…and we’re back
Well, that was a very unexpected blog hiatus. Sometimes when life gets really busy, something has to give and unfortunately this time, it was my brain power to write posts. I’m unsure where to go from here as I have lots that I would love to backtrack and post about, but I still find myself a bit treading water with life and work, so I’m not sure when to stop and collect my thoughts and photos. Hopefully soon. Maybe I’ll plan it into the summer break. We have two more weeks of school here in the UK and then the (short to us) summer break of 6 weeks happens. Still getting used to this new-to-us schedule.
For now, I’m going to share some links from the past week, on a Monday. Just mixing it all up today! Lots of good reading happening online and in books. I have SO many books to share somehow soon as I’ve missed my monthly recaps of reading for April, May, and June. Oh boy. But let’s go to links today. Happy Monday!
THINGS I BOOKMARKED
It’s Never Too Late To Turn Things Around – A great article about stepping back with your kids when you’ve already given a smartphone too soon. I wish I could figure out how to humbly share this with so many friends. We’ve been very lucky/blessed/wise… I don’t know the right words for it as I often feel like it was just a parenting move we made early on that has proved right. We have no regrets about not doing phones with our girls. I don’t feel smug about it, I just wish I could encourage more parents to make a change instead of feeling the constant tech guilt and regret that I hear over and over again. Our girls are 11 and 13 and they already thank us for the decision as they hate what phones have done and continue to do to their friends. You can make changes. You can backtrack. I love the phrase “I reserve the right to be wiser today than I was yesterday.”
Resisting Main Character Energy – Such a thoughtful article about community and friendship, using “Only Murders in the Building” as the example.
The Heavy Lift of Creativity – Quite a long article, but man, I loved it. I ended up journaling a small section of it to help it sink in and return to it often. An incredible piece about creativity, vulnerability, and the pressing on of the process. “We all feel a longing, almost like homesickness, for our work to be better, to be good, to be perfect. Alas, it might not ever be perfect. Most of the time, it might not even be all that good. Own your inadequacy. Creating is messy.”
Beastly Britain by Karen R Jones review – Really hope to read this book at some point. Sounds charming and hilarious. “A revelatory cultural history of our relationship with native wildlife, from newts doing handstands to Mrs Tiggy-Winkle”
The Problem(s) of Susan – Having finally finished The Chronicles of Narnia with our girls, I had long been dreading the end of The Last Battle when the girls realized that Susan wasn’t there. They weren’t as devastated as I feared, though they both gasped when they heard. Thinking it over after, I ended up looking up some articles as I’ve never really understood Lewis’ decision with her and I really loved this one by Mikalatos. My girls tend to listen to the audiobooks over and over and I’m sure more conversations will ensue about Susan. I’ll be thinking about this conclusion and sharing bits of it with them as well.
Whatever Happened to Susan Pevensie – Another interesting take on Susan. She’s definitely been on my mind recently.
THINGS I LISTENED TO
Songs by Rich Mullins – I’ve recently come across a few references to Rich Mullins’ music and it made me long to look him up again. It has sadly been years since I have listened intentionally to his music and this was the first album I remember and know the best. I’m particularly into “Sometimes By Step” and “Creed” but there are so many great gems on here.
The Pressing In by Eliza King – Last month a friend and I went to a Caroline Cobb concert in London (! more on that another time). The opener for her was Eliza King. This was my first introduction to this Australian singer and songwriter and I really loved her music.
Hamilton – In honor of the 4th of July, my oldest and I have been listening to a lot of Hamilton the past few weeks. I have complicated feelings about the 4th, and Hamilton feels like a great way to acknowledge the good things about America’s fight for independence and respecting all the immigrants who helped make the nation. The music is just incredible.
THINGS (CARS) I FOUND
As I’m behind on all the collected things and I’m doing a Monday links post today, I’m going to gather all the recent cars I’ve taken photos of. I have long held a love for cool, unique, vintage cars and I love spotting them around. I’ll never understand why cars continue to get bigger and uglier. The lines and form of old cars just can’t be surpassed. Here are several from the last few weeks.
a classic Mini will always steal my heart
blue beauty in front of Cinema Bookshop
black two-door retro car also outside Cinema Bookshop
This green and white VW van might be the ultimate show-stopper for me though. Gorgeous.
I’m going to count it a small success to get back in the proverbial blogging saddle with this. I’ve missed it. Hopefully many more new and catching up posts to come. Happy reading, and listening, and finding this week.