A Lively Hope #48
Around Here
Gardening season is just getting started. My winter-sown seedlings are growing in their makeshift greenhouses (aka plastic storage bins) and I’m eager to get things in the ground.
Jason and I chaos gardened some sunflower seeds on a whim one evening this week. And by that I mean: I found a sunflower seed mix in the drawer of my potting bench, ran to find my husband and invited him to fling the seeds willy-nilly with me along a tiny section of our yard next to the driveway. Who knows what will happen? But I’m all for adding a bit more whimsy into our days.
I started a Literary Society for my 9 year old daughter who is a big reader and an even bigger introvert. We had three of her little friends over and they each talked about a book they’ve read recently (this approach is MUCH easier/more forgiving than a traditional book club for both the members and the hosts!). Each girl spoke for 1-2 minutes about their book, we had snacks and a craft project and then they played for a while. It was easy and fun and perfect for my sweet little introvert. I can’t wait for next month!
We’re currently on our 9th annual birthday weekend trip, celebrating my husband and his twin brother’s birthday at beautiful Bear Lake (seen above). This trip is always one of the highlights of our year.
Reading:
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This will definitely be on my favorites of the year list! A non-magical Cinderella retelling from the step-mother’s perspective. I loved it SO much. The idea that we didn’t get the whole story of the virtuous Cinderella and her “evil” step-mom and step-sisters was so intriguing to me, and this book did not disappoint in the least. I was enthralled all the way through. I loved the flawed, scrappy female characters and their loyalty to one another. I loved the character development and the growth we see for each of them. The writing is phenomenal. You’ll be seeing this new release everywhere and for good reason.
Fishing for the Little Pike by by Juhani Karila ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was…weird? …interesting? I’m not really sure what to think of it yet. It’s a little bit Norse mythology, a little bit modern magical realism. It’s a little melancholy and a little strange. I keep thinking about it, and that means something to me. It’s not clearly defined in my mind, but I think it may be just right for some readers.
On YouTube:
In the Shop
Here’s to making the time for the things we love to do!
—Heidi