PITTSBURGH — In the mood for a quick and easy dessert that ushers summer sweetly into fall?

The end of August and beginning of September are typically when peaches shine the brightest at Pennsylvania farmers markets and in local groceries. Georgia may call itself “The Peach State,” but Pennsylvania grows a lot of the fruit, too — nearly 40 million pounds each year with an annual value of approximately $20 million.

Some of the most celebrated fruit wear a “Chambersburg” sticker. Devotees say the Franklin County soil in which the trees have been planted for more than a century makes its peaches especially sweet and juicy. Having eaten quite a few over the years, often out of hand, I’d have to agree.

You can certainly hit the sweet spot with an old-fashioned cobbler or peach crisp, but the fruit is just as tasty in a crunchy parfait. Most often I make the treat with yogurt for breakfast, but if you layer the individual glasses or bowls with fresh whipped cream instead — here, gently spiced with cinnamon, vanilla and brown sugar — it’s a pretty terrific way to end a meal.

Homemade granola (so easy!) adds a wonderful crunch.

For more color and variety, add a handful of fresh blueberries or raspberries if you’ve got them.

While you can use any variety of peaches — freestones are probably the easiest to prepare — make sure the fruit is ripe but not overly squishy; there should only be a tiny bit of give when you (very gently) squeeze it.

To easily remove skin, cut a small X through the skin of the bottom of the peach, blanch in boiling water for about 10 seconds, then place in ice water. The skin should slide right off.

Peach Parfait

PG Tested

For granola

• 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 1/2 cups mixed raw nuts and/or seeds, such as cashews, pecans or walnuts
• 1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
• Generous sprinkling of ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For whipped cream

• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of ground cinnamon

For parfait

• 4 peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced thin
• Fresh cherries or mint sprigs, for garnish

Prepare granola: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, nuts and/or seeds, salt and cinnamon. Stir to blend well.

Add oil, maple syrup and vanilla. Toss well, so that all the ingredients are lightly coated. Pour granola mixture onto your prepared pan and spread it out in an even layer.

Bake until lightly golden, about 24 minutes, stirring halfway. Remove from pan and allow to cool completely. (The granola will further crisp up as it cools.) You should end up with about 6 cups of granola — more than enough for the parfaits with some left over for snacking.

Prepare whipped cream: Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip heavy cream, brown sugar and vanilla on medium-high speed until medium peaks form, about 3 — 4 minutes. Use immediately, or cover tightly and chill in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours

Assemble parfaits: Using a large spoon or pastry bag, fill wine or parfait glasses about 1/4 full with the spiced whipped cream. Sprinkle about 1/4 cup granola on top of the whipped cream, followed by 1/4 cup sliced peaches. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Garnish with a fresh cherry and/or mint sprig, and serve immediately.

Serves 4.

— Gretchen McKay, Post-Gazette

©2024 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The limited series, which is being produced to mark the 30th anniversary of her killing, will star Melissa McCarthy as JonBenét’s mother, Patsy, and Clive Owen as her father, John. They were immediate suspects in the brutal murder of the child beauty queen on Dec. 25, 1996, when she was found dead in the basement of her Boulder home.

A long ransom note, and the still-unsolved nature of the case, continue to inspire lurid fascination in the entertainment world. The crime has inspired documentary and narrative shows such as 2016’s “Getting Away with Murder” and Netflix’s 2017 experiment “Casting JonBenét,” amid many others before that. That last show casts local actors from Boulder to “offer multiple perspectives on her 1996 murder as they vie to play roles in a dramatization of the case,” Netflix wrote.

The Paramount+ series will take the dramatization route.

“(The Series) follows the Ramsey family, before and after the tragedy as they go through the painful loss of a child while facing intense public scrutiny caused by a media frenzy that caused this case to captivate an entire nation,” according to a statement from Paramount+.

“At the heart of the series, it is the story of Patsy and John Ramsey – exploring the unbreakable partnership of these two complex people – as husband and wife, as mother and father – who had committed themselves and their children to building the narrative of a perfect, privileged life only to have it destroyed one Christmas night in 1996.”

