School’s out! We finished a few weeks ago and are definitely enjoying the change. I was going to say “change of pace,” but I can’t say the pace has really changed! I did spend some time thinking about summer plans and ended up making a few different lists: a bucket list of fun activities and food to make, daily chores to do after breakfast, character traits to work on, and themes for weekdays (like art, letters, and exploring). It sounds like a lot, but I think it’s turning out to be a good way to organize many of the things we would be doing in the summer anyway (and keep the house more under control than usual!).
Now on to some recent favourites!
Read
At the beginning of June I finished The Return of the King and though it took me months to reread the entire Lord of the Rings, I felt sad when it was over. It’s a masterpiece, what more can I say?
Three other enjoyable novels were A Mind to Murder (a mystery published in 1963 and set in a psychiatric clinic), Convenience Store Woman (a short quirky novel about a woman whose life revolves around working in a Japanese convenience store), and Maisie Dobbs (a historical mystery set partly during World War I).
My favourite read of June was The Thursday Murder Club, but I won’t say more because my online book club is discussing it tomorrow night!
Eat
There are a few June highlights that I must share. First, a Korean meal that I was quite proud of. I made barbecue short ribs, bibimbap, and sweet soy braised potatoes (gamja jorim). If you want to try just one thing, the beef marinade was amazing (the secret ingredient is finely grated asian pear).
Second, these stir fried udon noodles are worth making again.
I also tried a few recipes from Cook This Book, which I mentioned last month: crispy chicken, peanutty pork noodles, and keilbasa soup.
We bought ten quarts of strawberries at an Amish farm and tried three different jam recipes. The jury is still out on the preferred recipe and method.
Finally, how cute are these s’mores cupcakes?
Do
Two summer activities we’ve already done were the Huron-Kinloss Ice Cream Trail, where you take your picture by a sign of “Sammy Sprinkles” at five different ice cream shops, and the ArtWalk in downtown Owen Sound, a chance to visit different galleries and watch artists at work outside.
And I almost forgot we did some really nice hikes on the Bruce Trail and to Indian Falls.
I was just telling Mum that she would get a kick out of this one! I’m finishing it this morning. The author is familiar to Peter and me from British TV shows.
Yes! Andrew has seen the author on Taskmaster and I am definitely recommending the book to my parents. 🙂