Our House in the Middle of Our Street

                                                   a little pond near our house in early light                   Again, I don't remember what order these were in, so here it goes!  The Open-Air Life by Linda Aekson Mcgurk - I really enjoyed Mcgurk's " There's No Such Thing As Good Weather " and although I enjoyed this one, I already knew quite a bit of the practical suggestions because I'm an avid nature person already. I think the suggestions in this book for year-round nature immersion are good ones if one doesn't know where to start! And long-live the cold dips! Canadian Geographic (Mar-April) - I read and enjoy this bi-monthly magazine and am reminded of some of the stories about changing land formations by water erosion, and also learning about the ...

Lady and the Tramp, Disneyworld 2023 We spent a week in Florida doing bucket list items! I hardly took any pictures but we enjoyed Magic Kingdom (though Stefan will never forgive me for waiting in line for Dumbo), toured the countries at Epcot, and rode Hagrid's motorcycle rollercoaster at Universal Studios.  Lukka interacting with 3D tech at Kennedy Space Center We saw unbelievable rockets at Kennedy Space Center (though the rocket launch was cancelled) and even had the chance to experience what a shuttle launch would feel like!  Saturn V - the same rocket that took humans to the moon We also walked around Disney Springs at night, and did an airboat tour to see alligators!      Ani keeping watch for gators on the airboat tour   It was busy, full, hot , and so so good. Thanks to Stefan's parents for an amazing week in Florida!

  Whistler snow peaks I am so woefully behind in my Titles posts that I will (mostly) just be getting right to it. This past school year was an intense literary one, and while I read aloud some amazing novels, most of them classics or Canadian historical novels, I didn't have much time for things like documenting and writing about found authors, etc. Thankfully, I kept my Pinterest board alive and documented everything completed in my Leuchtturm notebook that I keep religiously for a few years before its completely done.  That, and finally, my third check - my two libraries' borrowing history section! Reading Black Books by Claude Atcho - Not to start off with a bang, but this I knew when I completed this book it'd easily be one of my top 10 of the year. I found this book via a webinar by the Trinity Forum with the author and had the library purchase it. It is one of the best literary criticism anthologies I've ever read, and not only that, the writing itself is aca...

Happy 14th Birthday, Anikka! It is getting harder and harder to find pictures of *just you* because you love to be with your friends, whether it's taking the bus to hang out at the pool, have sleepovers, or get together at the mall (?? that's a new one, and even though you don't like the activity you don't care because your FRIENDS are there!), we are now to the point of cropping people out of public photos so we can post them! You have grown in confidence, ability (on pointe shoes!), and beauty and you continue to put in the practice for any goal you want to accomplish. "Slow and Steady Wins the Race" is a motto I'd attribute to you because  you take your time, do things with intention, and make progress over time that you are proud of--an excellent life skill!  We love you so much and look forward to your next year!  Ani showing off her cozy hoodie, toque, and socks What is your favorite color? green Who are some of your friends? Marie, Anya, Audrey, Mya...

  View somewhere on Whistler or Blackcomb Mountain Canadian Geographic Dec/Jan issue - I really enjoyed the most recent issue, and loved the cover articles - on owls and also the grasslands of Canada, and the health of that ecosystem over the last 200 years.  New Kid by Jerry Craft - This was a fun and easy comic I finished in about two days. It's about a ...yes...new kid to a new school and the friend group he makes. The pictures are done well, and the story has a really nice flow. I don't even know if I've ever read comic books before this year, but it's quickly becoming a fun 'beach read' for me when I need a break. YA Comic Book I can finish in 2 hours? Why not!? Especially when this one won the 2020 Newberry Medal.  The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo - This book was created in little niche that I love, also-books in verse (poetry). This book won the 2018 National Book Award in Young People's Literature, and it's well deserved. The poetry is engaging...

  a private property landscape after beaver-proofing saplings with A Rocha Canadian Geographic Sept/Oct issue - Although this issue was interesting, the only thing I really remember from it was the article on how the soundscapes of nature are changing due to constant industrialization and development. You can read that article online HERE .  This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel - This was the book I chose to lead with my book club, because I knew it would be a great conversation starter. This book is about a boy who transitions into becoming a girl at a very young age, and about the family as a whole with how to deal with that situation, along with the aftermath of friends 'finding out' after years of knowing the child as a girl. I will say, I found some of this book was trite and unappealing, but the general theme of the story was a fast way to have a controversial conversation-something I love! A Man with a Rake by Ted Kooser - Although I love Ted Kooser, this is the...

  view from along the Pitt River dyke I'm on Christmas Vacation (ahem) and am finally getting to the last 3 sections of book reviews. Sadly, because  this was so long ago, I don't remember much about these particular books or magazines except the Rembrandt one, but here goes!  Canadian Geographic: July/August issue - The magazine I read cover to cover every other month, this issue did not disappoint. It included information on the Atlantic cod referendum, along with an article about a female scientist who studied a large (now fast disappearing) glacier over 100 years ago. The photos were staggering to see the difference in just one century.  The Carrying by Ada Limon - Although I don't remember specifics about this book of poetry (or the next), I'm pretty sure I found both of them via Padraig O'Tuama from Poetry Unbound podcast . I remember really enjoying this book of poetry, and that it was reflective both of America has been in the last few years, but also sear...