Summer is winding down

Hard to believe and hard to accept is the end of summer. Here in Rhode Island it has been hot and dry. Very little rainfall the entire summer- great for going to the beach and lying in the sun reading and drinking icy cold water. But today is the first time it is cool and I need to don a light sweatshirt while eating on the screened in porch. Getting ready for my book club's annual RI weekend for book selection and discussion. Not sure what our extracurricular activities will be this year. It is all weather depending. One year we visited a winery and sampled local wines. Most years we go to the beach and swim. Last year we had a little wine/beer tasting on the deck. A new independent book store has opened in Westerly and perhaps we will take a little trip there or maybe to the local brewery. I am trying to find several books to offer as part of our selections for the upcoming year. I asked for some suggestions from my walking buddies and here are a couple to consider for next year: 1. House in the Sky 2. Sound of Gravel 3. In The Garden of Beasts 4. Lowlands 5. Hillbilly Elegy 6. Circling the Sun Now supposedly to suggest a book one must have read it but lately we have ignored that rule if we have heard good reviews about a book. I need to do a bit more research before I make my suggestion(s). While in RI I try to walk every morning. I have a loop which is about 4.8 miles. I carry my phone with me and listen to the news and snap a few pictures of flowers, wildlife ( there are usually lots of turkeys in the nearby fields) and the beach.

August

Hello, I'm back. Lots of fun stuff going on. My book group met in July (for our June potluck meeting). It was great seeing everyone and catching up with lives and books and trying to stay cool. In case any one has forgotten how hot it has been this summer.

. I went to a wedding in Burlington Vermont one weekend. I arrived early Friday afternoon and had a chance to explore Burlington. Lovely college town with beautiful Lake Champlain. There was a popular walking section of the town with lots of stores. Discovered this little book shop.

It was a "barn wedding and was so much fun. It turned out to be a beautiful afternoon (the morning was grey and dismal) and there was a gorgeous sunset. Perfect.

. Before the wedding I had the morning to explore the area. I toured Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory.

. After that I "found" a quilt shop and just had to buy a Vermont fabric. I picked out one with cows.....Have been reading a lot. My library offered an adult summer reading program this year. It was created to get adults not only involved but to discover sections of the library that one might not be familiar. It is set up as a Bingo style card with a "free" center square and then each square is a different type of book or reference material or some other item (magazine, puzzle etc) to take out. Well I actually won a prize the second week simply for registering. But I am struggling completing a row. I have one more square to cross off in one row but I need to finish two books before I take out one for that last square. Luckily the contest is over the end of August so I have a little bit of time. The one book that I picked up on impulse that has stayed with my was The Guest Room by Chris Bohajalian. Really scary/creepy. But good. Getting ready for next year. Have made the calendar and planning our Rhode Island weekend. To end on a pretty note. This is a picture of the Rubrum lilies in my front yard. This year there were many blooms and the plant grew so tall I had to double stake it.