I announced it nearly every day at half-past two. “Quiet Time!” I’d trumpet. “Time for siesta!” And lest you assume it was to benefit the boys, let me set you straight: Quiet Time was purely to keep my own summertime sanity intact.
I didn’t care. I grabbed my book and plunked into a patio chair out of earshot with a glass of iced tea, the air stultifying, mere hint of breeze rippling the river birch leaves. Sometimes Noah joined me with his own book, although it bugged him when I rested my bare feet on his chair. Sometimes he spent the hour in his room with Finny, his fish.
Out on the patio I read Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun. I pretended I lived not in Nebraska, with 104-degree heat that baked everything in my backyard to the consistency of a Pringle, but in Tuscany, amid rolling vineyards and olive groves. In Tuscany, where it’s perfectly acceptable to sip wine at noon on a weekday.
Throughout the summer, In an hour a day I read through Circle of Quiet (Madeleine L’Engle), Escaping into the Open (a writing book, one of the best I’ve read yet, by Elizabeth Berg), Still (by Lauren Winner – I’m enrolled in a writers’ workshop with her this fall and am scared witless!), and, most recently, Wild (a memoir so good it made me almost quit writing altogether, by Cheryl Strayed).
I tell you, that hour every afternoon on the patio? It saved me. It may have saved the boys, too.
What saved you from certain insanity this summer?
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So next Friday is the last installment of Graceful Summer. We’re actually back in school here in Nebraska, but since August still feels like summer to me, I decided to continue the series until the end of the month. So come back one more time next Friday!
Ah yes – the bemoaning of Quiet Time! I am so familiar. It was a sanity saver for our summer, too. Thanks for the book list, by the way. I'm reading The House at Riverton by Kate Morton and it is so good.
I've heard of Kate Morton but never read anything by her – thanks for the recommendation! Happy weekend to you, Courtney. xxoo
Hi Michelle
What a great idea! 'Quiet Time' for all! Why didn't I think of that when I was raising up kids? Of course, my son and daughter had 7 years separating their ages, and they usually were off doing their own things anyway.
My darling husband gave me a Kobo eReader in June, and I have read 12 books this summer! I think he's regretting it somewhat 'cuz I'm forever with my nose stuck in the thing. But we have no kids home anymore, so my time is more my own.
My favourites…Uncle Tom's Cabin, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Secret Life of Bees, and The Color Purple.
May you and yours, Michelle, have a Blessed weekend.
I met with a Spiritual Director last week, because I'm about half crazy, and she encouraged me to build cycles of Sabbath rest into my days, weeks, and months. Sounds like you're a step ahead of me (and got some good reading done, too.)
Your quiet time rhythm sounds lovely. And Rowan's reaction sounds oh-so-typical for an active boy!
I think that idea was a flash of brilliance Michelle!
Excellent writing my friend! Loved each thoughtfully placed word & the image of those quiet times set apart with a book. ~ jen
I think it's awesome that you met with a spiritual director. I kind of want a spiritual director (in addition to Diana Trautwein, who does a bang-up job from 1,500 miles away!).
“LIKE!!!!” I did this too, and I'm thinking of continuing it right through the fall & winter.
I did this too girl! Wonderfully shared, thank you! ~ Blessings, Amy 🙂
Breakfast on our screen porch watching the cardinals & squirrels as we do our daily devotions has given us the peace to start each day. Thanks for the great post & for hosting the linkup, & God bless!
Laurie
http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/
Wise woman, you are.
But are you sure the bellowing was appendectomy level, or was it really more a comminuted fracture of the humerus?
Love the way you think, Michelle.
Quiet time! What a lovely idea. Oh yes, and thank you for hosting this Summer blog Party. I am posting one for my Husband Robert, you will see his fiction story that will be continued!
You are my hero.
Nothin' – I got pulled in, hook, line, and sinker. Yay for the summer sillies. 😉
I saw a cartoon (& promptly posted it to FB) that was about a little buckaroo girl on her first day of the school year. She told her teacher, “… I've been runnin' renegade fer 3 months, I can't jus' turn this stuff off!”
Anyway, I'm not sure how this relates to your post, but it's funny.
Blessings.
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