Iām loosely participating in five? July specific Booktube Readathons! I really enjoy just marking off prompts! šā
I decorated some of my July pages ahead in my to-do pocket Moleskine because thereās some travel and family stuff going on. I usually decorate this one the day of use because itās so small, but I donāt pack all my journaling supplies when going on trips! I especially love the Jane Austen stickers I saved for the start of Jane Austen July! šā„ļøšø
Deck-a-TBR-a-Thon! Summerween! Private Eye July! Jane Austen July! Zoom in for Prompts, if interested! š ššš
These are some summer long prompts! I made a great dent in them in June!
Two June Read-a-Thons that I had a lot of fun with! I just read what Iām in the mood for and make them fit mostly, but I do tailor a few of my choices depending on topic. Read a couple American Revolution type books with my kids etc.
June Reading Journal pages almost full!
I purchased coffee stickers and cute yellow bakery type washi so my July theme is Yellow Coffee & Flower Shop! š¤Ŗš ššš¤šš¤š
VERY ambitious health/mental/spiritual/relational goals for July! šš±š
What are you creating lately? I so enjoy working in my journals.
Beauty in the midst of construction zone! š š„°
Iāve enjoyed Jessicaās blog for awhile now and I saw she was joining in a bookish blog hop about our 2026 reading! I used to blog hop a lot and really enjoyed linking up with others over a common topic. š Iām joining her at Words & Peace for this reading meme reflecting about your first six months of reading.
Instructions from Emma at Words & Peace:
In 2021, Jo at The Book Jotter started hosting the meme Six in Six. She stopped blogging in 2025, so I have decided to host it myself.
What is 6 in 6?
The idea is to look back at the books you have read so far in the six months of this year. Now, I love plays with numbers, so Iām extending this meme: you can post any time in July, or as early as 6/6, June 6th.
What do you post?
Choose 6 books in 6 categories. You can come up with your own category, or choose among the following examples (copied from Joās blog):
Six new authors to me
Six authors I have read before
Six authors I am looking forward to reading more of
Six books I have enjoyed the most
Six books I was disappointed with
Six series of books read or started
Six authors I read last year ā but not so far this year
Six books that took me on extraordinary journeys
Six books that took me by the hand and led me into the past
Six books from the past that drew me back there
Six books from authors I know will never let me down
Six books I must mention that donāt fit nicely into any category
Six books I started in the first six months of the year and was still caught up with in July
Six trips to Europe
Six blogging events I enjoyed
Six bookish things Iām looking forward to
Six Espionage or Historical Novels I enjoyed
Six Cool Classics
Six Non-US/Non-British Authors
Six From the Non-Fiction Shelf
Six books that didnāt live up to expectations
Six books that I had one or two problems with but am still glad I tried
Six books that are related to The Great War or Second World War
Six bookshops I have visited
Six books Iāve read in an English translation
Six books which are better than the film
Six books which are worse than the film
Six books that have sport as their major theme
Six favourite places to read
Six books read on kindle and then went and bought an actual copy
Six books I abandoned
Six classics I have read
Six books I have read on my Kindle
Six physical books I have read
Six book covers I love
Six book covers that bear no resemblance to the story contained within
Six books to read to avoid politics
Six books I have read but not reviewed
Six books I have read in lockdown
Six classic mysteries
Six books about Royalty
Six pretty book covers
Six books set in a country other than my own
Six books that feature a Pandemic
Six books that are great when self-isolating
Six books recently added to my wish list
Six mysteries, thrillers or crime novels NOT by Agatha Christie
Six books with titles connected to rivers, seas and storms
Six nature related books
Six books about Librarians and Libraries
Six books I really want to buy in the next six months
Six books that feature a building in the title
My categories Iāve chosen to share about are:
Six favorite genres so far
Six favorite reads so far in 2026
Six favorite Booktube Readathons
Six New-to-Me Authors
Six Mysteries I loved
Six Books I Read from My Shelf
My Six Favorite Genres: (many are a mixture of these below! Iām such an eclectic reader!)
