Full of Joy Friday | Last Day of May!

Did this week fly by for you? It definitely did for me! Actually, the entire month has flown by now that I’m realizing that today is the last day of the month. Tomorrow is June 1st!

I’m back for the second Friday in a row (woohoo!) to share a few things that I’ve been enjoying this week. Today is about feeling more like myself and (what else?) books.

I Have More Energy Lately

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I felt like a giant slug this fall and winter. I had such a hard time getting the basics done, much less exercising. But a couple of months ago I made an effort to make sure I was getting enough fiber and (plant based) iron and it, along with the lengthening of the days and fewer illnesses in our home, has made a big difference in my energy levels.

After about 9 months of the blahs, I am finally feeling like myself! But that time of rest was helpful too. It allowed me to see that I don’t have to do as much as I was doing before. I might even be a little happier if I take things just a little more slowly now and then. And that’s a good thing!

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A New-To-Me Author That I’m Loving

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I’ve mentioned previously that I decided to tackle The Priory of the Orange Tree this summer, despite being intimidated by its length and my lack of knowledge about the author. Well, it was a very good choice! I’m nearly at the 80% mark and it’s hard to put it down. Dragons! Lore! Warriors! Alchemy! Loyalty! Succession! The plot is difficult for me to describe but it’s been an enjoyable ride.

I’m reading this on Kindle but almost always have my laptop propped open beside me to take notes in my Notion reading journal. There are so many characters and places that it took me about half the book to get them and their motivations straight in my mind. The plot is intricate and carefully created; the writing is lush and beautiful. I am so excited I decided to explore Samantha Shannon this summer and am looking forward to reading more of her work!

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A Stack of Library Books

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This is my current stack of library books: a combination of the Women’s Prize shortlist, the Paperback Summer Reading Guide, and some buzzy books I’ve been hoping to get through (the top book is my planner, not a book!). The truth is that I’ll be lucky if I’m able to read even half of them, because many are interlibrary loans that are almost due to be returned. I was so excited to read them all when I put in the requests, but then realized that my reading attention is simply elsewhere right now. And I’m very happy that I chose to borrow these books and not buy them! Maybe next summer I’ll be more open to prize books and literary fiction again, but that’s just not where I am right now. And that’s okay!

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This weekend includes working at the library and in the garden. I’m also hoping for time to read and do some hand sewing on the couch. I hope your weekend is full of exactly what you need – take good care!