Summer is winding down and I’ve been meaning to catch up but I just haven’t felt the energy to write a blog post. While there have been some really good times, such a trip to Dallas to see my best friends, our family has also had our share of sadness.

My two uncles passed away within a month of each other and unfortunately I couldn’t be there with my family to attend funerals and be together. It’s been especially hard on my mom (they were her brother-in-laws) as now her two sisters are also widows like herself and they are also dealing with decline in health and just general age related issues. So I’ve been trying to spend even more time with my mom these past couple of weeks.

Like I said, there have been some really good moments too. My husband and I enjoyed our little getaway to Dallas (thank goodness for one of my cousins who was able to come stay with my mom!) and we ran around and visited several bookstores, met up with friends and I visited places that hold special memories for me, like my elementary school, our last home, my dad’s gravesite, etc. It felt very nostalgic.

On our way home we stopped in Waxahachie for a bit shopping at The Crafty Scrapper, an independent craft store where I’ve taken some craft classes before. Of course I had to buy a few fun items that I still haven’t had a chance to use but they are on my craft table just waiting for me.

So where am I on my reading projects? 10 Books of Summer, I think I only read one of my designated books, didn’t read anything for Women in Translation Month, and overall my reading is just very slow going but you know how that goes sometimes.

I’m excited about September and the fall season. I’ve seen posts about Readers Imbibing in Peril, which you know I’m looking forward to.  Fall in Austin is usually nice as the temperatures finally become a bit more bearable and I’m already thinking about trails and being out in nature. I think I definitely need more of that in my life!

Anyway, I hope you are all doing well and have been having a great summer. Thank you for hanging in there with me and I hope it won’t be too long before I get up another post around here. I have missed this space.

I hope you’ve all been enjoying the summer. How is it that we are already getting close to the end of July? I’ve been busy with work of course, catching up with friends when I get a chance, and planning a mini getaway next month.

Last weekend one of my best friends was in town and we had such a blast catching up and we spent a fun afternoon at Craft. A meeting place for crafters! You can hang out and use all the supplies they have available. My friend made a little assemblage piece and I started a couple of journal spreads. I have decided I need to visit again soon.

Later in the evening we went over to Vintage Bookstore & Wine Bar for more conversation and book browsing. I guess more than book browsing as I did get a very nice copy of Persuasion by Jane Austen as I’ve been looking for my copy and I think I left in Germany several years ago. Another place I must go back to go again.

So not a lot going on and unfortunately my reading has really been all over. I’ve started a couple of books only to DNF them. I honestly don’t know if it was the book or me.

Anyway, I just wanted to do a quick check in to say hello and hope you are all enjoying a wonderful summer. I hope you are reading some wonderful books and hopefully enjoying a bit of downtime too. I’ll try to do a couple of other posts soon as I do have to tell you about some library finds, current books I’m reading and a few other things. Have a great week!