a daybook for august

Little glimpses into the past few weeks . . .

{{ feeling that patriotic vibe all summer long with this handmade T-shirt. my sister saw similar ideas online and I took what she showed me and made our own version or the fourth of July. I was so pleased with how they turned out. }}

{{ confetti from our poppers on the fourth of July...we don't do fireworks at home; instead, we head to town for their fireworks show and do little poppers at home. and yes, we swept up our mess afterwards...my sister made sure every single little piece was picked up so no little critter gets ahold of one. }}

{{ a july sunset on the way home from a day trip to the hills }}

{{ homemade blueberry muffins...the perfect late night baking session }}

{{ a good-night mug of nourishing hot cacao with whipped cream whilst watching Vera...I've started adding some cardamom to my hot cacao, and oh my goodness, is it divine! }}

{{ deep summertime green...one of my favorite colors }}

{{ we absolutely enjoyed a couple days where the high temp was 78-80 F...if summer felt like this during the day all the time, I do believe I could love it }}

{{ so thankful to live in a quaint cottage nestled in the trees...I feel like I live in a treehouse ♥ }}

{{ another night...another mug of hot choco }}

{{ pattern mixing is one of my favorite things...and so is pairing up favorite pieces with old pieces to make them feel new again }}

outside my window

Absolutely gorgeous summertime green...which I will not stop talking about because it's seriously one of the only things I actually like about this time of year. We've had lots of rain this spring and summer, which gives me all the happy feels, and I think the trees love it, too. We've had to water more lately as it's been so incredibly hot and things are starting to not look so good...our basil is looking rather poorly. The crepe myrtles are stunning this time of year, though. All the different colors are gorgeous around town!

i am thinking

Of what I want to cook for dinner over the next few days; how to use up leftovers so they don't go to waste; of some crafty project ideas with my sister; of what book(s) I want to read after I finish the one I'm working on; what fun autumnal things I want to do this year

i am thankful for

rainy days; sunset drives in the countryside; admiring the lush vibrant green; being inspired by creative folks; *really* good books; candlelight and mugs of hot cacao; simple, ordinary days that are my favorite kind of day

from the kitchen

Last week, I made lemon butter salmon for dinner, and it was my first time eating it. I'd made it before for my mom and sister, but I'm so not a fish person. To my complete surprise, I actually loved it...this felt like a major accomplishment to me. Ha! It was my sister's birthday on Wednesday, and she requested homemade peanut butter ripple ice cream with dark chocolate chunks and a caramel fudge chocolate cake...not only was it so fun making them, along with her birthday dinner, but they were so delicious! 

i am creating

In the last week, I have crocheted so many granny squares, I've run out of yarn...I'm hoping it is on sale this week. I am officially obsessed with granny squares. And I'm officially over halfway through making all the squares I need for my first afghan. My sister and I have also done some decoupaging recently; we have a bit to do to finish our project, but it's been so fun.

i am wearing

On this hot August day, I'm wearing one of my favorite sundresses...brown and white gingham dress with a floral crop blouse with lace details over. You can see it in the photo above. {{smiles}}

in my cup

Just plain ol' iced water for me this evening. I'm someone who genuinely loves drinking water, and on hot days, it just hits the spot.

i am reading

I've been thankful to read a couple really good stories these past few weeks. First, I read The Penderwicks at Point Mouette, which is the third book in the series. I absolutely loved it; and seeing as how it was set at the beach, it was the perfect summertime read. I love the Penderwick family so much, and I really enjoyed getting to know Aunt Claire in this book. She is such a sweet, caring, understanding aunt. At the time of writing this post, I'm in the last 100 pages of Anne of Avonlea, which is just so darn good. It's my first time reading beyond the first Anne book, and it is exactly what I hoped and dreamed it would be...and more. L.M. Montgomery is quickly becoming a real favorite of mine. I love her storytelling style; she has a true knack for immersing her reader in the story and makes it feel as though Anne, Diana, Marilla, Rachel, and Gilbert are your own little circle of friends...and how I wish they were. It's a good thing to read a book you just really, really love, but it's also a bad thing because you hope your next read is just as good, and when it's not, it can put you in a real reading slump. At least that's what I've noticed about me.

i am listening to

Aside from listening to some of my favorite film scores while cooking dinner in the evenings, which I highly recommend, by the way, my top 5 songs this past month are:

Chasing Rainbows (The High Kings); Up on the Roof (James Taylor); Through the Dark (One Direction); Sunrise (Norah Jones); On the Sunny Side of the Street (Steve Tyrell; from Father of the Bride)

i am watching

Seeing as how I've been crocheting nearly every evening, it's given me a chance to try out a few Hallmark movies, and I've got a few new favorites to add to my list. 

