Currently - November 2026

I began this earlier in the week, completely intending to join Amy's Currently link-up on Wednesday. and if it's still open I will :) I'll also link up with Andrea and Erika (although it looks like her life, like mine, has priorities other than blogging ;) ) for Friday Favorites since it's Friday! I woke up Wednesday with incredible neck/back pain and have tried to stay off of all devices - computer, iPad, phone - for the last couple days thinking that I've spent too much time blogging and job searching but it's still here so might have to look into other causes. Anyway. . .here's what I had. . . finishing this up and heading to OH-IO for the weekend.

No-vember – Saying “no” to:

I'm learning that saying "no" isn't always the opposite of "yes". Sometimes it's about choosing not to rush ahead, not to fill every empty space, and not to assume that the next thing is necessarily the better thing. 

So. . .going "deep" on this one but. . .

Saying "no" to forcing the next chapter. Being intentional about pursuing opportunities but not feeling like I have to make everything "work". Being diligent and disciplined in looking for my next chapter but not focusing ALL my energy on it.

Saying "no" to confusing being busy with being productive. I LOVE being productive - this is a hard season to be in (Week 8 if anyone is counting with me) - but realizing that being quiet and taking time to just watch that show or read that book can be "ok" too.

Saying "no" to opportunities that aren't right just because they're offered. I've done it twice now and don't have regrets. . .but it's never easy, there's always a "what if?". And I really, really WANT to say "yes" to the right thing!!

Saying "no" to wishing away the season I'm in. I know I need to appreciate today while still planning for/anticipating/dreaming about what's ahead - this is the HARDEST one for me, 100%. God created four seasons - but I've always naturally wanted to skip over winter - both figuratively and literally - ha!

Thanking for

Well. . .this one is EASY - let's just go through my pictures in the last month:

Tennis AND sunsets - two different nights, two beautiful sunsets that made us stop between games to capture these pictures. . .then, 30 minutes after that second one it was a moon shot -

Family. . .

The five Bell kiddos

The Foster cousins

An unforgettable family trip to Idaho/Wyoming/Montana (this was September, but got the pics back in October). The kids' photos already framed and up at Nana & Grandpa's:

Another boating season - last day on the lake of 2026

Eating/Drinking

Tom's eliminating a few more things from his diet so we are making some new-to-us recipes that are turning out great!

Stephen made us some BBQ (and I had some Mac 'n Cheese leftover from a stop in Overton County)

A stew I made one Saturday for football (and
then Tom quit eating beef after this)

A rare date - just the two of us - one Sunday after church

Another new dish - shrimp and veggies on a creamy tomato sauce

And a first-ever invitation to dinner at Stephen's new place! He grilled the shrimp and poured the wine, I brought the amazing (everyone said so) risotto that ChatGPT gave to me.

I now have 4 new recipes to add to our rotation:

• Chicken and wild rice soup (not pictured - served on Halloween)
• Rice Risotto with grilled shrimp
• The creamy tomato pasta with shrimp (or any protein)
• Turkey meatballs (they did NOT photograph well but were delicious!) 

Cozying up to (could be literal or figurative)

The *only* good thing about the cooler season are soft lights after dark (but UGH why does it have to get so dark so early???), boots, and blankets.  

Me and my sis in our boots :)

My favorite Vera Bradley blanket - and the doggie thinks it's his!!

Finding a place to sleep in that bed some nights is a challenge :/

Watching/Reading

I have had some time to watch some shows and read some books. . .

Football. . .all.the.football

. . .Susan's birthday weekend

. . .on the boat (Michigan game)

. . .in the living room (Tennessee of course)

. . .and even during Trick-or-Treating (Indiana)

Also. . .

The Diplomat - such a great one - this is one I watch solo

The Great British Baking Show - we watch this week by week as they are released

Ted Lasso - one we enjoy together - really liked the last season

Call the Midwife - this is one I started on my own, but Tom became interested around Season 6 or so and now we watch together as seasons are released

Fisk - I stumbled upon this and talked Tom into it - quirky and short enough to watch and forget

My MIL and I have watched several episodes of the new Little House on the Prairie and I've liked it

Looking forward to Lincoln Lawyer - any day now!

And this week, an old guilty pleasure from many years ago - I decided on the Ohio series this time - Love is Blind. I have all kinds of thoughts on this experiment.

And looking forward to The Pitt and The Gilded Age, both shows I'll watch on my own, probably in January/February when the days are short and nights are l-o-n-g.

As far as reading, I have a hodgepodge. I'm literally reading ALL of these right now - or, at least, they have all been started. . .I rarely give up on a book, just become easily bored.

Listening, on Audible. . .

The French Illusion, John Grisham - looks like I have 6.5 hours left. I generally "can't put his books down" but this one is a little too graphic (torture) for me but I want to finish so will continue listening. That would be my warning, though, if you are wanting to read this one.

Lady Tremaine, Rachel Hochhauser - I literally just started this one, upon many blogger recommendations. I have 12 hours left on this - sometimes I start something just to see what it's going to be like - I think this will be a good one.

Whistler, Ann Patchett - another one I have just over 6 hours left. It looks like that is not quite half-way through? I like this one! It seems to me to be "just a story" and those I can pick up and put down pretty easily. I'm obviously not super-invested but would like to know how it all turns out.

Mad Mabel, Sally Hepworth - "everyone" loves this one. . .and I just can't get through it. Audible says I still have 5.5 hours left. I downloaded it for our Mother's Day Weekend and have been listening in bits and pieces ever since then. I'm determined to finish because I haven't heard one bad review. . .wondering if this is one that I would have enjoyed more if I was reading it, rather than listening.

And then, there are the books I am reading - ha! My MIL and I were at Walmart to pick up something after one of her radiation treatments and she saw the $7 book bin. She bought two and I bought Danielle Steel's Beauchamp Hall and am really enjoying it :) She's an author that I go back to when I'm looking for "background noise" - I'm also listening to her book Resurrection on Libby from the library. I don't like that one as much but only have a couple chapters left. I refuse to read anything that focuses on 2020 and I didn't realize this was going to be a story about a second pandemic post-2020. Oh well, it's "easy listening" and since it's from the library I have a digital copy of the book too and go back-and-forth. That is my favorite way to read a book - having the audio and print copies both.

Well, friends, there you go - Currently in my world :) Now I have to go catch up on all the blog posts I missed this week while trying to stay off the computer and my devices. Good thing I'm a Passenger Princess when Tom goes to Ohio with me ;)

Looks like the weather is going to turn cooler this weekend and stay in the 60's throughout the week.  Boo. I have LOVED these mid-70's temps these last few weeks. I played tennis 4 times this week!! Outside twice, which is my favorite. There you go, a Friday Favorite to add to this post. And getting to see my mother, sister, and dad this weekend too :) Hopefully we'll run into friends also - need to set that up if we want to do that, my family alone keeps us busy!

Love,

Jenni