truth

Punky and I watched Secret of the Kells this morning. The animation was brilliant and magical. The story was wonderful. What else would you expect from a nation of storytellers. I was drawn to the movie because of its artistic style and the story it tells of the wondrous Book of Kells. I remember studying illumination in high school art class.

I've had a love for all things Irish since I was a girl. As I've grown older, I've learned about the Celtic and Gaelic culture, and that it is more than just Ireland. It's been a dream of mine since I was a girl to visit Ireland, but now I would like to visit all lands where Celtic and Gaelic lived. I hope Punky and I will be able to visit someday.

In the movie, Aidan of Iona tells Brendan that he can learn much from the woods outside the abbey walls. Coincidentally, Susan Fletcher included this in her book Corrag, which I'm currently reading. It's attributed to Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153).

More things are learnt in the woods than in books. Animals, trees and rocks teach you things not to be heard elsewhere.

I've also found this version:

What I know of the divine sciences and Holy Scripture, I learned in wood and field. I have no other masters than the beeches and oaks.

Other people have made similar observations, including Aristotle, Einstein, Thoreau, Wordsworth, and Muir, for example. It is obvious to me that this true. Unfortunately, it takes some people longer to discover this truth. Some never do.

Summer Time

Remember how Summer seemed to last so long when you were a kid?

According to the calendar, Summer doesn't start until next week, but the weather says it's Summer now. We've already had a few 90+ days. We've been cooking on the fire pit and grill quite often, and are picking strawberries, black raspberries, leaf lettuce and cucumbers from the garden.

Summer Camp

Punky has been going to our park dept. day camp since school let out. She swims at the pool everyday and goes on field trips every Wednesday. This week the camp went to Squire Boone Caverns. Punky stayed home from camp today. She ran a fever yesterday and still wasn't feeling well enough this morning. I went to work this morning, but before the day really got started, ended up back at home. Luckily, I have lots of sick time to use, and was glad for the extra day at home.

I finally mowed the back yard. I pruned some bushes and used the string trimmer on the weeds. I had to get more line, so $60+ and two hours later, I came home from the store with more annuals and some perennials.

I decided to plant perennials in the bare spot left by the sand box. I moved it to another location to kill off that grass, too, so I can plant something there next summer. I moved some orange day lilies, iris and spider wort. I have lots of these plants which I got from my grandma, because she has lots of them.

I came inside during the hottest part of the day, fell asleep for about a half hour, then uploaded photos to Facebook. Most of the pictures are of Girl Scout camp last week and a few from my family day trip to Turkey Run State Park. We made plans to celebrate my grandma's 87th birthday there, at her request. But, she fell after Easter, broke her left femur and is still recovering. She wasn't able to come to the park, where we had many family gatherings in the summer when I was growing up.

My brother and his family couldn't make it, and my brother-in-law decided not to come. My parents, sister, Punky and I had a good time anyway. I really liked the little Newby Gulch shelter, unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of it. After lunch cooked in foil packets, we took a hike, which ended up lasting three hours. We cooked the rest of the food for dinner when we got back. My sister and I played a round of Yahtzee, a family favorite, after dinner. Then we all left for home. It was midnight when I got to bed.

Punky and I went to Girl Scout day camp this year. I didn't go as a girl, but was very excited to volunteer as an adult. Punky was a bit apprehensive about the bugs, and had a few crying fits, but all in all the week was fun. We rode the school bus to and from camp each day, walked every where at camp, went swimming every day, made crafts, sang songs, played games, visited the cemetery on the property, launched rockets, did skits, and climbed a rock wall. Thursday was the camp overnight and all the girls in our unit (ages 5-7) stayed the night without problems. They were recognized at the last flag pole dismissal ceremony with ribbons.

Summer Reading

Our library is within walking distance of the park where Punky attends day camp. The kids are participating in the summer reading program. I signed Punky and myself up the other day. I am trying to read books to Punky from the State of Indiana's K-2 reading list. We currently are reading Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories. By the way, Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the GSUSA, knew Kipling.

For myself, I just finished reading A Chosen Faith by John Buehrens and Forrest Church. I am not big on organized religion, but this was an interesting book. I might just check out a Unitarian Universalist Church. I also finished Nightshade by P. C. Doherty. I love the Hugh Corbett mysteries, but I can't remember which ones I've already read! I am currently reading Corrag by Susan Fletcher.

Summer Knits

I haven't been knitting much, but I think about it. My list of WIPs/UFOs is too long. I have a summer shirt on the needles for Punky that I haven't worked on since May. My dad has been reminding me that I promised to make him some kilt socks. His birthday is next week. Maybe I'll finish them for Christmas if I start them on his birthday.

It was a lovely day today, but is now muggy and overcast. The A/C is turned back on. If I get up early tomorrow, I'll plant what I didn't get to today before it gets too hot. Or, I could sleep in, like I used to when I was kid on summer break.