I’ve mentioned before that sometimes, around the dinner table, our family shares our highs and lows for the day or week. It’s a good way to get kids talking beyond the typical one-word answer. “Fine.” This week, we have a big high. Calvin, our youngest, got his driver’s license. He was the last person in the house we had to chauffeur. While it’s terrifying and our car insurance is mindbogglingly high, I am so proud of him and excited that my days sitting in the school drop-off line are behind me! That’s a pretty big high for the week.
Here are my four things – Watercolor techniques, laughter as medicine, a romance with used books, and trip preparations.
what I’m reading
I am traveling to the UK and Italy in just a little over a week (I can’t believe it’s almost here), and I will be teaching a workshop on keeping a travel journal, so I’m revisiting one of my favorite books on painting watercolor landscapes – Watercolor Techniques by Michael Reardon. This book offers great exercises for watercolor artists, along with lots of nuts and bolts information. I primarily paint with oils, but it’s hard to beat watercolor for portability, so we’re going to focus on that medium.
what I’m watching
When things feel heavy, I do a lot of different things to seek out that which is good, true, lovely, and beautiful, but I also seek out opportunities to laugh. Laughter truly is good medicine and a balm for a heavy heart. I’ve seen a few Nate Bergatze clips and comedic sketches on social media over the past few months, and I suggested we check out one of his specials on Netflix one evening this week. We did, and we laughed, and it felt good. The thing I love about his humor is that it’s clean. It’s not over-the-line, lowest common denominator humor. He never cussed or was lewd or mean. It was just good, old-fashioned funny, and I love that.
You can find the special on Netflix if you need a good belly laugh.
what I’m loving
“Secondhand books are wild books, homeless books; they have come together in vast flocks of variegated feather, and have a charm which the domesticated volumes of the library lack. Besides, in this random miscellaneous company, we may rub against some complete stranger who will, with luck, turn into the best friend we have in the world.” – Virginia Woolf
I love used books and this description of them. I always enjoy the little hitchhikers and history that come with used books. I read the inscriptions written to other people. I look for the underlined passages, notes in the margin, dog-eared pages, and pieces of paper tucked in the folds. I even found metal book darts in one that led me to my new favorite way of marking pages. I have a soft spot for used books.
Someone once dinged me for sharing links to new books, but I reminded them that there are no used books without new books. While I’m romantic about used books, I do buy a mixture of new and used so I can support publishers and authors who send more books into the world, where they will someday become wild.
what I’m working on
I am leaving for the UK in just over a week, and that has me feeling a bit panicked! This trip has always seemed so far away, and now it’s right around the corner. I’m ready for it, but it’s a busy season of life, and I’m finding it hard to prepare to press the pause button on everything in less than two weeks. As is my usual MO, I’ve tried to squeeze too many things into the shrinking time before we head for the airport.
All of that being said, I am over the moon excited about the trip. I haven’t been overseas since 2019, and I miss Europe so much. I have also never been to the UK other than a short stop at the Shannon, Ireland airport, on the way to Russia when I was a teenager. I can’t wait to meet Julia of Ponder & Purchase and spend several days in the hedgerows and small villages of the Cotswolds. From there, we’ll travel to Tuscany for a Prone to Wander retreat where I’m teaching a workshop and finding inspiration in Italy.
So, in addition to working through my book manuscript and my commission queue, I am making final preparations for the workshop and trip. I’m also trying to work ahead, so I have some blog post drafts ready to go. I’ll share more about my trip, what I’m packing, and the workshop in future posts.
What are you reading, watching, loving, and working on?
20 Responses
I think you owe an apology to the people of Ireland. It is not now and never has been part of the UK.
Thanks, wanted to write that.
Oh goodness, I am sorry. I thought the UK included England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. I looked it up and, in my defense, Northern Ireland is a part of the UK. Of course, I don’t mean any offense.
With all due respect you are incorrect. The entire island of Ireland was once part of the U.K. In 1922 the northern region and southern region divided after the Irish War of Independence. Today it is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The southern portion is known as the Republic of Ireland. For the record I am Irish.
Our daughter moved to Cambridge last year. We are headed her way again next week. When she first moved there my husband found an interesting diagram ~ British Isles vs United Kingdom vs Great Britain vs Ireland. We had no idea the terms were specific ~ it’s fascinating.
