Happy Canada Day!
Now on to my review of the last month. As I mentioned in my monthly newsletter (sign up here) June was packed, mainly because I spent my evenings helping Andrew as he gets started in his new career as a financial adviser. We also had a family wedding in Toronto and a visit from my in-laws, which were both great fun. I wonder what July will hold…
Read
My reading has slowed somewhat but I have reached 68 books so far this year, which is far more than I have ever read in six months! Here are some of my favourites from June: The Boys in the Boat, (I blogged about it here), I Capture the Castle (finally read this 1948 classic and am still deciding how I feel about it), and The Library Book (this was recommended to me by both my brother and my sister, and turned out to be surprisingly funny and occasionally heartbreaking).
I read the kids The Penderwicks on Gardam Street (second in the series), and Five Children and It (a Nesbit novel I’d never read), and we listened to The One and Only Ivan (inspired by the true story of a gorilla kept in captivity in a mall).
As usual, here are a few fun picture books: Fox in Socks, Doctor De Soto, and About Birds.
Eat
This year I signed up for a CSA share for the first time. I’m excited about eating local produce as it comes in season throughout the summer and fall. Also, it should help me eat more vegetables without having to make more decisions at the grocery store! It’s been going for two weeks and so far we’ve had spinach, kale, turnips, radishes, bok choi, lettuce, and broccoli.
On the other end of the food spectrum, I made a banana split ice cream cake from a recipe I collected a few years ago. The verdict is that next time I’ll make up my own version, keeping the Oreo crumbs and chopped peanuts but leaving out the banana caramel jam and whipped cream topping.
Do
On the first day of June we visited the Ontario Science Centre, of which I have fond childhood memories. We all had a good time.
In the middle of the month my brother-in-law got married. The wedding was beautiful, the food was delicious, and we got to spend time visiting with relatives who traveled from Los Angeles, Edmonton, North Carolina, etc.
Last week we spent half a day in the little town of Bayfield, enjoying the park and beach. We even found the building my great-great-grandparents used to own (they ran a general store and lived above it) and ate fish and chips and ice cream cones.
In June we also went to a homeschool picnic in Harrison Park and took the kids to the splash pad in Kelso Beach Park, both in Owen Sound. I’d say we are enjoying summer even with Andrew’s crazy work schedule!
Meditate
For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning [repentance] and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
– Isaiah 30:15a