Ahhhhhh yes June. Such a poetic tribute. I love your prompt questions and shall answer as follows.
1. One of my fondest summer memories:
As an adolescent - summer camp which was church camp and alllllllll that encompassed.
As a mama - all three of my kids together at the beach, no one had plans in those days when they’d choose mama to spend their days with rather than asking if a friend can join. (It’s all I am asking for this year for my birthday!)
2. A tradition I look forward to to every summer:
Every 4th of July I make a layered red, white and blue jello. It’s basic and simple and full of food dye, but when mentioned (last night) and teenagers stop what they’re doing to widen eyes, I know this precious, small, tradition is as important to them as it is me.
Oh thank you for sharing this with me! Somehow in all these years I don’t think I’ve heard you tell me about the layered jello and this sounds so fun! I love the kids’ reaction — so precious.
A non-electric typewriter! It's gorgeous. I haven't worked on one of those since high school. In 1984 in small town Ohio, that is what Typewriter 1 students had to learn typewriting on. Then in Typewriter 2 class, we graduated to electric typewriters. What a difference. I understand though why we started with the manual version (much easier to control keys) especially since no one had home computers then so keyboarding wasn't a from birth thing like it is now. I hope you are enjoying it.
Another lovely read! Loved many things about this… especially your art 🖼️ and unapologetic dinner plans… I often have (healthy-ish) snack dinners too in summer 😉
Thank you Chesica! I love piling a board with fresh veggies and fruit, crackers, cheese and salami, hummus and a few sweet treats and making EVERYONE happy!
Ummm that typewriter is the cutest thing ever!!!!! What a memorable birthday gift! AND - your painting is (insert all amazing emoji's here) soooo good! Wow! You could sell those - so pretty! Glad your sunflowers survived that doozy of a storm :). My fav summer memories: my mom's chore list ( didn't like it at the time but I always knew it was waiting for my sister and I when we woke every morning. My mom worked full time at a factory so we were home alone basically all summer. My sister was 7 years older than me. I remember always climbing on to our roof to lay out for a tan and we would use cooking oil on our skin! My nosey neighbor, Mrs. Pat, would sometimes call and tattle on us to my mom :) Once or twice a summer my mom would take us to a KOA campground to swim in their pool - those were the BEST DAYS!
after seeing your new typewriter, I must ask. Have you read Olivetti yet? also, yes to Coldplay and a new song and let’s hope this means another tour is coming. 💙
I’ve got it on hold at the library! I think I’m the next one up!! And yes, I was just thinking the same about tour… and then remembered they're still touring the world 🤣 I think they finish in November?! So maybe they’ll start again second half of next year?!
Fondest summer memories - biking everywhere exploring, swimming at the local pool, waving sparklers my grandmother gave us on 4th of July. Summer still seems magical b/c it was so as a child.
Oh, wow—thank you for mentioning my poem, Kristine! And to think the bulk of it was buried in old papers for the last 25 years 😊. I love the name of your novel, and look forward to reading it some day! 💛
It’s made me recognize metaphors in my own day to day for what it’s like when the words are there… but not.
Thank you! It’s the lighter, but still meaningful and adventurous FUN book to keep drafting vs. the more challenging (but still dear) revision of what I thought would be my magnum opus (The Other Side of Hope) when *it* was drafted.
I’m so inspired by hearing about people’s novels since they (novels) were my best friends for most of my life. I am NOT a fiction writer (I did try a lot when I was younger, but it never clicked) and I am constantly amazed by how people manage to create plots (sometimes entire worlds) out of nothing.
Well since we are sort of sharing June, connected by Nashville, I resonate with so many of these descriptions (I'm looking at you, horseflies) and some of your moments I remember from the earlier days of motherhood here. Beautiful job capturing Tennessee June.
We have a typewriter store here?! Amazing. I still have the antique typewriter that was given to us 25 years ago as a wedding gift and I still use it. Yours is lovely. Someone just gifted me some art supply money through my newsletter and I've had my eye on some of the Derwent supplies. Love your sky illustration.
And thanks so much for including my post! ❤️ I love seeing people respond to the idea of "Ish" in the way that it first hit me.
Thank you, Aimee! I just loved your essay and I’m hunting for a copy of the book now, hoping to leave it around for the kids to peruse.
We do!! It’s technically in Goodlettsville, in a little house just around the corner from their little “downtown” full of antique malls. The kids were in awe of his collection!
I LOVE that you guys got a typewriter as a wedding gift and that you still use it!
And I’ve been so impressed by these Derwent products. After years of using the kids’ stuff I’m in awe!
Ahhhhhh yes June. Such a poetic tribute. I love your prompt questions and shall answer as follows.
1. One of my fondest summer memories:
As an adolescent - summer camp which was church camp and alllllllll that encompassed.
As a mama - all three of my kids together at the beach, no one had plans in those days when they’d choose mama to spend their days with rather than asking if a friend can join. (It’s all I am asking for this year for my birthday!)
