Snakes on a Trampoline

 Greetings, fellow swimmers, and welcome back to the Stress Pool! You may be wondering about the title of this latest segment, and I'm happy to say there is no better sound in the world than "Nana, watch! Watch!"

It has been a fast, yet full, summer. June was a little rainy and cool, so there wasn't much actual time in the pool - but we did find that July dawned hot, and humid, and rainy! However, there has been a lot going on here, so let me catch you up to speed. 

Little Man spent an afternoon here one day - I wish it could have been more, but they had a busy summer, too. Suffice it to say, he is a VERY BUSY 4 YEAR OLD! Recently, we were over at their house, and Little Man was slinging his stuffed (very long) snakes over the top of the trampoline, each time yelling, "Nana, watch!" It's just lovely sitting back and 'just watching'! Someday, I will retire, and will do a lot of 'watching'.

Speaking of just watching...Morticia and the Doctor gave birth to their first child- what a little peanut! She is, of course, just as adorable as anything. I had the pleasure (I'm sure this is where some of you will go 'ew' over your shoulder - I did not feel that way!) of being present for the birth. I've never seen it from this side of the world (I didn't wear my glasses during any of the deliveries of our five!), and what an experience! She arrived just on the other side of midnight in mid-July, and what a change there has been in just a month.

DiDi and the kids were visiting her family out of state, and what a change in Mouse! Seven months old, and she has quite the personality. Of course, I could go on gushing about the grandchildren for days...as, I'm sure, can many of you!

DH and I got away for a night to Lancaster - we went to the Sight and Sound Theater to see 'Moses'. It was good - we enjoyed 'David' more, but still had an enjoyable time. The weather was wonderful, and are hoping to go back next year to see 'Daniel'. We also found out some info on the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, and considered for a brief moment about going this year, but will wait until next fall. It looks like a really nice venue, and who doesn't like hobnobbing with knights and royalty?

There was a little more artwork, and a little swimming, and some weeding of the front garden - which also brought with it a nice case of either poison ivy, or poison oak. Whichever it is, it's been since August  4th when I saw the first two dots (I thought they were bug bites!) It became full-blown, and I mean full-blown, to where I am finishing a prescription for prednisone and look like I have some horrible skin disease! Standing in the cool pool water actually feels pretty good! Sadly, pool days are beginning to dwindle...while it warmed up considerably yesterday and today, we also started in-service today. So, yeah.

Now, for the Summer Reading Round-up! 14 books this summer - a record! They are, as follows:

1. Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah

2. Fly Away - Kristin Hannah.  These two go together, and were a fine read. I started watching the Netflix show, and got through about five minutes before I said, "Nope." I truly dislike when directors and producers completely change a story! Save that for the really awful books that might have a semblance of a good idea, but aren't well written!

3. Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Picoult; looking from both sides of a school shooting, and makes you really think about bullying and how it affects the everyone involved. I just love her writing - the research Ms. Picoult does for each book is phenomenal.

4. My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult; would you be able to have a child in order to keep another child alive? Hmm...

5. Heartburn - Nora Ephron.  Funny book - we had just finished watching "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel", and I imagined Miriam Maisel's voice as I read the book, which was helpful. I hear the movie is funny, as well, and hope to watch that sometime soon.

6. No Exit - Taylor Adams. Suspenseful thriller - read it. Don't watch the movie - it sucked.

7. Stillhouse Lake - Rachel Cline, and 8. Killman Creek, also by Rachel Cline. They are the first two books in a series of six books, but DH and I both agreed the actual story wraps up nicely after book two. However, if you look into these, and you move on to book 3, let me know what you think.

9. The Clutter Corpse - Simon Brett: a fun, quirky read that is very UK. The writer has won numerous awards, and easy to see why.

10. Dead Sexy - Cameo MacPherson. Another fun read - very light hearted with a lot of witty comments, with zombies and nymphs galore.

