On Beauty

 

"Beauty is the language of care." Alice Waters

 

The Joys of Spring

A Place to Hang the Moon

If you're looking for a lovely story with a happy ending, this one's for you! William, Edmund, and Anna are evacuated to the country at the outset of WWII after their grandmother dies. Will they find a home for themselves? Will they find someone who thinks they hung the moon? 

All This Without You

 

 

All This Without You is Juliana Bibas' most recent book. It just arrived and I've already blown through the first five chapters. I love reading fiction and this is no exception. Juliana's writing is fabulous. Plus, the main character is an Orthodox mama! I'm pretty sure that I haven't read a book that I have ever identified with so much. You can purchase this book from Amazon (paperback or kindle)! 

Unorthodox

 

 

Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman was a super intense book that I read in three days. I have her next memoir coming through interlibrary loan. Has anyone watched the Netflix show by the same name? 

Winter House

 

 

 

The book above is a gem: Winter House by Charlotte Moss 

English Home

 

 

I am a complete and utter sucker for gorgeous glossy mags from England. 

A Good Article

 

I enjoyed reading this excerpt from 'Between Two Millstones, Book Two' by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn from Saturday's WSJ. I think I may try to read the first volume as soon as I get through a bit of my reading pile. 

 

Also, nice: freshly whipped cream in a mug of hot chocolate. 

God is Awake

 

 

I saw this quote on @artoftheeveryday's feed yesterday and loved it! 

Resting with a Book

 

We're instituting an hour long rest time after lunch for reading this summer. 

The Cazalets

 

I'm really enjoying this series... I'm going to draw a bath now so I can start the third installment while I soak. 

The Light Years

 

 

What are you reading? I found out about Elizabeth Jane Howard's Cazalet series through the @mirandasbookcase vlog on YouTube. I devoured The Light Years and am about to embark on the second, Marking Time. 

Good Like Saints

 

Belinski looked at the bedside table with its lamp, its carafe, its silver biscuit- box, it's two books, one of them in German. A lower shelf held cigarettes, matches, ash-tray. He looked at the primroses on the bureau. The warmth of a hot-water bottle communicating itself, he shifted a little and looked at the small mound it made through the bed-clothes. Then he looked at Andrew.

 
"It is unbelievable, " said Mr. Belinski.
"What is?"
"All of it. That I should be here-- in this house-- with your parents-- is like a dream."

 
Belinski nodded seriously. "I had forgotten that such people were. No, that is wrong: I never knew such people. They are good like saints.

From Cluny Brown by Margery Sharp 

The Foxed Quarterly

I bought the No. 32 issue of the Foxed Quarterly on Ebay before Christmas and have been really enjoying it! Their podcast is also👌.

I See Fire

Recently I was listening to Pandora radio and "I See Fire" sung by Ed Sheeran came on.  I was shocked to discover that it was a song from the Hobbit soundtrack.  Our boys are on a huge The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings kick, so of course this has become a favorite song to listen to while we're in the car.  Here are the lyrics and two separate music videos that I enjoyed watching.

:::::

Oh, misty eye of the mountain below
Keep careful watch of my brothers' souls
And should the sky be filled with fire and smoke
Keep watching over Durin's son

If this is to end in fire
Then we should all burn together
Watch the flames climb high into the night
Calling out father oh, stand by and we will
Watch the flames burn on and on the mountain side

And if we should die tonight
Then we should all die together
Raise a glass of wine for the last time
Calling out father oh
Prepare as we will
Watch the flames burn on and on the mountain side
Desolation comes upon the sky

Now I see fire, inside the mountain
I see fire, burning the trees
And I see fire, hollowing souls
And I see fire, blood in the breeze
And I hope that you'll remember me

Oh, should my people fall
Then surely I'll do the same
Confined in mountain halls
We got too close to the flame
Calling out father oh, hold fast and we will
Watch the flames burn on and on the mountain side
Desolation comes upon the sky

Now I see fire, inside the mountain
I see fire, burning the trees
And I see fire, hollowing souls
And I see fire, blood in the breeze
And I hope that you'll remember me

And if the night is burning
I will cover my eyes
For if the dark returns then
My brothers will die
And as the sky's falling down
It crashed into this lonely town
And with that shadow upon the ground
I hear my people screaming out

Now I see fire, inside the mountain
I see fire, burning the trees
And I see fire, hollowing souls
And I see fire, blood in the breeze

I see fire, oh you know I saw a city burning (fire)
And I see fire, feel the heat upon my skin (fire)
And I see fire (fire)
And I see fire (burn on and on and mountains side)

::::

A Simple Life

Theology of the Home: Finding the Eternal in the Everyday

 The power of finding beauty in the humblest of things makes home happy and life lovely." 

                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                              -Louisa May Alcott

Have you seen the new book, Theology of Home: Finding the Eternal in the Everyday? I was intrigued by it and decided to purchase a copy. It finally came in the post yesterday and I eagerly read the first few chapters last night while sitting on the bleachers during the children's basketball clinic. It is a gorgeous book full of lovely photographs and encouragement for all Christians (even Orthodox Christians, like me!) to invest the time to create an atmosphere that is truly a Little Church... not only for those that dwell within the walls of your home, but also for those that you offer hospitality to.

Oh to Be in England!

The 2019 British Issue of  Victoria Magazine is 👌... it is full of great articles and really reminds me of the issues my mother used to get when I was young.

Summer Vacation Waning

Knitting, reading, and eating is how I plan to spend the last little bit of our summer vacation!

Saturday Morning Perfection

 

Saturday morning perfection: perusing a book in bed (Wabi-Sabi Welcome) while listening to the radio