Let’s jump right in to my favourite things from July.
Books
I’ve been on a spree of reading “self-improvement” books lately. These all have questions to help you reflect and put changes into practice.
- The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron. While I don’t agree with the author’s view of spirituality, this book has a lot of writing exercises to get the creative juices flowing.
- Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life by Crystal Paine. A good reminder to determine priorities, set goals, be disciplined, and give yourself grace.
- The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You by Jessica N. Turner. If you need a pep talk to include time for self-care and hobbies in your daily life, this is the book for you.
- Living Well Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life by Ruth Soukup. The author shares her personal experiences and Biblical wisdom for learning a proper attitude toward finances.
I hope to have some novels to recommend next month!
Podcasts
I’m starting to get into podcasts (better late than never); so far I’m enjoying these.
TV Show
Restoration Home is a BBC show that I discovered on YouTube. The host follows “owners of crumbling historic buildings as they save them from ruin by restoring them into 21st-century dream houses.” One fascinating aspect is that you get to watch a historian and an architecture expert investigate the history of the buildings in archives and libraries.
Food
- This month I’m thankful that my mom did lots of cooking and baking during her 12-day visit from Ontario (parmesan chicken, blueberry muffins, peach crisp, brownies, pizza, etc.).
- We’ve been eating blueberries, raspberries, peaches, and nectarines like crazy. Hooray for summer!
Music
At the suggestion of Layne Huber, who designed my logo and website header, I’ve been listening to the Stellaris soundtrack while working. Give it a listen!
Activities
Although we missed out on Canada Day and Fourth of July festivities this year (did I mention that we have a newborn?!), we did enjoy many activities with family and friends.
- Geocaching with my mom, including finding one cache at the Symons Valley Ranch Farmers Market, where we also bought bagels, hummus, and fresh carrots.
- Attending a beautiful baby shower with the generous and talented ladies from our church.
- Having Juliet’s baptism followed by a potluck lunch with church members and visitors.
- Visiting the Calgary Zoo with Aunt Emily, who came all the way from Virginia to spend time with her nieces.
- Splashing and picnicking at the Riley Park wading pool.
Bible Verse
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Just finished a Sci-fi novel called ‘Darkwar’ by Glen Cook. It was originally published as three separate novellas in the 1980’s, and repackaged into a single volume in it’s most recent printing. Really interesting concepts: kinda a bird’s eye view of the geopolitical, socioeconomic growth of a completely alien species.
You’ve almost convinced me to start reading sci-fi. 🙂