New Things I Love

Sorry I've been the absent blogger these past few weeks, I've been traveling England and Scotland with my family.

I'm so excited to show off my new prize possessions that I got on our trip.

My new Complete Works of William Shakespeare, purchased from  his birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. They even stamped an official bookplate into it. 

I've been wanting a complete works for a long time, but I decided to wait and buy it in Stratford. I don't know what took me so long. 

The complete, 100 year anniversary limited edition collection of books by Beatrix Potter. Purchased from her home in the Lake District, Hill Top Farm. I can't even say how much I love these! They are so beautiful.

Now I just need to go back to the UK to pick up the places I didn't have time to visit this time: Bath or Chawton for a complete works of Jane Austen, and Haworth for the Bronte sisters.

Years ago, I bought Wuthering Heights at Haworth, but it's been read so much it finally fell apart.

To read more about the great literary places I visited, see my post at the Utah Children's Writers blog.

What are some things that you love and inspire you?

Bring On Summertime!

Ladies and Gentlemen, bring on summertime!

I love summer. Not because of the nice weather. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a cold weather person. I'll take wind and rain any day. So why do I love summer so much. Here are the reasons!

1. No more HOMEWORK. By the end of the school year I'm sick to death of nagging my kids about homework and grades. Sick. To death.

2. Home is safe. I'm like a mother hen, always wanting my kids gathered safely under my wing. It's getting harder and harder to gather them, especially as my oldest just graduated form high school and my next oldest is 6' 4" and will be a senior. Young adult kids don't like to be under their mother's wings.

3. Sleeping in. I'm NOT a morning person. We get up at 6:15 during the school year. Summer, I'm usually rolling out of the sack around 8:00. (I can hear the collective gasps from all you morning people. Overachievers.)

4. Relaxed schedule. We like to keep thing easy--we're simple folk. Although some might use the word lazy.

5. Vacations. What's up for this summer? England for two weeks. (Can't wait.) And Hebgen Lake Montana for about three weeks. (I've spent every summer of my life at the Hebgen Lake family cabin. It's a little slice of heaven.)

I have other friends that dread summer. How do you feel about it?