Cotswolds? Take some anti-rain things with you. Italy / Tuscany is still warm, but the UK loves a good rainy day around this time. I’ve been drowning XD; I’ve visited there a couple of times. And no Irishmen will ever be connected to the UK, due to the history of extreme violence by the Brits.
We just saw Nate Bargatze live in Rochester last night! He was fabulous and kept us laughing all night. So refreshing to watch a clean show! Enjoy your trip! Say hello to Julia for me – can’t wait to follow along!
Also, Congrats to Calvin! That’s so awesome!
Can’t wait to hear about your retreat and workshop. In December, my sister and I are headed to Christmas markets in Munich then down into South Tyrol to Bolzano then on to Florence. We’re excited about the markets but I think I’m more excited about 8 days in Florence to explore. I took a solo trip in 2019 but I’m excited my sister is joining me this time. We’re already looking into thrift stores, vintage and antique markets to stroll through.
I’m sure you’ll live England! I hope you get the chance to maybe do one garden tour while you are there. I lived there for three years and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m going to guess that once you go you’ll want to go back again!
We’ll be looking forward to many pictures and stories of your adventures.
Congratulations to you and Calvin. I remember that feeling as well as we lived rurally and somedays I felt I was permanently attached to the seat of my car. (Ironically after both girls were gone and out, we moved a block from their old primary school!) I was wondering if you’ve noticed a fairly large number of drivers license aged kids are not bothering to get their licenses? Both of my girls roommates do not drive and many of their friends also don’t drive. I was at the DMV on my 16th birthday. But a different generation maybe? Or just my kids friends?
Have a wonderful Trip. England and especially the Cotswold are my favorite places to visit.
Karen B.
My VFW Auxiliary collects used books(donated by our entire community) & take them to our Veterans Hospital library. A wonderful way to pass them on to others. Family members as well as patients there enjoy the books & can take them home with them & pass them on to others. Large print used books go to our Veterans Home for the residents there. One of the best projects we have.
Oh thank you for the clean comedy recommendation! I have been searching for a good laugh. Enjoy your trip!
Marian, you will love the Cotswolds. I was there 2 years ago for 2 weeks and could have stayed forever. Iam returning next month and can’t wait. I am packing now, but don’t want to over pack. This time we don’t have to drive. My good friend Nicki Franklin who owns and designs the beautiful embroidery…is driving me around…yeah.
I hope you have a wonderful time in the UK and Italy.
Do hope to see you one day soon.
Xo
One of my favourite holidays has been in the Cotswolds in spring with the lambs in fields and flowers springing up but I’m sure the Fall will have cosy and moody vibes . You will have so much inspiration for painting after this trip from every day ! Enjoy and safe travels !
Thx for sharing Marian, we’re going to check out Nate Bergatze!
Comedians who can make us smile/in my book, they are HEROES !
Good luck in your journey to the UK, & safe happy travels!!!… will check in to hear about it when you return!…plus,
have fun with watercolours!
Dear Marian,
Enjoy your trip! Just missed you as i am returning tomorrow. Bring your raincoat and boots! Enjoy the gardens! Dont worry about the first comments, I took no offense at all! I cant wait to see what you bring back….
Much love,
Jan Martin
BIG congrats to your son getting his driver’s license. That is huge and he must be so proud. But yikes, it is scary when one’s children are driving. Praying for his safety. As for your trip coming up, what a blessing! I am so jealous (happily so, tho, of course.) I cannot wait to see your pics and hear all about your class, and just everything! And pls. do visit Ireland for a nice long visit one day. Nicer people don’t exist. I spent almost a month there in the 90s and have been wanting to go back ever since. It is so rich in history – do take a bus tour so you can hear all the great stories and not have to worry about driving. Best way imho.
Safe travels, Marian.
My husband and I were in England, Ireland, N. Ireland, Scotland and Paris in May and absolutely fell in love with the whole area. We previously went to Italy and loved that, too. I am excited to see what you are exploring in your time there! Safe travels!
Safe and happy travels. I am looking forward to your experiences. We visited Northern Ireland in 2015. There is a real division in the attitudes between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Both were extraordinarily beautiful.