Some important dates in August:

August 7th is Grandpa Stevens' birthday.  Loved that man - others say he was "cold" but I always found him warm and loving.

 

Can you believe it? August 14th 2018 means 20 years for these two!!

 

August 17th was 78 years for my mom and dad! I think it was a Happy Anniversary in Heaven!! 

 

 August 7th is also Hannah K's birthday.  Alice and I named our babies the same - without consulting each other!

 

Helen and Pop - 80 years on August 19th!

 

And of course, Lyn and David - born 19years apart on the 19th!

Playing catch up!

I do not blog very assiduously.  In fact, I'm not even sure anyone reads this blog.

But I like to note the books I've read and the movies I've seen in case someone is looking for ideas.  I know I like ideas!

So I'm just going to list all the movies and books I've not noted for the last while. And maybe you will find something you might like! (If you are reading this that is!)

Gilead, Home, and Lila - a trilogy by Marilynne Robinson - wonderful - all of them - beautifully written too. Top of the list for sure!

Accident of Birth by Jeffrey Archer - a book group pick - I would never have even found it by myself.  Requires a lot of "willing suspension" but would make a good airplane read!

The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Kelli Estes - an entertaining read but the back and forth between the past and present got tedious for me. The story of the past could have stood alone.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate - another book group pick I thought I wouldn't like - but it was surprisingly gripping and engaging.  Based on true stories - which gives it weight - about illicit adoptions beginning in the 20's in Tennessee.

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick.  This was entertaining but pretty formulaic.  Don't even remember why or how I came to choose it! 

Ahmet by Fiona Mozley - this is a keeper! Beautifully written and engaging and horrifying. You feel like you are in medieval times - but you're not!

Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell. Compelling - superbly written - absolutely horrifying at times! I chose it because the woman who directed Leave No Trace had done the movie version of this book.  And I'm pretty sure I don't want to see the movie.  But it's a wonderfully crafted novel.

The Things We Carried by Tim O'Brien - Eliza suggested this - and I suggest it to all of you! It's a novel - but full of truth. About Vietnam. Maybe you had to live through those years. But my granddaughter's 11th grade English class has to read it!

Doctors by Erich Segal - the book group pic for September - almost 700 pages - but it was a good read. A little predictable and the ending required more "willing suspension of disbelief" than I could muster, but I'm not sorry I took the time to read it.

While traveling this summer, our East Coast flight had free movies - so I indulged:

Good bye Christopher Robin - loved it!

Collateral Beauty - a wonderful film - how come I never heard of it??

One Fine Day - so much fun! I missed it in the 90s!

Gifted - well-done - and thought-provoking. 

Hopefully I can stay abreast now!!

I am so behind!!

Happy Birthday Hannah!! Hannah has the distinction of being the only Terrill baby who was not late!  In fact, she was two days early.  Most folks don't think much of that, but it was a washday miracle in our household!!

My friend called me the day before she was born - said they were leaving on vacation and to call her in Utah if the baby came.  I blithely told her I'd still be pregnant when she got back! Since the previous 4 kids had been 11, 11, 11, and 13 days late, I added ten days to the due date - giving a September date to everyone. So when she came on August 20th, people were pretty sure I didn't know how to count - especially since Hannah was also the biggest baby I'd had - 9 lbs. 3 oz.

Hannah is her own person - I'd never had a climber - and here was a climber.  She'd take either kind of binky. She dropped off to sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.  In spite of Dr. Brown splints and casts on both legs for club feet, she crawled and walked with ease. And when she got older, she got tired of waiting for me.  Once when she had a science project to work on, she said, "Can I use anything I can find in the garage?" rather than wait for me to take her to Michael's or Home Depot! She was and continues to be very resourceful.

We are happy to have Hannah in our family - I could write a book!

Maybe I should!