11. The Summer Girls - Mary Alice Monroe. A paperback I've had sitting around for a long time, and decided it was time to read it. It would have made a great beach book. If you want it for next year, let me know.

12. There's No Coming Back From This - Ann Garvin. Her latest, it just came out on August 1st. An interesting look at what goes on behind the scenes of making movies, and the people who make it all happen, and how a little positive attitude can help.

13. The Killer in the Choir - Simon Brett. Love books set in the UK, and with this one being a murder involving a choir - well, it just sang to me! 

14. The Maidens - Alex Michaelides. He's the author of "The Silent Patient"- The Maidens is his second book. Wow. Loved it - read it in a day and a half. I hadn't intended to do that, but there you have it.

One I didn't mention was "Hello, Beautiful", which was one of our book club reads for the summer, but it was my suggestion, and I had read it before summer actually started, so didn't count it. There are a few on my list of hoping to reads this winter, like Wolf Hall, and The Water Dancer, and My Dear Mrs. Hamilton. A book, an afghan, and a low fire in the living room, maybe a steaming cup of coffee...Without the pumpkin spice though, okay?!

So until those days, I hope you find a moment to stop by the Pool and tell me about your latest reads, trips, and family escapades. And, if the weather doesn't cooperate, doesn't a sit on the screened-in porch sound delightful? Maybe roast some marshmallows in the fire pit...you're always welcome here at the Stress Pool.

The Lazy, Not-so Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

 Summer...at last!

It's hard for me to believe I've been home from school for three weeks - and, it has been truly wonderful! Sleeping in...taking naps...sipping iced-tea in the afternoons...reading...what more could a girl want?

I mean, really?

And yes, there has been studio time. I took some time to research a little (I use a site called Unsplash, which has photos of just about anything you might be looking for, which don't have a copyright. You should just give a shout-out to the photographer if you use it)

As a treat, I pulled out the charcoal and chalk pastels. What fun that's been! And no, I don't know what I'm going to do with these sketches yet - it's just been enough spending time making them. 

The last picture was based on one I had taken at Cecil Park - BFFB and I had taken a ride over Spring break, and I snapped a few pictures. I liked the reflection of the building on the creek. So, fun days for me! Truly, there is nothing more fun than getting my hands filthy with charcoal and pastels, and didn't remember how much I really, really love it. 

As for the clan, Morticia and the Doctor are expecting a bundle of joy any day. Baby has gotten herself turned head-down, but so far is not engaged. If she's anything like her mother, she'll take her good old sweet time in making her entrance! 

Big Brother and DiDi have their hands full these days with Little Man and Little Sister. Little Man spent the afternoon one day last week - we painted, read books, and played with the old Playmobil Fort (it belonged to Eggbert, so it's at least 30 years old!), but he's more interested in the animals than all the cowboys and Native Amercan figures it came with.

"Look Nana, the horses and donkeys are going outside of the fort. They have to poop. Do you see the poop?"

Four-year-olds. Gotta love them and their sweet imaginations! 

Did I mention the vultures? There are three vultures - only one has both legs. They occasionally go home with him. Then, when we go to visit, I scoop them up and bring them back. It's a back-and-forth thing. We used to do this with horses from the Playskool farm. "Nana. I'm taking your horses. They want to go home with me." Seriously, someone needs to buy this kid a pony!

The days have been a little cold for swimming, but we've made it in a few times. I'm sure July will hit good and hot at some point. For certain it will be really steamy on August 21st - first day of inservice! Look out - I'll be rushing home to jump in as soon as I get home!

Reading...it's finally happened. First time I ever put down a book and said, "Nope. Not finishing it." It isn't that it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. This author has scads of books, and this was the first in the series. A Victorian-era mystery, "Murder at the Mayfair Hotel". I like a period novel, but it just wasn't keeping my interest. So, what else have I been reading?

