Sunday, July 10, 2011

Sunday Salon: Back on the farm

 Good morning from the farm in Indiana!  The Nawrots are yet again on the move.  This time 3/4 of us are visiting Grandma and Grandpa for 3 weeks, and are gearing up for fishing, hiking, theme parks, freshly-picked sweet corn, blueberry picking,  seeing the last Harry Potter movie, getting together with high school friends, getting together with a blogger (yipee!), and long walks on country roads.  Over the next few weeks, I shall share all of it with you.  All in good time.

But before we arrived in the Hoosier State on Thursday, I was a busy bee.  We attended a big party at our friends' house for the 4th, complete with awesome food (I made the Blue Cheese Potato Salad - thanks Jill!), fireworks and a water slide.  This party happens every year, and is a summer highlight.  On Tuesday, the Heathrow Literary Society met to discuss "Cutting For Stone".  Unanimously this was one of the best books we've read as a group, and some claimed it to now be on their top ten lists.  After getting home from that outing, and after reeling and nearly vomiting over the verdict of the Casey Anthony trial (after all we've been seeing her shitty face on TV for 3 straight years in Orlando), I was interviewed by Nicole for her podcast That's How I Blog. I had so much fun, but then again I LOVE to talk.  It's a weakness.  Top all that off with a hair appointment, doctor appointment, laundry and packing, and I was ready to fly once again.

If you follow me on Facebook, you will know that Airtran efficiently LOST my bag on a direct flight between Orlando and Indianapolis, however the hell that happens.  That would be the bag with underwear, makeup and all my clothes.  It ended up in some small town in PA.  But despite the airline's predictions that it would show up well over 24 hours later, they got it to my parents' house at 3:40am.  God bless them.
  

Sunrise outside my bedroom at my chez Smith

Anyway, so how's the reading?  The flight up was only two hours (I had two kids sleeping on me, and two unattended children in front of me that were having an odorous farting contest, I kid you not), and we do stay busy around here.  But I was able to finish "The Poisoner's Handbook" by Deborah Blum, and am well into "Ten Beach Road" by Wendy Wax.  While Wendy's book is pretty predictable, I'm really enjoying it.  This is what you need to be reading in the summer...female bonding, renovating a mansion on the beach, handsome men about.   

On audio, I'm still listening to "Clara and Mr. Tiffany" for Heathrow Literary Society next month and I am ENCHANTED.  What a wonderful book, and it is narrated by Kimberly Farr, who is a delightful narrator.  But get this (as I  bounce up and down anxiously)!  At Barnes & Noble today, I found a huge book of all of the Tiffany stained glass and lamps for $7 on the bargain table!  Included are all the original pieces designed by Clara, described in great detail in the book.  This novel has officially come to life for me!  I about had a cat.  I should have this audio wrapped up in the next day or so, but I will be sad to see it end.  I'm hoping to start "Faith" by Jennifer Haigh next.

Next week will be busy.  We are leaving for the Turkey Run State Park tomorrow for an overnight stay, horseback riding and hiking.  My husband is coming up for a long weekend.  There are numerous state fairs and festivals going on.  And we shall be gorging on sweet corn and fish caught out of the neighbor's pond.  We may try attending a midnight viewing of the last Harry Potter movie.  Good times!

Hope you all are having a great weekend.  Are you doing anything (or reading anything) exciting? 

  

21 comments:

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) said...

Oh Sandy, you have the life! Fresh sweet corn? Yum. Enjoy your vacation.

Elisabeth said...

Wow! Jealous, I am! I had to laugh being the mom of 3 sons about your kids smelly plane contest. You can't make this sorta stuff up.

I just finished reading Violets of March and Silver Sparrow, both of which were very good.

bermudaonion said...

I've learned to pack a pair of undies in my carry-on. I'm glad they got your bag to you, but 3:40AM - I hope they didn't wake you up!

Unknown said...

Not much excitement around here this summer. Lots of time spent reading and relaxing and enjoying the weather.

ds said...