A Harvest Wedding- I loved this one so much. Jill Wagner is one of my favorites, so this was a must-try for me. The autumnal scenery was stunning and I loved the farm setting. The whole story was really sweet, and I also greatly appreciated how the usual tension and miscommunication and misunderstanding part of a Hallmark movie wasn't really present in this one. For me, this one belongs on my "favorites" list.

The Way to You- This is another one to go on my "favorites" list. I seriously loved this movie. I loved the wintry New York City setting, and the main characters were both likable, which is always a plus. I loved how the male lead who lived a more mainstream lifestyle really respected the female lead's unconventional, creative lifestyle, instead of condemning it or making subtle jokes about her choices. That was refreshing.

Hearts of Winter- Another Jill Wagner movie. While I wouldn't consider this one a favorite, I still really enjoyed it. I especially loved the father-daughter relationship that was portrayed in the movie; it was really sweet and heartwarming. I loved that the father's character was so devoted to his daughter and he really tried his best to be the best dad he could be for her. I found that particularly touching.

i am hoping

that the rest of summer isn't too hot; to continue working on my granny squares; that the next book(s) I pick up to read are just as amazing as the last few I've read

i am hearing

cats playing and goofing off; the air conditioner just clicked off; TV on in the background; the hum of my computer; and music playing in my headphones

around the house

lots of little tidying and cleaning projects...it's amazing how spending 15-30 minutes working on an area makes a HUGE difference.

one of my favorite things

My newest favorite thing is my brand spanking new crochet hook with a grip...it makes my crafting time so much more enjoyable and easier on my hands.

word collecting

I think magic is remembering. Remembering what it feels like to talk to the wind as a child, to trust the pull of the moon, to believe the world was alive with something unseen. Maybe growing up isn't about forgetting. Maybe it's about learning to listen again.

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Thanks for joining me here today...

I hope your upcoming week is a beautiful one!

come on a summertime garden ramble

Come join me for a little late summer ramble through our garden...

I've got a mason jar of iced herbal tea in hand, a wide brimmed sunhat on, and my old worn-in sandals that feel as comfy as a dream on. It's stifling hot and the humidity is so thick you could cut it with a knife. However, thankfully, our many, many, many trees are providing lots of much-appreciated shade as we mosey along and poke around to see what's going on in the garden these late summer days. Fortunately, we've had lots of rain, so we haven't needed to water the plants hardly at all this season. They love the rainwater! And I love the rain, too. {{smiles}}

The monkey grass is beginning to showcase these gorgeous purple flowers. I've noticed each year that these purple beauties come up in late summer, and it's a sure sign that the season is s l o w l y starting to wind down. I absolutely love the soft violet color popping up among all the green.

Purple has come to be the color of summer's end for me. I wrote a post sharing some of my thoughts on that here a few years back...you'd be most welcome to read it.

As I was crouched down to get these photos, a little buzzing sound surrounded me. I looked around and there it was...this little friendly bumblebee friend. It buzzed around and visited many of the blooms. We have always believed in and strived to keep a natural yard...no poisonous sprays or chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers or weed killers. We very much believe in letting nature be nature and that nature is perfect as it is...and that weeds are simply flowers that someone decides are in the wrong place, to quote Sister Monica Joan from Call the Midwife.

After we moved into Shady Cottage, we had no idea what the previous owners did to the yard in terms of chemicals and such. It's been eight years now, and they say it takes five years for a yard to detox from those poisons, so if they did abuse the yard and garden (as most everyone around us loves to do), it should be well cleared out now. Over the last few years, we've noticed more and more bees, butterflies, moths, squirrels, birds, and lightning bugs in our yard. And hardly any anywhere else in our neighborhood. Just goes to show that nature really is just fine as it is...a perfectly manicured yard is doing absolutely nothing for the environment and pollinators, which we all depend on for our food.

Each spring, we fill two big planters with impatiens...in a variety of colors. They last all season long and sometimes, well into the autumn. The bright bursts of color really make a cheerful entrance to our home.

Rewild your yard.

Bee happy.

Be pesticide free.

Leave the leaves.

Restore the balance.

Lose the lawn.

Bee the change.

Slow the mow. 

Grow natives.

Weeds are just unloved flowers.

Let it grow.

Leave the trees.

Be pollinator friendly.

Build a butterfly haven.

