I was listening to Scott Simon on NPR this morning as I walked on the trail. He started a story about the death of Corazon Aquino with a quote from an interview she did in 1985:
“Sometimes life does not proceed as you expected it to.
You must deal with the circumstances you’re in.”
And that made me think, how did I expect life to proceed? I never imagined these regular walks on this beautiful trail, trying to get a good picture of “the bird”, listening to NPR, picking blackberries on the return trip. I think I always knew I would be married, would be a mom, and teaching is not a surprise. But there are bits and pieces of life that never entered my idea of tomorrow or my dreams of someday. I haven’t had the life that Corazon Aquino had. Nothing so dramatic or eventful. But this life that I do have, it is a good life. And there are still circumstances to deal with , surprised around the corner.
I finished reading Home by Marilynne Robinson . It was a good story, lots to think about. I need to go back and read Gilead now, to find out more about Ames. I liked these characters. I want to hear more about them. I want them to keep on telling their stories.
Just a week into summer break and the routine has definitely shifted. The days have a different shape when you don’t have to be at work by 7:30am. So I am taking the time to catch up on creative pursuits. I have more of these little moleskin notes books than I thought so I have transformed a few – using a white ink pen to doodle on the front of one that I am using for a summer Bible study notebook. The other is covered with a lovely fabric that I used to make a summer tote. I am keeping track of my summer reading and ideas for quilts in this little notebook. Then I re-purposed this blue bag. I bought it in Hay-on-Wye a few summers ago. It was a simple bag but it needed a lining and a bit of shaping so I made good use of my seam ripper and spent a morning putting it back together. Now it is the perfect size to carry a moleskin and my camera on our trail walks. 
Recently I have found myself draw to books that have been on the list or have won the Orange Prize. And then I found out that 
