road-trip – Peaceful Reader

Natural Wonders

This summer I’ve been lucky to see a lot of natural beauty around me. I took a kayak day trip down a beautiful river with friends, looking up at gorgeous cliffs. And just yesterday I returned from 10 days on the road from Iowa to upstate New York and many cool places along the way. One of our first stops was South Bend, IN so I could check out Brain Lair Books and just to be in former Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s homeland. We had a delicious dinner there and then went onward across the country. Near Buffalo we veered over to see Niagara Falls for the first time. I’d only thought of this as a major tourist attraction and was delighted to behold the actual beauty of the water and the power it held. It roars over the edge but before that as you walk over the bridge you witness an almost ethereal blue color in the water. It was difficult to leave but the masses were starting to descend and we spent all of our vacation trying to keep ahead and away from the crowds.

We witnessed another amazing wonder at the Watkins Glen State Park in upstate New York. This gorge is a beautiful masterpiece carved into rock from erosion. The layers are striking as the waters rush through from up top. We hiked all the way up which took us behind two waterfalls and many, many wet steps up. It took us half the morning to climb up and then we spent the rest of the afternoon on a rental boat in the south side of Seneca Lake looking up at the rolling hills and waterfalls. Our trip out into the lake was cut short when a rainstorm rushed us back to the marina but we had fun tooling around on the boat and jumping into the chill lake in the time that we had. Some of our group went horseback riding into the hills and others traveled into the town of Corning to enjoy museums. Vacations are like that; there is something for everyone. Including wine slushees and Grateful Dead cover bands – thanks Hazlitt Vineyards. We had a fantastic time exploring the great outdoors and when we had to go indoors we masked up.

Hello June

There are some people in our lovely little house making a movie, creating art. About 7 people and my husband, shooting, holding a boom mike, and going over lines. Groovy Girl and I have sequestered ourselves on the second floor, in our rooms, doing homework and reading. Not what I expected to do with my day, ALL day, but such is this life.

It is a fairly gorgeous day out and I did take the dog for a long walk. It seems like it would be a perfect hammock day but I cannot for the life of me find where I stashed them over winter. I always keep them in one particular place for safekeeping and they are not there. I think the husband must have taken them down and stored them and he needs to find them. We are missing precious hammock lazy moments.

So with lots of time on my hands, I finished Anne Tyler’s A spool of blue thread, a good solid story that tells the tale of the Whitshank family of Baltimore. It doesn’t have a major plot upheaval and yet generally that is how family stories often are in life. Just a straight line with many zigs and zags up and down. This was my first Anne Tyler and I would read another. With that one done I’ve started Tangerine; a novel by Christine Mangan plus reading more of Cleo Wade’s Heart Talk, a very inspirational book of wisdom.

I love it when a friend orders a book based on my recommendation. It happened this morning; I raved about a book, News of the world, to my friend Tim at our church picnic and sent him a photo of it when I returned home. He responded back a few minutes later with “Just ordered it from Amazon!”

We have just 2 1/2 days left of school! The year has flown by and in a few short days, it will truly be summer. Groovy Girl and I are taking to the road, headed to Denver, CO to stay with family for about a week. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve made this road trip myself and while G.G. will keep me awake, she isn’t able to drive just yet so it will be all me. Generally, my husband does most of the driving (while I read) but I used to make this trek at least once a year when I lived there before there was a husband so it’s a challenge for myself. Bring on the Red Vines and blue chips, the loud music and the laughs.

Goodness it's June

It’s hot and sticky; feels like August and yet it’s the beginning of summer. I’ve traveled twice to Indiana to work in the bakery. Fun but hot and sweaty and not as profitable as we thought. You win some, you lose some. The donuts were still amazing as was the strawberry rhubarb pie. I’m very happy to be home though in my own little abode with my relaxing backyard. I took a nap, a bath, and then read in the hammock in that order after I pulled into my driveway.

I’m making preparations for Father’s Day Brunch at my house for my husband. Kids will be here and I need to make a combination of vegan and non vegan food. So standard fare is pretty easy; scrambled farm eggs (I still have a good supply from a farmer/teacher friend) and bacon for the dad; grits, fruit, and vegan waffles for the diary-free, vegetarian crew. I also found a recipe for vegan cinnamon rolls so I’m thinking of making those also. With all that bread-iness filling the table I’m going to balance with lots of fresh fruit.

Of course, we are beginning the day with a Bloody Mary bar and so the meal will be necessary to combat all that vodka. How else do you really make fathers feel special than to liquor them up before breakfast? I know my handsome husband will be happy to enjoy this day of rest in his otherwise crazy busy schedule.

