Dappled Things

We’re halfway through February. I am sitting here wishing for spring like a child wishing his most desperate wish before he blows out the birthday candles. This is the time of year that I seek out all the good books I can find just to get me through these cabin-feverish days. I am going to start reading the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy by Sigrid Undset this week. They have been lying on my shelves since last fall waiting for me. If anyone out there would like to read them along with me, let me know. That might be interesting. I used to belong to a few e-mail groups that would read various books together, but they either were reading something I’d already read or they were reading something I didn’t feel like reading at the time. I read enough books on my own, so I don’t really need the encouragement. If anyone out there has any good book suggestions, though, I’d be glad to hear them. I will add them to my list of books to look into.

My girls love to read and our house is so full of books that it has become more of a library than a home. The girls beg me for more books and devour everything I hand them. Lily just read Huckleberry Finn and is now reading The Swiss Family Robinson. Clara is reading The Wind in the Willows. They were so excited at Christmas because they got so many books. Will and I really love that about them. It makes us feel good to know our girls enjoy reading as much as we do.

I think I have given up on my college dream of writing some great novel. I don’t even write poetry that much anymore. Who knows, though, I still have an idea that I turn around every now and then. I could see myself writing something in my old age. If, by then, I don’t end up needing more naps than I presently do. Maybe I should get busy now. But first I have some books to read.