2. A tradition I look forward to to every summer:
Every 4th of July I make a layered red, white and blue jello. It’s basic and simple and full of food dye, but when mentioned (last night) and teenagers stop what they’re doing to widen eyes, I know this precious, small, tradition is as important to them as it is me.
3. Something new I’d like to try in July:
Rest ♥️
Oh thank you for sharing this with me! Somehow in all these years I don’t think I’ve heard you tell me about the layered jello and this sounds so fun! I love the kids’ reaction — so precious.
And here is to REST!!
A non-electric typewriter! It's gorgeous. I haven't worked on one of those since high school. In 1984 in small town Ohio, that is what Typewriter 1 students had to learn typewriting on. Then in Typewriter 2 class, we graduated to electric typewriters. What a difference. I understand though why we started with the manual version (much easier to control keys) especially since no one had home computers then so keyboarding wasn't a from birth thing like it is now. I hope you are enjoying it.
Thank you! I am!
We had an electric typewriter for a brief time, at home, and I was in 6th grade when my grandparents gave me a computer, but this is my first manual!
Hi Kristine,
Another lovely read! Loved many things about this… especially your art 🖼️ and unapologetic dinner plans… I often have (healthy-ish) snack dinners too in summer 😉
Thank you Chesica! I love piling a board with fresh veggies and fruit, crackers, cheese and salami, hummus and a few sweet treats and making EVERYONE happy!
YES, I love a good board! 🍇🥒🧀🫒
Ummm that typewriter is the cutest thing ever!!!!! What a memorable birthday gift! AND - your painting is (insert all amazing emoji's here) soooo good! Wow! You could sell those - so pretty! Glad your sunflowers survived that doozy of a storm :). My fav summer memories: my mom's chore list ( didn't like it at the time but I always knew it was waiting for my sister and I when we woke every morning. My mom worked full time at a factory so we were home alone basically all summer. My sister was 7 years older than me. I remember always climbing on to our roof to lay out for a tan and we would use cooking oil on our skin! My nosey neighbor, Mrs. Pat, would sometimes call and tattle on us to my mom :) Once or twice a summer my mom would take us to a KOA campground to swim in their pool - those were the BEST DAYS!
Thank you T! And I love that glimpse of your childhood and those memories with your sister 🥹 and your mom!! Some KOAs have great pools!!
I will always love Coldplay 🖤
Yessss!
after seeing your new typewriter, I must ask. Have you read Olivetti yet? also, yes to Coldplay and a new song and let’s hope this means another tour is coming. 💙
I’ve got it on hold at the library! I think I’m the next one up!! And yes, I was just thinking the same about tour… and then remembered they're still touring the world 🤣 I think they finish in November?! So maybe they’ll start again second half of next year?!
Fondest summer memories - biking everywhere exploring, swimming at the local pool, waving sparklers my grandmother gave us on 4th of July. Summer still seems magical b/c it was so as a child.
I love this! Thank you for sharing, Monica!
Your painting makes me drift, your sunflowers are astonishing and your new Olivetti is simply gorgeous!
Thank you, Fotini! She’s really a marvel!
Oh, wow—thank you for mentioning my poem, Kristine! And to think the bulk of it was buried in old papers for the last 25 years 😊. I love the name of your novel, and look forward to reading it some day! 💛
It’s made me recognize metaphors in my own day to day for what it’s like when the words are there… but not.
Thank you! It’s the lighter, but still meaningful and adventurous FUN book to keep drafting vs. the more challenging (but still dear) revision of what I thought would be my magnum opus (The Other Side of Hope) when *it* was drafted.
I’m so inspired by hearing about people’s novels since they (novels) were my best friends for most of my life. I am NOT a fiction writer (I did try a lot when I was younger, but it never clicked) and I am constantly amazed by how people manage to create plots (sometimes entire worlds) out of nothing.
Well since we are sort of sharing June, connected by Nashville, I resonate with so many of these descriptions (I'm looking at you, horseflies) and some of your moments I remember from the earlier days of motherhood here. Beautiful job capturing Tennessee June.
We have a typewriter store here?! Amazing. I still have the antique typewriter that was given to us 25 years ago as a wedding gift and I still use it. Yours is lovely. Someone just gifted me some art supply money through my newsletter and I've had my eye on some of the Derwent supplies. Love your sky illustration.
And thanks so much for including my post! ❤️ I love seeing people respond to the idea of "Ish" in the way that it first hit me.
Thank you, Aimee! I just loved your essay and I’m hunting for a copy of the book now, hoping to leave it around for the kids to peruse.
We do!! It’s technically in Goodlettsville, in a little house just around the corner from their little “downtown” full of antique malls. The kids were in awe of his collection!
I LOVE that you guys got a typewriter as a wedding gift and that you still use it!
And I’ve been so impressed by these Derwent products. After years of using the kids’ stuff I’m in awe!
Thanks for sharing Kristine! I love to see how you guys are loving June and summer.
It would only be better if there was more of you in it!
And less fighting… but ah… wishful thinking!