Stop & listen: The sounds of summer on the breeze
3 small items of great delight + Summer coaching opportunities
Hello again from The Book Case, the newsletter of Dinah Laprairie, Book Coach & Reader’s Advocate.
If you’re just joining me here, you are welcome. You’ll find entries on the practice of writing and the practice of delight, and book reviews that measure how successfully a book engages its readers, from cover design to the final page. It’s delivered on a whim — or, more likely, when I can squeeze it in.
You’re always welcome to respond and share.
Welcome, Summer! And welcome, readers!
The sounds of the season are bringing me peace and smiles. In today’s edition of The Book Case, I’m sharing with you the sounds of summer. As much as I love a silent, snowy night, I take just as much pleasure in the quiet days of heat.
I have to confess: My kids were away at summer camp last week, so it was especially easy to practice delight. Our days were quieter, there was more time with my thoughts and, admittedly, even a few minutes of boredom. (But only a few! My husband and I got out to a restaurant, a concert at the local folk festival, and caught up on some good television without anyone interrupting to show us the latest, best reel on their phone.) Below, I share the delights I discovered in the silence. You can skip ahead if that’s why you’re here, but I hope you read what comes first.
Updates
WORKSHOPS • I extend a warm invitation to folks in the Sudbury area to join me and
in August for a one-day summer escape into memoir. Our full-day Mini Memoir Retreat on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 will take place at Fielding Memorial Park from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We will talk craft, give you writing prompts to get you into the spirit, and set aside time for you to work on your project. You can sign up for $99 at this link.
BOOK COACHING • Did you tell yourself This is the summer I write my book? (Um, I did!) If you did, too, and you want to be held accountable to your goal, a book coach can help you set deadlines and make sure you meet them. Go ahead and schedule a time for a free discovery call with me at https://bit.ly/talk-books-with-dinah. Plan your book now before September takes over!
And now we return to the regularly scheduled newsletter…
3 Small Items of Great Delight
When was the last time you purposely stopped to notice your surroundings? It’s easy to get lost in the noise of the virtual world — some days, it seems everyone is wearing earbuds — or to let the sounds of daily life become background noise. This week, the quieter days re-attuned my senses to my surroundings.
What have you been delighting in? Tell me in a comment below! (Or hit reply if this landed in your inbox.)
1. Daisies, tall in a field of strawberries
Delight on a breeze
The last days of strawberry picking had already arrived, a Facebook post told me. Didn’t it just begin? I thought. But I had been busy with the last-minute packing and errands that needed to get done if my kids were going to summer camp. The days were passing too quickly and the berries wouldn’t wait for me to be ready. I had better get there, and soon.
This time, I called my mom, and picked her up early on Friday. We arrived at the pick-your-own farm shortly after opening and soon had two baskets each. I stopped to stretch, midway through, and saw the tall daisies I had overlooked while focused on the berries. There they were, swaying in the breeze. I stopped and watched them nonchalantly dancing.
2. Blue jays and boys
Delight in being heard
Blue jays moved into the neighbourhood last year. You can’t help but notice. They are loud. They claim space. They move about it groups of five or six, badgering the squirrels and making enough noise that the small songbirds flit away.
The blue jays make me laugh. They roam the trees like a group of 10-year-old boys. You can follow their progress by sound alone as they race from tree to tree, then suddenly depart for the other side of the street. If they had bikes, they’d be doing wheelies. If there were mud puddles, they’d be tossing it at each other.
They shout. They gossip. They come up with rules of their own.
And when one suddenly lands in front of you, its feathers vivid against the background, you can’t help but be charmed by its boldness. You hope they never grow up.
3. The sudden silence of a holiday
Delight in the absence
On Canada Day, our town gathers in the park. We line up for hot dogs and hamburgers, greet neighbours, and watch the kids in the splash pad. The Lions Club and other volunteers are out, keeping the festivities going, and children visit the fire trucks and tow truck and, if they are lucky, get a free popsicle, too.
This year, after Ryan and I walked home, we sat in the porch, enjoying the sudden silence after a few hours of chatter. Our street was empty, and for a long time we saw no one. No cars drove by. Everyone was on holiday. The escape to camp had begun. Only the birds and the sound of the creaky rocking chair kept us company. I felt nothing but peace and gratitude for what we have.
What are you reading now? I’d love to get your recommendations. I’ll be back soon with my next installment of Readability: Books that Engage. If you missed the first one, you can read it here.
We love the blue jays that skirmish with squirrels and chipmunks at our bird feeder. In general, the feeder is a great way to slow my heartrate. Rarely a dull moment!
What a gorgeous post of gratitude. I loved the daisies waving and especially the swing on your porch. And those paned windows! 😍 Thank you for inviting me to slow down and contemplate your quietness. It’s nice knowing you’re there, being quiet on the other side of the country 💗
BTW “Daisies, tall in a field of strawberries” is a killer book title🤘🏼🤘🏼