The show will be produced by 101 Studios and MTV Entertainment Studios, with production beginning soon in Calgary, Canada, according to the studio.

“JonBenét Ramsey continues to be one of the country’s most fascinating unsolved murders,” said Jeff Grossman, executive vice president of programming at Paramount+. “The incredible talent of Melissa McCarthy, Clive Owen and the creative team led by (showrunner) Richard LaGravenese will illuminate her story with the acuity and nuance it deserves.”

McCarthy is primarily known as a comedian, but has also taken on dramatic roles.

There is no release date for the show.

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Sap Sua, which began service that same month, at 2550 E. Colfax Ave., serves owners Ni and Anna Nguyen’s non-traditional takes on traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

“At Sắp Sửa every team member’s name is listed at the bottom of the menu. There’s Ben Carolan, the sous-chef responsible for the trúng và trúng — cloudlike scrambled eggs laced with bright fish sauce and brown butter served over warm rice. And Theo Bodor, who helped develop a dish of fried tofu served in a rich tomato stew punctuated by bites of crunchy peanuts,” Bon Appetit’s Kate Kassin wrote in her entry for the list, which was released Monday.

“Husband-wife owners Ni and Anna Nguyen moved to Denver from Los Angeles in late 2020, intent on introducing this city to the Vietnamese American cooking of Ni’s first-generation upbringing. Along the way they created a restaurant shaped equally by the influences of their talented, enthusiastic team. In a lively dining room that’s consistently packed, Vietnamese flavors blend into those of other cultures–turmeric-batter fried catfish sandwiches topped with slices of American cheese or grilled corn ribs with shrimp aioli—and point to two leaders who know when to stick to tradition and when to color outside the lines,” Bon Appetit concluded.

In April, the magazine called Xiquita, the Mexico City-inspired, masa-focused restaurant from chef Erasmo Casiano, as one of its seven most-anticipated restaurant openings nationwide.

And in 2022, Denver’s La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal was named among the 50 best new restaurants in the nation by Bon Appetit.

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Alma Fonda Fina, a high-end Mexican dining room, which opened just nine months ago at 2556 15th St., in Denver’s Lower Highland neighborhood, joined the one-star club, which includes Beckon, Bruto and The Wolf’s Tailor, all in Denver, Bosq in Aspen, and Frasca in Boulder.

“Chef Johnny Curiel started off in his family’s restaurant in Guadalajara, and after years of high-end culinary experience, he revisits dishes and flavors from his upbringing with creativity and finely honed technique delivering results that are both satisfying and delicious,” Michelin wrote in its new guide to Colorado restaurants, which was released Monday morning.

“Resist the temptation to fixate on any one item, as the menu is littered with treasures: perfectly crisped pork belly carnitas make for a brilliant taco on a sourdough flour tortilla, while agave-roasted sweet potato with nutty salsa matcha and luxuriously creamy whipped requesón is a revelation, and vibrant seafood crudos like thinly sliced Maine diver scallop with tomatillo and apple aguachile are downright electric. No desserts are offered for the time being, so there’s no reason to leave any extra room,” the Guide continued.

In addition, Michelin added one Bib Gourmand recommendation to its list: MAKfam, a Cantonese-American restaurant that opened in November 2023 at 39 W. 1st Ave. in Denver. Bib Gourmands recognize “eateries for great food at a great value,” according to Michelin.

“What began as a pop-up back in NYC, where owners and married couple Doris Yuen and Kenneth Wan first met, and then became a stall in a Denver food hall, is now at last a full-service restaurant. The winsome, colorful space and the compact menu both celebrate the pair’s Chinese American roots, both having been raised by immigrant families who worked in restaurants.

“Fried crab and cheese wontons and hand-shaped chicken and chive potstickers are inspired by Chinatown favorites and takeout staples, made with particular care and big flavor. Chicken wings with a spicy, tingly málà seasoning are favorites with good reason, and larger dishes, like the familiar-yet inventive corned beef fried rice or spicy garlic butter rice cakes, impress as well,” Michelin continued.

