For my birthday, Billy gave me some money to go buy things for flower pots. We wandered around the nursery (Western Gardens in Sandy: great service and great plants), trying to decide what to put in the pots. We decided that we wanted to put perennials in the pots (although we do annuals in the hanging baskets). Just in the last couple of weeks they have really gone crazy and started to fill in.
Don't you just love the petite white flowers on the moss... so delicate and subtle.
In book club we had been reading a lot of serious, nonfiction books. They were all good but it seemed like it was time to lighten the mood and read something a little different. So Good Omens written by Teri Pratchet and Neil Gaiman was chosen. My of my what a great book. It is all about the Apocalypse. But everything goes wrong: the antichrist was misplaced and landed in a nice little British family, an angel and a fallen angel have become friends over the thousands of years they have been on earth together and happen to like the world the way it is. This book is full of everything: aliens, Atlanteans, Tibetans digging tunnels, and the four Horse "persons."
I found myself laughing out loud at the clever anecdotes and interpretations of the end of the world. I admit that there were many that I knew should be funny but were beyond me (the authors are both British and seem to have some inside jokes with their countrymen). There was a point in the book when I wanted a little less description and a little more... action. But soon the ball was rolling and the end of the world upon them.
So if you are looking for a funny, interesting read, go pick up Good Omens from your local library or bookstore and read on, friends.
“Lock up your libraries if you like, but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.”
~Virgina Woolf, A Room of One's Own
A couple of weeks ago our house was graced by my sister and sister-in-law (with the smiley baby in tow) for a day of flowers and lettuce wraps. I showed them what I learned last year about planting your own hanging baskets and my sister made her yummy lettuce wraps as we talked about light things and deep things. It was messy and fun and we all walked away with flowers to brighten our homes.
Allie Barnes via her instagram feed
I have a friend, whom I have never met. She lives a couple states away, though she studies a mere 45 mintues from me. She is brave and talented and honest. And she is a musican. A real, full blown musican with a receontly released EP full of her words and little pieces of her soul.
You may think that I am a little biased since she is my friend, but I am being completely honest when I tell you how I love her music. Her voice is sweet and clear without being over-sentimental. Her words are honest and complicated. She shows her struggle with depression and healing, not just tells you about it. My favorite song of the moment is "The Slow Goodbye", though "Sirens" and "Husband" are tied for second place.
Although she has struggled with depression, she actively fills her life with meaningful things, helping her to deal with her struggle. She volunteers, works, studies, challenges herself to record a new song a week, speaks at conferences, and is just generally pretty cool. A few weeks ago, she wrote and recorded a song called "Everything" for Tiffany and Spencer, after their baby Calvin passed away.You can follow her adventures on instagram and her blog.
You can purchase her EP here. She also records lullabies and fairy tales, which you can buy here (I love Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and All The Pretty Little Horses). But my all time favorite recording of hers is Edelweiss, which she did as a service to someone. I listen to it over and over and over again.
(I know there are a lot of links. But I promise, she is worth it.)
I just love the album art work. So pretty. (Photo taken by her brother and art work by Caitlin Connolly.)
Time is already moving so quickly but I thought I would share some of the pictures from my birthday last month. It was the best birthday/birthday week ever. Billy surprised me with taking the WHOLE WEEK OFF! Best. gift. ever! The week overflowed with gardening, the aquarium, long walks, and rainy afternoons. On my actual birthday, we did a little day trip up to Logan. We tried to go on a hike but planned poorly for altitude and a washed out bridge. But we still went to the Willow Park Zoo (I love it there) and to Le None, a little italian resturant in a little old house. I think we should do it again, but dress up and leave the child when a baby sitter. Next time:)
There has been a lot going on in the last couple of weeks. As most of you know, Tiffany and Spencers baby passed away before they could give birth. We are all so sad but feel a sense of peace. I wrote about it on the We Are Women blog yesterday. I would write about it more here but, to be honest with you, it is still sad and painful to think about it. I spent most of last week with no energy or desire to do anything. So for now, I will leave it at that.
I would like to thank everyone for all their love and prayers and support. It has truly been touching to see how so many rally together in times of grief and pain. I appreciate your friendship and love.
(Source)
I had often seen this book floating around booklists and libraries but honestly never really thought to read it. It was choosen for book club and I am so glad that I finally sat down and read it. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings is the autobiography of Maya Angelou and tells the story of her growing up. The majority of the book takes place in Arkanas and deals with the struggles she faced including racisim and rape. Though dealing with these difficult issues, Dr. Angelou writes in from the perspective she had as a young girl.
This book opened some great conversation for our book club as we talked about rape, banning books (this book is often banned from schools and libraries), and writing an autobiography as literature. It was a wonderful book and really made me sit and think, as a mother, how I felt about books being banned.
You can see more of what I found here.
