What a July it was--hot, muggy, rainy, busy and fun. My baby girl is officially 3 months old, and I can hardly believe it. When you were a kid, didn't it annoy you how grown-ups used to always talk about "time flying"? Then, of course, you yourself become a grown-up and realized, Daggum it--they're right.
Have you seen this video from a father in the UK who took video clips of every day of the first year of his son's life and put them all together? Each day is a second, and it's adorable. You don't have to know the baby or the family to appreciate the wonderful, precious and fleeting nature of life.
2.) Monster turtle
This is random. And creepy. But I had to share. Look what's been hanging out under the dock at my family's lake house in the South Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains:
Yep. Right under the dock, next to the steps where we--and the dogs and kiddos--enter to the water, swim, and hang out. It's a prehistoric mega-turtle. And it had babies. Gulp. And check out my goodlookin', and very brave cousin, Toly. He's a rock star.
3.) What I'm reading now ...
This week, I'm finishing up Diana Gabaldon's A Trail of Fire and am dipping my toes into A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams. It's set in the '30s on a New England beach. Here's what bestselling author Elin Hildebrand has to say about it: "An intricately woven tale of friendship, betrayal, old families, and closely guarded secrets. It is what every beach book should aspire to be--smart and engrossing."
Yes, there are a lot of summer novels about old New England families on old New England beaches staying in old New England beach houses. But being a Southerner and unfamiliar with the terrain, I can't get enough of them. Plus Ms. Williams looks young and adorable in her author photo, and I'm always impressed with young successful writers. Check out her author website and more about A Hundred Summershere.
Saturday I'll be headed to Sunset, South Carolina and The Reserve at Lake Keowee to begin my week as an Artist-in-Residence. I'll be meeting with book clubs reading Keowee Valley, giving history talks about the area, and enjoying informal time with community members. I can't wait!
Additionally, at the beginning of the next week--Sunday, August 11--I'll be one of the featured authors at the 2013 Birchwood Book and Author Fair at The Lodge at Table Rock State Park in S.C. I'll be meeting readers, signing books, and reading some from Keowee Valley. I hope if you're in the area, you'll join me!
Not to make y'all too jealous, but this is where I live. Tough, right?
Check out this short video of Transylvania County and Brevard, North Carolina, put together by several folks in town. It'll make you want to hop in the car and get yourself to our mountains as quickly as possible.
On a side note, so much of this area is the setting and inspiration for Keowee Valley. I obviously love it, and loved walking my main characters, Quinn and Jack, through such a gorgeous and awe-inspiring landscape. Take a look here.
Well, it has been about the rainiest July I can remember here in Western North Carolina. The rivers are moving into the flood plains, hiking trails turning into creeks, sugar ants invading the kitchen, mosquitoes buzzing around in relentless packs, and paddlers all around these parts downright rejoicing. We expect the everyday afternoon thunderstorm in the mountains, but this is just silly.
At least some days, like today, we’ve had sun. I hope you are enjoying the summer sun wherever you may be!
Some good stuff to share today:
1.) The Lone Ranger soundtrack:
Love it or hate it (and the critics, of course, hate it) the new Lone Ranger movie has an absolutely incredible score. I saw the movie Saturday night, when my husband took pity on me after a particularly tough week of mama-ing the 3 year-old and the infant (remember: it rained and didn’t stop), so I went by myself. Have you ever been to a movie by yourself? Sitting alone in the pitch dark, drinking a Coke without having to share, and just soaking it in? It’s glorious. And it’s one of my favorite things to do. Everyone should give going to a movie alone a try.
Anyway, back to the music. Hans Zimmer composed the score. His stellar resume also includes Rain Man, Driving Miss Daisy, Gladiator, and many more. I used to watch old black and white reruns of The Lone Ranger on TCM when I was a kid. Sitting in the theatre Saturday, totally caught up in Disney’s raucous escapism, I almost leapt from my seat when the Lone Ranger theme music burst out. Seriously, I looked around for my horse.
2.) What I’m reading right now (and just finished reading):
Second, A Trail of Fire by Diana Gabaldon. This one includes
four Outlander tales–basically stories involving different characters from her wildly popular Outlander novels. (Outlander is coming to the movie channel Starz as a mini-series in September 2014. If you haven’t read the novels or know who Gabaldon is, and you dig historical fiction, get thee to a library or bookstore forthwith.)
Lastly, there’s The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling, which I finished last week and is already past due to the library. I have mixed emotions about this one, and I’d love to hear what you all have to say about it if you’ve read it. Besides the fact that it’s a novel for adults, and involves no magic, of course, it does touch on some of the same themes–mainly the existential and often cruel nature of modern life–as does the Harry Potter novels. And it’s dark. Really, really dark.
3.) A truly Southern wedding announcement
My mother-in-law sent me a copy of this wedding announcement that a friend sent to her. The wedding took place on Fenwick Island, South Carolina, and boy if this announcement doesn’t shed a little light on just how particular in our tastes (and a bit nuts) we Southerners are, I don’t know what does.
Here’s a quick sample: “As evening fell, youngsters played in the yard and a canine guest swiped a piece of wedding cake.”
I can no longer deny my love for singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile. She’s awesome. This is her new music video for a song on her Bear Creek album called “Keep Your Heart Young.” She asked fans to send in home videos that she could add to her own, and apparently quite a few did.
I absolutely love this song, and my oldest daughter and I belt it out in the car whenever we get the chance.
5.) Willa, 12 weeks old
I know, I’m shameless. I can’t help it. I’m completely enamored with my new baby girl.