And finally, two Denver restaurants joined the list of recommended eateries, Brasserie Brixton, at 3701 Williams St., and Kawa Ni, at 3200 W. 32nd Ave.

“Opening Kawa Ni this past November has been an exciting challenge, and naturally, there was some concern about fitting into the Colorado culinary community. Thanks to the fantastic team in Denver, we’ve been warmly welcomed beyond expectation, and to earn Michelin recognition within just a year of opening is truly special,” Kawa Ni chef and founder Bill Taibe said in a statement.

There were three special awards this year. The Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award went to Jessenia Sanabria of Sweet Basil; the Michelin Sommelier Award went to Chris Dunaway of Element 47; the Michelin Outstanding Service Award went to Allison Anderson of Beckon; and the Michelin Young Chef/Culinary Professional Award went to Johnny Curiel of Alma Fonda Fina.

Two restaurants that were on the 2023 guide are not listed in the 2024 guide: A.J.’s Pit BBQ, which won a Bib Gourmand in 2023, and Potager. Both are in Denver.

“As we celebrate year two of the Michelin Guide in Colorado, we can see the passion and
momentum continue to grow in this culinary community,” said Gwendal Poullennec, the
International Director of the Michelin Guides, in a statement.

“The famously anonymous Inspectors were also eager to shine a light on the growing talent in the local community, with a handful of new restaurants added to the selection,” she added.

This is a developing story.

Colorado’s 2024 Bib Gourmand restaurants

Ash’Kara, 2005 W. 33rd Ave., Denver
Basta, 3601, Arapahoe Ave., Boulder
The Ginger Pig, 4262 Lowell Blvd., Denver
Glo Noodle House, 4450 W. 38th Ave., Denver
Hop Alley, 3500 Larimer St., Denver
La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal, 2233 Larimer St., Denver
MAKfam, (new) 39 W. 1st Ave., Denver
Mister Oso, 3163 Larimer St., Denver
Tavernetta, 1889 16th St. Mall, Denver

Colorado’s 2024 Recommended restaurants

A5 Steakhouse 1600 15th St., Denver, 80202
Barolo Grill 3030 E. 6th Ave., Denver, 80206
Blackbelly Market 1606 Conestoga St., Boulder, 80301
Boulder Dushanbe Tea House 1770 13th St., Boulder, 80302
Bramble & Hare 1970 13th St., Boulder, 80302

Brasserie Brixton (new) 3701 N. Williams St., Denver 80205
Dio Mio 3264 Larimer St., Denver, 80205
Element 47 675 E. Durant Ave, Aspen, 81611
Fruition 1313 E. 6th Ave., Denver, 80218
Guard and Grace 1801 California St., Denver, 80202
Hey Kiddo 4337 Tennyson St., Denver, 80212
Kawa Ni (new) 1900 W. 32nd Ave., Denver 80211
Marco’s Coal Fired 2129 Larimer St., Denver, 80205
Mawa’s Kitchen 305 Aspen Airport Business Center, Ste. F, Aspen, 81611
Mercantile Dining and Provision 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver, 80202
Mirabelle 55 Village Rd., Beaver Creek, 81620
Noisette 3254 Navajo St., Denver, 80211
Oak at Fourteenth, 1400 Pearl St., Boulder
Olivia, 290 S. Downing St., Denver

Osaki’s, 100 E. Meadow Dr., Vail
Prospect, 330 E. Main St., Aspen
Q House, 3421 E. Colfax Ave., Denver
Safta, 3330 Brighton Blvd., Denver
Santo, 1265 Alpine Ave., Boulder
Smok, 3330 Brighton Blvd. #202, Denver
Splendido at the Chateau, 17 Chateau Lane, Beaver Creek
Stella’s Cucina, 1123 Walnut St., Boulder
Sweet Basil, 193 Gore Creek Dr., Vail
Temaki Den, 3350 Brighton Blvd., Denver
Wyld, 130 Daybreak Ridge Rd. Avon
Zoe Ma Ma, 2010 10th St., Boulder

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Here are six promising options to consider.

