slow sticky summers

 We still have bright yellow yarn left over from last summer that we dyed with dyer's chamomile, and the younger kids have said to me that we need a new yellow play silk. Well! . .. perfect. So this year we are going to dye just a couple of play silks and call it good. 

We have been struggling with poor air quality off and on here due to the fires north of us. . . something I don't really remember being an issue for us until recent years. On days like this, there is a permanent haze in the air. On particularly bad days, a slight orange hue and on one of the days- an actual smoke smell. 

my hollyhocks!

Knitting for the inevitable cold days to come. My lap is always full of wool during the hot sticky summer, in preparation for what's to come. 

Not much to say, just enjoying these slow summer days whilst also looking forward to the structure that comes with late summer/fall. 

~Reading/just finished reading/about to read:

How To Stop Time by Matt Haig ~ I have to admit I did not enjoy this book, or "The Midnight Library" also by Matt Haig. No specific reason, other than the story and writing style did not speak to me I guess. 

Homecoming by Kate Morton ~ This was really good- I love all the Kate Morton mysteries that I have read. 

Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt ~ I picked this one up again- the Tillerman Cycle has been a long time favorite series of mine since childhood that I have read over and over. I still have my old childhood copies! I hadn't even connected it has the same title as the previous book until one of my kids noticed me reading it and commented! Anyhow I plan to move through the cycle during the rest of Summer. "The Runner" is the only one I read only once, and do not ever re-read- It is just too desperately sad for me. My favorites are "A Solitary Blue" and "Dicey's Song." 

The Tales of the Kingdom books also by Cynthia Voigt are absolutely wonderful too, though I know them by their previous titles, "Jackaroo," etc. I hadn't planned to read them again soon, but now that I'm thinking of them I want to! Putting them here as a recommendation. 

Childhood Disrupted: How Your Biography Becomes Your Biology and How You Can Heal ~ Extremely interesting and helpful. Still working through this one. 

Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh ~ I haven't started this one yet, but after someone recommended it to me here in the comments a few posts back, I got my hands on a used copy. 

It's Never Too Late To Begin Again by Julia Cameron~ Finding myself drawn to more and more books and resources aimed at middle agers- this one looks really good (haven't started it yet) and hoping it helps re-spark some creativity and purpose for me in the second half of life. 

What are you reading? 

Love,

Melanie