Game of Thrones

My new canoe has been progressing slowly but beautifully as I'm enjoying my work on this piece.  Whenever I paint I feel so much peace, it's the reason for doing what I do. 

I've been giving a lot of thought to what has lead me here, to this point in my life, and remembered being a young girl, of twelve or so, looking at my hands full of charcoal dust and seeing them filled with lines.  My mother said that I had the hands of an old soul.  As a child I often thought of growing older, looking forward to my forties and I have to say I haven't been disappointed.  I love feeling more sure of myself, of understanding what gives me joy, and of knowing how I can contribute in my home and my community.  I have learned to make time for the things that matter most to me - family, reading, painting.  And even though there still are difficult days, as there is in life, I feel blessed beyond measure.

Since I haven't shared what I've been reading in awhile, and though I'm on book two in this series already, I thought I'd share a little synopsis on the the Game of Thrones:

Game of Thrones
by George R.R. Martin

This series has been recommended to me for some time and I'm finally reading it - and thouroughly enjoying it.  And, oddly enough, while my brother was visiting, as early risers we both got up to read and noticed that we were reading the same book - both book two of the series, A Clash of Kings.  I don't tend to select fantasy but I'm loving the combination of history and fiction.  It takes place in a time of castles and kings where summer has lasted for decades but a harsh, evil winter is looming.  There are many characters involved but the center of the story revolves around the Starks and Lannisters, one good and the other evil.  Full of magic, romance, and intrigue these tomes have kept me guessing from the beginning.  I'm almost finished book two, cannot wait to read the third, A Storm of Swords, and am glad to know there are currently five books in the series with two more to come.  I'm also looking forward to watching the series once I've finished the books.