What’s on my nightstand: June 2010

Books I’ve read this month or are in process, plus source of acquisition. Cause I always like to over-share.

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. It’s a sad fact I’ve never read Kingsolver’s fiction. This title was a library giveaway. It’s not her award-winning latest, but it’s a start.

How Soccer Explains the World (An Unlikely Theory of Globalization) by Franklin Foer. My brother lent me this one. Now I can look like I’m interested in soccer during the World Cup (an event I’m not at all paying attention to).

Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart. A memoir in which New York City in 1945 is the central character.

The Outside Boy by Jeanne Cummins. Novel. Loved the writing, enjoyed the characters. Reminded me of Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes. The Outside Boy and Summer at Tiffany were given to those who attended the Book Blogger Conference.

Two for Book Tours: Life, in Spite of Me (Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice) by Kristen Jane Anderson with Tricia Goyer and Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff. Could these books be any more different?

That’s my June so far, in books. What have you been reading?

Large rock climbing and a memory

Yesterday we met up with other homeschoolers to tramp about at Ringing Rocks. We climbed on rocks, hiked to a waterfall, admired beauty. The peanut butter granola bars back at the car were a big hit. None of my kids got outrageously wet. Proof all are growing up, or maybe just really good at not slipping on mossy rocks? I’m going with a bit of both.

Ringing Rocks is one of those places I have tucked away in my heart as extra special. Doc popped the question there 13 Junes ago as I sat on one of the large rocks near the waterfall. He was nervous. Silly man, I thought at the time. Why is he nervous? Doesn’t he know how crazy in love with him I am?

All these years of living later and I’m having a hard time remembering exactly which rock I rested upon. The romantic in me wants to remember the spot. Why didn’t I mark it somehow? Because it never occurred to me the memories would fade over time.

Here are a few pictures:

Climbing on the rocks in the wrong type of shoe:

climbing on the rocks in the wrong type of shoe

The waterfall:

waterfall at Ringing Rocks, PA

I’m not 100% sure, but I think this is The Rock of Romance (aka Where I sat to say “Yes, of course.” ) :

not just a large rock at Ringing Rocks, PA

I don’t have much else to add other than it was a pleasant, cool-ish day. A good day for a day hike and to revisit a memory with my kids. My friend Jill has more pictures and video of why it’s called ringing rocks and screaming girls catching a frog. Very fun.