The Long Winter, Books That Give Comfort, and Active Coping Calendar

How are you doing? What are your days like? I am spending a lot of time watching the birds out my window. It's spring migration season here, and I hope to see birds here soon. Our pecan tree hasn't leafed out yet; it is only when leaves appear on our pecan tree that I know spring is really here. 

"If we can't go to the parade,

let's have one here."

---from Ways to Make Sunshine

I imagine you can understand when I tell you that I have only been able to read children's books this week. I finished four, but my hands-down favorite was The Long Winter. There was something about reading about the time the Ingalls family was trapped by a series of terrible blizzards for months without supplies coming in that was very reassuring. Dear Martin and Ways to Make Sunshine were both great reads, too, filled with strong characters that give me hope during these bleak days. And what kid wouldn't enjoy reading about clueless Timmy Failure?

I hope I can read some adult books next week.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis

Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Migrations: A Novel by Charlotte McConagny is the story of a woman following the migration of the last of the Arctic terns. I'm not sure if I can read about this right now.

From the New York Times: Celeste Ng, Ann Patchett, Min Jin Lee and Others on the Books That Bring Them Comfort. Authors share books that give them comfort during difficult times. I found many favorites on their lists.

I pulled out a DVD I found some time ago, and we watched it last week. It is Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, and it's led to a little obsession with Gould himself. 

I'd love to hear your recommendations for some good tv and movies.

The monthly calendar for April from Action for Happiness suggests daily ideas for Active Coping, to help with all the issues we face. Download your own calendar here.

Good Thing #1:  My grandson, Wyatt, had a wonderful (albeit tiny) birthday party. My granddaughter, Annie, loved the standee I made. My daughter-in-law put it in Wyatt's room after the party. It was a happy day.

Good Thing #2: My backyard vegetable garden. Kale, enough for a salad with feta cheese and blueberries every night. Brussels sprouts, delicious roasted in the oven in olive oil. Cherry tomatoes just starting to make. Beans and carrots and peppers and basil and rosemary and cucumbers. Bountiful.

Good Thing #3: It Will Get Better by Hezekiah Walker. I want to know where this man buys his clothes.

Please share your week with us.

                              

I'm very happy you found your way to the Sunday Salon. There are no requirements to linking up at Sunday Salon; Sunday Salon is simply a place for us to link up and to share what we have been doing during the week and it is a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. 

Some of the things we often talk about at the Sunday Salon:

• What was your week like?
• Read any good books? Tell us about them.
• What other bookish things did you do? 
• What else is going on in your life?

Other places where you may like to link up over the weekend are below. Click on the picture to visit the site.

My linkup for Sunday Salon is below.