I’m not going to lie: this is going to be a busy week for those of who dwell in the Burrow. What am I hoping to get done, all before my annual tree-trimming party next Sunday, you ask?

• Head back to D.C. from Connecticut
• Learn how to use the 3D printer at the library’s maker lab
• Play volleyball
• Complete a couple of handmade gifts
• Finish cleaning the Burrow
• Kick off the Virtual Advent Tour
• Tackle a couple cooking projects
• Buy a Christmas tree
• Have friends over for dinner and a game night (potentially)
• Attend a seminar with tips for improving your job search
• Grocery shop
• Do laundry
• Make a couple library runs

There are probably some other things that I’m forgetting, but that’s baker’s dozen list as I have it right now.

Norah Jones and Chris Thiles cover Hazel Dickens’ “Won’t You Come and Sing for Me?”

I fell in love with Kina Grannis when I heard her version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in Crazy Rich Asians. This is her version of “Someday” by Sugar Ray, one of the songs she recorded during the pandemic.

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Watching World Cup soccer on big screens at an outdoor party in the middle of Dupont Circle.

2. Seeing holiday lights as we drove north.

3. Our new car takes regular gas, not premium, like the last one.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Wishing you and yours a happy Thanksgiving (and a happy Thursday to those who aren’t celebrating today). I hope wherever and however you mark the day that you have enough, that you are safe, and that you feel loved.

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday from That Artsy Reader Girl is a Thanksgiving freebie. While wondering what new giant balloons we’d be treated to in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, I decided that although Macy’s has historically been great about making balloons that include characters from films, tv, and literature, they might like some suggestions for bookish characters we’d like to see moved from the page to the sky. Here are my top ten recommendations:

1. The Cheshire Cat from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
2. Tigger from Winnie-the-Pooh
3. Peter from The Snowy Day
4. Charlotte from Charlotte’s Web
5. Max from Where the Wild Things Are
6. The Moomins
7. Amelia Bedelia
8. Madeline
9. Mr. Toad from The Wind in the Willows
10. Stellaluna

How about you? What characters would you like to see added to their giant balloon repertoire?

Also, would you like to join this year’s Virtual Advent Tour? Signups are now open for December.