July Reading

July was a light reading month. I can't pin-point why, but I just didn't get through much in general, or much of great consequence. I re-read The Book Thief, which is a marvelous book and well worth reading at least once. And I listened to Anne of Avonlea. (I'm hoping to work my way through the series throughout the rest of this year.)

In place of a brief book review, I want to give you two quotes from my reading this month. Beautifully written sentences make me happy.

My few English words were blades of grass plucked from a meadow. To learn a new language would be like mowing that meadow blade by blade. (from When We Were Strangers by Pamela Schoenewaldt)

She felt the stirring of creative impulse, but didn't act on it right away; she must coax it from its hiding place, like a fox from its den. (from The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri)


My Completed List:

Mrs. Pollifax on Safari by Dorothy Gilman
Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (audio)
The Violets of March by Sarah Jio
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri
When We Were Strangers by Pamela Schoenewaldt

A conversation at 6:20 a.m.

Me: We need to order a new filter for this. (referring to sink filtration system)

Jeremy: We need to send you back to school.

Me: Why?

Jeremy: Because you have a good mind.

Me: What does that have to do with the water filter?

Jeremy: I don't know. I just thought about it.


Obviously we don't always communicate clearly, especially over breakfast early in the morning. :)

Many Happy Returns!

This past weekend was all about celebrating the life of this guy! (By the way, those dimples make me a little weak in the knees!)

Friday afternoon was a theater visit to see Captain America.

Saturday evening was supper at a Mediterranean restaurant (mmm, falafels!).

Sunday afternoon was gifts, chocolate tweed pie, and a solo rendition of Happy Birthday.

I am so thankful for my husband! Happy Birthday, Jeremy!

It's Pie Time!

It's summer and it's hot! I want salads and grilled meats for supper. And for dessert? Summer fruit pies.


So far this July I've made a strawberry pie, a sweet cherry pie, and a peach-blueberry pie. The peach was definitely my favorite. I'm hoping to make a blueberry pie before too long. And likely another peach pie. I have two disks of pie dough in the freezer waiting for my next pie baking venture.
Lest you think that Jeremy and I are gorging ourselves on pie, well, we're not. I found a 6-inch pie pan at the thrift store and it makes a beautiful little pie, just right for two people.

What's your favorite flavor of pie?

First Harvest

I harvested my first zucchini from the garden! While watering the other day, I looked down and there was a full-grown zucchini. I'm sure I didn't see it the day before. :)

I'm loving fresh herbs from my garden, but I'm looking forward to more zucchini, tomatoes, and peppers. I'm cautiously optimistic that I'll enjoy a good harvest. Unfortunately we won't be enjoying any fresh green beans, as some rabbits helped themselves to the plants. Oh well, that's a row I can devote to some spinach and lettuce this fall.

How are your gardens coming along?

Nephews

I am of the opinion that I have some of the cutest nephews around! They are a rowdy bunch, but full of fun and really just plain funny guys. I'm fairly certain that Max is just waiting to grow up to join in the activity.

I somehow didn't get any pictures of Calvin and Patrick on our recent camping expedition, but here's one of Titus modeling his new bike helmet. And one of Max snoozing away in Papa's arms. Aren't they adorable?

I Can Draw Stick People

Do you know something I love about my husband? His artistic ability. These skills don't get exercised as regularly as I'd like to see. But every time he sits down to sketch or doodle, I'm impressed.

Back in the day when we were dating and he was "putting some moves on", he wooed me with little drawings, notes with sketches, and even once a watercolor. As our relationship progressed and then turned into marriage, well the doodle love notes diminished. (Kind of just the way it goes, isn't it?) :)

So, last night when I finally got home after being gone for nearly 12 hours, I was surprised by an envelope left at the door for me. A love-note sketch accompanied by a mixed CD. Jeremy was gone at an appointment, leaving me alone to soak in my gift. I popped in the CD, sat in our big comfy chair and read my note. Tears pooled in the corner of my eyes, a few trailing down my cheeks. I felt so loved.

I am always impressed that even in Jeremy's quick sketches, he conveys so much detail. I wish I could give you a glimpse of his talent, but we don't have a scanner. So, you'll just have to believe me when I tell you that my husband is artistically talented.

Camping

Three years ago I camped with my family, one final time before I got married that fall.
Two years ago Jeremy and I camped with my sister and brother-in-law.
One and a half years ago Jeremy and I attempted a fall camping trip alone.

I love to camp, but after our ill-fated camping trip (unseasonable cold+majorly damp wood=ridiculously cold and no fun), I had little desire to try again.

This past weekend I joined my whole family for what might just become an annual excursion. We spent three days relaxing, eating, talking, eating, playing games, eating, and generally enjoying the out of doors. I was able to bring along my bike, which was fortunate, as the closest toilet was at least an 1/8 of a mile away. The bike got some good use. :)

If you do the math, we had three campsites, three dining canopies covering three picnic tables, seven tents, four kids, 13 adults, 17 chairs, one cot, one tricycle, two munchkin-size bikes, and five regular-size bikes.

As you can imagine it was a busy and very happy place to be over the 4th of July weekend!
(Sadly I don't have pictures to show, but I know the memories will last.)

I like this quote...

June Reading

June was definitely a slower reading month for me, but I did complete one of my reading goals for the year--a book on marriage, Becoming Your Spouse's Better Half.
A couple posts back I briefly mentioned my enjoyment of Erica Bauermeister's book Joy for Beginners. This book chronicles a specific year in the life of seven interconnected woman. Their friend just in remission from breast cancer gives each woman a challenge to accomplish in the coming year. For one, it is learning to bake bread. For another it is taking a trip on her own. For a third it is getting a tattoo. The subsequent chapters focus individually on each woman and how the challenge changes her...most of the woman wonder how their friend so perfectly chose each challenge. Because I hope some of you might choose to pick this book up, I don't want to give too much away. So, that's all I'm going to say on this.

My completed reading list:

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
Becoming Your Spouse's Better Half by Rick Johnson
Only the River Runs Free by Bodie and Brock Thoene
Joy for Beginners by Erica Bauermeister
South of Superior by Ellen Airgood