Happy Sunday! Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at ReaderBuzz. Check out her post and the links to see what other bloggers have been up to in the last week.

How’s the weather?

Remarkably warm. In fact, they’re promising a temperature of 71 degrees on Christmas day. People travel out of St. Louis to get that temperature this time of year. We’re going to get it, this year, by staying at home.

What are you reading?

I posted my review of Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley on Austen’s 250th birthday, which was Tuesday.

Then, I picked up The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand. I read this reimagining of A Christmas Carol quickly and posted my review on Friday. Thanks to Aj for recommending it in a Sunday Post in October.

I’m currently enjoying Audrey Lane Stirs the Pot by Alexis Hall, the third book in the Winner Bakes All series. These books provide a backstage look at the world of a reality TV baking show.

What are you watching or listening to?

We liked Ludwig on BritBox and are following that up with another series that features a puzzle maker who solves murder mysteries, The Marlow Murder Club on PBS.

My holiday movie pick of the week is Tinsel Town. Thanks to Marg for mentioning it in her post last week. Kiefer Sutherland stars as a washed-up Hollywood actor who finds himself in the weird and wonderful world of the British Christmas pantomime — a form of theater that I’ve been fascinated by every since I read about it in the book That’s Not English. 

What are you doing?

We’re celebrating the birth of a new great-nephew! He arrived on Friday, a few days ahead of when we expected him. My theory is that he decided that he wanted his birthday to be a little less close to Christmas.

I’m watching the Winter Solstice sunrise stream from Stonehenge. After that, I’ll watch the one from Newgrange. The solstice is a good moment to recognize our place on a planet that we share with all humanity that has ever been and all humanity that lives today.

Happy Sunday! Happy Solstice! And, if you’re celebrating it this week, Merry Christmas!