Summer Wish List 1.0

I'm so glad I made a summer wish list. The time goes by so fast, and as a "write it down" sort of girl, if I don't put pen to paper, I might miss some of the things I want to do in my most favorite of seasons. [Actually, as far as I am concerned, there are only two seasons: Summer and Everything Else]. Picture heavy post ahead!

Reading:

I finished the Not So Big Life book. It was a well-written book, though not what I expected. If you are looking for something straightforward and practical to help you analyze how you spend your time, and how to go about removing needless obligations and events to make more time for knitting or your family and friends (not necessarily in that order!), this is not for you. If you are looking for a much deeper, philosophical, Eastern approach to restructuring how you look at your life, in order to let that changed view change your habits and priorities, this may be for you. The one helpful thing I learned that I can apply to my life: multitasking is not a good thing, because when our body is in one place, our mind is somewhere else, and we are not fully enjoying or concentrating on the event at hand. Which explains why we misplace our keys, forget to return calls, or don't really listen to our friends and loved ones when they are communicating with us. It probably also explains dropped stitches when you are watching cycling races and reading blogs and answering emails too. :)

I am now thrilled to be starting The Artist's Way study in a couple of days. As for the audiobooks, I am listening to A Year in Provence at the recommendation of Slothknits. And discovering it is taking me an age to finish one book -- it is already overdue to the library. 

Knitting:

 

 

I'm on repeat 7 of 9, and I really hope to finish this shrug before the Tour de France KAL starts. There are still a few spots left if you'd like to join us!

Summer activities:

The heat wave we had two weekends ago inspired an early trip to the beach. YAY!

Last Friday night Chris and I went to the observatory's open house night, and we were able to see the moon, Saturn's rings, and the red speck that is Mars. It is a great date night or family night if you are looking for something fun and different to do. You can find your local group here. The bike trip around Block Island, though, will have to wait until a certain person's collar bone heals. 

I am not doing so well with the butterfly field trips, because they always seem to be scheduled on a day when there is something else I have to do. And I'm also not doing well with the eating outdoors, because in the past few weeks, there was either terrible humidity, or pouring rain and thunderstorms. But I will keep trying. In the meantime, I leave you with Chris' gorgeous photos of our trip to the New York Botanical Garden's rose garden last Sunday (typepad is still being cranky, so please ignore the bad layout).

How are you doing with your summer wish list -- are you getting to do some of those things you dream about when the temperatures are in the minus digits (I hate even typing that)? I hope so! It's not too late to make your list!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[sarah]

The roses are beautiful! Glad you were able to get there this year and are making progress on your summer wishes.

[Chris]

Those beach pictures are amazing (to this Midwesterner, at least!). And you've reminded me that I should go over to the Rose Garden and see what's up now that we've had better weather...

[Robin]

Those pics are fantastic, what a perfect day you had. Now I really must get there before the roses wilt. And I really enjoyed A Year In Provence, it so makes me want to rent a villa (sans crazy French builders, of course).

[Sara]

You are doing really well on your wish list! Love the photos of the beach - it looks so nice!

The rose garden seems like an awesome place to be...

Have a super day!!!

[melanie]

I just requested Not So Big Life from my library - it sounds like exactly what I need right now! Thank you for posting those beautiful, beautiful rose pictures.

[Robin]

Love the beach pics, and that rose garden looks like a place I would love to visit!!

[Barlynne]

A beautifully articulate description of The Not So Big Life. We're glad you perservered in completing it, and remain interested in your experiences as you move on to The Artist's Way - another of Sarah's favorites. On a personal note, as I moved through your beautiful photos, I was instantly hit by the beach shots. Why? The light was immediately remembered. I lived on Block Island for seven years, and totally miss the way the sun shines on the water and life on New England island shores. I couldn't tell for sure if you're on Martha's or Block, but hopefully you'll get to do that bike tour soon. I highly recommend.

Barlynne
Susanka Studios

[Sydney]

Thanks for the review of "Not So Big Life". I still plan to check out one of the books from the library. Those roses are beautiful! Thanks for the card also. That's such a wonderful picture of Charlie.

[tiennie]

Beautiful pics. I love that last one of you!

[Sonya]

Mrs.; Rockefeller's rose garden is quite lovely, isn't it? Your outfit in that last picture matches the garden perfectly.

[Jane]

Lovely photos. I always enjoy a visit to a botanical garden. So soothing.

[Brigitte]

Oh, I love visiting gardens! And one of only roses...beautiful.

I'm a list maker too. If I don't, I'll end up forgetting what needs to be done.

But, somehow...knitting lists can be kept in my head and accessed like a computer disk.

[wendy g]

What beautiful pictures of your fun summer!

[Nancy]

Pretty garden pictures - thanks for sharing!

[Shannon]

A summer wish list is a good idea... I just don't think this is the summer for me to have one since I'm feeling so unsettled. All my wishes revolve around that and finding direction in life. The first book you mentioned sounds interesting - I may look into it. Good for you to try to stay on top of your wish list.

[Beth]

What a beautiful place! It must have been hard when it was time to leave.