enjoying summer in Minnesota

Summer is a great time to be back in Minnesota.  It sure is nice to be somewhere with lots of outdoor space. I can go on a walk or a bike ride and hardly see anything except fields, trees, farms, and (in the evenings), deer crossing the field and road to hide in the woods.







I have also been tending the garden...the black beans that I planted look good.

So do the beets, though my brother is not sure why I planted them.  I told them that he does not have to eat them.


I have also been reading, cooking, cleaning, and spending time with family and friends.  The other day when I was at my brother's house, my niece and I just spent time watching the kittens play.  It has been a long time since I spent summer time doing that, and I had forgotten how entertaining it can be. 

After working so hard at learning Spanish, I have also been spending ten hours every week trying to maintain my language skills.  I read, write, review my Spanish notes, and use the Duolingo app to keep up.  Hopefully soon I will find a few people to practice my conversational skills.  What have you been doing this summer?

Secrets of a Charmed Life

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner is a book I have been waiting awhile to read, and I was not disappointed.  This is Meissner's newest novel, and again she links something from history to the present day.  Kendra is a history student who interviews Isabel about her life.  Isabel was a teenage girl during the Second World War in England.  I had read much about England during the war, but reading the story made me think more about how much lives changed drastically with the evacuation of children from London.  If you like reading historical novels, this would be a good one to pick up. 

A Library Book for Bear

A Library Book for Bear by Bonny Becker and illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton is a great book to read to your children or students.  It is for preschoolers to eight or nine year olds.  Bear has agreed to go with Mouse to the library.  When the day comes, Bear wonders why he would need to go to the library because he already has all the books that he needs.  Of course, Bear changes by the end of the story, finding out that there are good things about the library.  If your child likes bears, books, or libraries, this book would be a good one to look for.

green and spacious

After being away from Minnesota for so long, I noticed when I got back how green everything appears.  It is also nice to not be surrounded by buildings, concrete, and people.  Staying in a city for nine months has made me appreciate even more life in a rural area.