End of Summer Reading List!

Can you even believe it is August? August! The weeks have just flown by! We’ve been busy, we’ve been lazy, but they’ve gone quickly either way.

And, if you believe the TV commercials, school is about to start! Don’t rush me, HEB! Quit being a party pooper.

Anyway, summer is sadly coming to an end, and since summer is often synonymous with reading (by the beach, in the mountains, on a road trip), here are a list of some books that I’ve read and really enjoyed. I won’t try to describe them for you, since Amazon can do that, but would love to chat with you about any of them if you need help deciding!

All of the books I listed here, although some have some serious subject matter (The Nightingale is about WWII), they are lighter reads, perfect for the last month of summer. You can finish up before the madness begins, again. Also, none of these are very new, so you should have no problem finding them at your local library.

I hope you can find time to slow down, read a book and just BE this summer. Don’t let those pushy, consumerist TV commercials make you feel like it’s too late.

Happy Reading!

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

This starts off with a pretty intense scene, but is a heart warming story of an unlikely friendship started in an unlikely and unfortunate way. 

The Paris Wife by Paula McClain

This is one of those with some serious subject matter. It's written from Ernest Hemingway's wife's perspective. If you know anything about Ernest Hemingway, you can imagine. 

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Any of the Liane Moriarty books that I've read would classify as "beach reads" in my opinion. But, this one is my favorite by far. 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

This sweet book will make you want to send handwritten cards and letters again.

The Number One Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

This is a whole series of books. The main character is a sassy, moralistic lady from Botswana who opens her own detective agency.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

This follows two sisters during WW II. I love historical novels. 

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson

This book is about a sweet old man, who values all the old, English traditions.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

This book is also about an older man, who is endearing, but in a less obvious way. I think I read this in two days.

I would love to hear from anyone who reads these, or anything! I always love a good book recommendation so comment with your favorites, too!

Thanks for stopping by! -Steph

A "Summer So Far" Update and project list!

My friends, this has been such a super summer so far! Swimming, baking, pretending, lego-ing, movie watching, reading, late pajama-ing, a week at the lake…..but no blogging.

I don’t really feel bad about it, we have been living this summer just like I hoped we would. Instead of editing my photos, writing, editing my writing, I’m napping, or reading or playing (I have been doing a good job of playing!) , or ok, ok cleaning. Because I can’t be a complete heathen. Even for you, summer.

We just came home from an amazing, fun and family-filled trip to the lake. We ate too much, took a nap everyday, read entire books, kayaked, paddle boarded, had underwater handstand contests, flew kites, caught tiny fishies in nets, drank soda and ate candy and...there was wine. It was so much fun. Brian’s (large) family has been taking a trip to the lake every year from something like 60 years. Seriously! Isn’t that awesome!? Family is something to be cherished and treasured. We are blessed beyond that we both have great ones. Really, really great.

Now that we’re back from vacation, I got out my calendar and penciled in lots of projects, small trips, and experiences for the rest of summer.

Here’s a list of some of the things I’m hoping to work on in the next month:

• A gallery wall in Carolynn’s room (per her request) -I will share this process on the blog. There will probably be tears. From my eyes.

• Sewing panels for my living room-We are adding drapes in the living area. I have panels that need lengthening, so thanks to a friend of mine (who has excellent taste), I have a plan in place and will share more when I get this going.

• Making rod, and brackets to hang panels

• 

  Find This on Pinterest

• Choosing and purchasing a shed

On a personal, not home related note, I have decided to start up a running program again that I’ve done at least 5 times before over the years. Like blogging, my strict exercise routine has gone down the slippery, summer slide.

The kids and I are still planning a trip to the movies, several trips to the children’s museum (they LOVE this one), a painting project (more on that later), a trip to San Antonio, a trip to my grandparents, rock climbing, lots more swimming, and more of the same lazy, but fun-filled summer days.

Stay tuned for some summer projects, and thanks for reading!! Happy summer-ing!

Summer, I love you

Today is the last Friday of the school year for us and I am really excited for summer! Summer has always been my favorite season. Yes, I know, it's hot. People always feel the need to tell me that.
"But it's so hot." Yes, it sure is. I'm a native Texan, this is my time. I love the heat, I love the pool, I love wearing flip flops, the lazy mornings, church camp, summer camp, fireflies, snow cones, running through the sprinkler, family vacations, grilling, keeping your pool pony tail for DAYS, reading tons of books, the beach, the lake....it's just the best. I've always loved it.

From my deep pit of teenage angst, I counted down the days until summer camp like a survivor on a desert island. Scratching a tally mark for each never ending day until I could finally be "rescued" and go back to where I "belonged" : Camp.  Mom, dad, sorry about being a dramatic and unreasonable teenager.

So, here are a few outdoor projects we've done just in time to be enjoyed this summer.

Bring on the Summer! 

This swing used to hang out by my grandad's pool. The tree we hung it from is a bit outside our dining room window and had a swing-worthy branch on it, for sure.

The swing is chippy, and a bit weathered but I liked the look so I gave it a sanding to smooth it out and sprayed it with water seal spray.

Brian did some research and found that the most humane way to hang something from a tree is actually by screwing your hooks into the branch. That way the tree can continue to grow around the screws. (Hanging chains over can dig into the branch) We screwed in the hooks, then used "s" hooks to hang our chain.

A "nature tea table where I can have a tea party with all my dolls" was requested by Ms. C. She and Brian drew up some plans, looked at some wood scraps and put this sweet little table and benches together in an afternoon. The benches are blocks of limestone, and the table is a stump with a board screwed into the top. C picked out a fabric scrap that we glued on and waterproofed. The animals and dolls have been talking about it ever since. It's the best outdoor tea party any of us had ever been to. 😉

Over at the Ranch house, we re-mulched the bed and planted a few new native plants, like Mexican sage and rosemary, but also portulaca and sweet potato vine. This little chair has been broken for years, but we have had it stored away. We just knew we could think of something to use it for. I pulled out some screws, shimmied that pot in there and again, I waterproofed.

This old crock was another old treasure we've had for a while.

I just love that old fence. We are slowly replacing the fence around the house, but this fence stays. Since it's elevated off the ground (it's built on a rock wall), we'll leave it for "looks" and sentimentality. There are pictures of us as kids, out by the pool and that fence is there. It looks much less "rustic", but I just love how authentic it is and to me, it epitomizes the ranch house. "I'm hanging in there. I still work-kind of. I was built by hand, and built well." Turns out even a well-built fence can't remain functional for 60 years.

Anyone else favor summer? Do you like to be busy? Just hang out?

Whatever you do-remember, it's hot. 😎

Thanks for reading!! -Steph