It's Summertime

We had a strange winter for this part of Florida.  Never really had the lovely temperate days with low humidity so we were never really able to open the house for more than a day at a time.  Then it seemed that we moved straight from that to summertime temperatures and high humidity.

Just an observation.

Not a complaint.

My favorite season has always been summer.  It still is.  I love the hot, sunny days that result in afternoon thunderstorms.  The storms are beautiful and often usher in cooler evening breezes from the Gulf.  I love quiet moments by the pool.

Quiet moments.  Hmmmm....

New neighbors behind us and their loudmouthed kids have me staying inside more in the evenings and on the weekend.  I dread school's end...

Maybe they'll go on vacation somewhere.

A long vacation.

A busy year is winding down

I always look forward to the end of club and other nonprofit organization years.  Even though we stay busy through the summer with various projects, we don't have meetings for which we have to prepare.

I'm looking forward to working on two major projects this summer.  The recipe book which will fund the second phase of our Woman's Club museum project and the CAP Health Fair which provides free school physicals and backpacks full of school supplies for local school children.  Hopefully, there will not be many meetings involved.

Today's end of the year meeting was a good one.

Tomorrow, is the last book group meeting of the year -- a cookout at Howard Park in a shelter with wonderful Gulf views.  I'll try to post pictures this weekend.

Books and Beyond Book List for 2014-2015 Club Year

I worked today on firming up the book list for my book group.  I am pretty pleased with the variety of the selections for next book group year.  Hopefully, we'll have two "Book into Movie" selections.  Those are always fun meetings.

While I was at it, I finished the picnic assignments for for our meeting on Thursday when we'll be discussing "On Folly Beach" by Karen White.  What better way to discuss a beach book than a cookout at the beach?

This will be the last meeting of the 2013-14 year.

And this is our list for 2014-2015 Books and Beyond book group year:

October 23	Exodus by Leon Uris	This will be a book into movie meeting with book discussion over a pot luck lunch  and  popcorn while we watch the movie starring Paul Newman.  Meeting will start in the Friends Community Room at 12:30PM.
November 20	Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love by Larry Levin	Regular book discussion.  Meeting starts at noon in Conference Room.
December	No meeting in December	We will have a Christmas lunch at a local restaurant as usual.  Date to be determined.
January 22	The Book Thief By Markus Zusak	Regular book discussion.  Meeting starts at noon in Conference Room.
February 26	Next to Love By Ellen Feldman	Regular book discussion.  Meeting starts at noon in Conference Room.
March 26	A Drink Before the War By Dennis Lehane	Regular book discussion.  Meeting starts at noon in Conference Room.
April 24	The Elegance of the Hedgehog By Muriel Barbery	This will be a book into movie meeting with book discussion over a pot luck lunch  and  popcorn while we watch the French film if I receive permission from the film company to show it.  I emailed them on 5/19.2014.  Meeting will start in the Friends Community Room at 12:30PM.
May 22	The Wave:  In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks and Giants of the Ocean By Susan Casey	Regular book discussion. Maybe we'll do another picnic in Shelter 6 at Howard Park?

It's been a busy month...

and I haven't really had time to do much for myself.  Today that changes.

I know.  I keep saying that.

But, I realized yesterday that I really haven't had much time for creative pursuits that are for me only.  I miss that.

So as pretty as today is for being outside -- and it is truly BEAUTIFUL -- I got my liquid watercolors and watercolor pencils out and began a new painting.  No, wait.  FIRST, I worked on a painting I had started a month ago and TOTALLY destroyed it.  So, after I ripped it up and trashed it,  I began a new one.  We'll see how long this one lasts.

I decided to blog a little while the second layer dries.

After (if) I finish it today, I will make a couple of cards.  I haven't done any of that lately either and my supply is running low.

And I may do some online shopping at JoAnn.com for things that I discover I just HAVE to have.  You see, I have some gift cards burning a hole in my wallet.  Thoughtful gifts that remind me that my family wants me to spend time doing things for myself.

So I will.

Today, anyway.