How is the beginning of your summer?

Weekend Cooking; Road Trip to peace.

Yesterday I had melted Brie, fresh bread and apple slices.

There was chaos getting to that peaceful spot though.

Groovy Girl began the day sad causing waves of tears and snappy answers from her. It took us a bit to convince her she could take charge of her own mood. She did and we went off to skating a bit late but still there. After her skating lesson, Husband and I had a planned road trip with friends and I was excited to go. A few days earlier husband found out about a peace walk and wanted to participate. Of course, the timing of the event squeezed it right in between skating and our intended road trip, which makes handsome husband think “oh, great we can make it!” Ugh. Love peace, Hate rushing.

I often walk laps around the arena while Groovy skates and I needed a shower and I had less than 30 minutes to get ready for the walk and the road trip. Could I have planned more the night before? Yes. Did I? No. In my rush I spent 3-4 precious minutes trying to get new milk from Hansen’s into the refrigerator cramming it between various water bottles. I should have taken water bottles out but instead somehow managed to spill the small pitcher of margaritas I’d made the night before. I cried as the mason jar spilled it’s contents all over the kitchen rug. Now I had to stop and wipe it all up. What a waste. It wasn’t the loss of the drink (well a little bit) but I dislike rushing and the affects of rushing. I did make it up to take my shower and even though I was sad about spilled “milk” I knew it wasn’t the cause but I still managed to have another mini-meltdown as I was driving back down the highway previously traveled for skating.

Meltdown’s are rarely about what started it and I knew I was nervous about leaving my children for the day and for my husband cramming something more into our day. I sobbed to my handsome and understanding husband-he said “Ill listen as we go…” He did listen yet my feelings still hadn’t resolved as we arrived at the gathering spot. While praying for a peace I realized these things:

1. My children are old enough to be on their own together but it was my first time leaving them for the day without my mom or someone else to consult. They would have to take care of chores, and lunch and dinner on their own. They survived.

2. My husband and I have walked, prayed, rallied for peace from Arkansas, D.C. and Iowa. Of course he would want to walk this walk. The walks purpose is to highlight a Dr. King park we hope to have built in our church neighborhood.

Even though my tears and my brain fought it; the walk healed me and reminded me of what I know to be true. My life is good and we need more peace in our communities both locally and worldly. I left my grumpy bugs behind.

Our road trip with friends to the Amana Colonies was fantastic. We went to Fireside Winery for a tasting, shopped, (I bought pecan maple syrup at the General Store) and root beer here and enjoyed the company of our friends and the fantastic autumnal weather. At both winery and Millstream we were able to sit on the patio with just sweaters. We had a delicious family-style dinner at The Ronneburg Restaurant, which included sides of sauerkraut, German potato salad, beets, coleslaw and dark rye bread. My grandmother would have loved it! The meal was good but the Brie on the patio was my favorite part of the day. Sunshine, a light white wine and laughter made me forgot all about my meltdown.

The margarita recipe:

12 oz can frozen limeade
12 ounces of tequila
12 ounces of water
8 ounces of triple sec (2/3 can)
1 can domestic beer
Ice and Limes as desired

Use the frozen limeade can to measure ingredients. Mix well in a gallon pitcher. If you would like to blend them; don’t add the water and blend. Either way serve in a small glass, with limes and salt. Perfect.

Fall is not margarita weather here but our school published a new cookbook (our second one) and my school friend, Stephanie, had this brag-worthy mix. We toasted together on Friday night while we watched the Cardinals win the World Series. Yeah!!!

This crazy long post is linked to Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads.

Poetry in Motion

Yesterday

Send #1 son off to state XC meet;

He wouldn’t eat breakfast.

Took 8-yr-old to skating lesson,

watch her twirl.

Smile.

Head to Target, Hobby Lobby,

and Staples to

find things I need for school;

Sticker shock at the inflated prices

at Staples.

A project board (it’s cardboard, really!)was three times as

much as the very similar one at Hobby Lobby-both big box chains!?

Why, I say!?

Does noone at Staples go comparison shopping??
Step Down off the I’m-not-crazy soap box.

Breathe.

Drive home, make pb, honey
with a smidge of nutella

sandwiches.

Road trip across the state to XC Meet.

Read Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young-

a perfect mystery that had me on the edge of

my less-than-comfortable car seat.
Love husband who always drives.

Smile.

Watch 7 varsity boys from small school take State!!

Woo! Woo! Woo! (jumping up and down).

A perfect day to be wearing black and orange.

Drive back home, read more of Buying Time.

Make massive bowl of popcorn for dinner.

Breathe.

