Summer Reading

I have a problem. I’m addicted to buying books. Not only that, but I buy them in bulk. I rarely leave the bookstore with less than four at a time. This wouldn’t be so very terrible if 1.) I was endlessly rich  2.) I actually read them all.  I must confess that of all the books I have purchased in the last year or two, I may have read about half of them.

So I made a deal with myself. I was allowed one last buying frenzy, but now I have to read what I already have or finally get that library card. I have lived in this city for nearly two years and have neglected to do so. Oh dear…

I took this picture to give myself a tiny visual of a few of my most recent purchases that I needed to read. I took it about four days ago and since then I have finished White Oleander and made a good start on Ghost Orchid. It’s only a coincidence that they are both botanically titled. I think…

White Oleander was a book I could hardly put down. I used to watch the movie whenever it was on TV and although I never thought it was particularly good, there was something about it that made want to watch it over and over. The book is far better and broke my heart a little. It made me think about the human need to strive for beauty in the most horrendous of circumstances and how sometimes once it’s lost it can never be regained in quite the same way. Have you read it? What did you think?

What are you reading this summer?

The Gypsea Among the Trees

I am back from my California Road Trip and oh my it was wonderful! Any journey that involves a pilgrimage to one of the largest trees on the planet has to be amazing don’t you think? Since visiting Sequoia National Park was the original inspiration for this trip I will start with that.

General Sherman is the largest tree in the world by volume and is about 2,700 years old. It is truly a tree of wonder. Originally I was diappointed that I could touch it, but we took many hikes through equally impressive groves of these ancient giants and I was able to touch and marvel to my hearts content.

No picture can quite do them justice. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to visit, I highly recommend planning to do so. It is so incredible that after the first few hours I literally ran out of adjectives. It is pure magic to walk in these ancient places.

We covered a lot of ground in eight days. We only camped one night here, but it was just wonderful. I think we decided that this was  perhaps our favorite part of an incredible trip.

I saw lizards for the first time and was quite taken with them. They are so delightfully quirky!

I also saw a couple of bears! I was very concerned with bear confrontations at first, but after seeing the first one it put my mind at ease. He couldn’t have been more indifferent to my presence. Bear management is carefully attended to. I was glad to see the extreme importance they placed on protecting the wildlife and environment of the park.  It was impressive to see how well managed the park is. It manages to be accessible to everyone yet still  retain its mystery and wildness for those willing to explore a little deeper.

{please note all images are property of Gypsea Tree}

More of my California adventure will follow!

Are you all enjoying these summery days as well?