I’m so glad it’s summer. Although this year has been strange, weird, and sad, the freedom of summer brings with it the joy of flowers, fresh vegetables, and days spent visiting the creek. We are still dealing with the grief and practical issues of my mother-in-law’s death as well as lesser disappointments: the canceled sleep-away camp, no Action Camp at our church, and no swimming lessons. However, we are discovering new interests. The girls are taking horseback riding lessons twice a month and the boys are doing seven weeks of golf lessons. Otherwise, we are working on our house, our jobs, and spending time outside a lot.
Watching:
This spring we studied Early American History. As part of that study we looked at the lives of three African Americans: Sojourner Truth, Amos Fortune, and Harriet Tubman. We had planned to do a field trip to the Harriet Tubman and Underground Railway National Historical Park but like so many things, the trip had to be put on hold due to Covid-19. However, we were excited to discover a new film had been make about Tubman’s life and a few weeks ago we finally got to watch it on Amazon Prime!
It’s was excellent! I was very pleased that it followed her life very closely and took only a few liberties to make it a bit more dramatic in places for a movie audience. I highly recommend it for older elementary ages on up. If you have very sensitive children, I recommend previewing it first to make sure they can handle the subject matter.
As our country once again grapples with issues of police brutality in the wake of George Floyd’s death I also want to recommend both the book and the movie, Just Mercy. I am always impressed with the work and voice of Bryan Stevenson. The book deals with one main long narrative story as well as many other shorter stories as they relate to the criminal justice system. Stevenson’s organization deals with justice specifically as it relates to racial equality, the treatment of minors, and the treatment of the mentally ill who are incarcerated. While it deal with hard things, the overall tone is hopeful and empowering. The movie is available on Amazon Prime as well.
Listening:
I’ve discovered a new series I’m loving. I’ve shared it in my newsletter but not on my blog. The D. C. Smith series by Peter Grainger is fantastic and imagine pretty much anyone who loves Louise Penny will adore D. C. Smith. I’m listening to them for free on Hoopla. Start with An Accidental Death and go in order from there. You will soon be attached to the characters, Smith’s dry humor, and be engrossed in each book’s slow burner mystery.
Reading:
As for books on my night stand I just finished the new release The Jane Austen Society (which was good but not exceptional) and am in the middle of A City of Bells which is full of wonderfully old-fashioned descriptions that I love.
Eating/Making:
We usually eat outside all summer long so we love cold salads and grilled meat and veggies. We love this Cold Caprese Pasta Salad and I tried these Peach Muffins this morning and they are scrumptious!
This spring I took a break from knitting and rediscovered embroidery. I got an embroidery kit from Cozy Blue and love her patterns. If you are looking for something new, I recommend giving her kits a try.
What are you into right now?
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