Alma Thomas, “Composing Color,” Denver Art Museum, Sept. 8 through Jan. 12.

Alma Thomas was a great painter with an even better story. Wide recognition only came to her later in her life, after she retired from decades as a schoolteacher in Washington, D.C., and major museums and galleries caught on. Thomas, who died in 1978 at the age of 86, went from being an inspiration to generations of kids to an international art star whose paintings now sell for millions of dollars at auction. This traveling exhibition of her abstract canvases is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which has considerable holdings of her work. The paintings show the artist’s skill at using hyphenated, acrylic marks to capture deep emotion and boundless energy.

Location: 100 W. 14th Avenue Parkway. More info: 720-865-5000 or denverartmuseum.org.

Verdi Requiem, Colorado Symphony, Oct. 18-20

This production of Verdi’s choral masterpiece is special for two reasons. First, it is meant to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Colorado Symphony Chorus, which debuted back in 1984 with the same piece of music. Second, it marks the final concert of Duain Wolfe, the chorus’ founder and a beloved institution on the local classical scene. Wolfe outlasted seven separate chief conductors of the symphony during his tenure. It will be a bittersweet weekend, no doubt. Guest conductor Alexander Shelley will be on the podium.

Location: Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver Performing Arts Complex. More info: 303-623-7876 or coloradosymphony.org.

Ethel + Robert Mirabal, “The Red Willow,” Oct. 14

The Lakewood Cultural Center does not get the regional recognition it deserves. Its annual LCC Presents series has consistently produced gems across the disciplines of music, dance and family entertainment for two decades now, making the suburbs a much more interesting place than they were back in the day. This concert is a good example of LCC Presents at its most interesting. Ethel is one of the top contemporary classical music quartets on the touring circuit, and Mirabal, who hails from the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, is among the most respected flute players and music makers in the country. Expect a night of sincere, and ethereal, sounds. The concert is meant to coincide with Indigenous Peoples Day.

Location: 470 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood. More info: 30-398-77845 or lakewood.org.

“Movements Toward Freedom,” Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, Sept. 20-Feb. 2

The MCA is taking a real risk with this show, filling its galleries for more than four months with a high-concept exhibit that looks at the way body movement acts as a form of creative expression across artistic disciplines. This group show, curated by Leilani Lynch, has varied participants, including well-known names like Senga Nengudi and Ronny Quevedo, but also local artists, such as Laura Shill and Ben Coleman. The draw here is that much of the art will be activated through performances during the run of the show. One highlight: an installation by Brendan Fernandes that will resemble a dance studio where performers can interact with his three-dimensional works. This is the kind of adventurous move that deserves support from local art lovers.

Location: 1485 Delgany St. More info: 303-298-7554 or mcadenver.org.

“Sleeping Beauty,” Colorado Ballet, Oct. 4-13

The Colorado Ballet is expecting a sell-out for its eight performances of “Sleeping Beauty” — remarkable, really, for a title that has been around since 1890. This production goes back to the basics of the work, with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and movement by Marius Petipa, and the type of big, magical sets that keep customers coming for ballet’s biggest numbers. Everybody knows the story, and the Colorado Ballet knows to keep this work traditional in every way. This is a family-friendly event.

Location: Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Performing Arts Complex. More info: 303-837-8888, ext. 2 or coloradoballet.org.

Ivalas Quartet, Sept. 24 and 25

Friends of Chamber Music is offering a lot of options for formal events this season, including promising concerts by the Takács Quartet and soprano Karen Slack. But these two concerts, featuring the emerging musicians of the Ivala Quartet, are a small and welcome special attraction. On Sept. 24, the quartet, which fuses sounds from various genres, will take the stage at downtown’s Dazzle Denver, a venue more traditionally known for straightforward jazz.  The next night, they move a few streets over for a second show at the landmark Clocktower theater, which will center around Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 2. The ensemble is just off a residency at the Juilliard School in New York City, and this is a chance to — two chances, really — to catch them before they become famous.

More info on both events: 303-388-9839 or friendsofchambermusic.com.