(I saw a garden flag with those sayings all over it, and I absolutely loved it. I want one for our yard! They perfectly say what I feel and believe!)

Our basil is growing and flourishing beautifully. We use it regularly to cook dinner and I've also already made one big batch of pesto...some for dinner one night and two more containers for our freezer. I'd like to make another batch or two to freeze for the autumn and winter before the season ends.

And our sage is doing well, too...the rosemary is just okay. I've used both to make roasted chicken and bone broth, and oh my, did they make the flavor pop!

Our corner of the world is still quite lush and vibrant green. Soon, though, as with every year before, some mid-to-late August, the trees and plants will begin to have that worn out, weary sort of look...green fading to yellow as the leaves begin their change to autumnal tones. It happens every year like clockwork. Sure signs of the seasonal change. The grass begins to grow slower and for that, I am always grateful. Ever since my dad passed away, I've done most of the mowing, and with the intense sun and heat, it really drags me down. So I'm always glad to see mowing season end until the next year.

What are your gardens looking like these late summer days? I'd love to know if you're doing any preserving for the autumn/winter months. Do share!

a daybook for july

Over the many years I've been blogging, I've done variations of this daybook sort of post, sometimes monthly, other times seasonally. It is one of my favorite posts to read from others and a very enjoyable one to write as well. So, alas, here I am, bringing it back to my little cozy corner. I hope you enjoy! ♥

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outside my window

Deep summertime is well and truly here. Lush, rich, vibrant, deep green is literally everywhere I look outside. The grass, the trees. the bushes and shrubs, the herbs in our garden. Green and more green...I'm not complaining, though, as deep summer green is one of my favorite colors. And one of the only things I actually like about summer. Ha! Pops of pink peek through in our garden thanks to my mom's Mother's Day hydrangea, along with hues of bright orange coming from our daylilies, which are both thriving. Oh, and the basil! It's growing like crazy! Needless to say, we're enjoying lots of basil in our meals...my goodness, the scent. Blissful! Lightning bugs in the evenings and squirrels running in the trees in the morning and lots of rain, which makes me so happy, and weather so hot and humid you feel incredibly gross and sticky just going to get the mail. Ah, summertime.

i am thinking

Of autumn and cooler weather and crisp temps and cozy clothing...am I ashamed to admit this? Absolutely not! {{winks}} Seriously, though, my "autumn fever" has set in and I am looking forward to being able to go outside without getting attacked by countless mosquitoes and dripping with sweat after just five minutes.

i am thankful for

My mom, sister, and our fur babies. Our home and little corner of the world. Home cooking and getting to make meals for my dear family. Rain and cloudy days and air conditioning. Iced tea and berry bread pudding and music that makes me feel alive.

from the kitchen

My mom recently made Susan Branch's bread pudding from her Summer Book. She exchanged the sugar (1 cup, I think) to just 1/4 cup honey...all that sugar honestly gets ridiculous. It was beyond delicious, especially with whipped cream. Bread pudding and fruity desserts have never been something I crave or would choose when given a choice. Until now. This recipe is addictive! I also made, for the first time ever, a tomato pie. This is an old, traditional Southern dish that I've never made before. A few years ago, my sister mentioned it and then we forgot about it again...this past week, we remembered, I made it, we ate it, and we loved it. So summery and once again, I got to use my garden-fresh basil. {{smiles}}

i am creating

Still crocheting granny squares, sewing quilt blocks, started a new book journal. Little, ordinary things that aren't so little or ordinary.

i am wearing

Black-ish/dark navy-ish legging-capris with a colorful floral print, a black cami under a hot pink tank with lace details, hair up in a clip (too dang hot to wear it down), and my favorite pair of sandals.

in my cup

A new-to-us herbal tea flavor from Yogi Tea called "berry cherry". Make it iced and add a splash (or two!) of half and half, and take a sip...ah, perfection.

i am reading

I've been really struggling with reading lately, but I just finished Gladys Taber's Stillmeadow Album this week. It's a photo album of sorts showcasing Taber's home, Stillmeadow, along with some of her reflection on her home and life there. It was absolutely delightful, as is everything I've read from her so far. She's a true favorite of mine, a kindred spirit sort of writer. I'm so thankful for her words.

i am listening to

Lots of Celtic/Irish music and 90s-2000s country favorites (I have a playlist that I like as I'm quite picky) and other songs that were the soundtrack of my childhood and teen years. My most played songs right now are: Irresistible (One Direction); Beautiful Soul (Jesse McCartney); That's the Way (Jo Dee Messina); Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go (Celtic Thunder); Sunday in the South (Shenandoah with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan); and Hometown Girl (Josh Turner).