I just finished "Firefly Lane" by Kristin Hannah, the first of two books. The other is "Fly Away", which I've already read, but didn't realize the other was first, so I finished that yesterday, and am now re-reading "Fly Away". Our book club read "Lessons in Chemistry" - wow, what a fantastic read! We're also reading "Hello Beautiful", a Napolitano novel, and it was enjoyable. I also recently finished "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult. It's also an older book, but it's been sitting on my bookshelf and decided it was time to read some of these books that are more than decoration for my family room. Wow. A very powerful book about bullying and school shootings.

There you have it - nothing earth-shattering going on at the Stress Pool -waiting for baby to come, reading, and sketching. Oh, and Zumba. I need to move around more, and signed up for a class. So far I haven't tripped over my feet or fallen flat on my face! So if you're in the neighborhood, stop by and shoot the breeze, dip your foot in the pool (float around if you're brave enough!), do a few Salsa moves, and spend some time with us at the Stress Pool! We're always happy to have some company.

If a Tree Falls in a Forest

 Goodness, how time flies! I didn't realize it has been almost six months since the last post. Suffice it to say, things around the Stress Pool have been pretty busy. Just to catch everyone up to date - Big Brother and DiDi had another baby! Little Sister was born in the middle of January, and is now smiling, laughing, and talking up a storm. Of course, none of us is fluent in baby babble, but if you make the appropriate facial expressions, she's happy to continue her story. At some point she's going to realize we don't have a clue as to what she's saying, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there. 

Morticia and the Doctor are expecting their first baby this summer - he's hoping for 4th of July; I'm hoping she's at least on time, and not the one to two weeks late she and her siblings were. Those children knew they had it good, and for the most part, had to be coaxed out. Ms. Business was the only one who came on her own, ready to start running from day one!

Of course, the house - which we still love - has kept us busy. New roof in the fall; new microwave, new dishwasher, new stove to come (they just can't find parts in order to fix these things!) Plus, all the things that need to be done around the house. There is a LIST - Kellys always make a list, but this is THE LIST of what needs to be done, some of which we are in agreement, and some where there is a little disagreement in the priority order. Last night, the air conditioner was leaking - through the ceiling fan in our bedroom - onto the bed! Priority list....

Back to the title of the post. I arrived home from our High School Art Show - wow, what a powerful show! - and sat on the back porch to tell Darling Hubby about what I saw. Several of the students had openly shared their struggles with depression and anxiety through their artwork, and isn't that what the arts really are about? We communicate ideas, feelings, emotions, whether it's through the visual arts, music, dance, creative writing, or theater. Struggles and conflict, as well as beauty are things we share through our art. What courage it takes, though, to put it out there for people to see. Baring your soul is hard, but that's what separates the artist from the dabbler.

So, as we sat on the porch talking, one of the large trees growing in a neighbor's yard suddenly crashed to the ground. It had been leaning. It was covered in ivy, and while it was absolutely full of new leaves, it seemed to just give up. Other than the leaning, one would never have suspected it was going to fall. It made me think about the students whose artwork I had viewed, the struggles they've faced, and how they've learned to cope and express their feelings through their artwork. 

If we look at all the children we as teachers supervise and instruct, we need to actively remember they are dealing with so much more than what we see. Some of them are tall with full foliage; some have full foliage but lean a little. Our job, besides teaching them to read, write, and add numbers, is to make sure they don't fall. To be there; to show them healthy ways to cope. To let them see that when the tree falls in the forest, it does make a sound, whether or not someone is there to hear it. To let them know that we do hear them, we see them leaning, and want to do what we can to keep them from falling. This is where the arts come in. I'm grateful to work in a school district that is supportive of all the arts, that recognizes the importance the arts play in taking a child into adulthood through a well-rounded education.

As we come to the close of another school year, for those of you who grumble about teachers getting off for the summer, know that this is a time of healing for us. Our days are physically and emotionally draining, as there is no possible way to live your day with groups of students and stay emotionally removed. No, we do this because this is what we chose to do. Most of us still love it, and we pour our hearts and souls into it. 

