Yeah, I finally got around to repotting that Monstera last weekend. It was way more root-bound than I expected — took me a solid hour just to loosen everything up. I used a mix of coco coir and perlite this time, hoping the drainage works better than my last attempt. The leaves have been looking a bit droopy since I brought it home from the nursery, so I figured it was worth a try. My neighbor swears by that blend for tropicals, and her plants are always gorgeous. Anyway, after I finished, I cleaned up the porch and noticed the succulents are starting to push out new pups, which is always nice. I think I'll give a couple away if you want one. They're pretty low-maintenance — just bright light and occasional water. I've been trying to get better about not overwatering, which is honestly my biggest struggle. Oh, and I finally ordered those terracotta pots I'd been eyeing. They should arrive next week, just in time for spring repotting season. Let me know if you want me to grab you a couple when I pick up more soil.

The funny thing is, I started all this because I wanted something green in the home office, and now it's turned into a full collection. I've got pothos cuttings rooting in water on the windowsill, and I'm attempting to propagate a snake plant for the first time. Fingers crossed it works. Anyway, hope your weekend was productive too.

I finally started reading that historical fiction novel everyone kept talking about — the one set in 14th-century Venice. I'm only about a hundred pages in, but the descriptions of the canals and the merchant politics are really vivid. The main character is a young mapmaker who gets swept up in a rivalry between two trading families, and there's this subplot about a missing navigation chart that's got me hooked. I usually lean toward thrillers, but this feels like a nice change of pace. The prose is dense in places, but I don't mind taking my time with it. I've been reading a few chapters each night before bed, and it's become a nice little ritual. My only complaint is that the paperback edition has pretty small type, so I might spring for the hardcover if I can find a used copy. I also picked up a collection of short stories by a Latin American author I'd never heard of before — the cover art was too striking to ignore. That one I'm saving for the weekend when I can sit down with a pot of tea and really focus. Have you read anything good lately? I'm always looking for recommendations, especially if they have strong sense of place. I find that's what pulls me into a story more than anything else — when the setting feels like its own character. Anyway, let me know if you want to borrow this one when I'm done. I should be finished in another week or so, depending on how busy the evenings get.

On a completely different note, I tried making sourdough from scratch last weekend and it turned out way better than I expected. The crust was crackly and the inside had those nice irregular holes you see in bakery loaves. I used a starter I'd been feeding for about two weeks, and I think the longer fermentation really helped the flavor develop. I added a bit of whole wheat flour and some sesame seeds on top. My kitchen smelled amazing for hours. I'm already planning to bake another batch this Saturday, maybe with some rosemary and sea salt. If it comes out well, I'll drop off a loaf for you.