i am watching

I recently purchased a boxed set of the first 10 seasons of Vera. So I'm slowly making my way through them for a rewatch. I haven't watched the first few seasons in probably 3 years or so, so I forget lots of the storylines. Fun!

i am hoping

That the second half of summer isn't too hot. To return to my crocheting and quilting projects, as well as to get back into reading...I miss all of these things.

i am hearing

The sound of the air conditioner kicking on, cats running and playing with each other, crickets outside (even though the windows, their song is quite loud), my playlist in the background.

around the house

Organizing bookshelves and our pantry; tidying up craft supplies, watering plants each evening when it's hasn't rained.

one of my favorite things

At the moment, my favorite thing is iced creamy tea...which I mentioned above. So many flavor options and oh so refreshing!

word collecting

A beautiful thing is never perfect. (Unknown)

How many things does this apply to? I can't begin to number them, but how true it is.

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What's happening in your corner of the world? 

a daybook for summer's end

{{this has got to be the world's tiniest mushroom...my sister found it one evening in a flowerpot in our garden. isn't it cute?}}

noticing nature || the signs of summer's impending end are everywhere. the crepe myrtles have been blooming for a while now, and they're slowly losing their colorful confetti blossoms. trees are still green, but they've lost their lushness and vivid brightness. it's settled into a weakened shade of green, as though the trees are weary of the summer heat and sunshine. everyone's grass is showing little golden wheat-colored patches. and every few days, we'll spot a flock of geese flying in their uniquely amazing "v" form, which is a sure sign that summer is drawing to a close. we've had our first little taster of autumn this week, too, which has been nothing short of utterly delightful. cooler temps and that distinct scent in the air and in the gentle breeze blowing that clearly but gently says that autumn is indeed on the way. {{i can't wait!}}

on my playlist || the princess diaries film score (not the soundtrack) has been a favorite lately, and well, it's just so darn good. and nostalgic. and magical. and whimsical. and perfect. 

bookish ramblings || in all honesty, i barely read anything this summer. it was a hard summer, and i just didn't have the mental energy or capacity to read. however, i did read *one* amazing book in july, and it became one of my two favorite books in the romance genre. "the magic of sea glass" by jenny hale was absolutely, hands down, sheer perfection. i've read several of her other books before, and while i enjoyed them, none of them even stand close to this one. i loved every single thing about the story, the characters, the setting, the summer vibes, just every bit of it. i'm hoping the autumn allows me to return to my stack of books.

currently watching || hallmark movies are always a hit or miss for me. it seems that whenever i watch one, i either hate it completely or love it immensely. and, thankfully, i came across (quite randomly) "all of my heart" recently, and it was everything i want and love in a movie. it was set at a gorgeous bed and breakfast in bucks county, pennsylvania, and i'm still swooning over that house. ha! i just really enjoyed that movie, and there are two more in this trilogy...i have watched the second one and enjoyed it as well, and i've still got the third one to go. 

a grateful heart || for the anticipation of autumn's arrival; iced tea; comfort books; hallmark mystery movies; country drives on summer evenings; the chorus of crickets and cicadas; the first red leaves in our yard; cooler august days...and nights; full moons that look ever so enchanting; the giddiness of news that a favorite author is going to be releasing the next book in a trilogy that i love very soon; our basil plant flourishing all summer long; my mom and sister and doing life with them; our fur babies and the smiles and laughter they bring us; freshly baked cookies that smell like october; surprise rain showers

from my kitchen || we've been experimenting with more gluten free recipes lately and have found a favorite pie crust recipe that has taken our beloved pot pie recipe over the top. i also stumbled upon a few variations of recipes for what i call "iced creamy tea", and it is absolutely divine...so perfect for these late summer days.

what i'm wearing || well, at the time of writing this post, i'm in my pjs...haha! a super soft tank top and cotton shorts. 

home & hearth || autumn cleaning is in full swing, which leads to autumn decorating, which ends up with coziness in abundance. and a very happy me.