Watch this week: Tuesday I review Buying Time and Pamela Samuels Young has a guest post here! Right here at Peaceful Reader. I am in the process of switching from a blogspot.com to just a .com but I’m having a few technical difficulties so I hope you can always find me. Pamela Samuels Young’s website.

Kathryn Stockett Adventure

My friend Tina and I began our blogs at about the same time a few years ago. She reads a lot more than I can ever get accomplished plus she always has her finger on the pulse of hot new books, authors and literary events happening around our great state. A couple of weeks ago she informed me that Kathryn Stockett was coming to a town quite close to us and we decided we had to go. We have girls around the same age and we worked some magic to leave them with dads for the whole Sunday afternoon. Football season is over anyway. She pulled up in front of my church and we hightailed it out of there like we were Thelma and Louise, in a minivan. Luckily we were heading for tamer entertainment; an author reading!!

In fact the audience was filled with mostly white women, with a heaping handful of men, and a smaller handful of women of color. I point this out because I’ve often wondered how the black community views this book and its characters. Stockett spoke to a full house and we were truly mesmerized. She is petite, graceful and fully at ease with herself and the book she wrote. I loved how she spoke-she didn’t give the usual author talk of how many rejection notices she received or advice-she just talked to us like we were all sitting around her kitchen table with her, like we were old friends. She seemed amazed by the success of The Help but was happy it had been well-received, not because she wanted her book to be popular, but because it got people talking about race and that’s big for a small Southern woman.

Even though she said she wasn’t Skeeter in the book it seemed she, like Skeeter, was willing to push against her upbringing to really think about what it was like for generations of black women who worked for her family. During the Q and A session she answered several race related questions and her families feelings about the book. I think after listening to her sweet drawl I might be a little in author love. She was friendly, low-key and so very, very funny that I couldn’t even take notes-I was just so happy to be there!
Thank you Tina for sweeping me off to this event!
*** That and I got a fantastic bargain on a sweet pair of trouser jeans from Ann Taylor about 20 minutes later.
It was just a really great day.***

If you ever have the chance to hear her speak I highly recommend you take the opportunity and she has a full list on her website of speaking engagements from now until Fall. If you have not read The Help yet please pick it up at the library or buy it. After hearing her speak I want to read it again!

Recap of last 17 days-Whew!!

Wow. I expected to write many posts while on vacation. Obviously, that didn’t happen!

Our drive across country was beautiful with one long stop in Ohio to visit Oberlin College for my 17-year-0ld stepdaughter, Kaylee. Beautiful campus-loved the school and spent money at the book store, of course. At this point in the trip I was reading Airhead by Meg Cabot. Interesting premise for a teen read; a smart, kinda nerdy girl swan dives into a model’s body and tries to balance her old life with the new life of an over-the-top-famous star! Today’s version of Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers. I received Airhead in the mail two days before we left for DC, after winning it from Lizzie @ Shelf Elf; read, write, rave. Thank you, Lizzie!!

We arrived in Sperryville, VA to visit my wonderful in-laws at their mountain retreat and by this time I was reading Jodi Picoult’s, Second Glance. Tucked so peacefully away, our destination, while breath-taking, did not have cell or internet service so out of luck again to post! Second Glance has been on my to-read pile for about a year so glad I can check it off. It’s a cool ghost mystery with, the usual Picoult twists. I love how she can combine so many characters and have them all tied together by the end!! I’ve enjoyed most of her books and while this one is not at the top of the list it is def. worth the read.
At this pt. in our trip I had to take a break from reading and spend some family time. My mother-in-law is the greatest though and we spent the rest of the time drinking wine, trading recipes, cooking together and playing board games with everybody else. J. and I took a trip through Little Washington to see the farm where they pick up their CSA vegetables. (CSA=Community Supported Agriculture) Buy Local is always our motto. The veggies were beautiful and delicious. J. discovered she loves beets on this trip!! Beets always make me think of my all-time favorite book, Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins!

For the last half of our trip we headed to Silver Spring, MD and spent time in DC where Greg grew up. We took all the kids to the Capital for the 4th of July celebration-the Sesame St. part was our favorite. We weren’t really close enough to see how cute Jimmy Smits is in person but we had a great time listening to him, Barry Manilow and Aretha! We kept hoping to run into the Obama family but alas, it never happened. We did have lunch with our favorite White House intern though and that was great!!

On the way home I read Peter and the Starcatchers, which will be a 5th grade book club choice this year and I think it will be easier to read some of the selections over the summer instead of trying to keep up with the four clubs. I loved this book and can’t wait to read the rest in the series!
What about you? Which Jodi Picoult novel is your favorite?