Fairytale/Classic Retellings
Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Mystery
Young Adult
Middle Grade
My Six Favorite Reads so far 2026 (so hard to choose!)
The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco (beautiful, heartwarming Middle Grade)
The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas (gorgeous, Biblical Historical Fiction)
The Will of Many by James Islington (wonderful epic Historical Fantasy)
Through Rushing Waters by Catherine Richmond (Heartbreaking Historical Fiction)
Mistress Pat by L.M. Montgomery (beautifully written classic)
Dawn of Wonder by Jonathan Renshaw (classic fantasy story of an underdog!)
My Six Favorite Booktube Readathons So Far this Year: (You can still join these! I donāt follow the monthly prompts, I just fill them in as I go!)
Reading and journaling bring me so much joy š„¹ so the marriage of the two is a double dose! I donāt really plan, but just go with whatever is inspiring me in my sticker/washi stash. I had a kind of slow start to my reading in the beginning of May, my reading mood was changing, had some meh/ok-ish reads at the start. I pretty much hated Date with Danger! š¤£ The end of the month reading though was amazing! I loved all the Middle Grade reads for a small readathon on Booktube called Middle Grade May! Especially, Secrets of Shakespeareās Grave and its sequel, Tower of the Five Orders by Deron R. Hicks. I really enjoyed the Christian historical light fantasy, The Huntress, also. Honorable mention goes to The Little House in the Highlands which is based on Laura Ingalls Wilderās ancestors. It was a slow start but SO cute! I made some good progress on my newest bingo boards I printed off from Pinterest, also. Georgette Heyer is hit or miss for me, but I loved two of her Regency romances, Arabella and Sylvester. Overall, a great reading month.
Sick of my sky photos yet? š I canāt help myself! ššāØāļø
Hi Friends! ššø Book chat here today! One of my favorite relaxing genres of books to emerge over the past few years is retellings or reimaginings of longstanding favorites. I know the literature purists probably would scowl at me, but I canāt help myself. šā„ļøšš¼ These are all considered āsweet/cleanā reads depending on your taste levels. I put a note on each regarding content.
Katen Witemeyer ~ Iāve enjoyed THREE of this authorās sweet retellings, Fairest of Heart, a Texas retelling of Snow White, with a fantastically drawn villain, Cloaked in Beauty, a great Texas twist on āRed Riding Hoodā (romance a little heavy handed in this one, FYI š¤®), and also her To Love A Beast, retelling of āBeauty & the Beastā. I donāt personally recommend the Cinderella one because I couldnāt even get past the first chapter due to a characterās heavy fake Southern accent. šš«£š¤š Maybe you wouldnāt mind?
Sadie: An Amish Retelling of Snow White ~ I donāt read hardly any Amish fiction anymore, but Sarah Priceās retellings are fun, unique mashup, and I find them relaxing! Again the villain stepmother was very well drawn and I thought Price made you think deeper about why she was acting the way she was. Priceās āBeauty & the Beastā Amish story is great too! I want to try her Pride & Prejudice title someday although the Persuasion title wasnāt great. š
Eastby Edith Pattou ~
This would be a perfect read for winter! Slow and atmospheric retelling of āEast of the Sun, West of the Moonā tale. This is SO well-written and intriguing! I think about it often. You have to work at it a bit, but in the end you are rewarded. This was a bit on the darker and creepier end, keeping in the tradition of folktales. I want to try the other in the duology, West.
Agnes Aubertās Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett ~ I have a mixed experience with this authorās books due to my appreciation of traditional morality, but overall, this was a super cute reimagining of Diana Wynne Jonesā Howlās Moving Castle! If you like cats, cozy shops, time/space slips, magical fantasies with artifacts, books, etc and quirky characters, you may enjoy this. The only other one of hers I FULLY enjoy is a retelling of Anne of Green Gables with magic called Grace of the Wild Things.