a few of my favorite things || my current obsession is this: a slice or two of sourdough bread toasted (i buy mine at aldi because for the life of me, i cannot get a sourdough starter to work in our home. and i've tried several times.) drizzle some olive oil on the toasted bread, mash up an avocado on the slices, lay several slices of tomato on top and sprinkle with salt and pepper. finally, drizzle with your favorite balsamic vinaigrette...i have a recipe that i came across and tweaked to our preferences this summer and it is blissfully scrumptious. i cannot get enough of this recipe. and it's good without the avocado it you don't have any or they aren't ripe enough yet. it's basically a bruschetta avocado toast that tastes like everything is right in the world. i'm trying not to burn myself out of this toast because i've eaten it so much this summer. ;)

quodophile || "i have come to think that care of the soul requires a high degree of resistance to the culture around us, simply because that culture is dedicated to values that have no concern for the soul." (thomas merton)

creative reveries || absolutely nothing at the moment, though i do have several projects i hope to get to over the coming months. autumn and winter inspire me like no other times of year. in just about every way imaginable.

in my cup || the iced creamy tea that i mentioned above. i've seriously made it 3 times in the last week using different herbal tea flavors. so far, my favorite is hibiscus with orange coming in a close second.

joyful anticipations || autumn. everything about it. enough said. ♥

what's inspiring me || i've realized in the last few weeks that menu planning doesn't work for me. it takes away the fun of cooking for me and part of what i love about cooking is coming up with what i want to make kind of on the spot. menu planning makes something serious and rigid out of something that has always felt fun for me...but hasn't for a long time. it's been fun winging it each night, using what we have in the fridge, freezer, and pantry. and, in all honesty, we all love this method more. it's way less stress and pressure, and it allows us to not only eat what we're in the mood for, but also to use what we have and not end up buying special ingredients at the store. i've also loved using my cookbooks more lately; something i haven't done for a very, very long time. and we've discovered a few new favorites, too. happy, happy!

how are your late summer days going, dear readers? do let me know what's bringing you delight in the comments below...♥

the cottage library ♥ looking forward

 My very first Marcia Willett, but definitely not my last. I absolutely, thoroughly enjoyed this book!

The writing style exuded so much warmth and coziness and was a gentle sort of storytelling. There were lots of domestic details and beautiful descriptions of the English countryside, as well as The Keep, the family home, which was a character totally on its own. With every turn of the page, you were invited to step deeper into the Chadwick family's world, and a wonderful world it is. Despite the family going through life's ups and downs, they are truly there for one another, as is The Keep...their foundation and rooted place where they all come together and comfort, encourage, challenge, and laugh and cry with one another.

With a cast of characters, this book was written in such a way that each one had their own unique storyline, and each character appeared on the page often enough so that you never forgot who was who or what was going on with that particular person. I loved that I never felt lost or confused while reading about so many characters.

I loved Fliss as an older sister so much. The way she cared for and protected Mole and Susanna was deep and sincere. Theo offered much wise encouragement and sometimes a bit of a differing opinion to Freddy, making her see things from a new perspective. And, then, of course, Freddy herself. What a wonderfully caring, loving, protective Grandmother she was. I especially loved her strength and protectiveness over her entire family. A truly inspiring character. I also adored Caroline, Ellen, and Fox, the devoted servants to the Chadwick family. Though so much more than mere servants, they were a true part of the family, and that was such a sweet aspect of the story.

Though this book went through many years (about 13), it also followed the seasons, which made for extra cozy and fun reading. I do wish, however, that there had been more detailed Christmas scenes and such. Maybe the other books in the series offer this???

This was such an easy book to read, and hard to put down. It was a comforting, healing sort of read, with bits of melancholy here and there, funny bits, and just loads of heartwarming moments. I sincerely loved this one, even more than I thought I would...and I look forward to reading the rest of the Chadwick family chronicles.

I did, however, have a few smallish caveats...which is why I rated this book 4.5 stars. Nothing too big or major, but a few things that I did note.

Possible spoilers below...none too big or major to the story, but if you don't want to know about specifics, don't read on.

Kit's loose (and lack of) morals and overall flirtatious demeanor was such an annoying aspect of the story to me. I did not like how teenage intimacy was so flippantly dealt with and not really seen to be wrong in any way. The same goes for her mother, Prue. She was quite a desperate woman, sleeping with a man who she knew had major red flags and whatnot. I didn't care for these loosie-goosy characters. Prue did mature as the story went on, but a forty-something year old woman should honestly know better.

I knew going into this book that it had a relationship in which two cousins (a male and a female) were attracted to each other and very much in love. If I had not known that, it would have been quite a shock! That was a bit too weird for my liking. There was also a small scene in which the male cousin noticed how his female cousin/love interest had matured physically and his thoughts and response to that was, in my opinion, inappropriate and perverted. Completely taking away her dignity as a person. Just didn't line up with my personal morals.

