In the Storm

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What I've Been Reading | June 2020

It was a fairly good month for reading, although I feel I should have read more. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, a rather hefty book, took a long time to read. I am currently reading and I am about half way through, The Sword of Shannara. I blew through I'm Still Here at a pace for taking notes as I am hoping to discuss with my book club (outside of book club). Our book club read this month was Olive Kitteridge. I enjoyed it, but I couldn't give it 5 stars, although I was hoping to see it as such, especially as it won a Pulitzer Prize. A Wizard of Earthsea was very much outside the genre I am comfortable with, yet - I thought the young adult fantasy was exceptional.

This month I changed up (below) how I'm sharing the books I've read, creating mini 4 x 6 snapshots of each book, and of course the double page above that will go into my READ 2020 album. I appreciate how they turned out. I definitely need to write up a mid-year look at how I am progressing on my 2020 Reading Goals.

 

 

 

 

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May Memories.

Here it is the end of June and I am just getting around to sharing a page with our May memories. This was such a fun page to put together. It took a bit of a LEARNING curve to tackle. As LEARNING is my One Little Word for the year, this page definitely made my word visible for me. I had to learn a new Photoshop Elements technique in order to mimic the shapes on the right hands side.

As I look at the page, now, I think the left side should have a piece of 'digital' chipboard that mimics that same shapes that are on the right side. That is my scrapbooking flaw. Design is not my forte. I can 'see' parts of design but my brain just can't wrap itself around what looks good and what might look better.

May Memories Journaling:

1. We enjoyed amazing meals and snacks, almost all of them prepared by Jarrod who was on furlough from his job. Magnolia’s cookbook got a workout; Together, Jarrod and I fixed several meals to deliver to families in quarantine.

2. Jeff returned to work full time and, although the jobsite is slow, his position as logistic superintendent is as busy as ever. He comes home exhausted and filthy. The only saving grace is he is deliberately moving slower at work rather than scramble to everywhere he needs to be, and coming home each night a little earlier.

3. Although we celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary, COVID-19 kept us from going away for a long weekend, thus it was a simple fare - at home. Mother’s Day was going to be with my mom and family but it also was at home. It made for a quiet celebration month all around.

4. Zoom was our friend this month for Mother’s Day when Elizabeth and her kids, Ashley and her kids, and even Brad who made it to the states from his deployment. So good having all the kids - together at one time. This is one bit of technology that is my friend. I also hosted book club again this month on the online meeting room.

5. John and Jarrod finished their Spring semester classes online and John ‘graduated’ without a ceremony. I think I was more bummed than he was. Although he graduated with all his welding certificates he is still working at True Value as they are short manning and he doesn’t want to put his boss in a bind.

6. We began a Marvel movie marathon, watching them in order. Jeff, John, and Jarrod were hired to build a couple patios and were paid well for their efforts. I got a hair cut and dyed my hair red once my beautician opened up shop again. All four of us turned in our absentee ballots.

So Much Joy.

It was hysterical watching the kids bowl. Sure, Jeff, John, and Jarrod were fun to watch - because they haven't bowled in forever and they were terrible, but there isn't something about watching your grand kids have a blast at - something different. The excitement in them is contagious. Contagious joy. It was so much fun. They rooted and hollered at every success, however, small. 

Because COVID-19, social distancing was in place we bowled at every other lane so it wasn't very crowded when we arrived at the bowling alley, which also has laser tag and arcade. It made it comfortable and meant zero frustrations from lane mugger's or chargers. It was evident this week with the kids that Ian, as we celebrated his 12th birthday has definitely grown up. His autism is limiting in some respects, but I noticed he is more emotive and engaging, and even playful. There is also a feisty-ness to his demeanor, as well. I am so glad we braved going out for the day and doing some things Ian wanted to do for his birthday. It was so much fun.

Digitally, this is another traditional, albeit digital, page, 12 x 12 with lots of photos. I think I used a Yin Designs template to grab a basic layout and then totally modified it; the finished work looks nothing like the original template, though. I also used Ali Edwards' FUN and CELEBRATE Story kits plus Sahlin Designs paper and that adorable SO MUCH FUN wood piece.  

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Celebrate 12.

We celebrated my grandson Ian's 12th birthday while Ashley, Brad and my grand kids were here for a visit earlier this month. We made the whole day for Ian. Jarrod, our resident chef, made homemade chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing, Ian's favorite. And, Ian opened a stack of presents from everyone. John and Jarrod, each, got him a gift, Jeff and I got him two, and Ashley had gifts for Ian from his brothers, too.

I love how, I think it's because of his autism, he takes everything in stride. I remember earlier in the week, I asked Ian why he was making a face. I figured I wouldn't know unless I asked. He said to me, "It's because I am happy." Just like that. The face was scrunching up his nose and wiping his hands down his face...now I know his happy face.

We celebrated Ian.