I'm back!

aka: summer and stuff

Finally, I'm sitting down to write here on my little blog-corner of the 'world-wide-internet-computer-web'. It's been a ridiculously long time, not to say an eon, and the reasons and excuses are various. There were a few mechanical issues as usual, but mostly it has been a matter of pressing matters of business and pleasure, along with a few rays of sunshine that I made sure to catch.

It's always hard to know where to begin--what parts to fill in, and what parts to leave to the imagination. We'll start with books. Isn't that always where I start? I've read a dozen or so since last I wrote here; all of them good, and some superb. Here are the first lines from a few of them, just because. I saw this pin on pinterest (I start sentences like this quite often now) describing how sometimes you fall in love with a book at the first sentence, and some are more subtle, and you don't know you love them until you're well in. And when you've finished, you don't want to let either of them go...

'A flock of pelicans, their white wings dyed apricot by the setting sun, sailed low over the acacia trees of the garden with a sound like tearing silk, and the sudden swish of their passing sent Alice's heart into her throat and dried her mouth with panic.'  --DEATH IN KENYA, M.M. Kaye, 

Kaye's murder mysteries are mid-century delightful, atmospheric, and have a grand sense of place.

'He was asleep, but woke at the sound of the key turning in the lock.' --QUEEN OF ATTOLIA, Megan Whalen Turner

Really superb, the whole series (this is the second book). Brilliant, subtle, and unexpected.

and on a lighter note:

'Sadie Kane here. If you're listening to this, congratulations! you survived doomsday.' --SERPENT'S SHADOW, Rick Riordan

A fun combination of friends, adventures, and a lesson in Egyptian mythology!

The writing of stories also comes along swimmingly, and I'm actually quite happy at the amount I've been able to write, despite being busy and feeling busier.

Books have become my job, as well. I'm a library assistant now! I now clean, straighten, check, find, arrange, and check out books (to you, as well as to myself).

I've also been crafting, as you can see...

We also had a friend with us for a good long time, and had several small adventures. 

I just came back from a solo jaunt to Iowa to visit friends, where we did a lot of tubing.

I've been swimming too, and going to baseball and basketball games... climbing lots of stairs to get to that view....

Well I've covered some of my favorite topics: books, books, writing, travel/adventures. 

The subject of food I will leave for another time, but soon. 

In the meantime, soak up the sun where you find it. I certainly am. 

Read.

Sing.

Breathe and stretch. Wonder at stars.