Back from the Beach!

We spent a lovely vacation at the shore. Somebody loved the water...

... and returned home to Squashapalooza.















So far I've come up with 14 ways to cook zucchini.

Home Again, Home Again...

We're back from vacation. Does anyone else bring projects with them when they go away? Part of me feels like a loser for not being able to put things aside completely. But I've learned that if I do, it's painfully hard to pick up the thread again when I return. Besides, at the risk of sounding Pollyanna-ish, I love my work!

Since I'm an early riser anyway it was easy to get up and spend a few hours writing and drawing before the bustle of the day began. Sunrise, plus beach, plus coffee made for an inspiring time.

Here are a bunch of sunrises... it was fascinating, how the colors and light were constantly changing:



























































































Oh, and I did spend a fair amount of time doing this:

R & R, and R

Yep-- that's what vacation was all about. Good R & R with favorite, far-flung relatives; beach time, bike rides, long walks, and lots of time to read. (Confession: I did have to bring a bit of work. But only a little. It's hard to schedule a vacation when you freelance. And hard to say "no" to work. Make hay while the sun is shining, as they say.)

For some reason I find it easy to read at the beach. Just plop myself down under an umbrella and off I go. With occasional breaks to jump in the water. (Though even with 30spf sunscreen I still managed to burn. Ouch!)

My intention was to do tons of drawing and writing. But books always manage to take precedence at the shore. Maybe it has something to do with the lazy rhythm of the waves.

This is what I read, if anyone's interested:

- Castles in the Air by Judy Corbett
- A Dog's Life by Ann M. Martin
- Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson
- 89 pages of The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett but I just couldn't get into it. (I know it's really popular but there was too much lusty girding of the loins stuff for my taste. Seemed kinda silly...)
- Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
- Write Away by Elizabeth George (Still reading.)

So many more on my to-read list, and it's only July!

Friday Fun: Vacation...

Oh, I love that 80's hair.

Back in two weeks!