In the meantime, we'll finish out our days, pack away the books and supplies, and take home the things we'll work on for next year, putting hopes and dreams into new lesson plans. I'll be doing that in the afternoon, pool-side, or while I'm sitting by the firepit, watching sparks fly to the stars. Healing time for me will also be in the studio, or playing with my grandchildren, or sharing a quiet moment or two with DH. Maybe, just maybe, I'll find a little time to write in the blog. Plus, I'll have to make my summer reading list - a book a week, maybe even a couple more this year! Who knows?

Thanks for stopping by, and as always, we have towels and lemonade a plenty, or bring a beverage of your own choice! We'll talk about the times we were leaning, and who helped us to not fall, or who gave us a hand to stand again. We're happy to see you here at the Stress Pool!

You Can't Have Just One

 Greetings, fellow swimmers! The water is a little cool these days - thanks, Mother Nature! Ahh, almost two weeks off. I know some of my colleagues went away for some fun in the sun during this time, but we chose to stay at home and enjoy family, friends, and a little down time. 

You may have been intrigued by the title of this post, and it was carefully chosen for more than one reason. First, and very importantly, there will be two new grandchildren in 2023! Yes, Didi and Big Brother will be welcoming their second child sometime in January, but many of you knew that. We were delighted to hear that Morticia and The Doctor will also be having a baby, sometime this summer! We're so happy for all of them. Looking forward to that new baby smell...Come on, you know what I mean.

Then, of course, there is that other side of me, that creative side that constantly needs attention. A couple years ago, I bought one of those journals that is made up of dots - a bullet journal, I believe it's called. I had decided it would be my Creative Journey Journal. One of the aspects of a bullet journal is to come up with a word for the year. I think that's pretty much the trend anymore, anyway. It's hard for me to come up with one word to focus on for the year - so, I thought I'd go for a word a month, along with a quote about creativity. After all, it was to be my Creative Journey.

Here is page one - what fun I had creating that page! And, if you notice, the right side of the page is cut out so that when you open it, you come to a calendar for the year.

                                             As you can see, there was a lot of work that went into making the journal! There were even spaces for every day of the week, with lots of room to write. Coloring was also a fun part of the experience. I love to color - bullet journal pages, coloring books - it sure relieves a lot of stress! I also love to write, which some of you know. This would give me that chance. 

Yup. There was a lot of writing that went on...for about two whole months! Ah, the best of New Year Resolutions and intentions! Then, I was recording something a few days a week, then maybe one day a week, and well, you can probably guess where it went.

Yeah, it got to this point! Of course, that was 'The Year of Three Addresses', two moves...with a surgery in-between! Was it any wonder there were blank days? (Well, those were the excuses I chose to believe!)

So, excuses notwithstanding, the next year didn't go much better. For 2022, I thought it would be better to just make a page for the name of the month, and a word that I would focus on. I decided to come up with a 'word for the year', but it was more than one. It was 'The Year of Endless Possibilities'. Sparing you pictures of details, it followed the same direction as the previous year, but without wasting so many pages! Still looking for those possibilities...

So, In thinking about what to do this year - because, I really did like the idea of journaling what I had experimented with, and what was accomplished - I thought that this year I would be focusing on making more time for creative endeavors. But, could I find one word that encompassed my goal? Not really. There were all sorts of words, but they mostly had to do with hurrying, rushing - you know, making better time. I found a couple -'Dedicate' was one, 'Incorporate' another. Still, not the best descriptors. I would need at least two words, maybe more, and 'Make the Effort' was the best I could come up with.

Step One: Clean the studio. Once again, as so much of my life is, clutter was becoming an issue. So, I made the effort at the beginning of the week to straighten up.

My studio is divided into sections. This view is of my main work table, drafting table in the corner (with tubes of acrylic paint on the wall), and a drying rack. Painting is my main focus, mostly watercolor, which is laying out on the table, along with an unfinished picture of Little Man that I've been working on for several months. Okay, I worked on it, then let it sit for several months. There is also one somewhere of Simon, also unfinished. The Amazon cards are there because you can actually use cards, or straight edged objects for painting! (BTW, they've been used!) The studio is now ready for use. The bullet journal is going to simply be a journal - not spending my time making fancy pages - where I will still record notes on works in progress. However, I now must focus on a completely different problem...

