Here is my monthly roundup of things to read, eat, drink, and play. Feel free to leave a comment if you have recommendations of your own.
Read
As usual, I have quite an assortment of books to recommend. I listened to Small Great Things, a novel centering on a court case between a white supremacist and an African American nurse; I found it gripping but also thought one of the plot twists was completely implausible.
Andrew and I finished reading The Case for Life,the most detailed look at pro-life arguments that I’ve read.
Smoke on the Mountain is a short book by Joy Davidman in which she comments on each of the Ten Commandments; although she wrote it in the 1950s you’ll find many points relevant today.
Three of the readalouds the kids and I enjoyed were Of Swords and Sorcerers (stories of King Arthur), Fairy Tales (retold by Berlie Doherty and featuring lovely illustrations by Jane Ray). and The Penderwicks (first in a series of five novels).
I also read Emil and the Detectives, a middle grade novel I’d never heard of. It was published in the 1920s and translated from German. Quite funny. (Be aware that there are one or two profanities).
Finally, here are some sweet picture books you might enjoy: Song and Dance Man, Zoe’s Year, Big Cat, Little Cat, Up the Mountain Path, and Each Peach Pear Plum.
Eat
After a long winter, it was so nice to barbecue hamburgers and eat watermelon (before it snowed again on Saturday). In other news, try sprinkling granola on pancake batter in the pan before flipping the pancakes (I use this recipe for homemade granola, subbing unsweetened coconut and leaving out the brown sugar). Good with maple syrup or raspberry jam.
Drink
A few times a year I make a pilgrimage to DavidsTea. This time I tried some new flavours, including Pura Vida which should be good iced (think pina colada).
Play
Have you ever played Sushi Go? It’s a card game that’s quick to learn and play (and how can you not love the little faces on the dumplings and sashimi?). The party version includes many variations so you won’t get bored.
Celebrate
Easter was a great time to ponder the resurrection and also to see family that we only get together with a few times a year. We enjoyed spending time with relatives, attending my parents’ church, walking in the woods, seeing daffodils, and of course eating chocolate.
Meditate
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
– Matthew 28:1-10