And my final "issue" was the age-gap relationship that eventually developed between Fliss and Miles. With Fliss being barely over 20 (and a teenager of around 15 when Miles first showed interest), an age-gap relationship of about 20 or so years just didn't sit well with me. I felt that Miles took advantage of her at times physically, and though he seemed nice enough, I didn't find it appropriate. Again, this just doesn't line up with my personal morals.

Overall, I loved this story, but I did have a few issues. Nothing too major and certainly not anything to hinder me from continuing on with the series. Just enough to take it from 5 stars to 4.5 for me.

What have you read recently? Do share below!

J U N E ♥ book club chat + update

 

Welcome, dear readers, to June's book club chat...

First off, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Cozy mysteries are a favorite of mine, and each time I read one, they become even more so. This one was one that I really, really loved. And, I thought it was the second of two books, but I recently learned that it's actually the second of THREE, so now I have two more to read in this series. (I don't mind reading certain series out of order, and cozy mysteries are often easily read in any order. So I can look forward to two more stories in this trilogy!)

As with any book I read, the setting and characters are the two biggest factors for me when it comes to the story. If I don't like the characters and the setting isn't coming alive for me, chances are I'm not going to enjoy the book...and even more so, that I'll DNF the book entirely. I've done this a number of times. However, this book, for me at least, delivered those two on a silver platter.

Fiona, our main girl, and her sister, Isla, are two characters that I loved meeting. They did have their differences in personality and approach to life, but more than that, they loved one another and always had each other's back. Although, I did find Isla especially a bit immature, and some of the bickering and whatnot were a bit annoying. It was especially fun reading how they worked together in the flower shop that Fiona owned, as well as their antics with Fiona's cat, Ivanhoe. I also enjoyed the characters of Chief Inspector Neil Craig as well as the pub owner, Raj, and Presha, who owned a cafe, and Hamish, the garden keeper.

Scotland, particularly the little village of Aberdeenshire, was truly brought to life within this story. I felt as though I was right there feeling the whipping winds of the stormy nights, and completely delighting in the cooler summer temperatures...for us Tennessee folks, at least. From the descriptions of the ancient ruins and the village church to the rainy weather and overall vibe depicted in the story, I was transported to Scotland. This was my first cozy mystery by Amanda Flower, but I felt like she truly created a world within this book. (I love that!)

As for the mystery, I had my suspicions throughout the book, all of which turned out to be completely wrong. Ha! I did eventually suspect the actual killer as they were a bit strange to me...but the final reveal was a bit of a surprise. I felt this was a rather "gentle mystery", if I may call it that. Even for a cozy mystery, it was a lot lighter on the suspense and crime solving aspect than other cozies I've read. But I actually liked that about this one...it was just what I needed.

Finally, if you know me, you know I love a magical, enchanting element to stories. And I've read several cozy mysteries that feature that...and they always end up being some of my most favorites. This one had that to a degree, but it did make me want to know more about the garden, Uncle Ian and his reappearing as a fox, and the stone in the garden, too. I'm hoping that the other two books in this trilogy explore that deeper. 

I very much enjoyed this book, and it was just what I was looking for in a story...and a mystery. I'd love to know what you thought of this one if you read along with me. So, as always, please share a comment.

And, one side note...multiple times throughout this book, Presha would bring Fiona a chai from her cafe. It sounded so delicious! And then last week, I was watching some YouTube and in one video, chai was mentioned several times...so needless to say, chai was on my mind. I've never had any sort of chai before, but it sounded like something I would enjoy. 

Thanks to the internet, I found a rather simple recipe for a chai latte, and lo and behold, I discovered a new love...chai lattes. I am in love! The warmth and coziness of this dink just sings to me. It's like me in a mug...{{smiles}} My mom and sister loved it too, and we all agree that come autumn and winter, this is going to be a staple drink in our home. Oh my goodness! How did I not ever try one of these before now?!?!

If you've like to give this recipe a try, you can find it here. I highly recommend it!

I also found a recipe for a basic chai (not a latte) and I'm hoping to give it a try soon...but right now, I'm obsessed with the latte version. ♥

I've decided to pause the book club for the time being...maybe permanently. I've been through a reading slump nearly all spring long and am just now finding my happy place in reading again. I'm also trying to simplify my commitments and remove any unnecessary pressure I feel, as well as simply read what I want to read when I want to read it...without being concerned about picking a book that I know is a good choice each month for my blog. Along with that, I've been really enjoying creating bookish YouTube videos recently, and I would rather do that than the book club...just trying to simplify here and not do "all the things". I hope you understand. I'll still be sharing lots of reading and bookish posts here, just no longer pertaining to the book club.