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A few years back, the Wall Street Journal had a piece on gardening attire influencing men’s fashion.

“Fall’s most improbably sought-after outfit is the ‘Garden Gi,’ a pair of trousers and a kimono-style jacket. The $330 set — made by Cactus Store, a succulent shop in Los Angeles — looks like a modified martial arts uniform with extra pockets for packing seeds and toting trowels,” WSJ reported.

Oh, we had a good laugh at that.

Not at the fashion inspiration (even though it wasn’t all that, IMO) but that gardeners actually wear specially designed attire. (And was the shop actually succulent, or did it sell cacti?)

Search for “gardening clothes” online and you’ll find companies like Dovetail Workwear, Gardener’s Edge, Terrain and many others selling adorable outfits. Duluth Trading sells Heirloom Gardening Bib Overalls. For me, it’s just too hot in Denver most spring and summer days to think of wearing long pants and a bib to boot. The company’s “gardening skort” would work, but it’s just too cute, if you know what I mean.

For only $138 plus shipping, April Cornell’s online store takes it even further with an adorable pair of floral overalls in pastels just for gardeners. Bogs sells a sturdy gardening clog for just $90; Sloggers has a darling pair of Flower Power Rain & Garden Boots for just $42.99.

Who are they kidding? (If you are a homeowner who wears those things, I am not making fun of you. Well, I guess I am.)

Of course, I do see the need for actual farmers to wear clothes from Carhartt or Farmers Defense. And any employee of a nursery or botanic garden likely has a special wardrobe dedicated to the hard work of planting and growing and reaping. I also recognize the necessity of wearing protection — i.e., sunscreen, long pants, long-sleeved shirt and a hat — from Colorado’s damaging sun when you’re out for an extended period of time.

My “gardening outfit”: old capri pants, beat-up tennis shoes, a worn T-shirt and a not-very-chic sun visor.

One day I might be persuaded to wear one of those aprons that holds a shovel and dandelion picker. Or I’ll just keep on walking to the garage and getting what I need when I need it.

Is it Colorado’s laid-back style? Our (mostly) lack of bougie affectations while outdoors? Being over 50?

Really, there are days I don’t even wear a bra under those “gardening T-shirts.”

And no one cares.

What passersby will see are the lilacs that pop up every spring in my front yard, and the lavender that scents the air along the sidewalk as they pass. If invited around back, they’ll rave about my glorious zinnias, the seeds of which I save year after year and plant in the ground where my spring bleeding hearts have died off.

They will enjoy the bounty of my grape vines, when I share the jelly I’ve made. Or the tiny hand pies using blackberries from my two bushes. Or, should the squirrels leave me any fruit, applesauce made from my own apples.

And the tomatoes — oh, the tomatoes! I can’t give those super sweet cherry tomatoes away fast enough. I’m very proud of the fact that I grew them — some nurtured from seed — in my own raised garden boxes. While dressed very unfashionably.

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— Still Grieving

Dear Grieving: I’m so sorry for the loss you’re enduring. Grief’s shadow is always longer than we think it will be. It comes at us, seemingly, out of nowhere sometimes.

Your daughter is processing her grief by keeping your son’s name alive. That’s a lovely gesture but it also makes sense that it doesn’t work for you right now.

Asking her to choose another name for her son won’t solve anything for either of you but see if you can come up with a nickname that you can call him. Ask for her help and blessing in this. Maybe it’s his middle name or maybe it’s something else altogether. You and your daughter can create something special that holds space for your grief while making room for the love you’ll have for your grandson.

Dear Eric: I have recently noticed a disturbing trend during road trips with my wife of more than 30 years. As we visit our college-age children at their campus, we regularly face car rides of three hours or more. I willingly drive, and that’s my wife’s preference as well, although she would take a shift without issue.

After a short time, she will retreat to her phone. I will try to continue a conversation, but I will get short answers and no attempt at real participation. We have a great marriage, and communication is not an issue, nor is phone use a problem during other moments.

