Since my hubby and I are going on a 13-day Alaskan Cruise in September, I'm reading books and novels set there - DEATH IN A GARDEN CITY (Victoria, BC) by Jeanne M. Dams, CROSSING THE WATERS (Alaska fisherman family) by Leslie Leyland Fields, ALASKA TWILIGHT by Colleen Coble, ICY CLUTCHES by Aaron Elkins.. AND.... up next is ESCAPE TO ALASKA by Mary Wasche, THE MUSIC OF WHAT HAPPENS by John Straley, and DEATH TAKES PASSAGE by Sue Henry.
I did the same for a 2-week trip I took to London & Cornwall this June, and last year to 22 countries in the Mediterranean. Can you tell I like to read/listen to books? And I review them too on my blog. (I've read all of your KOPP books!!)
I like your eclectic newsletters with their easy-to-click links, and random thoughts and offerings. Just perfect for a hot summer afternoon, with the fan blowing on me. I have a friend who, with her husband, bought a private island in Puget Sound. She does business on line and reads. Her husband is gone for stretches at a time to places unknown. He's in the CIA. The privacy is especially good for him.
Muchas gracias for the gift package recommendation. Perfectly timed as I have a friend in a different state who recently had a hip replaced as well as a fractured (opposite) leg. Sent her a comfort package from Spoonful of Comfort 👍🏽
Amy - I just love your newsletters so much! Every one of them is so full of thought provoking input. In fact your newsletter is my favorite Substack - except for my own. But my own is never a surprise for me like yours is. My only request would be if you could find your way to publish more often. Any chance of that? I am a huge fan since I accidentally came upon your wonderful gardening book (From the Ground Up) many years ago. Then I ran into you on Skillshare where I also teach. Took your classes and follow your Instagram and listened to the WHOLE 3 hour podcast event without getting bored. Favorite take - that our hobbies need hobbies. Just wanted to touch base and tell you I recommend you to everyone.
Thanks so much! Yeah, I have thought about publishing more--I just feel like I need to figure out what that more frequent newsletter would be "about." I started this newsletter in its current incarnation about 6 years ago. The idea of a monthly hodgepodge that was bright and optimistic and cheerful really appealed to me--like, I just "got it" and I could see myself sticking with it.
Since I moved to Substack, I keep thinking I ought to do something more or different, but I just don't have my head around what that is, exactly. I keep waiting for it to just come to me. That's often how book ideas work--I can't force myself to think of an idea for a book, but fortunately ideas just hit me on a regular enough basis that I can keep myself solvent. I guess I'm just waiting for that to happen here.
Amy- I love reading your newsletters. Thank you for sharing. And, even though it may be awhile between the newsletters….. I am still just as interested in them as before.
I can’t even say what’s my favorite part of your newsletters. I’m pretty much interested in every topic you cover: books, travel, your artwork, what you’ve been learning and whatever! Throw in an occasional recipe and you’ve got me covered. Lol. Just kidding, sort of.
Anyway—- just thought you might like hearing how a reader still appreciates your news.
Every December we have a holiday party and I make bookmarks for everyone. So I'm always on the lookout for ideas. I love the idea of doing a watercolor and then cutting it into bookmarks. That way we each have a piece of a whole representing the fact that we are better together.
Thanks so much for the idea. I was going to send a picture of the bookmarks I created last year but I can't figure out how to do it.
Ps we met in the Berkeley hills one foggy night at a private reception.
Hey, good to hear from you! Enjoy the bookmarks! Yeah, it's weird that you can't post photos here. I know the notes feature in the substack app allows photos, but...this whole thing is a bit of a work in progress (smile emoji? Can't figure out how to add that either!)
I love your newsletters and it brightens my day to see one pop up in my Inbox. I agree with the others that your mix of art and gardens and whimsy is just about perfect. It means a lot to me because my husband passed away recently, and it's been a struggle to find my new life without him. One thing that has brought me solace is painting with watercolor. I started on a whim with no previous artistic talent or training whatsoever. And I can precisely point to your sharing of your sketch books as part of my inspiration. I loved your pictures and wanted to try my hand at that. I love your abstract flowers in this newsletter and would be thrilled if I could accomplish the same. Meantime, I am getting a great deal of comfort from working with beautiful colors and the focus on effort soothes my mind.
Thank you so very much for your newsletter, art, books and inspiration.
PS I miss Constance and her sisters. Perhaps I should pay them another visit soon.
Well, Amy, you sent me down the rabbit hole of islands for sale. I confess I'm not quite as adventurous as you, no exotic locations. But there had been three for sale in CT. I was hoping one might be in our Thimble Islands - took a boat tour of them years ago with my mom - still out of my price range! Perhaps one on a lake..... I love your newsletter, interesting and beautifully illustrated (of course!), Oops, the rabbit hole is calling me. Happy Fourth !
What am I reading?