Love the view from your window! Enjoy the fresh picked sweet corn, state fairs (miss those), Harry Potter and everything else that keeps you going nonstop.
Amazing serendipity about the Tiffany design book. Great stuff.

Molly said...

What a traveling year you have had: and such diversity!

I love the view outside your window - and I hope the heat doesn't impeded your enjoyment of all those state/regional fairs :)

Alyce said...

Sweet corn and Harry Potter - that sounds fantastic! I hope you have a great time!

Kathleen said...

Sounds like you will have a wonderful time on the farm. If I lived in Orlando we would meet for wine and discuss the Casey Anthony case. As a couple of true crime junkies I KNOW we would have much to say. I'm still mad about that verdict...

Zibilee said...

It sounds like you are going to have a great time in Indiana and I hope that you guys get to do all the things you have planned! I am anxious to hear what you think about Faith, as it's one that has been on the top of many lists, and I really want to read it. Also, very cool score with the Tiffany book. Have a blast out there! I will see you back at book club!

caite said...

Are you people ever home??

as to the lost luggage, I have learned to carry enough in my carry on to get me through a day or two.. .or more in a pinch...after seeing too many folks whose vacations were made very difficult by the loss of their luggage.

lovely picture!

Melody said...

Sounds like a wonderful time, except the lost bag! I'm glad the airline managed to retrieve and deliver the bag to you. And oh, I'm so looking forward to the HP movie! However, I checked the showing time on the opening day and it doesn't go right with my schedule...so we shall see!

Hope you have a wonderful week!

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I bet Nicole loved how much you talked on her show! There's nothing worse than the fear of monosyllabic interviewees! :--)

I had a bit of an airline story today myself. Our ticket wouldn't scan, and it turned out it was because the reservations were for JULY SEVENTH, not JULY TENTH, but I am a TOTAL IDIOT! Anyway, many many dollars later, we got where we were supposed to be, but without any recourse to refunds on all our nonrefundable hotel and car reservations. For all the money this little getaway is costing us, we could have gone to New Zealand for a month! GAAAAHHH!

Melissa said...

Have a great time on the farm! And while you are jealous of your hubby's 3 weeks alone...there's no way I could go that long by myself. 2 days without Claire and I am missing her like crazy!

Iliana said...

Hope you are having a fun time with the family Sandy! We expect pictures of the fairs and festivals :)

Jenners said...

I'd like to see you have a cat!!! ; )

At least this year you aren't roaming the country roads and reading The Passage.

That Casey Anthony thing was pretty unbelievable. I can't believe she is going to go free like that. Ugh.

Have so much fun ... you always seem to whereever you are in the world!

Susan said...

Have a great time in "The Middle"! So close, and yet so far from this blogger!

Sweet corn due here in Marysville today, and of course I will be somewhere else for two days. Wednesday dinner menu: corn on the cob, green beans and tater (from my garden), do I need anything else? I don't think so.

Unknown said...

I just love your Sunday Salons! I feel for you, I really do but I admit to laughing loud at the odorous farting contest on the plane ride! You poor thing, ugh! Glad to hear that the airlines come through sometimes (after they screw up!)

Cutting for Stone was great, cool that it was unanimously liked!
Ten Beach Road sounds like a great choice for flying and vacation.
How cool that you found the Tiffany stained glass book at B&N!

Have a great time!

Julie P. said...

You guys never stop!

Ti said...

Each day it is becoming increasingly hard to believe that you are a sane, normal person with all the traveling you do. Every time I read a post, you are off and running.

But.. I secretly envy you.

You should just purchase your own private jet. Would be cheaper and better for your luggage.

Darlene said...

Sandy, that view from your window at your parents place is so awesome. It always sounds like such a great time that you have there that you make everyone want to visit. Hope you're having fun - I'm sure you are!

Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooks said...

If the view from my bedroom looked like that, I might be tempted to get up with the early birds, too!

p.s. underwear is over-rated (kidding!)