I get that she is trying to make a boring car ride go quickly; and I don’t need help staying awake, navigating or maintaining concentration on the road. I will inevitably put on a podcast or music and life goes on. However, I find myself annoyed and think the behavior is slightly rude. I feel there is an unwritten rule that if you ride “shotgun”, your role is to engage with the driver. Am I off base here?

— Lonely Driver

Dear Driver: Ah, shotgun. The vice president of the car. A hallowed position, ruling over the music, the navigation, but never the air-conditioning. As with any other vice presidency, the role of shotgun is what you make it. Personally, I appreciate occasional navigation help but prefer to choose the music myself. If you want your wife’s engagement, ask for it. That said, if you’re just as happy putting on a podcast, let the unwritten rules go and consider these college car trips down time with low stakes. A Camp David for shotguns, if you will.

Dear Eric: I am a recently retired divorced man in his 60s. I’ve been divorced for 15 years and during this time I was affected by severe erectile dysfunction which, after consultations with urologists, can only be corrected with a penile implant. I’m not yet willing to take this step.

I’ve accepted my situation. Because I’ve decided against an implant, I’ve stopped seeking any romantic relationships. For years I’ve been questioned why I stopped dating or seeking a new relationship. I’ve even been asked if I’m gay, which I’m not. Many of these questions come from longtime friends or their wives. I’m not sure how to respond without sharing the details of my situation. I wish to be able to respond in a polite manner that will end the questions and speculation.

— Single By Choice

Dear Single: “I enjoy my own company;” “I like to sleep in the middle of the bed;” “I don’t want anyone around spoiling TV shows for me;” “Baseball season tickets are cheaper this way;” “After my divorce, I found I was quite happy, and I don’t see any reason to change that.”

Well-meaning friends will poke and prod, particularly around relationships, with good intentions. Sometimes it’s an indicator that they see a problem you don’t; other times it’s an indicator that your choice doesn’t square with the way they live their lives.

Either way, you can tell them, kindly, “buzz off; I’m fine.”

Now, at the risk of being a well-meaning prodder, I want to point out that not every relationship involves sexual intimacy. If you desire romantic companionship, apps, dating sites, or even in-person meet-ups can help you find a person who understands erectile dysfunction and may not even want intercourse herself.

But if what you desire is exactly what you have, I support that wholeheartedly and I’ll buzz off.

(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)

Happy Birthday for Monday, Sept. 9, 2024:

You are serious, intelligent and inquisitive. You often search for situations to gain a deeper understanding of life. This is a powerful year. You will reap the benefits of your past efforts. For most, this is a time of success, promotions, awards and accolades. The spotlight is on you!

ARIES

(March 21-April 19)
★★★★
Double-check financial matters this morning, including banking, to avoid surprises. Later in the day, do something different! Travel, take a day trip, be a tourist in your own town. Visit new shops, restaurants, buildings or parks. Seek adventure! Tonight: Explore!

TAURUS

(April 20-May 20)
★★★
This morning you might feel restless. Perhaps someone close to you is rebellious. (A minor but brief challenge.) As the day wears on, expect to have strong feelings about various issues, including shared property, financial matters, inheritances and romantic intimacy. Tonight: Check your finances.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20)
★★★
Something to do with your health or your job might change your morning routine. However, later in the day, your focus will shift to partners and close friends. Your best bet today is to go more than halfway when dealing with them. (It is what it is.) Tonight: Cooperate.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22)
★★★★
Mars is in your sign boosting your energy! (The last time Mars was in Cancer was for six weeks in the spring of 2023.) Mars will stay in your sign until November, so make the most of this. This increased physical energy will make it easier for you to work and further your best interests. Tonight: Work.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22)
★★★★
Home disruptions might test your patience with family this morning. But as the day wears on, fun activities will appeal to you! Make time for playful moments with kids, the arts, the entertainment world or sports events. Explore romance! Get friendly. Tonight: Socialize.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
★★★
This morning, pay attention to avoid accidents and delays. Nevertheless, you’re pumped to work, because not only is the Sun in your sign, today your ruler Mercury moves into Virgo as well. It’s all systems go! Roll up your sleeves and get down to it. Tonight: Relax.

