My family knows that they will not see me for at least an hour. And they may as well not bother to call my cell phone. I cannot possibly answer. This is the day I walk through the library, collecting books for our family's summer vacation.
I, quite literally, judge the books by their covers.
I begin with the "A" aisle and walk slowly, running my eyes over each spine, allowing my mind to read the title, take in the colors, font, design. If the spine piques my interest, I take the book from the shelf and give the cover a glance to decide if I wish to read the inside flap.
I tend to gravitate towards the thin paperback books with bright colors or a font with character. A font with an elegant script will ensure I will slide it from the shelf for further inspection.
If the cover features a woman looking longingly into the distance, especially if she's wearing clothing from the Puritan/colonial era, it's a no. If there is an animal on the cover, it's quite possibly a no (don't judge...I'm still recovering from Where the Red Fern Grows). If there is a plantation house front and center, back on the shelf with you!
Do I consider that sometimes I'm missing out on an amazing read? Yes. But I believe fate will reunite us. Do I ever run across a dud in my stack of beautifully covered tomes? Indeed. It's a bummer.
However, I am prepared for that moment. Which is why I allow myself to check out ten books for our week long vacation. After all, a girl needs options!
I look forward to library day all year. For me, it is the official start to summer. And I love the moment when I see a book and I know, just know, that it's going to be remarkable.
There are two series that I am devoted to and I read the next book in the series each year on vacation, and I often take one extra book in the series, just in case. But the others are completely random, and I love the moments of discovery that this method brings. Besides, who doesn't love loitering in the library amongst all the possibilities? For this girl, it's true love.
What I'm taking on vacation this year:
Oscar Wilde and the Dead Man's Smile by Gyles Brandreth (I LOVE this series. Oscar Wilde is my
jam!)
The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection and The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith (I always anticipate my summer reunion with Mme Ramotswe!)
Manuscript Found in Accra by Paulo Coehlo
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
The Iguana Tree by Michel Stone
Orhan's Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian
A Fine Imitation by Amber Brock
The Mortifications by Derek Palacio
Check out the covers...I think you'll like what you see.
Now...let summer begin!
Friday, June 16, 2017
Monday, June 12, 2017
Summer of Fun = Summer of Inspiration!
I wish I could claim this idea as my own, but the truth is that I saw it in a magazine years ago and then adapted it for my family.
At the start of every summer, my kids and I gather around the table and create our "Summer of Fun Jar" list. We each get several scraps of paper and write on them various ideas we have for fun this summer. In past years, the items have ranged from "Visit the Zoo" and "Find a Waterfall" to "Create a Harry Potter Themed Meal" and "Have a Camp Out". Some new additions this year? "Visit a State Park", "Turn the House into a Museum", and "Spa at Home" (believe it or not, that wasn't one of mine!).
The idea here is to get us out of the house, or at least away from the screens for a little while, and to do so on the cheap! Most of our items are free or take the place of money we'd spend anyway (like a themed meal). A few of them incur a cost (the zoo, a museum, a baseball game), but we can splurge occasionally!
We draw an activity at the beginning of the summer and once we've completed it, we draw another. We began back in 2012 by drawing just one a week, on Sunday night, but we quickly realized it was too much fun to hold off...and we really wanted to make all of our ideas happen. Besides, everyone's excited when it's time to draw the next little slip of paper from the jar!
I believe that creativity is one of the best gifts we can give or receive, and many of our activities are just that, whether it's writing a story or going to see a free concert, baking a new treat or buying something from the farmer's market and figuring out what to do with it! And we work our creative muscles together, as a family. This way we try to show our kids know how important creativity is!
Last night, as part of our "Summer of Fun", my ten year old daughter made dinner all on her own, a three course meal. Simple? Yes. Delicious? Mostly. The best? Absolutely.
Let the fun commence!
It's been a bit since I've updated you on my bookshelf. What I'm reading this week:
Queen Isabella by Alison Weir
The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo (I know, it's a crime that I haven't read it before now!)
In the meantime, I've also read: Are You There God, It's Me Margaret, by Judy Blume; Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman; and The Notorious RBG, by Irin Carmon.
I also want my readers to know that if you recommended a summer reading book for me, I've ordered it or put it on hold at the library, and I'll keep you updated on my reading!
At the start of every summer, my kids and I gather around the table and create our "Summer of Fun Jar" list. We each get several scraps of paper and write on them various ideas we have for fun this summer. In past years, the items have ranged from "Visit the Zoo" and "Find a Waterfall" to "Create a Harry Potter Themed Meal" and "Have a Camp Out". Some new additions this year? "Visit a State Park", "Turn the House into a Museum", and "Spa at Home" (believe it or not, that wasn't one of mine!).
The idea here is to get us out of the house, or at least away from the screens for a little while, and to do so on the cheap! Most of our items are free or take the place of money we'd spend anyway (like a themed meal). A few of them incur a cost (the zoo, a museum, a baseball game), but we can splurge occasionally!
We draw an activity at the beginning of the summer and once we've completed it, we draw another. We began back in 2012 by drawing just one a week, on Sunday night, but we quickly realized it was too much fun to hold off...and we really wanted to make all of our ideas happen. Besides, everyone's excited when it's time to draw the next little slip of paper from the jar!
I believe that creativity is one of the best gifts we can give or receive, and many of our activities are just that, whether it's writing a story or going to see a free concert, baking a new treat or buying something from the farmer's market and figuring out what to do with it! And we work our creative muscles together, as a family. This way we try to show our kids know how important creativity is!
Last night, as part of our "Summer of Fun", my ten year old daughter made dinner all on her own, a three course meal. Simple? Yes. Delicious? Mostly. The best? Absolutely.
Let the fun commence!
It's been a bit since I've updated you on my bookshelf. What I'm reading this week:
Queen Isabella by Alison Weir
The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo (I know, it's a crime that I haven't read it before now!)
In the meantime, I've also read: Are You There God, It's Me Margaret, by Judy Blume; Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman; and The Notorious RBG, by Irin Carmon.
I also want my readers to know that if you recommended a summer reading book for me, I've ordered it or put it on hold at the library, and I'll keep you updated on my reading!
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