The end of July

I can't believe it's been over a month since I posted. The month was crammed with summer camp, getting ready for an exchange student, showing the student around Colorado, driving classes for my teenager, and I'm not sure what all really.

Our garden is growing well. We even have okra, but not enough to do anything with. I only got six plants. The nursery lady gave them to me for free because she didn't think it would grow here. Neither did we, but it is thriving, along with the herbs, squashes, and carrots. Georgia raised that I was, I never seen okra bloom before. It's really quite pretty.

I've been reading The Movies of My Life by Alberto Fuguet, each of the book's chapters is about a movie, who he saw it with, and what was happening in his life. Not only is it a unique way to structure a book, it's got me thinking about the movies of my own life, as well as the songs, and books, and even TV shows. The same week, a meme about 15 books that have stuck with you was going around facebook. Reading about the books that have stuck with people has been very fun, and has greatly added to my "to read" list. Here's my response for that meme:

"Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes. Tag 15 friends including me because I'm interested in seeing what books my friends come up with."

Simple Abundance – Sarah Ban Breathnach – being grateful, cherishing life

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe- read countless times since I was about nine or ten

Crosswicks Journals – Madeleine L’Engle - okay, so there are three – it’s cheating a little – I love her fiction too, but her journals encourage others to find creative lives, she was surrounded by so talented people

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - Barbara Kingsolver – reading this led to gardening more and to being a member of community supported farm, and to looking at food as a social, political, environmental choice

Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott – a laugh out loud guide to writing, creativity and life

The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron – permission to be creative

The bible – the good, the inspiring, and the weird

Ingathering – collection of works by Zenna Hendersen about a magical race of people – a favorite from childhood

Connections – James Burke – explains how things came to be, how little developments led to huge things like the loom and the computer

Everyday Mattters – Danny Gregory - a collection of drawings from everyday life. A neat reminder to pay attention, to cherish the little things and to be creative

Love That Dog – a short book in poems by Sharon Creech - about a child who finds his poet’s voice – reminds me of the deep emotions of childhood and to not dismiss kid’s experiences, and to encourage their writings

Neverwhere – Neil Gaiman – spooky, weird, wonderful – combined with the American Gods book I started seeing unexplainable things everywhere

The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger

Little Women – Lousia May Alcott – I read all her books as a young girl, but that one has a special place