Deathmark by Kate Stradling ~ This is a super unique, cozy fantasy retelling of LM Montgomeryās The Blue Castle. The cover is darker than the content. It does have a plague and some grimness to the beginning, just FYI! I really enjoyed this and hope to reread soon.
Awakened by Rosanna M. White ~ I loved this unique take on āThe Little Mermaidā. This is a long, intricate story and it has the authorās Catholic faith pretty strongly woven in. I was very intrigued and impressed by this! Mermaid stories arenāt my favorite, but I thoroughly enjoyed this very strange and creative version. The romance is heavier in this one, just FYI, than I prefer, but overall, tastefully done.
Suspended in the Stars by E.A. Hendryx ~ This is like a Greatest Showman and Star Wars mashup! ššš I really especially enjoyed the first 3/4 of the story, the last 1/4 was a little slower, but it was SO creative and unique, I had to include it here. Sweet romantic subplot, but a bit insta for my tastes. Try it out!
Soot & Slippers by Kate Stradling ~ This was such a lovely, yet tense novella and interesting angle to take with a āCinderellaā retelling. I loved the sewing/designing part of this and reading the creations Cinderella came up with! The ending was a bit too perfect for me, but for a short tale, this was very well done! The stepmother is CREEPY in this one! š«£
How ābout you? Do you like reimaginings on favorite folktales and classic stories or are you appalled at me!? šā„ļøššæ Happy Reading!
1. Manga Classics! Manga is a Japanese cartoon type story telling that you turn the pages left to right. There are a lot variations and genres out there ( including po*n graphic -so beware!), but our family has really enjoyed many English translated stories . Our favorite BY FAR is Manga Classic retellings of our beloved favorites. Above our just a few of the ones we own. They are a bit spendy, but we collect them for birthdays or Christmas.
2. The Anno Math Game books were so fun for my youngest to do with my husband. Definitely for younger kids but such delightful illustrations and unique ways of looking at mathematics.
3. Iām privileged to write and collage for this Christian homemaker womenās letter. It has grown from a few friends who met years ago via Instagram and blogs. A new website has launched for subscribers and it would make a wonderful gift for any mother!
4. Last but not least, I highly recommend these GORGEOUS sticker packs from Peter Pauper Press. You can get them on Amazon. My favorites are definitely the Cottagecore and Enchanted Forest books!
Fun, adventurous story set near the Amazon River!Favorite history/geography/architecture picture book series by Elizabeth Mann!
ā¢listening toand reading ā¢ā„ļøšæ~ we are really enjoying our read aloud of Journey to the River Sea. Weāve kind of poked our head into South America, this year while studying Early American history, explorers, etc. We have some Ancient reading going on and early European too. Itās seems to be opening up ideas and interesting discussions and narrations. š
A few individual things with different children we are enjoying! Oldies, but goodies. Trying to āuse my shelvesā! Two Favorites here!
ā¢watching and noticingā¢ā„ļøšæ
One child mentioned within my hearing how The Divine Comedy šand the podcast The 100 Days of Dante were coming together with other things. My heart cheered inside. š ā„ļø Iāve noticed that Marvel and the Percy Jackson Series have been being connected to Greek/Norse myths we are always enjoying in our Literature. My older kids enjoy some of the Marvel movies and ALL of my kids have appreciated Percy Jacksonās adventure stories.
Tornado šŖļø/ thunderstorm weather in our area! š±š¬
What have you been listening to, reading, watching, and noticing? Iāve been so interested and pleased with our history adventures this year! Thank You, Lord! ā„ļøššš„°
šJust remembering here my favorite reads of January, February, and March. I love looking back and also sharing in hopes you might find one you love!š
ā¢The Road Past Altamontby Gabrielle Roy, translated by Joyce Marshall ~ Canadian writer connects four stories loosely on mother and daughter relationships, growing older, time, and deep longing all cloaked in gorgeous, sparse writing.