{{ Thank you to anyone who has participated in my book club during the past year, and especially for the kindred spirits who have shared their thoughts on the stories we've read together. I'm really grateful for your comments, messages, and bookish thoughts. }}

So, until my next post...

may your day be a beauty!

♥

oh the summertime is coming . . .

Oh, the summertime is coming

And the trees are sweetly blooming

And the wild mountain thyme

Grows around the blooming heather

Will ye go, lassie, go?

And we'll all go together

To pluck wild mountain thyme

All around the blooming heather

Will ye go, lassie, go?

Summer solstice salutations, lovely readers!

Tonight at 9:42 Central Time (where I live), we will indeed welcome summer in with all the thick humidity, stagnant air, and hot temperatures. Tis the season for sweating buckets even just walking the short length down the driveway to the mailbox and the incessant swarming mosquitoes fighting to attack me. Needless to say, summertime is my absolute, hands down, least favorite time of year. Summer is a real struggle for me, as the intense heat and beating sun and I do not get along. I get physical effects from being outdoors for any little bit of time. Not to mention, as some people deal with seasonal depression and such during winter, I deal with that in the summertime. I have to remind myself that autumn and winter do indeed come round again...in fact, autumn is the very next season! {{squeals}}

However...

I admit that there are some rather blissful aspects to this season that I wanted to share with you.

No matter how old I get, there is this "summer feeling". That anticipation of lazy, sunshiny days and late, starry skied nights that comes in late spring, knowing that summertime is right around the corner. As a little girl, this meant summer break and no school, which I, of course, was through-the-roof excited about. As an adult, and even though I don't yet have children myself, and am certainly not a little girl anymore, there's still that "summer feeling". Year after year, it's there. Kind of like that "back to school" feeling that comes, even though it's been a long time since I was in school myself. Every August, I simply must buy a new pack of pens or a new notebook or something, because it just has that "back to school" feeling in the air. And every summer, that "summer feeling" brings back many fond summertime memories of my childhood, lots of nostalgia, and the list of things that I simply must enjoy during this season...lists of movies to watch, playlists of songs to listen to, recipes to make and foods to eat, adventures to go on close to home. 

So yeah, summer may not be my BFF in terms of seasons or times of year. But it's pretty darn magical, in its own way. And I sure hope that "summer feeling" never, ever goes away.

♥ F L O W E R S !

♥ Lush, green trees! And all the many shades of green...who knew there were so many!

♥ Fresh fruit, especially watermelon, berries, and peaches.

♥ Butterflies, lightning bugs, and hanging out on summer nights.

♥ Summer showers…I’m not a lover of sunshine; rain is my jam.

♥ Summer tunes…I have certain songs that I love listening to in the summertime.

♥ The colorful-ness of summer. The Earth is just so rich and vibrant with color, and I love it!

♥ Summertime books…I’m loving having a few really summery novels to enjoy. 

♥ Iced herbal tea, and lots of it, please. Particularly served in a mason jar with lots of crushed ice. {{smiles}}

♥ Bruschetta with fresh tomatoes and basil. On sourdough, crispy with olive oil. I could live off this stuff!

♥ Celebrating the Fourth of July…it’s seriously one of my favorite holidays because it’s so simple and fun and I have so many happy memories from my girlhood days of this time of year.

♥ Roadtrips and just drives through the countryside in the summer are where it’s at.

♥ The sounds of summer…birdsong in the morning and an orchestral performance by the crickets at night.

♥ The scent of freshly cut grass...and honeysuckle. Ah, pure heaven!

♥ Summer nights, whether it be baking something in the kitchen or watching a movie on the couch or just shooting the breeze outside. I literally have tons of happy and sometimes crazy memories of my childhood summer nights (thanks to some rather interesting experiences in the neighborhood I grew up in). I could probably write a book! 

♥ Wearing worn-in sandals every. single. day.

♥ The sunsets of summertime...absolutely spectacular. No questions asked.

♥ Coming into the air conditioning after being outside.

♥ The gentle whirr of the ceiling fans at night.

♥ Watching movies from my childhood summers.

♥ Smoothie season. So much yes.

♥ Overcast days...coziness can exist in the summertime, too.

♥ American flags all around town...literally, everywhere you look.

♥ The scent of grilling out on Saturdays...so nostalgic.

♥ The sound of the radio in the distance outside...more nostalgia.

Every summer, like the roses,

childhood returns.

