Finishing up this post when I should be asleep, so I’ll forgo the introduction…

Read

I wrapped up a few long-term reading projects this month: Dante’s Divine Comedy, Women of the Word, and Loving Him Well. Good timing because now I am beginning some pre-reading to prepare for my oldest entering grade four in the fall (up till now I have read almost all her school books aloud, but next year she will have to do more on her own).

I also read Poison for Breakfast, a short, amusing, philosophical novel by the author of The Series of Unfortunate Events.

We’re not quite finished, but I’ve been reading The Secret Garden aloud… perfect for this time of year and on a day when it’s not too hot to turn on the oven we will make currant buns (from this cookbook).

With her intricate plasticine illustrations Barbara Reid is a long-time favourite picture book author; we recently enjoyed Watch It Grow: Backyard Life Cycles.

Do

Some May highlights:

• I took the girls to see the musical version of Matilda at the Roxy Theatre a few blocks from our house
• We had friends over for one of the kids’ birthdays
• We had a potluck picnic after church at a lovely park with a stream, bridge, and pavilion with picnic tables
• We hiked at Jones Falls when Andrew had an extra day off work
• We met my parents in Listowel and spent some time feeding the Goats on 86 (two alapacas too)
• I did a lot of weeding in my flower beds and the kids and I picked out some annuals and herbs to plant, plus a clematis that I am eagerly watching climb its trellis

Eat

For our tenth anniversary Andrew and I had a very leisurely dinner at Pebbles, a prodigious buffet. (It was so kind of friends to take our kids overnight; they got to play with puppies and swim in a pool… win-win!)

Meditate

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
    and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
    and he relents over disaster. – Joel 2:12-13

Do you have any May favourites to share?