ā¢The Dawn of Wonder by Jonathan Renshaw ~ a wonderful quest fantasy story surrounding Aedan and his friends. This has amazing friendship, leadership, and character growth.
ā¢This is Happiness by Niall Williams ~ A small Irish village on the cusp of change. You grow to love and care for the characters and see yourself in them. This is such a human story and the author understands small village life! This was so beautiful at times it makes you ache.
ā¢The Will of Many by James Islington ~ I absolutely loved the main character, Vis, and how much he values the memory and lessons of his father. The battle between doing whatās right and surviving in a system built on greed and corruption. So many wonderful characters and ideas to consider in this epic fantasy.
ā¢Through Rushing Water by Catherine Richmond ~ Gorgeous historical fiction about an ex-Russian nobility immigrant who gets sent to the American West as a school teacher to a Native tribe. This will pull at your heart strings. Richmond did a fantastic job of not sugar coating this time period.
ā¢The Star That Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson ~ This had a slow start, but a wonderful blended family story set in Michigan on the cusp of WWII. I loved the literature threads, the conversation about Indigenous mixed-race tensions, and the gentle faith themes woven throughout. Solid middle grade read!
ā¢Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg ~ This feels a bit Disney-Frozen-ish , but donāt let that stop you from this quiet, deceptively deeper story. Slow start and very creepy villain, but what a wonderful story of selflessness and how servanthood ultimately defeats loneliness.
ā¢The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco ~ This is such a heartfelt story around two sisters dealing with death and chronic illness. This is a slow-as-molasses middle grade story, but I ate up every delicious word. So beautifully written with friendships, growth, domestic details, and LIFE.
ā¢Persuasion by Jane Austen ~ Iāve read this so many times but have to mention it here because I was so delighted all over again. The humanity and magnifying glass that Austen does is so perfect. I especially loved Mrs. Smith of Westgate Buildings š this time through.
ā¢The Robe by LloydC. Douglas ~ A wonderful historical fiction set around the time of Christ. I posted a bit more about it here! Highly recommend!
ā¢The Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo ~ This was so sweet and lovely! It follows little Marta around the hotel where her mother works as a maid after the disappearance of her father. This is full of the lovely noticing, longing, thoughts on life, memories, parents, and meaning from a childās perspective. The illustrations made this absolutely shine!
Sophie helping me pick my next read! šā„ļø
šš·How about you? Any stand out reads at the beginning of the year? Iād love to hear! š·š
āThe face of the enigmatic Jew seemed weighted with an almost insupportable burden of anxiety. The eyes, narrowed as if in resigned acceptance of some inevitable catastrophe, stared straight ahead toward Jerusalem. Perhaps the man, intent upon larger responsibilities far removed from this pitiable little coronation farce, wasnāt really hearing the racket at all.
So deeply absorbed had Demetrius become, in his wide-eyed study of the young Jewās face, that he too was beginning to be unmindful of the general clamor and confusion. He moved along with inching steps, slanting his body against the weight of the pressing crowd, so close now to the preoccupied rider that with one stride he could have touched him.
Now there was a temporary blocking of the way, and the noisy procession came to a complete stop. The man on the white donkey straightened, as if roused from a reverie, drew a deep sigh, and slowly turned his head. Demetrius watched, with parted lips and a pounding heat.
The meditative eyes, drifting about over the excited multitude, seemed to carry a sort of wistful compassion for these helpless victims of an aggression for which they thought he had a remedy. Everyone was shouting, shouting-all but the Corinthian slave, whose throat was so dry he couldnāt have shouted, who had no inclination to shout, who wished they would all be quiet, quiet! It wasnāt the time or place for shouting. Quiet! This man wasnāt the sort of person one shouted at, or shouted for. Quiet! That was what this moment called for-Quiet!