Step 2: How to work around Art Cat! Simon seems to think I can't possibly make any art unless he's a part of it. Literally - he leaves his fur in my paintings, and water? Well, paint water must taste really good! (I'm certainly not going to try it!) I tried to remove him from the water container one day. What a disaster that was! He's a pretty laid-back sort of cat, but not that day. He's never fought me so obstinately!

So, more than just one word to describe something, more than just one grandchild to look forward to the arrival, more than just one Christmas cookie, more than just one Lay's potato chip...more than just one hug to all my friends and family.

As you roll into 2023, I wish for all of you a year filled with happiness, good health, and time to explore your passions. Stop by the Stress Pool anytime - but you may have to bring your own refreshment - I don't trust the cat!

Trees, and Wreaths, and Santa Hats - Oh My!

 Wow, it's been awhile since I've come up for air! 

Just treading water these days here in the Stress Pool. After all, the holidays are fast approaching (did I hear someone out there giving a primal yell to relieve that stress?!) and along with that, the end of the semester. (Now I'll give my own primal yell!) Amidst trying to get work in for grades, cleaning brushes before storing them, and packing everything up before I move to the other intermediate school, all the while listening to and rehearsing the Vivaldi Gloria (we're singing that for our Christmas Eve concert), I'm also peeling children off the ceiling.  

"Play Christmas music!" they whined. I put on the Vivaldi.

"No, Christmas music!"

"This is Christmas music."

"It's opera."

Spoilsports. I found a lovely Christmas instrumental site on Youtube. All guitar. They're rendered speechless, however, as I make my rounds through the room, occasionally I'll hear someone quietly singing along. Everyone is happy.

All in all, December whips past in a whirlwind. Add to that the Sprinkle for DiDi - yes, baby number 2 arrives in January, and because it's a girl, there were some things that they needed. In case you aren't aware, if you don't need an all out Shower, for baby number 2 it's called a Sprinkle. Not sure if somewhere in the world there isn't something called a Downpour. DH had a birthday - even though he won't let us 'celebrate' it, and so did Little Man - his is two days before Pawpaw's.

However, we're not so busy we couldn't take time to make cookies! Morticia mentioned sugar cut-out cookies. Easy! We'll get some Pillsbury refrigerator cookie dough, and we'll be all set to go. Guess what all the stores are out of a week before Christmas? Yeah, I don't know why I thought they would still have some. Fortunately, Mrs. Fields came to the rescue, and I found a recipe in my Mrs. Fields Cookie Cookbook. Low and behold, we had everything needed to make them! I made the cookie dough when I got home from church and put it in the fridge to chill. Morticia came over in the early afternoon and we set about rolling out the dough and cutting out the shapes. She mixed up the colors for the icing. It really didn't take long for the cookies to cool down, so we were ready for decorating! Moink came down to join in the fun.

Moink started on the red stockings- we found he was a real natural at decorating!

Morticia did a fabulous job with the wreaths and the trees - she is also very creative and talented when it comes to decorating!

Two of Moink's creations.

Here, we have a vast array of our creations. You can really see the wreaths and trees. Don't look too closely at the angels or snowmen...I might be an artist, but cookie decorators everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief that I won't be trying to take their jobs any time soon! 

And, if you look closely, you might spot one, lone Santa hat. There's a story behind Santa hats at our house, which I might have related in an earlier post. Long story short, in the middle of a tirade, I apparently was interrupted by spotting a Santa hat in with the decorations, stopping me mid-yelling-at-children. They will never let me live that down! Since I don't have a Santa hat cookie cutter, I took what was left of the dough and formed one. Once it was decorated, well, there it was - a Santa hat!

After we were finished - and it really did take the entire afternoon- Morticia mentioned that it had been quite taxing!

