Vincent van Gogh, Blossoming Almond Branch in a Glass with a Book, 1888, oil on canvas, Arles, France.

An inch of rain is predicted today, starting at 11. As I am writing the skies are clear. I have plans to pull weeds if it doesn’t rain, and to sew a dress if it does. I guess I don’t mind what happens!

All the books here are inspired by my word of the year: beauty. We haven’t chosen the next bookclub book, I’m still reading Anna Karenina for the classic challenge. I also read most of Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling from my bookshelf but I’m not inspired to write a review of it.

Happy Medium a guided creativity journal

Happy Medium a guided creativity journal, Tayler Carraway, 150 pages, 2025

First, I have to say I love the title! Medium means so many things. It can mean in the middle position, it’s a means of exchange, a surrounding substance, a channel of communication, mode of artistic expression to name a few. This makes the book approachable! There’s no need to be impressive in your responses to the prompts, a happy medium is good enough.

Happy Medium is a guide for understanding and practicing creativity in daily life. There are lots of short essays describing the process of creativity, a creative formula, and ideas to tap into curiosity and overcome fears. The prompts cover a wide variety of topics inviting you to write, reflect, paint, draw, collage and enjoy. It’s just what you need to focus your own creatvie potential and launch your ideas into the world.

Art boosts happiness and that’s a key objective, too.

Happy Medium is written by Tayler Carraway and illustrated by Rett Carraway, a husband-wife team who cofounded Happy Medium, an art cafe and club in New York City. They offer workshops in a welcoming atmosphere for casual, low-stakes creativity.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg, 1967, middle grade, 165 pages.

How did it take me this long to read this book? It has all the things I love- brother sister adventure, grammar lessons, art appreciation, mystery, and character development.

Twelve-year-old Claudia Kincaid plans to escape from the responsibilities of eldest child, but she hates to be uncomfortable and regular running away just won’t do. She will need money, a place to sleep, showers and clean clothes. So she is going to run away in style, taking her nine-year-old brother, Jamie, because he has a transistor radio and a full piggy bank. Twenty-four dollars will easily fund them for a week, she thinks. She plans to stay at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and sleep in an antique bed. Jamie turns out to be a more frugal banker than she wishes, but still, they managed to stay in style, eat favorite foods, bathe in the fountain and mostly work together, except when they were arguing about ‘running away to’ or similar grammatical phrases.

While evading janitors and learning about “everything in the museum” (Claudia is a little obsessive) they become fascinated by a new sculpture of an angel, said to be a Michelangelo. A quest to find out the truth about it’s origins captures their imagination. In the process, Claudia learns her deep motive for running away.

The story is told by Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler in a report to her lawyer, Saxonberg. I found that reminder a little jarring, but most of the time you could forget her.

I really like the author’s note at the end. Workers at the Met get many questions about Claudia and Jamie!

This book includes running away from home, Jamie plays cards (and cheats), and evading museum workers. Their parents are so happy to have them home that there’s really no repercussions for their actions. Just so you know.

Morality For Beautiful Girls

Morality For Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith, 2001

The third book of the No. 1 Ladies Detective series, I chose Morality for Beautiful Girls because of the word ‘beautiful’ in the title.

Mma Precious Romantse, the only female detective in Botswana, is retained to investigate the ‘unattractive behavior’ of finalists in the Miss Beauty and Integrity Contest. Her assistant, Mma Makutsi is busy finding the truth about an alleged poisoning, and in other areas of their lives navigating financial difficulties and domestic complications with Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni.

Through wisdom, charm and a bit of luck, the story explores themes of morality, love and everyday challenges of life. I am listening to this book and enjoy the authentic accent of the reader. It’s like 15 minute daily trip to Africa.

There are 25 books in all in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Series, the latest being In The Time of Five Pumpkins, published in 2025.

Alexander McCall Smith, the author, was born and raised in what is now Zimbabwe. He has published books of poetry, books for children, several series, some stand-alone novels and nonfiction and is one of the world’s most prolific authors, averaging more than one book a year. He writes 5000 words on the average day. Mr. Smith lives in Edinburg, Scotland.

The breadth of his body of work vividly evokes places and characters who are infused with humanity, decency, wit and humor. – National Arts Club

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The clouds are collecting over the mountains. The sun still shines through at places. Wishing you all a very lovely day, no matter the weather.

-Liz