The Glass Castle

This is one of Playmaker's required summer reading books. Initially I did not want her to read it - or to force her to think deeply about some of the stuff I knew was in here in order to wrap words around her responses to the assigned questions. But the more I thought about it, the more I felt perhaps she should read it - & I read it too. As I read it, I shared much of the story w/ my husband & all I will say is this book has certainly prompted A LOT of conversation between the three of us - much of which has been about some stuff that's really much easier to avoid, than to discuss.

For much more info & insight (including a short "worth watching" video clip of the author), click this pic:

"...while Rex and Rose Mary firmly believed children learned best from their own mistakes, they themselves never seemed to do so, repeating the same disastrous patterns that eventually landed them on the streets. " - Excerpt from Amazon.com review

My Short Summary: Heart-wrenching & incredibly thought provoking

Life is short. Eat dessert ...for dinner!

Anyone watching the news knows we've been enduring an intense heatwave here in New England ... the kind where people get rather creative in how they attempt to keep cool (or at least comfortable!). I went to extreme measures & served icecream for dinner! No lie - & no regrets :) I enjoyed surprising the family by serving this refreshing treat that I remember well from my own childhood.

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1

A wardrobe "tie dye for"

...a government big enough to give you everything you want is

... a government big enough to take from you everything you have. - Gerald Ford

I wish they'd make a miniseries of this ....

We watched it last night - & I wasn't nearly ready for it to end when it did! - & I'd like to know more about the beginning of her (& Edward's!) story as well. I can easily be captivated by a story when I can really relate to a character, as I was able to do w/ Queen Victoria to a certain degree . We seem to share a similar character flaw - that being that all too often stubbornness is mistaken for strength - tho' to her credit, she took it to heart when a good friend/mentor eventually pointed this out to her. And from already looking into her story a bit more on my own, I sense that much of the wisdom she gained over time was learned the hard way --from mistakes (apparently some terrible ones) she'd made as she struggled to become who she was destined to be.

Oh - & I'd be remiss if I neglected to mention that the costuming was STUNNING! :)

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2

Solitude's Splendid Surprises

Yesterday...

we set off

to search out this stunning scenery.

We soaked in sunshine

as we slipped serenely

thru' solitude -

and were surprised(!) ...

to meet a family of swimming swans

& to spy a soaring bald eagle! (no good pic for this tho')

...before being swallowed up by sweet smelling shrubs

& later stopping for a short stay at this secluded sandy shore

for a session in the special skill of skipping stones.

 

In short summary ...

Splendid!