~ Marty Rubin ~

M A Y ♥ book club chat & J U N E ♥ book choice

Well, dear reader friends, the time has come to discuss one of my all-time most very favorite books...

Because of Winn-Dixie.

This book brought me ever so much joy and friendship as an 11-year-old girl sitting all by myself in school, no friends in my class, feeling very much like I just didn't fit in. But one day, I opened this book and was welcomed into the friendship circle of Opal and Winn-Dixie. And this book has stuck with me ever since.

As an adult, some of the same things that I loved as a schoolgirl remain the same. The quaintness and heartwarming feel of the story. The cast of characters, who I'd love to know in real life. The sweet friendship and joy that a pet can bring. The magic of summertime. The way Opal felt out of place until she found "her people". 

All that still remains in my heart and is very much why I love this story.

But, there's more now that I'm a "grown-up". I absolutely love the generational friendships in this story. I love how children are seen as people who very much have something to bring to a friendship...and to the world. I love how the adults truly bring those children into their spaces and never once were they made to feel like a nuisance. I love that friendships can bloom at any old time and in any old place...and sometimes because of a dog. Because of Winn-Dixie.

I love how hopeful this story feels. I love how it reignites so many summertime memories of my own childhood. I appreciate the idea that friendship can happen between any people who have a common interest of getting to know one another and being there for the other. I love how this book always makes me crave egg salad sandwiches...with pickles on the side. I love how magical and utterly delightful this story feels. 

Truly, one of my all-time favorites, of any genre. Every time I read this, I am reminded why. 

And have you seen the movie? It's one of my summertime must watches...in fact, I may have to pull it out soon for an evening of comfort and coziness.

There isn't anything I don't love about this book...

it's such a special story, and I'm thankful and glad it fell into my 11-year-old hands. ♥

As for June's book choice, I've gone for a fun, summery cozy mystery set in Scotland. This is the second in a duology, but I haven't gotten to read the first yet, and it's no big deal. This is a standalone story and I'm having no problems reading it without having read the first.

Let me tell you a bit about it...

Fiona Knox thought she was pulling her life back together when she inherited her godfather’s cottage in Duncreigan, Scotland—complete with a magical walled garden. But the erstwhile Tennessee flower shop owner promptly found herself puddle boot-deep in danger when she found a dead body among the glimmering blossoms. One police investigation later (made a trifle less unpleasant by the presence of handsome Chief Inspector Neil Craig), and Fiona’s life is getting back on a steady, though bewitched, track. Her sister Isla has just moved in with her, and the grand opening of her new spellbound venture, the Climbing Rose Flower Shop in Aberdeenshire, is imminent.

But dark, ensorcelled clouds are gathering to douse Fiona’s newly sunny outlook. First, imperious parish minister Quaid MacCullen makes it undeniably clear that he would be happy to send Fiona back to Tennessee. Then, a horrific lightning storm, rife with terribly omen, threatens to tear apart the elderly cottage and sends Fi and Isla cowering under their beds. The storm passes, but then, Fi is called away from the Climbing Rose’s opening soiree when Kipling, the tiny village’s weak-kneed volunteer police chief, finds a dead body on the beach.

The body proves difficult to identify, but Kipling is certain it’s that of the parish minister. Which makes Fiona, MacCullen’s new nemesis, a suspect. And what’s worse, Isla has seemed bewitched as of late…did she do something unspeakable to protect her sister? The last thing Fiona wanted to do was play detective again. But now, the rosy future she’d envisioned is going to seed, and if she and Craig can’t clear her name, her idyllic life will wilt away in Death and Daisies, national bestselling author Amanda Flower’s second enchanting Magic Garden mystery.

.........................................................................

I'm currently in the middle of this book and let me tell you...I am L O V I N G it! It's such a fun mystery, and the characters and setting are so phenomenal. Plus, it's got a bit of magic, which always is a huge bonus for me. {{smiles}}

I'd love to have you read along with me in June. You can find used copies of this book on AbeBooks right here. And, of course, your local library may have a copy as well. If you're in the mood for a lighter mystery, this is the book for you!

The chat for June's book club will be on Thursday, June 26th. I'll announce July's book then as well.

Until tomorrow, happy reading!

Oh, and I almost forgot, I have updated my YouTube channel as a bookish channel. And I've got a short little trailer up with plans for a summer book recommendation video coming soon...this is something I've wanted to do for a long time, and I'm so excited to begin sharing bookish videos! If you have any suggestions or specific topics related to books and the reading life, please let me know. I'm all ears!

You can find my channel HERE or by simply clicking the "my reading nook" button at the top of this page.