Parenting and books

Today I was driving in my trusty Volvo, when an argument/disagreement broke out between my 14-year-old son and my six-year-old daughter. There is nothing like driving in an enclosed vehicle with a crying child; one that feels wronged by the older sibling and siblings’ friend. As my little J. was sobbing away, trying to tell me how her older brother had just wronged her I have to admit I was rolling my eyes and rubbing my neck with annoyance because I get really tired of all these little arguments back and forth.

I attempted to divert her after I took in one deep, long, cleansing breathe, with a quick little quip about how her brother would protect her from a playground bully, showing his love in this way even if on a daily basis it is difficult to feel his love. My son and his friend got involved, thankfully, in this tale I was weaving and soon the six-year-old was giggling with glee as her brother continued to explain to her how he would give the playground bully the evil eye with several demonstrations. I smiled as I listened to them, happy that I had diverted the argument and the tears-glad for my one moment of good parenting.

I thought to myself how I far to often give myself a hard time about my parenting skills; frustrated at my lack of patience with my teen-age son, who seems to work really hard on aggravating me, even though or because of our former great relationship. I have read many parenting books, trying to find the magic ingredient to show me the way. I have read and listened to Anne Lamott (a fabulous author, who often writes about her son, Sam) for guidance.

Then one night J. and I were rereading Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s Cookies; bite-sized life lessons when a thought hit me! This is my parenting book!! This truly hits all that I need to remember when parenting my children and if I can show them these qualities, using this common language I use every day as a teacher-librarian we may get somewhere together!

This will be particularly prudent as we head out on our major Summer Road-Trip to the DC area. I am going to make myself a cheat sheet with AKR’s key words; you know, like “cooperation, polite, loyal, optimistic, and respect” so I can use them repeatedly as we drive for days together. I’m happy we have our Volvo instead of this…
which was the way my family road-tripped back in the day. (well, it was more of a green 70’s version, really)

Watch this great video of Anne Lamott on Stephen Colbert.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Happy May! Come on Spring!

My friend Tina nudged me several times to read this book and I happened to find it in the library’s 7-day loan right before we were leaving for Indianapolis! Road-trip and a highly-recommended book-I was set! I read it there, I read it back and many times in between during our trip. Thank heavens for husbands who are willing to drive the whole way! Tina was right-this book is so good! I rarely pick up adult books because kid lit satisfies my need for really good fiction but I am so glad I did not pass this one by.
This story, set in Jackson, MS in 1962 is about three brave women, and all women at the same time. Aibileen, Minny and Miss Skeeter trade sections of the book back and forth so we hear their stories of tension, trouble and joy between black and white during this extremely turbulent time in our history. Ms Stockett weaves the brutal news stories of the time (James Meridith, Medgar Evers) into her story so eloquently I had a difficult time remembering that Minny and Aibileen were not real.
The story is so interwoven and complicated in a good way that I’m not going to begin to retell it. I’m just not that kinda reviewer but I will say the power of the women’s stories was so uplifting and heart-wrenching at the same time. Many of the characters made me grit my teeth with anger at their outlook on their world (Miss Hilly, Miss Elizabeth) and cheer for others (Miss Skeeter and all of the maids). The truth of the story is it is hard to follow your own path, lose your friends for a higher good, against the rest of the world and they did it in the midst of real tragedies. I want all my friends to read this!!

The Help
Kathryn Stockett
Amy Einhorn Books/
Putnam
Hardcover, 464 pages
$24.95
ISBN 978-0399155345

South Dakota

We’ve already taken our one big summer road trip vacation and it was great. We traveled across the state of South Dakota, site-seeing along the way. We saw the Corn Palace in Mitchell, a great Sioux museum in Chamberlain and of course, Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse carving, which was fascinating even though it wasn’t finished. Even as a work in progress it has an extensive museum attached and was very informative and the kids loved it and well, isn’t that what we are aiming for when we set off on these long voyages in the station wagon!! It certainly isn’t the fancy motels or the screaming in the back seat. At the Crazy Horse museum I purchased a book called Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog. Combining work with play I read it throughout the rest of the trip. Very good read about how our ancestors continued to be cruel to our original Native population through the 60’s and 70’s. Of course, most of us really smart people already knew that but this book helped me see just how senselessly cruel we were and are still probably. I of course grew up wanting to be a Native American…I wanted to belong to a tribe…I loved our family trip to Pipestone. And now I know that at the same time I was wanting to be an Indian, Indians were being subjected to awful abuses on their own small reservations. I recommend the book for anyone who wants to learn more about the Sioux Nation history including Leonard Peltier.
With all my ramblings I didn’t even get to all the fun we had in Denver, CO for the second leg of our journey!!