“Green was the silence, wet was the light, the month of June trembled like a butterfly.” — Pablo Neruda
READING:
The Paris Library — “Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together” (Goodreads). I have grown tired of the whole “women in WWII” genre, but this book’s focus on literature tempted me.
The Book of Lost Names — “Inspired by an astonishing true story from World War II, a young woman with a talent for forgery helps hundreds of Jewish children flee the Nazis in this unforgettable historical novel.” Well, ok, maybe one more. I did like this one better.
The Address — Dual stories of The Dakota in mid-1880s and mid-1980s. This is the third book by Fiona Davis that I’ve read this year. The verdict is still out…
WATCHING:
L’Agence aka The Parisian Agency: Exclusive Properties on Netflix — “This reality series follows the Kretz family and their luxury property business as they help clients buy and sell fabulous homes in France and abroad.”
I miss going to the movies, but, even though the cinemas are open again, there are few new releases and none entices me.
LISTENING TO audiobooks. Two of the books I read recently were also available on Libby as audiobooks. It is nice to be able to continue making progress through a book while doing chores or running errands, but I’m not complete sold on the idea. The voices can be distracting with their mispronunciations and affected accents.
ENJOYING:
The slower pace of “summer vacation”: I still get up with Eric, but when he leaves for work, I enjoy my coffee while catching up on email and social media. I row every morning and take my time getting ready for the day. I tidy up the house, deck, and yard everyday so that our home feels beautiful and comfortable. I take time in the afternoon to read or blog while Piper takes her afternoon naps. Despite the gentle pace, my days still feel productive.
Catching up with friends: After a year of Zoom meetings and masked faces, it is so nice to be able to linger over lunches and conversations.
FEELING strong and accomplished: Since I started rowing on March 12th, I’ve it quite a few milestones: 100K meters on April 1st; 250K on May 1st; and 500K on June 19th (2 days before my July 1st goal). It took 17 weeks to get here, so planning for 1MM club before the end of October.
LOOKING FORWARD TO getting away. Although we can’t go far this summer, we are excited to spend a weekend in the North Woods visiting friends. We also hope to return to Door County before summer ends.
