It's Raining and I'm Thinking of Summer :)

and lazy days and happiness! 

The Barbarian Nurseries

I finished this book this morning. Not in the balanced way I have read all summer, but in my old way: swallowing it all in one gulp, staying up past midnight. My reward for my "bad" behavior was breakfast in bed, and I am so spoiled. And loved.

And the book was funny, insightful and a bit close to my own experience with startups and over-consumption.I obviously loved it since I've admitted I couldn't put it down.

One More Week

One more week to totally rest and then it starts. Contacting parents, improving knowledge, sharpening skills. I don't know, I never know if I am truly up to the task. But I found this from one of my favorite authors in my Facebook this morning:  https://m.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn&_rdr#!/story.php?story_fbid=524013137728334&id=115632081899777&ref=bookmark and I know I can keep on trying, doing my best, putting one foot in front of the other.

Q is for Quarry

So, I do recommend this book by Sue Grafton if you like a mystery set in the California desert:  Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton  -- based on an unsolved Santa Barbara crime. Grafton, after seeing the file arranged for the still unknown victim to be buried with dignity and then set about writing a fictional account of what could have been. Not going to change your life, but a fun beach read, which is where I finished it.

Carla's Quilt

I don't know if I should feel pride in this, but I finished this after 25 years of looking at the pieces. I feel good that I did it anyway! Good start to summer!

I Love to Read

So far, I've read Where the Mountains Meets the Moon  and A Week in Winter.  I lovr summer.

Feeling aaaaah -- so relaxed

No links today.  Just saying -- school has been out for all of us for a week now.  And today I feel so relaxed.  I read, I went to the library, I got my nails done.  Now I need to get sewing. 

Today is the first day

Of the rest of my summer
 My plans are to work on school stuff a little, get some housecleaning done, read for fun, scrapbook, and I already had a relaxing  wake up call. So I'm off to a reasonable.start. What skill can I learn or improve on today? How can I sharpen my wits and soften my demeanor? What kind thing can I do for someone?

I think the saying think globally, act locally is the first step . I saw someone from this organization yesterday http://www.picointernational.org/about and I want to help them. But also, charity begins at home. So that's where my head is right now.

Lifelong Learner

Knit to gauge (sweater or socks)? Eva's Needlework -- teacher, teacher  Keep my bowling ball out of the gutter? Harley's??? Understand the Common Core? Achieve the Core  .... and so much more.  Summer is calling

Finish Carla's Quilt

Another goal for this crafty dilettante -- FINISH CARLA'S QUILT! After 22 years, it's about time. I know what to do and I'll have some time to do it, so I'm running out of excuses.

So, in summer I have time. This is because no school, so six weeks of time minus classes and such. There are some things I want to do no matter what happens. They are these: clean up bad housekeeping habits, exercise, read, go places, learn . I live near the beach in Southern California, so lucky me. Staycationing is no hardshrp. I was thinking about my house, though. My least favorite  chore and I want to do better. Here is my start: Clean-your-bathroom-sink

"A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body."

Benjamin Franklin

Rough Day Yesterday

I am the queen of clods. There I said it, it's true. I want to set some goals for summer 2014 and one of them will surely be learning how to uncluck some stuff, starting with this:  Learning to forgive. Because I am unforgiving. I think of my dog with his bone. That's me with a grudge --  not just against so and so, but against myself. Gotta learn again to let go.