In the Zoom class I’m taking on journaling, our teacher discussed the walks Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell took each autumn, with October being what they called “the dawn of the year.” They made their “Autumn Plans” on these walks and decided on new beginnings in the domestic and social sphere as well as in writing and painting. In class, we made lists of our own autumn plans, and it galvanized me into putting some projects and resolutions in motion. Given a year in which every day has been like the one before, the focus of an autumn plan has re-energized me. On my list, I included: setting up a place in my office to do art; drawing portraits; making and sending postcards; exploring new journaling formats; and taking myself out to dinner regularly even if I do it alone with a book. What would you put on your Autumn Plan? 

One of my birthday gifts was a bottle of Tom Ford's Fucking Fabulous red polish for my nails, which are always chewed and ragged. It’s quite a splurge, and I wouldn’t have bought it for myself, but I love it! Here’s hoping it will curb my nervous gnawing, but more than that it simply makes me smile every time I look at my stubby nails. It just proves that the most mundane things can spark joy. What does that for you?

I know everyone swears by Costco whole roasted chickens, but if you live in the Charleston area, there’s an alternative. A friend I trust raves about Mario’s Peruvian Chicken in Mt. Pleasant. It’s cooked on a rotisserie over a natural charcoal flame and comes out with a crispy skin and spiced, smoky flavor. Lots of sides to choose from, too. I’ll be trying it this week, although chicken is a little iffy for me after growing up watching my grandmother chop off their heads.

If you adored A Gentleman in Moscow as much as I did, you’re probably looking forward to Amor Towles’ new book—The Lincoln Highway. The advance reviews are promising, and it sounds as if it will be as unpredictably different as “Moscow” was to his Rules of Civility. Look for it on October 5th—as always, at your independent bookstore if you have one. 

I love this song from Brandi Carlisle’s new album, “In These Silent Days.” And I double love her hair (I want that look) and outfit. And the fact that she produced Tanya Tucker’s comeback album, While I’m Livin’, with Shooter Jennings makes her a hero in my book. Because Tanya is kickass and always has been.