Welcome to Just Beautiful, a newsletter about looking for places where beauty and justice meet. Often this newsletter turns into Louisa May Alcott quotes (she was a social revolutionary, friends), essays on liturgical living in the Southern Hemisphere, and the spiritual implications of children’s literature. Thanks for being here!
Sometimes when it’s time to write a newsletter, I have too much to say, and I have to spend half an hour slashing paragraphs because you’re reading this on the internet not in a paperback book next to a pool. No one has time for long essays when scrolling on a phone. I usually find my abundance of words happens when I’ve been reading a lot. Whether it’s other people’s newsletters, or some really great book, when I read a lot I will develop Thoughts and Opinions that Must Be Shared — so thank you for reading them.
But this is one of those times when life has been very full of doing ordinary things, where there has been no deep coherent thread tying everything together.
My northern hemisphere friends are all talking about the end of the school year and summer coming. It all sounds a bit frantic- tired parents dragging themselves and their tired kids across a finish line. But at least there are pools and popsicles at the end. We’re solidly slogging through the middle of our school year and there is still so far to go! (And it’s getting darker and darker every morning, yet we still have to get people out of the door on time. Ugh).
So, here are a handful of notes about things I’ve noticed this month — maybe something bite-sized will serve you in this season. And let’s chat in the comments, I’d love to hear what’s getting you through as well!
I love writing kids books and talking with kids about books. I did my first school visit this month to talk about Gandhi and writing and it was SO MUCH FUN. I love hearing what kids think, and hearing their excellent questions!! I could do it every day. To the fifth grade girl who said with much angst, “But what do I do if my stories just have too much detail??” I say, I feel you. Let’s bond. I know there are some writers who just want to write and find it exhausting to be asked to speak about their topic. My inbox seems to be filled lately with writers lamenting how they have to talk about their books to market them—but not me. (I mean, it helps our book is about Gandhi. I’d feel weird if I wrote a memoir and was like, “Read my book! Buy my book! It’s all about Me!” But it’s GANDHI. Everyone needs to know about him). Also, my audience is kids, so, how fun is that?? What is something in your work life that is bringing you joy — even if it’s something that other people roll their eyes at, or hate doing?
Some FAQs from kids so far — and send us your kid’s questions, too!
Living seasonally and liturgically can both be communal and individual. The liturgical calendar is a calendar of corporate celebration — it’s what Christian communities have followed for centuries. And yet, if you find yourself disconnected from a Christian community that follows this pattern, it can be both a delight to help build and create this kind of community — and also tiring. Like, hosting Thanksgiving is great, but it’s nice when it’s not at your house every year. We often talk at our Liturgical Ladies gatherings about how to incorporate the church calendar into our family life ( ie: we’re hosting Thanksgiving). But we discussed this month how the seasons of the church year can also serve us on an individual level. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the visible “work” of a season (because it’s fun!) - but it’s also okay to just take a step back and say, “We’re not going to feast as a family or community today for Pentecost, but I’m going to take 5 minutes to contemplate the coming of the Holy Spirit.” We’re participating with the community of the global church through our personal prayers and reflections on the themes of the season, too. What does your own soul need from this season — apart from your community or family?
This playlist of songs from Jess Ray (also on spotify)
This article I wrote about Ascension Day in the Southern Hemisphere for
This apple cinnamon cake tastes so autumny and served warm is THE BEST cake for afternoon autumn tea.
When in doubt, paint a wall. I remember Ingrid Fentell Lee saying that if you are feeling overwhelmed or weary with something in your house - like that feeling of “Every thing in this room is wrong, and if I change this, then I still need to change these 70 other things and it’s too big to even start!” - to do the one thing that will have the biggest impact. Yes, it’s easier to hang a picture, or add a throw pillow, but will that actually make your space feel different? Be brave. Do the one thing that will have impact.
We spent the weekend moving our kid’s playroom into the guest bedroom, because it’s just so much sunnier in winter (and we haven’t had guests lately. Come visit us!) I’ve always wanted to paint that room green. So I decided to do it. I wasn’t sure about the color, but it was $10 for a sample, and $20 for enough paint for one wall, so I just picked bold and went for it. (Also remembering the research that says people who pick the brighter color feel happier with it in the long run, even if it seems too bold at first). One wall, done while the kids were at school and it makes me happy every time I walk by. What’s a project (house or otherwise) that you’re feeling stuck on? What one thing that will have a big impact in how you feel about a project?
Speaking of big projects, I’ve never made cheesecake before and it was a birthday cake request from a child - first try with this recipe and I nailed it, if I do say so myself. King Arther Flour Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe.
Middle grade fiction for the win. I’ve been slowly (slowly!) working on my middle-grade historical fiction project. My nephews are thankfully hounding me to keep at it. I was awarded some book gift cards because our Gandhi book was featured for the month at our biggest national book store, and I finally got to purchase Impossible Creatures and Where to Find Them by Katherine Rundell! I’m so enjoying it. Also, I’m so enjoying having an actual physical copy of a book to read. Almost all the books I want to read I get through my kindle because our local library is the pits. Middle grade fiction is full of all the best things in life - friendship, family, battles of good and evil.
Also finished Paper Dragons by Siobhan McDermett (Solid. Not earth shattering, but a fun adventure with Harry Potter-esque vibes, also the cover is cooler in the US than the UK, and it’s cool it’s written by a TCK).
Started Fablehaven by Brandon Mull on the recommendation of a young friend.
Finished Once A Queen by Sarah Arthur. Solid. Great if you loved Nesbitt, Lewis, Tolkien, L’Engle and that crew. Lots of allusions to all of that, and a great mom-daughter story, with a mystery. I loved Sarah Arthur’s adult nonfiction.
An Autumny, Ordinary Time Reading List
On this topic, there’s something about finding a sunny warm patch in the garden (because outside in autumn is warmer than inside!) and drinking some tea while reading a good read-aloud. We’ve done some of these with our boys (4 and 7) but I’d love a collection of stories that just seem to suit autumn. Maybe it is when we’re standing at the doorway to winter and a long stretch of Ordinary Time that we need epic heroes slogging along on difficult journeys (the school slog in an ordinary day is very real, after all). So what are some cozy, yet heroic read-alouds you’d recommend?
The Chronicles of Narnia Series: Epic journeys with pauses for descriptions of tasty feasts.
The Hobbit: Epic journey, also much discussion of the comfort of home.
Little Pilgrim’s Progress: Epic journey - not as much food- but the pictures are amazing. Perhaps more of an indoor, sit on a beanbag and flip through the pictures kind of story.
Little Women: Good for every season, AS YOU KNOW, but since it’s based on Pilgrim’s Progress (part one, at least) it’s a nice, “Let’s stick to our resolutions of being good and follow through, even when we’re tired” kind of book.
Brambly Hedge: Of course, they talk about all the seasons, but a nice fat collection of short stories with really detaily pictures is so nice. Plus you will be inspired to stock your larder.
Anne of Green Gables: She is full of chatter about the glories of autumn.
What else would you put on this list? Especially for younger years? What about your personal, adult reading list?
As always, thanks for reading - and I’d love to hear your ideas and thoughts in the comments!
— Steph