Dark Magic, Secret Projects, and a Link Up
Of Shoes & Ships & Sealing Wax 💌
Of Shoes & Ships & Sealing Wax, August 2022
This month I’m combining our new link up with my monthly favorites (books I'm reading, podcasts I’m listening to, etc.) I started this draft weeks ago and have been adding links when I find something worth sharing.
Just one more step toward finding creative flow here on Substack.
Fiction
Osmo Unknown and the Eightpenny Woods by Catherynne M. Valente
This is the newest book by author of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (one of my all time favorites!) It’s a middle grade book, but equally delightful for adults.
Have a peek…
Nonfiction
Uniquely Human by Dr. Barry Prizant
This book is now my number one resource for learning about childhood autism (he does mention adults here and there, but the focus is on children.)
If you pick up a copy he sure to get the expanded and revised edition from this year (ISBN 9781982193898). The first edition is already outdated.
Podcast
My top podcast episodes this month are both from Sara Tasker’s Hashtag Authentic.
Viv Groskop on Public Speaking (This one is from the archives. My friend Claire suggested it to me just when I needed it.)
TV
It’s been a summer for dark magic on TV. After Davy goes down we’ve enjoyed Locke & Key, Stranger Things, and Umbrella Academy. They’re all slightly different vibes (and content ratings.) I love seeing more people enjoying sci fi and fantasy stories. They can give us a metaphorical distance to explore the darkness in life.
Substack
Some of my favorite reads on Substack this month.
Kid Stuff
I bought Davy a calculator and he thinks it’s a portable phone. 😂 He’s carried it around all day and is also practicing counting with it. The best $2 I have ever spent.
He is also really into water painting. How satisfying is this? You paint with water and then it disappears when it dries.
I made these years ago to practice brush lettering and it is fun to see them have a second life. I bought “magic water painting paper” and mounted it to artist hardboard. We have red, green, and black.
I bet this would even work on construction paper, slate, or a dark rock. I just love how its the fun of painting with NO MESS.
I’ve linked the paper we use and a few other options here.
A note about affiliate links.
If you can shop local or buy secondhand please ignore them!
I’ve had a lot of questions about where I got this or that for David so I am trialing these for a test period.
I try to include options including secondhand shops (like Book Depository) when possible. Some (but not all) of these are affiliate links.
If you make any purchase after clicking through an affiliate link I will earn a teeny tiny credit.
Your turn to share!
Post a link below. A book, a game, a post, a video, a place, a podcast, any metaphorical rabbit hole you’d recommend to tumbling down.
You’re welcome to link up your own blogs, podcasts, and social media posts. 🐇
When sharing is reciprocal it’s not self promotion it’s connection.
If you participate please take some time to connect in comments and visit someone else’s link. 🥰
I’ll be featuring some of my favorites on Instagram each month. Check out the community guidelines and last month’s links here.
Loved reading this! I’m super interested in the cross pollination from here back to other channels so I’m going to share an Instagram reel which I think is beautiful as part of our joint motherhood project “The Magic Mundane” I adore the mindful exchange of our daily pics and when people join in with #themagicmundane it fills my heart because motherhood is hard and beautiful and fleeting and the best most ridiculous thing you’ll ever do! https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChtsYVqIB_k/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Another Substack I recommend for a specific group of neurodivergent folks is called God is my Special Interest. It’s for those of us who grew up in high-control religious groups and are now dealing with the aftermath. Super supportive and enlightening.