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
★★★
You have an ambitious agenda. Meanwhile, protect your assets, money and possessions this morning. Later today, you will communicate successfully because your ruler Venus makes you charming and attractive to everyone. Note: Behind-the-scenes research will pay off. Tonight: Discussions.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
★★★★
Unexpected events might catch you off guard this morning. Be patient with others to avoid arguments. As the day wears on, focus on financial matters, earnings and your possessions. Do explore travel plans, because you’d love to get outta Dodge. Tonight: Check your belongings.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
★★★★
For most of this day the Moon is in your sign, which makes you feel more emotional than usual. However, when the Moon is in your sign (which happens for two and a half days every month) it boosts your good fortune. (Yes!) Therefore, stay steady and think about what you want to achieve. Ask for it. Tonight: You win!

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
★★★
A friend or a group might surprise you this morning. (Something out of the blue.) Later in the day, you’ll be happy to take a backseat and enjoy privacy (preferably in pleasant surroundings with good food and drink). You need some down time. (Don’t we all?) Tonight: Solitude.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
★★★
Tread carefully this morning with bosses, parents and the police, because authority figures are unpredictable. Later in the day, relations with a friend, especially a female, could be significant. Why not share your hopes and dreams for the future with this person to get their feedback? It might help you. Tonight: Friendships.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20)
★★★★
Be careful this morning. It’s an accident-prone time for you. Think before you say or do anything. Later in the day, you will be high-viz, which means people will notice you more than usual. Be aware of this in case you have to do some damage control. Tonight: Show respect.

BORN TODAY

Singer-songwriter Michael Bublé (1975), actress Michelle Williams (1980), actor Hugh Grant (1960)

This novel examines the impact of an unexpected and unexplained tragic event on a small town in rural Massachusetts. The story unfolds through the perspectives of 10 different women living there. An understated exploration of grief, family and community, and how relationships and even truths can shift when tragedy upends your world. — 3 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver

“The God of the Woods,” by Liz Moore (Riverhead Books, 2024)

An 8-year-old disappears from his wealthy family’s “preserve” in the Adirondacks. Fourteen years later, his sister disappears, too. How? Why? Liz Moore’s latest suspense novel is so compelling I pretty much couldn’t put it down. Moore crafts a well-rounded story from the points of view of several characters during events in 1961 and 1975. I particularly liked newly promoted detective Judyta Luptack and hope she returns in another novel. We don’t get an answer to every question, but I found the ending surprisingly complete. — 3 1/2 stars (out of 4); Neva Gronert, Parker

“The Beginner’s Goodbye,” by Anne Tyler (Knopf, 2012)

This novel’s protagonist, Aaron, works for his family’s vanity press, largely known for its series, “The Beginner’s (fill-in-the-blank),” guides into various mini-subjects for the uninitiated. He marries Dorothy, an independent, professional woman and they coast along contentedly in somewhat parallel lives.  But when she is killed in a freak accident, Aaron suddenly doesn’t quite know how to live his now totally solo life. The rest of the novel details his quotidian and sometimes mystical journey through grief, essentially his very own book in that quaint series of his family’s press, which would have been called “The Beginner’s Goodbye.” — 3 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver

“The Cloisters,” by Katy Hays (Atria/Simon and Schuster, 2022)

Ann Stillwell has led a quiet life in eastern Washington and wants to escape her provincial upbringing. Upon graduation from college, she becomes a summer intern at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s medieval museum, the Cloisters, which sits high on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River. Atmospheric is one of the words to describe this mystery as the author depicts the gardens and exhibits in the stone re-creation of various monasteries from France and Spain — gardens that include poisonous plants used in medieval times. It’s also a coming-of-age story as Ann navigates her passion for research in niche areas and

the individuals who she must please to continue her work. A satisfying read with a twist at the end. — 3 stars (out of 4); Susan Tracy, Denver

“What You Leave Behind,” by Wanda M. Morris (William Morrow, 2024)

