Sunday Salon, April 27

Flowering tree discovered on walk around Green Lake.

Weather: Rain. Sun. Rain. Sun. Wind. Rain. Sun. Rain. (You get the picture.)

Musical Selection: from Sunday Baroque program on public radio (check it out in your area.) Cue the music and listen while reading the blog post.


Last week: I didn't post a Sunday Salon last week because of Easter. We had thirteen people here for dinner after an inspiring church service. It was a lovely day and I enjoyed the socializing so much. Instead of typical Easter fare we served PNW surf and turf which was salmon and flank steak. Others brought asparagus, potatoes, rolls, and a fruit tart for dessert. In keeping with out new root beer obsession we held a blind taste test with three brands. Bulldog Root Beer won.

Seattle University Choirs concert: today is my daughter's last concert with the Seattle University choir as she is a senior. Where has the time gone? We went to the program on Friday with my parents and enjoyed it immensely. Every song had something to do with animals. Today we will go to the Sunday program with Don's dad and his wife. It will be a very bittersweet experience, I am sure. Will she find a way to incorporate music into her life as she moves on to the next phase?

Silly poetry: Several of the songs the choirs performed were from silly poems by Ogden Nash. Here is one I found especially delightful:

The Panther 

by Ogden Nash

The panther is like a leopard,

Except it hasn't been peppered.

Should you behold a panther crouch,

Prepare to say "Ouch."

Better yet, if called by a panther,

Don't anther.

Books read the past two weeks:

• Cress by Marissa Meyer- book three in The Lunar Chronicles. LOVE it! Review here.
• The Shadow of the Wind by Luis Ruiz Zafon- a book within a book. Please read my review here.
• Mansfield Park by Jane Austen-Finished the read-along a week early. I was pleased with the book and find Austen less intimidating if taken in small bite-sized pieces. My last post here.
• A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver- a small poetry book for National Poetry month.

Books currently reading:

• Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter- a book about things that are falling apart. This is my audiobook selection.
• 100 Poems to Lift Your Spirits- I am trying to finish this book before the end of the month but am currently stuck in the silly poem section. Must be a theme.

A Card in Every Hand: Our public library has issued a library card to every student who doesn't have one already. This week I deliver them to English classes with a small presentation about on-line resources available to library patrons. It was a bit of a task getting the cards sorted by teacher and class but all that is done now. So far the reception has been very positive.  Isn't it a cool thing they've done?

Wild: my two book clubs discussed the same book this month Wild by Cheryl Strayed. It it the All-Pierce County Reads book of the year. Cheryl walked a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail alone in 1995. She was supremely unprepared for her walk and gained many insights into her life during the very difficult journey. It was lots of fun to discuss the book with others.  If you are looking for a good book club selection I'd recommend it.

Scripture for today: Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Prayers for: the family of Kim. Kim died this week after a bout with lung cancer. She was our daughters' piano teacher and a wonderful person. She will be greatly missed.

From www.ShortPoems.org