Hello again, friends.
Thought I’d drop in with five lovely things today.
As the weeks stretch on and difficulties, acrimony, grief continue to weigh heavily on us, I hope these reminders of beauty, generosity, and creativity gladden your hearts as they do mine and inspire us to be part of the lovely ones in our world.
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Quite a number of these handsome fellows have arisen in my scruffy woodland-to-be and I am elated by every one. Come fall they will be adorned by fiery-red berries. If you missed my post telling of my new backyard project and how welcome these gems are — you can read it here.
Harry Potter read-aloud
I have been thoroughly enjoying listening to chapters of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as they are read aloud, week by week, by various talented folk. From Daniel Radcliffe to Stephen Fry to the Broadway cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, each reader is a new treat. You can listen as well — for free! — at Wizarding World.
Saffron harvest
This gorgeous photo-essay briefly describes the annual saffron harvest in the Abruzzo region of Italy, a centuries-old tradition. In just about five minutes you can soak in the beauty of lavender fields of saffron crocuses and the dedicated people who provide this spice to the world.
Kenyan kindness
Want to be inspired by someone generously serving others? Check out this story of a 29-year-old Kenyan woman who founded a non-profit eight years ago providing food to impoverished school children, and who has now channeled her organization’s power to supply ever more emergency food to the children and their families during the COVID crisis. Her life is an inspiration.
Tiny books
This tiny book was made by Charlotte Brontë when she was a child.
The British Library has issued a call for the nation’s kids to produce their own tiny books
modeled after the miniatures created by the Brontë children or those found in the astounding Queen Mary’s doll house. A number of superb British children’s authors and illustrators
have made their own teensy books to contribute to this collection drive.
You can watch tiny videos of them reading nine of their bitsy masterpieces here,
and find directions to make your own miniature books here.
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Come back tomorrow when I’ll have a batch of Not-at-all-Miniature books, fiction gems for a wide age span I’ve read recently and loved.
orange marmalade 
Thank you for all the lovely posts you’ve written during the pandemic. They are a bright spot in my day when they pop into my inbox!
Glad to hear it, Kristie! Hope all is well in BC!
Really enjoyed the tiny books idea, leave it to the British for such a simple and wonderful project!
Aren’t they fun?! Looks like something I’d like to try 🙂