A real page-turner! Deena Woods returns to her home in Brunswick, Ga., following the death of her mother, the breakup of her marriage and the loss of her job with a prestigious Atlanta law firm.  A chance encounter with an emotionally wrought, elderly man fighting to keep his family’s oceanfront property outside Brunswick leads Deena into dangerous territory when he suddenly disappears and she tries to uncover what happened to him. Her discovery of illegal land theft from rural, mostly poor families by greedy developers with powerful connections puts her in extreme jeopardy, as she hurries to find legal heirs to challenge the land “sale” and simultaneously tries to bring the developers to justice. Will Deena beat the odds? — 3 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver

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At one point I petitioned the court and was granted legal custody. She has left and come back multiple times over the years.

Angel just had a baby and is struggling in every way. She seems angry all the time. She has a history of being mean, rude and disrespectful to me over the years and at each turn, I decided to stick around.

Angel is a trauma survivor and victim of abuse and neglect as a child. I strive to offer empathy, support and unconditional love. It’s a hard job. I’m feeling that I am at a crossroads after a recent incident. Can I just be done with all of this?

I feel disrespected, taken advantage of, unappreciated and just plain sick of all the drama. Then I remember that nothing I feel could possibly compare to the challenges that she has faced, and the lifetime of trauma she has experienced.

Angel has demonstrated that she is either unwilling or not capable of working toward a healthier connection. Am I OK with being one more adult who lets her down (in her eyes, anyway) and walks away?

— Fatigued Foster Parent

Dear Fatigued: This process of “rupture and repair” is a lifetime one, according to Priscilla Singleton, LMFT, LSCW, director of Clinical Standards at the Council for Relationships. Angel is going to keep pushing to make sure that you’re actually going to stick around, Singleton told me. But your steady presence, whether Angel is accepting or rejecting it, is still a message that maybe the world is a safe place.

As a foster care worker, Singleton ran training and support groups for parents. But if you didn’t receive that — say, if Angel came to you through family connections — a lot of this probably feels unmanageable. Parents don’t have to be punching bags, but you have tools that Angel doesn’t.

Instead of walking away, work with a therapist or support group that has specific training in fostering and adoption. They can help you better understand where Angel is coming from and set a boundary that will keep you both safe. This boundary also models healthy parenting for Angel and her daughter.

Dear Eric: I was married for 25 years to a good man. We just weren’t great as a married couple. We have two grown children that live on their own.

Now that our amicable divorce is final, he has moved in with the person he started seeing while we were divorcing. I respect the relationship and I’m happy for them. The problem is, she has cut me out of any communication with him.

Apparently, she doesn’t believe our relationship is appropriate and now he is trying to make her happy by telling me not to contact him anymore. There are things regarding our daughters that I would like to discuss with him. I can’t understand how us talking can be an issue.

I realize this is out of my control, but I am having a hard time accepting it. Knowing the conversations that we have had during our divorce process and how we both agreed that our friendly relationship was best for our family going forward. Am I out of line here?

— Amicable Ex

Dear Amicable: You’re not out of line. Your ex’s new partner may be feeling insecure because you have a longstanding and healthy relationship with your ex. Not your problem… but it will probably continue to be your problem.

You should respect what he’s asking for but be clear to him, calmly and reasonably, it’s not what you discussed with respect to your daughters. I wouldn’t press it though. This relationship is still new and pales in comparison to the depth and breadth of your relationship. Give it time to settle and reach out when/if your daughters need it.

Dear Eric: I must disagree with your answer to Trapped at Home whose husband has a history of infidelity and whose children are encouraging her to divorce him.

My advice is to get tested for STIs and protect herself going forward. See a divorce lawyer to get a clear understanding of her financial reality in the event of a divorce. Her state may be a community property state, her husband may have to pay maintenance and will surely have to pay child support. She should also see a tax adviser to understand potential effects post-divorce. She may conclude her financial situation has the potential to be better than she supposed.

— Been There

Dear Been There: Thanks for sharing this perspective. I do hope you’re right and she’s in a better position than she thinks.

(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)