Gradually the brooding eyes moved over the crowd until they came to rest on the strained, bewildered face of Demetrius. Perhaps, he wondered, the manās gaze halted there because he alone-in all this welter of hysteria-refrained from shouting. His silence singled him out. The eyes calmly appraised Demetrius. They neither widened or smiled; but, in some indefinable manner, they held Demetriusās a grip so firm it was almost a physical compulsion. The message they communicated was something other than sympathy, something more vital than friendly concern; a sort of stabilizing power that swept away all such negations as slavery, poverty, or any other afflicting circumstance. Demetrius was suffused with the glow of this curious kinship. Blind with sudden tears, he elbows through the throng and reached the roadside.ā
The Robe, by Lloyd C. Douglas, p. 73-74
Happy Good Friday, my friends. A horrible, yet beautiful day I remember as a Christ-follower. I recently was privileged to read with three friends a stirring historical fiction centered around Marcellus, a Roman soldier and his slave, Demetrius. We follow Marcellus as he crucifies Jesus and wins his homespun robe in a gambling match. Douglas seeps us in the rich, historical setting of first century Rome and ultimately, we walk away with a profound sense of wonder. We who touch the presence of Jesus are never the same.
I was deeply moved by this novel and it made me rethink how I live day to day. How would my life look if I actively acknowledged His real presence right in and around me? I highly recommend this book! ā„ļø
A beautiful hymn we are singing in our homeschool co op has been hanging around in my heart as I think of what my Lordās death and Resurrection mean to me. I used to love Christmas the most, but slowly as Iāve lived more life, the hope, spring-freshness, and LIFE to Easter have become a most meaningful time for me.
Jesus told her, āI am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever dieā¦ā
Happy Monday, friends. Thought I would do a late-ish mid-year check in of sorts. Itās always helpful for me to reflect on a few areas in my life periodically. This is a part 1, probablyā¦stay tuned for more. š
Readingā¦š
Best book(s), so far:
-Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter (our perspective in life/living a life of gratitude)
– So Big by Edna Ferber (day of small things/ our perspective in life)
– Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell (gorgeous & lush/disturbing & sobering)
– A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz (sweet & atmospheric/ Persuasion-like)
– Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (convicting character under microscope- reread)
Fanny spoke her feelings. āHereās harmony! said she, āHereās repose! Hereās what may leave all painting and all music behind, and what poetry only can attempt to describe. Hereās what may tranquilllise every care, and lift every heart to rapture! When I look out on such a night as this, I feel as if there could be neither wickedness nor sorrow in the world; and there certainly would be less of both if the sublimity of Nature were more attended to, and people were carried more out of themselves by contemplating such a scene.ā
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Best Sequel(s), so far:
– Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder (family survival at its finest- Pa Ingalls shines)
–Henriettaās House by Elizabeth Goudge (not quite finished, but completely charming story featuring characters from A City of Bells)
– Books 4-9 in White House Chef Mysteries (very unique setting and amateur sleuth)
– reread of The Chamber ofSecrets by JK Rowling (audiobook was fantastic- I love young Harry, Ron, and Hermione)
Anticipated New Release Iām Excited About:
Laura Frantz – A Fierce Devotion (Historical Fiction)
Joanna Ruth Meyer – While Darkness Remains (Fantasy)
Emily Hayse – The Dogs of War (Science Fiction)
New-to-Me Authors I want to Read More From:
Edna Ferber (Modern American classics), Brittany Fichter (Fantasy, Fairy-Tale retellings) and Chris Wooding (Fantasy)
A few reading goals beginning in August will be reading from my shelves/piles/Kindle hoard here. Less public library! I want to focus on finishing my mother schooling choices that Iāve been reading this summer.
How about you? How has your reading been so farā¦Iāll chat more soon on reading. My favorite hobby!
Beauty Chasingā¦
-walks down our nearby gravel lane
– collaging & writing for small, independent letter/zine
– keeping up regularly on my journals
– planning a state park visit/picnic, late family cherry š picking trip, bonfires, and thinking on thoughtful Christmas gift plans
I adore Nativity sets. This is my Haitian set. š
What is your jam or āpoetry of lifeā currently? A little something bringing you joy and a pause during this can-be-hectic time of year?