Since my hubby and I are going on a 13-day Alaskan Cruise in September, I'm reading books and novels set there - DEATH IN A GARDEN CITY (Victoria, BC) by Jeanne M. Dams, CROSSING THE WATERS (Alaska fisherman family) by Leslie Leyland Fields, ALASKA TWILIGHT by Colleen Coble, ICY CLUTCHES by Aaron Elkins.. AND.... up next is ESCAPE TO ALASKA by Mary Wasche, THE MUSIC OF WHAT HAPPENS by John Straley, and DEATH TAKES PASSAGE by Sue Henry.
I did the same for a 2-week trip I took to London & Cornwall this June, and last year to 22 countries in the Mediterranean. Can you tell I like to read/listen to books? And I review them too on my blog. (I've read all of your KOPP books!!)
I like your eclectic newsletters with their easy-to-click links, and random thoughts and offerings. Just perfect for a hot summer afternoon, with the fan blowing on me. I have a friend who, with her husband, bought a private island in Puget Sound. She does business on line and reads. Her husband is gone for stretches at a time to places unknown. He's in the CIA. The privacy is especially good for him.
OK well THAT’S an interesting story!
Muchas gracias for the gift package recommendation. Perfectly timed as I have a friend in a different state who recently had a hip replaced as well as a fractured (opposite) leg. Sent her a comfort package from Spoonful of Comfort 👍🏽
Oh good! Hope it lives up to the hype!
Amy - I just love your newsletters so much! Every one of them is so full of thought provoking input. In fact your newsletter is my favorite Substack - except for my own. But my own is never a surprise for me like yours is. My only request would be if you could find your way to publish more often. Any chance of that? I am a huge fan since I accidentally came upon your wonderful gardening book (From the Ground Up) many years ago. Then I ran into you on Skillshare where I also teach. Took your classes and follow your Instagram and listened to the WHOLE 3 hour podcast event without getting bored. Favorite take - that our hobbies need hobbies. Just wanted to touch base and tell you I recommend you to everyone.
Thanks so much! Yeah, I have thought about publishing more--I just feel like I need to figure out what that more frequent newsletter would be "about." I started this newsletter in its current incarnation about 6 years ago. The idea of a monthly hodgepodge that was bright and optimistic and cheerful really appealed to me--like, I just "got it" and I could see myself sticking with it.
Since I moved to Substack, I keep thinking I ought to do something more or different, but I just don't have my head around what that is, exactly. I keep waiting for it to just come to me. That's often how book ideas work--I can't force myself to think of an idea for a book, but fortunately ideas just hit me on a regular enough basis that I can keep myself solvent. I guess I'm just waiting for that to happen here.
I SO get that! The story of my life. What you've got going is great.
Amy- I love reading your newsletters. Thank you for sharing. And, even though it may be awhile between the newsletters….. I am still just as interested in them as before.
I can’t even say what’s my favorite part of your newsletters. I’m pretty much interested in every topic you cover: books, travel, your artwork, what you’ve been learning and whatever! Throw in an occasional recipe and you’ve got me covered. Lol. Just kidding, sort of.
Anyway—- just thought you might like hearing how a reader still appreciates your news.
Kathleen Stewart
Milwaukie Oregon
Thanks so much! That means a lot to me
Every December we have a holiday party and I make bookmarks for everyone. So I'm always on the lookout for ideas. I love the idea of doing a watercolor and then cutting it into bookmarks. That way we each have a piece of a whole representing the fact that we are better together.
Thanks so much for the idea. I was going to send a picture of the bookmarks I created last year but I can't figure out how to do it.
Ps we met in the Berkeley hills one foggy night at a private reception.
Susan Sullivan
Hey, good to hear from you! Enjoy the bookmarks! Yeah, it's weird that you can't post photos here. I know the notes feature in the substack app allows photos, but...this whole thing is a bit of a work in progress (smile emoji? Can't figure out how to add that either!)
I love your newsletters and it brightens my day to see one pop up in my Inbox. I agree with the others that your mix of art and gardens and whimsy is just about perfect. It means a lot to me because my husband passed away recently, and it's been a struggle to find my new life without him. One thing that has brought me solace is painting with watercolor. I started on a whim with no previous artistic talent or training whatsoever. And I can precisely point to your sharing of your sketch books as part of my inspiration. I loved your pictures and wanted to try my hand at that. I love your abstract flowers in this newsletter and would be thrilled if I could accomplish the same. Meantime, I am getting a great deal of comfort from working with beautiful colors and the focus on effort soothes my mind.
Thank you so very much for your newsletter, art, books and inspiration.
PS I miss Constance and her sisters. Perhaps I should pay them another visit soon.
I'm so glad it's helped you in such a difficult year. I can only imagine how hard that is. Please do keep painting!
Thank you Amy!
Well, Amy, you sent me down the rabbit hole of islands for sale. I confess I'm not quite as adventurous as you, no exotic locations. But there had been three for sale in CT. I was hoping one might be in our Thimble Islands - took a boat tour of them years ago with my mom - still out of my price range! Perhaps one on a lake..... I love your newsletter, interesting and beautifully illustrated (of course!), Oops, the rabbit hole is calling me. Happy Fourth !
Ha! It’s a fun rabbit hole!
Thanks for the always fun email!
Larry McMurtry only had one parent? :-)