The opening picture is a pretty good representation of this weekend! That’s Dawsey ripping through his toys while settled into a pile of paper that Colton ripped up. So clearly, we were busy!
We had a pretty rainy Saturday with some amazing thunderstorms that evening. I worked at the library in the morning as usual and was happy to get home to play in the drizzles and then watch the storm blow through. Of course, the kids weren’t happy about losing outside time due to the lightning and Dawsey wasn’t thrilled about traipsing out to take care of his business. But I love thunderstorms and was delighted to be able to enjoy this one.
Yesterday’s weather was easier for working outside and we spent a chunk of time cleaning up a few eyesores in the backyard that have been lingering for a few years. I can’t tell you how happy I was to get those tidied! And we’re discussing the possibility of a very small garden closer to the house that will be easier for me to manage, despite thinking we wouldn’t have one at all this year. The rule of thumb for planting up here is to wait until Memorial Day weekend, so we’re not too far behind if we choose to buy already started plants. Fingers crossed that my little idea works out!
Yesterday I finished rereading A Tale for the Time Being (Amazon|Bookshop.org). I’m not sure why, but I’ve been wanting to revisit both this and The Book of Form and Emptiness and decided the time was right. I was nervous because I loved this book so much when I read it in 2021 and was worried it wouldn’t hold up as a reread. I was wrong! I might have loved it even more.
This story is told in dual timelines by 16 year old Nao in Tokyo in the early 2000s and middle-aged Ruth in Canada in present time. Ruth finds Nao’s diary washed up on the beach learns about her life in Tokyo and Nao’s grandmother, a 104 year old Buddhist nun. Nao’s diary is full of details about her difficult life and describes the suicidality that she and her father both experience. Ruth is enthralled by Nao’s life and begins to worry that she might actually be in danger, which prompts her to look for Nao in the present day.
A Tale for the Time Being explores so many Buddhist ideas, especially about time. The book reflects on the idea of “now” a lot (get it? It reflects on “now” and a character’s name is Nao – pronounced the same). I listened to this on audio and am planning to buy a physical copy because I know I’ll want to read it again and annotate all of the discussions about “now.” This book is so thought-provoking and now I want to read more like it, but have had a hard time finding something that fits the bill over the last few years. So The Book of Form and Emptiness is definitely on my list to reread this summer.
And that’s it! The weekend just flew by and we’ve put in a solid effort to get Monday off to a good start. It will be the weekend again before we know it!
I hope you find time for the things you need this week. Take good care!
The Cozy Burrow 
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you get to have a garden after all! Even a few plants adds to the pleasure of the summer, I think. I have been wanting to read A Book of Form and Emptiness but the premise has put me off, I need some very simple reads right now to soothe my brain. I am looking forward to your report upon rereading!
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Glad to read you might have found a garden solution.
I absolutely loved A Tale for the Time Being. Read it a while ago and it is one of my favorite books.
Puppy looks like a wild boy as puppies often are. Our Liam, a Sheltie, was a Tasmanian devil. But how we loved him.
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Ooh, A Tale for the Time Being sounds wonderful and I’ve added it to my list. And I’m happy to hear about your garden…and oh my, that was an amazing photo capturing something very authentic and essential about that new addition to your household. (The puppy in this household is becoming slightly socialized. I am amazed at how she will be going 100 mph and moments later be fast asleep.) I’d love to see a photo of Dawsey at rest…;-)
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That top photo is so full of movement; I’m glad you’re finding a few moments to pause and reflect on all that’s happening. Adding my cheers for a little garden, too – I’m glad you still have a bit of time to decide. and I love reading your thoughts about re-reading Tale for the Time Being. I would love to revisit those two books myself … but it won’t happen this summer. Maybe later this year?
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That blur of motion… sigh. A good representation of how time moves here sometimes too! I had not heard of Tale for the Time Being but it sounds like a book I need to read! (I am about a quarter of the way in on The Emperor of Gladness… and loving it!)
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I laughed when I saw that first photo — it perfectly captures what it’s like to have a puppy! I’m glad you’re going to have a garden after all. Maybe Dawsey can help with the digging?
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