But, we had a good time, and it was a pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

So, Merry Christmas to all of you - hopefully, I'll be able to write again soon - at least, sooner than 4 months! I'll also try to include more pictures - after all, they're worth a thousand words! In the meantime, stay warm, watch out for the elves - they're not always nice, you know - and stop by the Stress Pool anytime for a cookie and hot chocolate!

The Party's Over...

 Hello from the pool deck! Thought for the day: Nothing is ever easy, is it?

But then, if everything was easy, where would the Stress Pool be? Nonexistent, I suppose.

We have the opportunity to put in fourteen hours before the start of school for which we get paid a little extra. Fourteen hours (the equivalent of two days) may sound like a lot, but in the grand scheme of things, it is a drop in the bucket. I was ready. I was going to go in and order things from the copy center (a way not to use all the copy paper at the school, and less wear-and-tear on our machine); work on class lists and seating charts...and then...

New computer monitors! Wow! But wait, I can't get into my computer. What's this? Undo a connection to see if something was loose. Great! Computer! Wait, now no projector...WTF?!!!

Okay, put in a ticket for tech to come in and fix this one. Deep breaths, get out the flash drives that have YEARS worth of lessons...wait, where is Word?

Gone.

Okay, so now I'll print these things off at home, bring them in, and make my bazillion copies here. No problem. Put away supplies. Set up my desk. Print out the class lists (this, I was able to do). Crickets. Paper for student folders hasn't come in - in fact, it wasn't even ordered! I got as much done as I possibly could. I mean, there is always stuff to do: organizing, purging, planning. But, when you're focused on doing one thing, shifting gears isn't always easy. Well, this too shall pass.

As far as I know, my projector still isn't up and running - but wait, what does it matter? My presentation can't be read by my computer because THEY HAVEN'T INSTALLED THE NEW VERSION OF WORD YET! At least, this is what one of my colleagues told me was going to happen, but I haven't heard anything yet. Sigh.

In-service is at the end of this week, and I absolutely refuse to set foot inside a building until then. I plan to enjoy my last few days at home, mostly in my studio, as it is too cold and cloudy to enjoy the actual pool - but hey, that's okay. I should be home early enough on those first couple days to come home and jump in! And, seriously, I will probably be more than ready to submerge my stress in the pool!

As for the book fest of summer - 21 books this year! I have one more to go in the Mitford series - I'll have to request the book through the system. Our book club read "Black Cake", which I believe I mentioned in the last posting. Good book - highly recommend. DH was reading a series, so I started it (gives us something to talk about!) in the fantasy genre. "Unsouled" is the first, and "Soulsmith" is the second - both good, but as often happens with fantasy, I need a little time to digest it before diving into the third book. The author is Will Wight - and if you like fantasy, you would probably enjoy these. I am currently reading one called "One Thousand White Women" - don't ask me who wrote it - but is based on something that didn't happen in history - but might have! It is written as if reading a journal of a woman in 1875 who is being shipped off to the Cheyenne tribe to be a wife as a peaceful exchange with the American government. I probably did a lousy job explaining it, but if you're looking for something different, and you like historical fiction, you might enjoy this one!

As for the family, Big Brother and DiDi are expecting a little one - a girl (long story about why they know, but all is well!) and the Little Man is being prepped for the coming this winter. Morticia will soon be finished with her current cosmetology program, and will begin the special effects program in October. She's quite excited! Ms. Business and Moink are both doing just fine, too - she's already tired of working (aren't we all!) and he's looking for gainful employment.

DH is counting down the minutes until I'm off to work again, even though I keep to myself while I'm home, and don't bother him with stupid things. He'll miss me, I'm sure! And Simon - well, he will be bereft while I'm at work. You can always count on the animals in your life, be it a dog or a cat - they love you unconditionally!

So, the Stress Pool is in full swing, even at this late date of the summer. Stop by, tell me what you're reading, how your loved ones are, and we'll share a toast to what was one heck of a summer. Until next time, keep your head above water!