~Magazine dates with myself. I take a little cash and go buy a magazine and usually sit by a nature spot (in my car currently š„¶, of course! ) to peruse it. I love the quiet, the pause, and the new freshness of something to look forward to. Itās a wonderful time of contemplation and prayer! šš»
~Scriptures/poetry/prayer/journalingā¦my morning routine is such a lovely time to contemplate and set myself on Jesus for the day. A few words of poetry or devotionals plus Scripture under a cozy blanket, mug of coffee, and fairy lights are crucial as I love on/survive š the relationships in my life. I journal my way through it all. My favorite poetry currently is Ted Hughesā Seasons Songs and my friend, Kimās poetry, not to mention her photography is pure poetry, too. ā£ļøI have a few new collections I want for Christmas.
Can you spot the kitty cat? š šāØNew Christmas mug I found for $3! Yay! š
~ Reading is always my jam! š Here is a list of some of my autumn reading favorites (September-October-November) with a little snippet to snap review. These are all perfect for curling up with this winter. Something for everyone. I wasnāt able to film a YouTube recap, so Iām wrapping it up here!
Witches by Roald Dahl (sweet, grotesquely funny story of little boy and grandmother who battle evil together!)
Apple Boughby Noel Streatfield (delightful story of the oldest daughter in an extremely artistic family who is finding her place. This was beautiful and deep!)
Kikiās Delivery Serviceby Eiko Kandano (sweet, comforting, cozy coming of age fantasy story.)
The Language of Spellsby Garrit Weyr (deep story following a family and a dragon through both World Wars – so lovely and thoughtful.)
Thimble Summerby Elizabeth Enright (gorgeous farm family story with beautiful writing!)
The Grey Womanby Elizabeth Gaskell (short, atmospheric story. Ending was a bit rushed, but accessible Victorian literature at its best.)
The Chantry Houseby Charlotte Mary Yonge (longer Victorian literature with a side of ghost. I really enjoyed this one!)
The LostHeiress by Roseannās M. White (lovely, clean historical romance that had a mysterious twist to it. I really enjoyed this one!)
An Enchantment of Ravensby Margaret Rogerson (amazingly written, gorgeous atmospheric fantasy story with deep themes of the emptiness of immortality and more. Romance wasnāt for me, but overall, I loved this.)
Honey for a Womenās Heartby Gladys M. Hunt (a favorite nonfiction reread that was just what I needed to inspire my reading and my home educating!)
Sylviaās Loversby Elizabeth Gaskell (gloriously written, heartfelt, heart wrenching story set in an English coastal, whaling village. Iāll read anything Gaskell wrote! Sheās my favorite Victorian writer.)
The Mirror VisitorSeries by Christelle Dabos (translated from French – fantasy reread that I love for its beautiful, intriguing setting and main character, Opheliaās revelations about how we see ourselves. The first two books are my favorites.)
Conscious Creativityby Philippe Stanton (a gorgeous photographerās art philosophy, prompts, inspiration, and ramblings. So inspiring!)
Amish Quilt Shop Seriesby Isabella Alan (simple and cozy mysteries. When Iām exhausted and need of something light, I enjoy a few cozy, clean mystery authors.)
Full Disclosureby Dee Henderson (Police Detective fiction. This was unique in that Ann, the main investigator was very introverted. A little unrealistic, but I really identified with a lot of her internal processing.)
Jane of Lantern Hillby L.M. Montgomery (Iāve read this multiple times, but this reread was with my four younger children and we all had such a lovely time together. Even my 5 yo listened pretty well!)
Maisie Dobbs Seriesby Jacqueline Winspear (#4 & #5 in this long series of a female private English investigator in the interwar period. I disliked #3 , so was so glad to enjoy these two! Highly recommend the series!)
