My 2014 Summer Reading List

Summer is right around the corner, which for me means a break from teaching, lots more time with the kids, relaxed schedules, road trips, and, of course, a summer reading list! Each year, I (wrongly) think I will have hours on end, free from responsibility, to laze around reading books of my choosing. And every year I put together a monster reading list and never make it through.
This year I decided to be more realistic, and to limit my list to 7 books. I know I will read more, as I always end up spontaneously starting books (it is actually sort of a problem of mine.... as I write this I am reading 5 books at once, because I just keep starting new ones!). But, this year I am actually hoping to make it through the 7 on my list (and any others will be an added bonus).
So, without further ado, here are my 2014 choices:

Do you make a summer reading list? If so, what have you selected for this summer?

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This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo- no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama.

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Yarn Along

Joining with Ginny at Small Thing's for today's Yarn Along. 

I haven't worked on my sweater at all this past week, and I think it may be feeling neglected. I made a wee vest and hat for a new baby, then had a busy weekend with friends and no time for knitting.... I am ready to get back into the groove and make some progress.

I did finish up a couple of books this week.. I finally finished This Place on Earth, and also read The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (one of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series-- aren't they just so fun and easy?!?). Now I am focused on some parenting books... I have been reading through Playful Parenting and Buddhism for Mothers of Young Children. Phoebe, who is three, has been giving me quite a go at it lately, so I am trying to pick up some new tips..... I will keep you all posted on how it goes!

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Kombucha!

Over the past year, I have found myself drinking a lot of Kombucha. It's full of natural probiotics, it helps detox the body (potentially helping to prevent cancer) and it aids in digestion, joint health, and immune system function. However, it is not cheap to buy, especially in single bottles at the store.
So... I decided that I wanted to try my hand at making my own. So, I took a class from a local kombucha brewer, and gave it a go. And, my first home batch came out pretty good!
I still need to work on getting my system down and getting into a routine, but it was easier than I had expected. I made a basic, unflavored version and it tasted more like apple cider vinegar than I had expected, but it is still good. I am excited to experiment with new teas and flavorings.

Have you ever made kombucha?

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What We're Reading

What are you reading?

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Yarn Along

Joining with Ginny at Small Thing's for today's Yarn Along. 

 I am taking a quick break from knitting my sweater.... a wonderful friend had a baby a few weeks earlier than expected, and I was caught off guard without a gift ready! So... I spent part of the weekend knitting the new arrival a hat and working on a plain vest for her as well. Just a few more rows and it will be all set to be sent! And, after a quick break, I am actually looking forward to picking up my sweater once again. Maybe that was all the motivation I needed.

I am still reading This Place on Earth, and working on finishing up the first book in the Game of Throne series. Even though I have been reading a bit each day, I feel like I just haven't made much progress.  And, as you can see from my photo above, I have a huge stack of books just waiting to be cracked. And, they are all very important books too. Once I read them, I will have a perfectly well behaved three year old, right? Can you imagine? Life would be so boring, wouldn't it?

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An Adventure-full Weekend (And a Whole Lot of Pictures)

This weekend was full. We had a three day weekend, and we packed a lot in. I am exhausted.

Finn came home sick from school on Friday, and he was still recuperating Saturday morning. So, I took Phoebe out for a little excursion to the Audubon Society to see some rescue birds (and some wild birds too). We also took a short hike to their pond, which is my favorite place to see salamanders. It was a great mama-Phoebe bonding time and it was interesting to see how she was on a hike without Finn there. Finn is always ready to turn around and head back, and Phoebe almost always wants whatever Finn wants. But, Phoebe in the woods without Finn was quite content. We turned back when she needed to use the toilet, but only after she asked if she could dig a hole and poop in the woods. Umm, not on a hiking trail at the Audubon Society sweet girl...
Then I headed (without kids!) to a naked lady party (for those of you unfamiliar with the term, it is a ladies clothing swap.. no one is actually naked) and spruced up my wardrobe. Then home for a run, dinner on the grill, and a post-dinner family walk.

Sunday morning, Finn was feeling back to normal and the whole family headed up to Lacamas Park in Camas, Washington. I hadn't been there for a couple of years, and never in spring, and was reminded how beautiful it is there. We saw western painted turtles, a cormorant, lots of ducks, and even a waterfall. We had lunch in Camas at a tiny Mexican restaurant where Phoebe tried to speak Spanish to the waiter. After, I took the kids for an afternoon playdate with some friends, and then for dinner we went to a barbeque at our friends house.

Today, in celebration of Memorial Day, Finn didn't have school. Todd decided he needed to work so I took the kids up to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Washington. It is somewhere that has been on my radar for awhile.. it's only 40 minutes away and I have no idea why I haven't been before. It is a gem of a place and a paradise for birders. It is basically like a bird safari... you get a tour on CD, which explain the different areas and tells you what to look for. There are a couple of places you can get out and hike, or you can stay in your car. We saw great blue herons, egrets, tons of red-winged blackbirds, cinnamon teals, painted turtles, and many more birds. And this spot is absolutely gorgeous. I am already planning a trip to go back near the end of summer to see how things have changed. I love it there. We finished up weekend with a trip to the Rose Festival downtown with some neighbors. The kids went on a few rides, ate french fries and ice cream, and ran around like maniacs. It was a good end to a good weekend.

How was your weekend?

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