club

No secret here: I love to bake (and I think I’m halfway good at it!). For a little more than a year now, I’ve been playing a big part in Bakeable, Taste of Home’s baking club.

I write a lot of our baking articles, coordinate our Facebook group and create Taste of Home’s baking newsletter. It’s my favorite work project of all time (even better than sampling boxed wine for work).

Connecting with Others

While COVID has definitely put a damper on this, I love how Taste of Home allows me to connect with other cooks and bakers. I particularly love chatting with the ultra-talented Test Kitchen crew. Without that team, I would keep baking Bundts that stick to the pan.

I’ve also had the opportunity to chat with some pretty amazing people in the outside food community, too. I’ve interviewed Christina Tosi twice (!!!), and it was such a joy and pleasure.

I cannot forget the amazing team I work on, either. I’m lucky to count so many of these gals as good friends.

If you can’t get enough of me, check out everything I’ve ever written for Taste of Home!

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Stitchy Woman // Fall + Halloween Cross Stitch Plans

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via The Witchy Stitcher

While staying home, I haven’t been doing a lot of embroidery. Since in-person craft fairs are on hold, I decided to put my stitching business on hold (a few commissioned projects aside).

But I haven’t put the needle down! In fact, I’ve been working on cross stitch more and more while quarantining. I’ve finished up this cute Schrute Farms piece and made some major headway on this St. Basil’s project.

Since I’ve really been making some good progress on this slow form of stitching, I figured I could slate in a few seasonal projects for my favorite time of year: spooky season!

I downloaded a handful of patterns to keep me busy all through fall, and I’m organizing a virtual Stitchy Woman Club at work. Having Hocus Pocus or The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on in the background isn’t mandatory but strongly encouraged.

via The Witchy Stitcher

Here are the patterns I picked up:

I’m so excited to get moving and grooving on these with a few spooky shows on in the background. Happy haunting, everyone!

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What I Read // August 2020

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August is my biggest reading month traditionally. That’s because my family and I go up north and live off the grid for a week. With no TV, internet or cell service, it leaves you with a lot of time for reading.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, that trip was canceled. Instead, I tried to read the sort of books that I especially enjoy when I’m at the cabin: thrillers and gothic novels.

The Safe Place by Anna Downes • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not long into this book, I thought I had the plot pegged. I thought I knew what the twists were going to be. I had it all wrong, and that was such a wonderful surprise.

This was the perfect suspenseful summer read: An out of work actress gets a too-good-to-be-true job as a housekeeper at a remote French estate. Sure, the owners are a little wacky, the home is kept under lock and key, but like that’s fine right? You guessed it: It’s not.

The Two Mrs. Carlyles by Suzanne Rindell • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I read The Other Typist by Rindell years back and absolutely loved it. When I saw this newer release of hers, I bit. Three grown orphans are scattered to the wind after San Francisco’s 1906 earthquake and find their footing (and lose it) in various ways.

It was a satisfying read (OK, listen—I got this one on Audible), but perhaps slightly predictable. It didn’t prevent me from enjoying the story though.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was looking forward to this release for months and it did not disappoint.

I loved how walked the line with its setting. Yes, it was indeed set in Mexico as the name indicates, but a lot of the story centered around an English family, tying in those classic Gothic motifs.

What Happens at Night by Peter Cameron • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It took me a minute to warm up to this read. Partially because I wasn’t in love with the narrator (but he grew on me) and partially because I rarely read books by men.

But I ended up really enjoying this story about a couple that travels a long distance (presumably to Siberia) to adopt a child. Of course, the plot is not as simple as that and I really found myself enjoying this listen.

The Caretakers by Eliza Maxwell • ⭐️⭐️

This book just wasn’t for me, despite a thousand indications that I’d love it. A woman and her sister inherit a dusty old estate where some previously unknown (to them) family murders took place? And two witnesses to the murders live in a cottage as caretakers? Sounds like my sort of thing!

But it wasn’t. The reveals weren’t that shocking to me or even that important. And I absolutely loathed how the central character was the producer of a docuseries that was so similar to Making a Murderer—like point by point. It was just not original enough in that regard.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I read The Hunting Party when it first came out last January. I devoured it. It was just the thing to read in the midst of winter.

The Guest List was just right for summer and just as intriguing. I won’t give too much away here because the fun of this book is getting to know all the characters, but the gist is a couple is set to get married on a remote island off the coast of Ireland. The story then follows the couple and a few others associated with the wedding. Oh and murder.

This was the perfect type of escapism for me. I highly recommend this book (and The Hunting Party).

The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I listened to The Widow’s House by Carol Goodman earlier this summer and absolutely loved it, so when I saw another one of her books was available for free with my Audible subscription, I instantly downloaded it.

This book checked a lot of boxes for me: girls’ boarding school, remote location, cult-like pacts, mysterious deaths. It doesn’t get much better!

I was kept guessing and intrigued throughout. Plus, it was a great listen during all the puzzling I’ve been doing.

• • •

See what I’m reading now on Goodreads!