Halfway Through the Run

 Greetings, fellow swimmers! The title for this post may be a bit off - we all know I don't run anywhere anymore, as those days are well behind me. However, we are at about the halfway point of the summer. Being more of a 'glass half-full' than 'half-empty' sort of person, I do realize there are more days of fun in the sun ahead of us than what we've left behind. That said, it seemed like a good time to update you on what's been going on here at the Stress Pool. 

DH and I made a trip to Washington D.C. recently because I wanted to see one of my favorite musicians, Ludovico Einaudi. He's the most streamed musician in the world - at least, that's what they said by way of introduction at the concert. He's from Italy, and the closest he was coming to the Burgh was D.C.  So as a Christmas present to myself last year, I bought two tickets to the concert, which would be held at the Kennedy Center. Bonus: we've never been there. That whole experience is a story by itself - finding a hotel near enough to walk to the Kennedy Center, but wanting to be cautious walking through our Capital city at night, finding a shuttle we could catch to the KC just a couple blocks from where we stayed, looking for restaurants...it was an adventure, to say the least! However, the music was SPECTACULAR. He played for two solid hours, no intermission. If you've never listened to him, I suggest you try. Most of his music is expressive, yet soothing to the soul. My favorite is 'Fly'. The first time I heard it, I imagined Eggbert's soul ascending, and still get that feeling every time I hear it. The following pictures are: Me waiting to go inside the Concert Hall (yes, we had to wear masks); Waiting for Ludovico; and a shot of the grandeur of the Kennedy Center.

We then traveled northward to Lancaster, PA, and spent a few days relaxing and shopping. We also went to the Sight and Sound Theatre to see 'David'. Truly, it is all about the sights and sounds - down to sheep running through the main aisle! (And, the attendants who came along behind to clean up after the running sheep...) The only sense not used was taste, unless you bought a snack at the concession stand. Highly recommend going there if you've never been before. We'd like to go back next year to see 'Moses'. Wow, already planning for next year!

Here at the Pool there has been a lot of reading. I usually strive for 10 books through the summer - I'm already up to 12! Our book club read 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' - it was a good read. I picked up a book of poetry at the library called "When I am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple" - title based on the poem 'Warning' by Jenny Jones - one of my faves, which was included in the anthology. However, many of the other poems and essays made me a little sad - I guess because I'm closer to that point of my life than the editor of the anthology! I'm still making my way through the Mitford books - a good, clean read that waxes nostalgic of small-town living in the not so distant past. Jan Karon separated the books into two categories: At Home in Mitford series, and then the Father Tim Books. I'm about to start the second part of the series. Thanks to Tommy and BFFB for recommending those. A friend recommended a Jodi Picoult book, "Small Great Things" - wow. Just, wow. Very powerful, and raises many questions of what you know and feel about racism. A must-read, if ever there was. Along those lines, our book club's summer read is 'Black Cake' by Charmaine Wilkerson. A well-told story. That's all I'll say, in case one of my book club buddies is reading this, and hasn't read the book yet! Looking for a good mystery/thriller? Anything Kendra Elliot. I just finished her Mercy Kilpatrick series. She ties it up nicely. Another thriller I read was 'Trust No One' by Debra Webb. Yup - highly recommend! DH has also been doing a lot of reading, and he usually passes on his reads to me - that's the beauty of sharing a Kindle library!

And, the reading list goes on...I'll update you after I've read a few more. 

Otherwise, there has been a little artwork happening - I did finish a painting I've been working on for awhile - I call it White Rose. Keep it simple, I always say! 

There are a few others in the works, but not nearly enough done on them to share yet.

Well, that's it for now. No, I have not yet organized the linen closet, nor have we unpacked everything from the garage yet. There is still a little time to do those things. For now, let's unplug from the craziness and sit in the pool. Bring your favorite beverage and some stories from how your summer is going, what you're reading these days, and what projects you've got going. Remember, the Stress Pool is always up and running!