Stumps

Mae At The Creek

I know it's been awhile and I need to write about the rest of my book list, but I can't resist sharing this photo of Mae checking out the creek.  The weather has been beautiful here!  October!!

Mae at Gold Creek

Summer Reading and More

I've been wanting to post about reading and all the great books I've read this summer.  I usually have a summer reading list but this year, I actually have been reading all year, because I've had the extra time to do so. (current total 13)   Reading lists can be divided up so many ways.  To borrow from the book I am currently reading,  Italo Calvino's  "If On A Winter's Night A Traveler", there are books you've always wanted to read, books you can borrow from somebody, books you mean to read, books that everyone else has read so it's like you have read them, books that you might read this summer and, my favorite, "books that if you had more than one life you would certainly also read but unfortunately your days are numbered."

You can also categorize them by how you came upon them.  There are books you have already read and are re-reading, books that someone you know has read and suggests them to you, books that you find on lists, Amazon suggestions and books you pick up on vacation.  

So, where do I start?  Let me start with my favorites:

MOBY DICK.  Hands down my favorite book ever.  Love this book, have read it several times and keep it handy to just randomly read parts of it when I feel like I need a dose of Melville.  It's not easy reading. It's a chore really.  But this year I did read it all the way through....yay!

Anything by Haruki Murakami.  Most recently it was his collection of short stories in "The Elephant Vanishes".

Need some super easy reading? My favorite is Daniel Silva.  I have read every single one of his Gabriel Allon novels, including the latest.






And lastly, an old favorite that I had to dig around to find and ended up getting a cheap ($3) edition from Amazon that is a bit off, but for $3?  Why not? It's
D.H Lawrence's "The Man Who Died, or The Escaped Cock", in which a man who died (Christ) does not die, is not resurrected because he wasn't really dead when they buried him .  He wanders and has a relationship....

Next time, books recommended by people I barely know, a book I can't decide about, and the rest of the list.  Pick up a book! Tell me what you are reading!

So Long Summer, Some Last Photos

Days At The Lake

Our lake days are fading fast as the water recedes further and further.  It is used for irrigation east of the mountains and this year with low snow pack, it hasn't filled up as the water is drained out, so, we are about a month ahead with very low water.  However, that doesn't mean that we aren't still enjoying cooling off and paddling around on these very hot days!  And Mae, our 5 month old pup, is especially enjoying it!

I hope that summer is treating you well!  Keep cool and enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday? Our Gorgeous Scenery

Lake Keechelus, Snoqualmie Pass WA

Fitness Confessions

I had to go and look at my calendar to see when the last time was that I actually did a run.  Other than some short jogs around the neighborhood, the last real run was not this month, not June, oh, good guess but not May either!  April 4th.  that's right....there's a little hen scratched notation that I ran 31 minutes in new shoes, in APRIL!  Sure there are hikes noted, paddling in the lake, walks up the mountain.  But running?  Running doesn't make an appearance on my calendar.  I have a long list of reasons why I haven't been running, but let's just say that other things in life have gotten in the way of running plans.  Some of them are unavoidable life events, others are just run of the mill excuses .  Drinking beer with Ben and Jerry in the summer heat for example!

I had the foresight to know I wouldn't be running any races this summer but I did register my son and husband for the Refuse to Abuse 5k held in Safeco Stadium where the Seattle Mariner's play ball.  (note I said play not necessarily WIN)    It was the first race for my son and he had a good time! My husband did a lot of runs with his dad growing up so this is a great family tradition to continue!

Part of the race goes through the parking garage

There are a lot of races across the country held in sports stadiums and they are such fun events!  You go through parts of the stadium that you may never normally have  access to and this one ends out on the baseball field!  Plus this was for a great cause, raising awareness and money to help those affected by domestic violence. 

I hope your summer running is going great!  I'm looking forward to getting back out there and possibly registering for some fall races.  My son said he would do it again!  I think I'd better lace up my shoes and get running~