Have you ever picked a word to represent your year? I did not do this as a New Year’s activity, but a few months later the word “streamline” came to me. It truly encapsulates many aspects of my life this year. I have been decluttering my house, lopping tree branches, pruning hedges, revising my novel, and trying to create a house cleaning routine. “Streamline” seems to fit! If you’re ever chosen a word for the year, I’d love to hear about it.
On to my July favourites. Maybe you’ll be inspired by some of the books I enjoyed or even my reminiscing over good food and fun activities.
Books
I read two helpful cleaning books this month. The first one was a pep talk for “slobs,” to use the author’s term. The second was a thorough how-to book by the owner of a cleaning company.
I also read an amazing writing book. I wish I could download all Donald Maass’s books into my brain.
The best novel I read (Maybe the only novel? Unfortunately.) was The One-in-a-Million Boy. It deals with sad subject matter, but has a hopeful tone. I love the way the author incorporated lists and interview transcripts. The characters are complex and the issues are excellent for discussion. Highly recommended.
Food
I recently realized that fresh clams are quite cheap and easy to cook. I like them steamed over crumbled Italian sausage and marinara sauce with crusty bread for dipping.
We have been picking raspberries from our own raspberry patch (planted three years ago). I’m hoping to gather enough to make frozen yogurt this week.
Activities
On Canada Day we went to Spruce Meadows. We missed seeing the horse jumping, but the kids got to ride ponies and play in a bouncy castle, and even though we got rained on we stayed to watch the Musical Ride.
We had relatives visit for ten days in July, so we did some sight seeing and kid-friendly activities with them. This included the TELUS World of Science, the Art Gallery of Alberta, the wading pools at the Alberta Legislature Building, the indoor pool by our local library, and the wading pool at Riley Park. The kids got as much swimming in as they did all last summer! (Later in the month we also went to a man-made lake in south Calgary, which was a fun beach experience.)
I spent a lot of time revising my novel in July and even had a friend join me for weekly writing sessions where we cheer each other on over Gmail chat.
Bible Verses
“Yet God my King is from of old,
working salvation in the midst of the earth.” Psalm 74:12
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12
How foodie of you to be eating clams!!
Hee hee!
I’d seen The One in a Million Boy on CD at our library, and took it out after reading your recommendation. The reader, Chris Cirulla, was phenomenal; he became Ona Vitkus when
he read, and did a marvellous job of all the dialogue and shifts in perspective. Many recent trips to Ottawa were made pleasant by listening to this book. I’m just a bit peeved that the boy has no name, symbolic as that may be.