I am LOVING summer vacation. It is so nice to have time to do all the things I don’t do the rest of the year (like, you know, clean house).  And not having to do any grading for two whole months is — well, it’s impossible to describe. It’s like drinking a bottle of really expensive wine, or being in love. It’s heady. It’s intoxicating. It’ s heaven.
In other news:
* Had a great San Francisco “mini-conference” today with fellow writers Lisa Hendey, Christine Watkins, and Julie Paavola.  It was marvelous to meet and talk shop and pray together. Writing is such a solitary endeavor that it’s always a treat to connect.
*Last week, I found out that I won a Catholic Press Association Award for my columns for Catholic San Francisco! — an Honorable Mention in the category of Family Life. Woo hoo! That was a remarkably nice bit of news in the middle of the drudgery of finals week. (If you want to read a few of my columns, you can click here, and here, and here.)
* Every now and then, even this totally unartistic person gets a flash of inspiration. As beautiful as these homegrown roses are, I think they’re even nicer paired with a few sprigs from my lavender plant … wouldn’t you agree?
(No, I don’t normally put my vases on the carpet. I was just looking for the best light for the photo.)
So how is YOUR summer going so far?