Chaliceby Robin McKinley (lovely, elemental magic fantasy that enchanted me. Canāt really explain why. A bit darker fantasy, fyi.)
Deerbrookby Harriet Martineau(this was an online buddy read and had some convoluted parts and unloveable characters. However, the philosophical parts were intriguing and the nature writing was amazing. The conversations with my friends made it an interesting read!)
Library š picture book stack! ā£ļø
~ Walking and nature drives are so wonderful when I take the time. Itās a bit cold for me, but Iām always so rewarded. My hubby is very willing to take back roads and Iām so grateful we live in a beautiful area.
Hello, my old friends, Iāve {finally} come to talk with you all again! šš¤
These last few weeks have been a mash up of glorious warm, leaf crunching, rattle-and-rolling weather with a side of gorgeous rain. November is definitely here in all her glory. The clouds and sky have been spectacular!
Iāve been hunkered down a bit with family, homeschool, and church responsibilities, so my online fun š has had to be kept to a minimum. Iāve still been reading, and itās been a lovely respite to our full and busy days. A few of our outside responsibilities are lighter during the last part of November and December so that will be nice to catch my breath.
Half a moon! š
Iāve been struggling a bit to get the jumble up here *taps brain* to down here *taps blank page* and all Iāve got is my āword saladsā as I call them. Iāve been dumping impressions, ideas, words, whatās going on in the moment, etc etc etc into my ādump/emptyā brain journal. Itās kinda all I got currently. I see a few phrases in these riots of ramblings that I might want to use/explore later so itās a start, right?! Ray Bradbury loved his lists and worked on stories from them YEARS later. Iām counting on this Bradbury Magic to transfer to me. š Of course, Mr. Bradbury wrote a 1,000 + words everyday no matter what. āŗļøšš„°
Iāve been thinking a lot about mirrors after revisiting The Mirror Visitor Series, how Ophelia can only travel through them when she sees her true self in the mirror, no disguises or wishing for something different. Itās been tying into the opening chapters of my reread of A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine LāEngle. Sheās speaking on creativity/writing here:
If I thought I had to say it better than anybody else, Iād never start. Better or worse is immaterial. The thing is that it has to be said; by me, ontologically. We each have to say it, to say it our own way. Not of our own will, but as it comes out through us. Good or bad, great or little: that isnāt what human creation is about. It is that we have to try; to put it down in pigment, or words, or musical notations, or we die. ~ LāEngle, p. 28, A Circle of Quiet
Commonplace journal. š A beautiful, new-to-me, song! Sophie š„°š„°š„°
How ābout you? How are you doing? Any creative threads to follow lately? Iāll leave with a few more photos and a wish and prayer that your week is full of true Joy no matter our circumstances. ā„ļøš¤ā„ļø
The world is bursting with wonder, and yet itās the rare productivity guru who seems to have considered the possibility that the ultimate point of all our frenetic doing might be to experience more of that wonder.
Oliver Burkeman
The Professor never really seemed to care whether we figured out the right answer to a problem. He preferred our wild, desperate guesses to silence, and he was even more delighted when those guesses led to new problems that took us beyond the original one. He had a special feeling for what he called the “correct miscalculation,” for he believed that mistakes were often as revealing as the right answers.
Yoko Ogawa
These two very different books have converged in my heart recently. Iām not finished with Four Thousand Weeks, but the sense Iām getting from both books is THIS moment you are in is what you have. Be grateful. Relish it. Wallow in it. Enjoy. I absolutely adored the audiobook of The Housekeeper and The Professor. How would you live if you had 80 minutes of memory before it starts over? What really matters in a personās life? What is happiness? Do we need more, more, more of anything? Just bursting with gratitude for THIS moment.
Whatās on your heart today? Iād love to hear! ā„ļøšæšøšŖŗšŖ“š·
A.M. Pine - Hearth Ridge Reflections 